Water cooperation: diplomacy from source to sea
Managing transboundary rivers and lakes听requires cooperation and diplomacy between States, yet听region-specific differences can hamper听these efforts. A recent Water Diplomacy workshop听looked at best practices from established听river commissions to help inspire and share lessons to overcome听challenges.听
The objective of the meeting was to discuss transboundary river management and bring听together听basin commission representatives, governmental agencies, international organizations and听stakeholders supporting transboundary water cooperation in Central Asia, the South Caucasus,听and South and Eastern Europe.听It was led听by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe听() in collaboration with the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine ().听
香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 presented the programme听during a session moderated听by the 听and shared听successes and key lessons learned from its听work in听fourteen basins worldwide. The key focus听of BRIDGE is to promote water governance across multiple levels,听involving听local stakeholders just as much as听national governments in cooperation mechanisms. Without an听inclusive approach, water governance risks remaining a theory rather than practice.
As Alejandro Iza, Director of the 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Environmental Law Centre states "for transboundary governance to be effective on the ground, government needs agreement from water users. Water diplomacy is a process that operates under the authority of States, but which requires buy-in from multiple stakeholders, including at the level of provinces and municipalities".听香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 plays a key role in brokering this cooperation.
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Globally, over 310 lake and river basins stretch across national borders. Around 60% of international river basins lack any type of cooperative management framework.听In the OSCE area there are more than 150 river and lake basins shared by two or more States. OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger addressed the workshop via听video message, highlighting the importance of water diplomacy and transboundary water cooperation in the OSCE region.
Bruno Georges, Secretary General of the CCNR, reflected on the historical legacy of the work that led to the establishment of the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine听and its听importance for building trust and dialogue.Its authority comes from agreements made at the听听in 1815. The member States are听Germany, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, and听Switzerland.听The CCNR ensures security and addresses听all听issues concerning听inland navigation. It is the world's oldest international organization and will celebrate 100 years at its headquarters in the Palais du Rhin in Strasbourg in 2020.听
The meeting representatives took part in discussions showcasing best practices and exchanging lessons learned in the common use of transboundary water resources in their respective countries. Future areas of co-operation were explored and potential partnerships discussed.听
Developed by the and the听, the听 was introduced,听a research tool which measures how well countries manage transboundary water resources. It is a tool for understanding challenges and opportunities for improving transboundary water cooperation and management of shared water resources (Report:听).听
Vuk 沤ugi膰, coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities noted that "Water diplomacy is an effective tool to achieve a comprehensive approach to security and stability鈥. In Central Asia, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 is also working on fostering dialogue between riparian countries around the ,听an approach enabling integrated solutions across borders.听
The event was organized with financial support of the Governments of Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
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For more information
香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播: [email protected]
OSCE:听[email protected]
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