Water for Peace

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Statement to Ministerial Conference, Kyoto, 22 March 2003
 
Mikhail Gorbachev
President, Green Cross International
 
“Water for Peace” and “Peace for Water” are essential for achieving sustainable management of the world’s hundreds of regional and international rivers, lakes and aquifers. The vital nature of water makes it a possible cause of tension but, more importantly, a potential source of cooperation. 
 
Greater political will and integrated actions which respect both cultural and ecosystem diversity are urgently needed.
 
Political will means:
 
·       Immediate ratification of the UN Convention on the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses by all states, as a first step towards the negotiation of a Global Water Convention.  Agreeing this Global Convention will take time, but will indicate that water is a universal issue and water access is a fundamental human right.
 
·       Immediate adaptation of funding mechanisms to support activities related to internationally shared water bodies.
 
Integrated Action means:
 
·       That the integrity of ecosystems must be respected in the terms of inter-state and basin agreements.
 
·       The rights of stakeholders to take decisions regarding water resources should be respected in transboundary watercourses. All stakeholders should be helped to obtain the capacity to fully participate in the process of development of basin and aquifer strategies, agreements and institutions, through transparency and information.
 
Mediation means:
 
·       Water for Peace discussions at the Forum confirmed the need for an International Water mediation tool.  The creation of such a Water Cooperation Facility was officially launched at the closing session of Water for Peace, coordinated by Green Cross and UNESCO yesterday.
 
Respect for peoples and cultures means:
 
·       Community responsibility and ownership of cooperation processes, backed by international solidarity and commitment to a alternative form of development which respects cultural diversity and environmental sustainability.
 
 
Unable to ignore the difficult circumstances of this week, participants stressed that the Ministers and the Forum should send a strong message about the need to protect water systems during times of armed conflict and from terrorist attack.
 
 
 
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