World Water Forum begins in Istanbul
The Fifth World Water Forum was launched in Istanbul in the presence of Turkish President Abdullah Gül and dozens of ministers from all around the world approximately two hours ago.
The hall for 3 500 people is literally bursting at the seams”, said Director of the Water Protection Department of the Environment Ministry Veronika Jáglová. During the opening ceremony all speakers emphasised the fact that water is the basic need for life and that access to safe water must be provided for the current rapidly growing population as well as the next generations. Turkey is a country with a long history of water management. Its geographic location links Europe and Asia as regards the maintenance of water sources, which is reflected in the motto of the conference - ‘Bridging Divides for Water’.
As today’s speakers emphasised, particularly at times when we are faced with financial and economic crises and global climate changes it is necessary to address the issue of water. We also need to act at the highest political level and devote maximum attention to this issue at all levels of decision-making. International cooperation also plays a key role.
In view of the fact that the necessary adaptation measures relating to the consequences of climate change strongly affect water management in particular, this issue will remain a topic for discussion not only in Istanbul but also at the informal meeting of the EU Environment Council to be held in Prague in April.
‘It is evident from the immense interest in the World Water Forum that water and issues relating to it are becoming a topic with global priority because its volume and accessibility will depend on the approach of society to this natural resource, which is unfortunately already scarce in many countries’, adds Veronika Jáglová.
The head of the delegation of the Czech Presidency, First Deputy Minister of the Environment Jan Dusík, will join the delegation in Istanbul at the end of this week.
Contact:
- Jakub Kašpar, Spokesperson, Ministry of the Environment, Czech Republic
- tel.: +420 267 122 040, mobile: +420 724 175 927; e-mail: jakub.kaspar@mzp.cz
Last update: 16.8.2011 15:41
