3RD WORLD WATER FORUM IN KYOTO (JAPAN), 16 TO 23 MARCH 2003 Good basis for further work in international water policies adopted

Federal Office for the Environment FOEN

Bern, 23.03.2003 - Switzerland considers the Ministerial Declaration adopted today in Kyoto to be a good basis for further developing international water policies in the coming years. The World Water Forum preceding the Ministerial Conference has clearly demonstrated that water is an essential element of development, peace, and poverty eradication. Environmental protection, sustainable water management in agriculture and socially responsible distribution of water resources are essential to finding solutions to the water crisis.

The Ministerial Declaration, adopted in Kyoto on Sunday after two days of intensive negotiation, provides a good basis for bringing forward the implementation of the goals set in the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.  The Declaration includes most of the important points raised by Switzerland, and setbacks could largely be avoided. Switzerland would nevertheless have wished for a more action-oriented instrument, containing clear commitments and targets. In particular, Switzerland regrets that there is no recognition of water as a common good, or of the importance of access to water for social stability, conflict prevention, and peace.

The Swiss delegation participated actively in the work of the Forum and the Ministerial Conference. On Sunday, Secretary of State Philippe Roch presented to the Plenary Session the report of the Sub-Group on Protection of Ecosystems, which he had chaired on Saturday. The recommendations of the Sub-Group include in particular that water policy accord priority to the protection of forests, soils and wetlands. These ecosystems catch, filter, store, and redistribute water, thus guaranteeing long-term provision of water resources for the whole planet. An important instrument to implement this policy is the application of the UN-ECE Protocol on civil liability that will be signed in May in Kiev. 

Mrs. Dora Rapold, Assistant Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), presented Switzerland’s water programme in Central Asia, carried out as part of the EU Water Initiative. The representatives of the European Union as well as guest of honour Mikhail Gorbatchev welcomed the Swiss programme in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as an important contribution to further development and implementation of the European water partnership.

The Swiss Strategy on prevention of floods, presented by Mr. Bruno Schädler of the Federal Office for Water and Geology, also met with considerable interest. Although many states have elaborated prevention strategies, Switzerland is one of the few countries that was able to present in Kyoto the experience of over ten years of work in this field.

Water and peace

International cooperation on water-related issues is an important element of social stability and peace, as has been stated on several occasions. Switzerland specifically supports the efforts of supranational organizations for international cooperation in transboundary watersheds, through financial contributions and promotion of dialogue. The coordination of the activities of the different partners in this field is particularly important.

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Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
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