Speech by the Prince of Orange, World Water Week 2008
Stockholm, Sweden, 19 August 2008
Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,
We are here to work together "to drive the water and human development agendas forward to help build a prosperous and healthy world".
Yesterday I spoke about the importance of sanitation as a prerequisite for health, dignity and development. I informed you on the progress of the International Year of Sanitation and the activities of the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation
But we all know that the scope of the water agenda is much broader. Effective water management covers a broad range of subjects such as Integrated Water Resources Management, Financing, Capacity Building and Good Governance. And it especially requires cooperation. Cooperation at all levels and between all stakeholders.
I am very glad that this morning's session is devoted to the issue of Transboundary Cooperation and especially the UN Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, as another important instrument in realising our international policy goals.
The Hashimoto Action Plan, published by UNSGAB in March 2006, clearly expresses the importance of applying IWRM in transboundary situations and of strengthening transboundary organisations. And, as a logical consequence, the Hashimoto Action Plan also calls for the ratification of the UN Watercourses Convention.
Worldwide, there are more than 260 major rivers that are shared by two or more states. These river basins make up some 45 per cent of the earth's surface, and are home to around 40 per cent of the world's population. Without good transboundary management of these basins, it will be impossible to meet the challenges posed by increasing water shortages, equitable distribution, pollution or flooding as a result of changes in precipitation and river outflow rates. This calls for a regulatory framework.
And it is precisely the UN Watercourses Convention that offers a framework for interstate cooperation. It offers policy and legal guidance for states that are engaged in transboundary integrated river basin management in support of sustainable development, regional economic integration and improved access to water and sanitation.
The Rhine, the Danube and the Mekong demonstrate the importance and the effects of close transboundary cooperation. The riparian states have succeeded in agreeing on a joint approach to problems, with impressive results. And as well as reducing pollution and the risk of flooding, working together has also improved relations between these states.
But the positive effects of transboundary cooperation can also be demonstrated for smaller watercourses. In 1998, Lesotho and South Africa agreed on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which Nelson Mandela described as 'a scheme, which brings water for South Africa, electricity for Lesotho, and development for both countries.'
We may be convinced of the need to ratify the Convention, but up to now only 16 states have done so. So I am very pleased that such prominent institutions have taken the initiative to organise this session to highlight - once again - the importance of ratifying the UN Watercourses Convention.
And I am more than pleased that the issue of transboundary cooperation will get such an important place on our water agenda for 2009, for instance by the designation of this issue as the theme for World Water Day 2009, that will be celebrated in Istanbul as part of the World Water Forum.
Looking around me, I can see quite clearly that we don't need to convince each other. I hope that this meeting will help us to find new arguments that will convince the decision-makers.
For the Convention to enter into force, only 19 additional ratifications are needed.
I call upon you and your organisations to use your influence and to convince your national legislators to ratify this important Convention as soon as possible.
The challenges of water and sanitation will continue to have a prominent place on our agenda in the years ahead. Good water management forestalls international tensions and has a direct influence on the lives of hundreds of millions of people. Let's work together, internationally and with our neighbouring countries, for the health, dignity and development of those who really need it.
Thank you.