AWARENET in Arab Water Day, Lebanon

The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN ESCWA), the host of the Arab Water Resources Network (AWARENET), held a press conference to officially mark the first Arab Water Day on 2 March 2010. The event was held under the auspices of the Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Resources and had the theme - "For a Common Arab Water Security."

The remarks made by the ESCWA Chief of Sustainable Development and Productivity Division Anhar Hegazi draw attention to the reasons why AWARENET remains relevant in the Arab region. Speaking on behalf of ESCWA Executive Secretary, Hegazi referred to climate change issues that pose a serious threat to Arab water security. She noted that it was important to address the expected reduction in water resources and decrease in agricultural production in several areas of the region. She continued to emphasise that the Commission seeks to build the capacity of member countries in the means and methodologies of negotiation on shared water resources, in cooperation with the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) of Germany. Speakers at the conference were introduced by Miss Lebanon, Martine Andraos who reiterated that she had adopted issues of sustainable water resources management as a priority in her work program. Participants at the conference included political, diplomatic and media figures, in addition to experts from the energy and water sectors and members of AWARENET.