DUSHANBE, March 16, 2009, Asia-Plus — President Emomali Rahmon is attending the 5th World Water Forum (WWF) that was launched in Istanbul, Turkey on March 16. A variety of events throughout the week aim to focus on just one overarching theme: “Bridging Divides for Water.”
The Forum that has brought together 16 heads of state and more than 20 heads of government and parliament speakers aims to bring sustainable solutions to water related problems of modernity.
Besides thematic and regional sessions, cultural and artistic activities, side events, Children’s Forum, Youth Forum and Learning Centre are serving by providing an environment where everyone may express their opinions freely, regardless of their profession, geographical background or age. Political process of the Forum will produce outputs, which will deeply affect the water agenda of the world in the upcoming months and years.
According to information posted on the 5th WWF’s website, the Forum is the first in the 15 years of history of World Water Forums, in many senses. The Heads of States Summit are gathering governments’ highest authorities for the sake of water to create practical and achievable solutions. The Green Forum Initiative will make the Forum as environmentally friendly as possible.
Every Forum adds more steps to the water agenda, brings further solutions to water problems, and speeds up the processes of cooperation for water. Turkey is building on to the knowledge of previous 12 years of World Water Forums held in Morocco (1997), Netherlands (2000), Japan (2003) and Mexico (2006). The 5th World Water Forum is expected to mark a major milestone for international water policies by opening a new chapter for long-lasting cooperation.
The World Water Forum is the main water-related event in the world, aimed at putting water firmly on the international agenda. A stepping stone towards global collaboration on water problems, the Forum offers the water community and policy-and-decision-makers from all over the world the unique opportunity to come together to create links, debate and attempts to find solutions to achieve water security. It is organized every three year by the World Water Council, in collaboration with the host country.
