Sustainable water management crucial for security in OSCE region, says Chairman

ZARAGOZA, Spain, 12 March 2007 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, said today that sustainable water management was a crucial aspect of security, and urged participating Sates to broaden regional co-operation in this field.

Speaking at the two-day OSCE conference in the Spanish city of Zaragoza, Minister Moratinos said: "Climate change is a reality that can have critical implications for security in the OSCE region, as well as for other parts of the world. This conference is a clear demonstration of a strong political will among OSCE participating States to tackle issues such as sustainable water management, a crucial factor of security in our region."

The event, "Key challenges to ensure environmental security and sustainable development in the OSCE area: Water Management," brings together more than 200 government officials, representatives of civil society, the business and academic community, as well as of international and non-governmental organizations.

"Poor management of water resources can lead to soil degradation, and the failure by States to react to these concerns might cause major security problems, including massive migration which will affect neighbouring States and the larger region. Such problems can not be resolved by cordoning off a region. No 'cordon sanitaire' will ever stop drought, global warming or floods. Solutions can only be found through international agreements," said the OSCE Chairman.

Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, OSCE Secretary General, added: "The OSCE has an important role to play in making use of water issues as a strategic factor of development and peace. Within the OSCE region, there are some 180 watercourses extending over the territory of more than one country. Co-operation is the only way to enhance development, security and stability throughout our common area."

The OSCE has been instrumental in supporting a number of concrete initiatives. In South-Eastern Europe, the OSCE supports co-operation in the Sava River basin, shared by Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. Together with the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) it helps the governments of Moldova and Ukraine work closer in the case of the Dniester River.

In Central Asia, the OSCE, UNECE and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific are helping to establish a transboundary water commission between the governments of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to better manage Chu and Talas rivers.

The OSCE and NATO's Security through Science Programme have facilitated a regional project on monitoring the water quality of the Kura-Araks river basin in the South Caucasus. This has supported co-operation between scientific communities in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

The Zaragoza event is the second preparatory Conference before the 15th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum that will be held in Prague in May.

In 2008, Zaragoza will host an international exhibition under the theme "Water and sustainable development".