DUSHANBE, December 4, Asia-Plus — Issues related to elaboration and adoption of an international water convention and convocation of a special session of the UN General Assembly on water matters were discussed a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with Mr. Loïc Fauchon, President of the World Water Council (WWC), which was held in Beppu, Japan today on sideline of the First Asia-pacific Water Summit, presidential press service said.
The two also considered issues of preparations for international conference on reduction of water-related disaster risks that is expected to be held in Dushanbe next year.
According to the Tajik head of state, the time has come when this issue should be discussed at the level of the UN General Assembly.
Mr. Fauchon, for his part, named President Rahmon’s proposals important and timely and said that WWC would study those initiatives. He also invited Tajik president to attend the next World Water Forum that will be held in Istanbul in March 2009.
The ”World Water Council” is an international multi stakeholder platform. Its stated mission is “to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making level, to facilitate the efficient conservation, protection, development, planning, management and use of water in all its dimensions on an environmentally sustainable basis for the benefit of all life on earth.”
Every third year the World Water Council organizes the World Water Forum in close collaboration with the authorities of the hosting country. The Forum is the largest international event in the field of water. The next World Water Forum will take place in Istanbul in 2009.
The World Water Council is financed primarily through membership fees and additional support is provided by the host City of Marseilles. Specific projects and programs are financed through donations and grants from governments, international organizations and NGO”s.
It is headquartered in Marseilles and it was founded in 1996.
