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UN Secretary General issues message on the World Water Day

17 March 2009 13:25 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ilhama Isabalayevaâ€“APA. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent a message to the world countries on the occasion of the World water day on March 22, UN Office in Azerbaijan told APA. â€œWhile the worldâ€™s growing population is consuming more freshwater, climate change is making less water available in many regions as glaciers recede, rainfall becomes less predictable, and floods and droughts become more extreme. Managing water carefully and balancing the varied needs for it is vitalâ€, UN secretary general said in his message.

â€œMuch of the planetâ€™s water, above or below ground, is shared. Forty per cent of the worldâ€™s people live in one of 263 basins that are shared by two or more countries. Concern over the possibility of violent disputes features regularly in discussions about sharing limited water resources. But while the potential exists for water to act as a catalyst for conflict between States and communities, precedent suggests that the opposite is actually what happens. Cooperation, not conflict, is the most common response by people facing competing demands.

Under the theme â€œShared Waters, Shared Opportunitiesâ€, World Water Day this year highlights how trans-boundary water resources can act as a unifying force. Worldwide, there are at least 300 international water agreements, often among parties that are otherwise at odds. These agreements demonstrate the potential of shared water resources to foster trust and promote peace. Political will, a flexible policy framework, strong institutions and an inclusive approach will help us build on this foundation for the benefit of allâ€.