Dr. A.Y. Bukhari
Assistant Director General and Regional
Representative for the Near East
It is a pleasure for me to welcome you to this “Second Expert Consultation on National Water Policy Reform in the Near East Region”. This gathering of prominent Near East experts on policy reform for water resources management, is of particular importance since we are in a Region that more than any other, will continue to face increasingly difficult water problems.
The FAO Regional Office for the Near East has had several opportunities to advise and alert countries to the present inefficient use and the inadequate management of scarce water resources. This is crucial to our Region, where water is essential for food production needed by the rapidly growing population and in order to support the livelihood to rural and urban areas, as well. Although there is a general consensus on these objectives, what is needed however, is the right enabling policy environment to be established and implemented at both national and down to the site levels.
Water policies and approaches to water resources management are country-specific and the ultimate responsibility for formulating water policies rests with national authorities. The challenge is to formulate practical and implementable water policies. The general aim of International Organizations is to support water sector policy reviews and to devise, in partnership with governments and at their request, the practical means to introduce appropriate resources management systems.
A coordinated approach for the management, utilization and protection of water resources is emerging. This is manifested in today’s meeting where you will present and share your country experiences.
In December 1996, FAO convened the first “Expert Consultation on National Water Policy Reform in the Near East” where seven country case studies (Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Turkey) were discussed and priority issues, limiting constraints and strategic choices were identified. FAO is supporting member countries in the Region by organizing and implementing this Expert Consultation to enable other countries to benefit from the findings of the first meeting and to exchange experiences and lessons learned in reforming their water policies. Through FAO support, technical country case studies have been prepared by national experts from: Cyprus, Libya, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen, for this meeting.
With increasing water scarcity, an active water policy governmental intervention is at the core of the action to be taken. The factors, mentioned in the recent World Food Summit emphasize the role of Water Policy, including Water Pricing, Institutional Development, Consideration and Management of Macro-Economic Imbalances, as well as social aspects and private sector initiatives. These issues will be discussed during this consultation.
Distinguished participants
FAO jointly with the World Bank and other UN agencies, started a move some time ago to encourage water policy reviews and to promote reforms of existing water laws. The approach is non-prescriptive. While FAO provides recommendations on principles in water management and disseminates international experience on water sector policy, it recognizes that water policy is a country-specific one and frequently highly sensitive. Governments must evolve their own water allocation policies in response to local imperatives and constraints. FAO’s function is to support the process and to provide advice, if requested.
This does not necessarily mean that FAO is neutral with respect to the content of the national water policy. FAO supports the principle of water being an economic good, the efficient water use, the private sector involvement, and the cost recovery for operational maintenance with due consideration for disadvantaged segments of the population and for the environmental protection.
In situations where extreme water shortage exists, drastic policy interventions such as re-allocation of water among the various sectors of the country might be a necessary and an unavoidable option. It is argued, however, that in most circumstances, there are other options which do not take away water from existing productive use, but aim at win-win solutions. FAO is promoting these options.
The challenge of defining and implementing sound water resources management policies, can only be achieved through a unified approach well coordinated at regional level. If this could be achieved, it would be a major step towards improving the prospects for decent livelihoods, equity and economic progress in the Near East Region.
Distinguished participants
The FAO Regional Office for the Near East is grateful to you for accepting our invitation to attend, in your personal capacity, this important meeting and I am anxious to learn of your views and recommendations at the end of your deliberations.
Thank you.
