Baghdad 2nd International Water Conference kicks off with Syria’s participation
Syria as well as several Arab and foreign countries are taking part in the 2nd Baghdad International Water Conference, which kicked off on Saturday in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
Minister of Water Resource Tammam Raad led the Syrian delegation to the 3-day conference held under the slogan “Water and Climate Change”.
Experts and consultants from Arab and foreign countries and organizations will hold talks on water and climate change issues.
Syria’s participation in the conference is very important as it will witness talks with the Iraqi Minister of Water Resources on ways to consolidate coordination and cooperation between Syria and Iraq concerning their quota from the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers and on the two countries’ efforts to alleviate the bad impacts of climate change, Raad told SANA correspondent in Baghdad.
He added that the talks will also focus on establishing a joint research center.
On his part, the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning Khaled Batal Najm, who represented the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi in the conference, affirmed that countries should develop water security strategies, calling for improving the management of water resources and for equality in sharing them in a way that achieves the goals of sustainable development. He urged coordination among countries to manage crises and share the damage that may result from environmental problems and water scarcity.
Mahdi Rashid Al-Hamdani, the Iraqi Minister of Water Resources, asserted the importance of cooperation between all riparian countries in sharing water quotas without preconditions. He also stressed the need to exchange knowledge and experiences between the concerned institutions.
The conference aims at achieving the sustainable development of water and at enhancing coordination with neighboring riparian states to reduce the damage due to water scarcity. It also aims at tackling climate changes and discussing their impacts on water resources.
Hamda Mustafa