Minister seeks framework to secure water resources

Manama : Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza yesterday called for developing necessary framework to secure water resources in the region. 

Speaking during the 10th session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Water yesterday in Kuwait, the Minister also assured Bahrain’s commitment to fully supporting the initiative of water security and sustainability. 

In his address on the occasion, Dr. Mirza shared with the participants Bahrain’s strategic steps, the unified water strategy and the concerns of His Majesty and Highness the leaders of the GCC countries in developing a unified water strategy until 2035, the problem of water scarcity in the region and the quest for safe and sustainable water resources in the long run.

Dr Mirza also participated in the opening ceremony of the Third Arab Water Conference under the theme “Arab Integration in Water Resources Management”. 

Deputy CEO of Planning and Projects at the Electricity and Water Authority Ibrahim Abdullah Al Kaabi and Director of the Minister’s Office Ahmed Bucheery accompanied the Minister.

Top ministers and senior officials from the GCC and Arab countries were present at the event held under the chairmanship of Kuwait.

Iraqi Minister of Water Resources, Dr Hassan al-Janabi, chairman of the previous session, made the opening remarks.  

In his address, Kuwaiti Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water, Bakhit Shabib al-Rashidi, pointed out the need for Arab countries to achieve sustainability by supporting joint initiatives for Arab water security. 

The opening session also included a keynote address by Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

The session discussed the follow-up of the implementation of the Arab Sustainable Water Development Plan 2030 and the Framework Convention on Shared Resources among the Arab Countries.

Discussions also focused on the regional initiative for interlinkages between the water, energy and food sectors, the success of the management of water resources and the partnership between the public and private sectors, in addition to presentations of regional international organizations working in the field of water resources
management. 

Representatives of the United Nations as well as jurists, specialists in international law and water experts from Arab countries
participated. 

The two-day conference will discuss the regional initiative for the interrelationship between energy, water and food sectors in the Arab countries and the strategy for water security in the Arab region to meet the future challenges and requirements for sustainable development, as well as follow up the implementation of the sustainable development plan 2030.