Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources,
Middle East Peace Process
Second World Water Forum, 17-22 March 2000, The Hague
Concepts of Regional Water Management and Cooperation
Declaration on Principles for Cooperation Among the Core Parties
on Water-Related Matters and New and Additional Water Resources
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| Sunset on Lake Tiberias. |
Subsequent to the Norwegian Government's study of water laws and regulations, the
Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian (Core Party) participants adopted a formal
"Declaration of Principles for Cooperation on Water-related Matters and New and
Additional Water Resources" (DP). In initialing the DP, the Core Parties jointly
resolved to cooperate in the development of new and additional water resources.
They recognized the importance of (1) developing locally compatible legal, economic,
and institutional frameworks and (2) the ability of the participants to cooperate on
the basis of identified common denominators among their respective water management systems.
In addition to documenting the common denominators among the systems, the DP details avenues
for potential cooperation in developing new water sources and in other water-related matters,
should the Core Parties agree to move the process forward.
Waternet Project
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| Small flowing spring. |
The Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources established in 1996 the Waternet Project
sponsored by the Norwegian Govern-ment. The project is the first joint initiative by the
participating (Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian or "Core") parties to implement parts
of the DP. The project has three main
parts. Waternet-Local assists the Core Parties to develop a computerized water
information system to display relevant local water information. Waternet-Regional
assists the participating parties to link local nodes to form a shared regional computer
information network. The third part is establishment of a Regional Waternet and Research
Center in Amman, Jordan. The objectives of the Center, to begin operation in 2000, are
to develop and maintain the Waternet, to stimulate regional cooperation on water related
matters, to initiate new regional and joint activities, and to promote cooperation among
the Core Parties as outlined in the DP.
The Waternet Steering Group, consisting of regional representatives, Norwegian project
implementers, and technical experts as needed, meets regularly to lead, monitor, and
evaluate the project. A Local Steering Group and a Local Technical Group provide further
assistance and support.
One of the first objectives to be achieved is the development of a common information
system for water-related matters, known as the Waternet Information System (WIS). The
initial focus for WIS is on the development of the module called "Water Library and Information Navigator".
Compatible computer node sites are being installed and water-related regional bibliographic
information is being entered into a data base.
Water Sector Training Program
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| Joint training on field measurements of dissolved oxygen. |
The importance of the water issues in the region led the Working Group on Water
Resources to accept in April 1994 a joint United States/European Union proposal
for a Regional Training Program in the water sector. The European Union undertook
the coordination of this Program, which included donors from the United States,
European Union, Canada, Japan, The Netherlands, France, Israel, Spain, UNEP, and Sweden.
The program consisted of 14 courses; although some were offered twice so 20
sessions were presented. The topics covered included water-related aspects of
planning, management, administration, technical, legal, financial, and institutional
subjects. Courses were designed to consider issues from a regional perspective,
so as to initialize and promote the creation of a regional information network and
to encourage widespread reflection on common issues. A total of 275 people participated
in the program, including: Palestinians (91), Jordanians (70), Egyptians (47),
Israelis (38), Omanis (14), Yemenis (8), Tunisians (4) Moroccans (2), and Saudi Arabians (1).
Participants ranged from scientists, planners, and managers, to policy-level decision makers.
Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources, Middle East Peace Process
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