UN SECRETARY GENERAL’S MESSAGE ON WORLD WATER DAY

ArmRadio.am
21.03.2007 17:42

UN Secretary General issued a statement on the occasion of the World
Water Day. UN Department of Public Information Yerevan Office informs
that the message says, in part,

"World Water Day is celebrated this year with a special focus on
"Coping with Water Scarcity."

Water scarcity can be physical, economic or institutional, and can
fluctuate over time and space. Today, about 700 million in 43 countries
suffer from waters scarcity, and by 2025 this figure could increase
to more than 3 billion people.

The state of the world’s waters remains fragile, and the need for
an integrated and sustainable approach to water resource management
is as pressing as ever. Available supplies are under great duress
as a result of high population growth, unsustainable consumption
patterns, poor management practices, pollution, inadequate investment
in infrastructure, and low efficiency in water-use.

Yet even more water will be needed in the future: to grow food,
to provide clean drinking water and sanitation services, to operate
industries and to support expanding cities. The water-supply-demand
gap is likely to grow wider still, threatening economic and social
development and environmental sustainability. Integrated water
resources management will be of crucial importance in overcoming water
scarcity. So will international cooperation, since many of the world’s
rivers and aquifers are shared among countries. Such cooperation can
also promote harmonious cross-border ties in general.

The Millennium Development Goals have helped to highlight the
importance of access to safe drinking water supplies and adequate
sanitation, which undeniably separates people living healthy and
productive lives from those living in poverty and who are most
vulnerable to various life-threatening diseases.

Making good on the global water and sanitation agenda is crucial to
eradicating poverty and achieving the other development goals.

The way forward is clear: strengthening institutional capacity
and governance at all levels, promoting more technology transfer,
mobilizing more financial resources, and scaling up good practices
and lessons learned. On this World Water Day, I call on the UN system
and all stakeholders to forge stronger partnerships and take more
concerted action, not only this year, but throughout the entire
International Decade for Action: "Water for Life", 2005-2015."