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UN Secretary General's Message On World Water Day

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  • UN Secretary General's Message On World Water Day

    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."
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