Energy Minister to chair Arab Council meeting

Manama, May 26 (BNA): Energy Minister Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza departed on his way to Cairo where he will chair the Arab Ministerial Council for water affairs meeting at the Arab League's headquarters. In his pre-departure statement the minister said the agenda of the ministerial council meeting will include key strategic topics related to Arab water affairs, especially under the current situations regarding security and sustainability of water in the Arab world. The discussion include follow up of implementation of the resolutions of the Arab Socio-Economic Development Summit, primarily the implementation plan of the Arab region's water security to overcome the challenges and future demand for sustainable development. The ministerial council will also submit its recommendations to the next Arab summit according to endorsed mechanism. The ministers will track the progress made in terms of implementation of integrated management of water resources, the inclusion of these projects in the draft Strategic Executive Plan for Water Security in the Arab region reliant upon the uniform model adopted by the Arab Ministerial Council for Water. The ministers will also discuss the progress made in implementing the millennium goals regarding waters supplies, environmental safety and approve the final regional report compiled by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) regarding adaptation with climatic changes in the sector of water in the Arab region, and continuous cooperation and exchange of expertise with the agency to support the regional status of knowledge, and discuss the bill of inter-Arab agreement related to water. The ministers will also explore coordination with Arab and regional financial institutions (Islamic Development Bank, Arab Social, Economic Development Fund, Abu Dhabi Development Fund, and the Saudi Development Fund) which expressed their readiness to finance some projects for integrated management of water resources to begin the implementation of these projects. Dr. Mirza said the meeting comes under exceptional conditions in the Arab region to face water challenges and the importance of increasing coordination and cooperation between the region's countries, especially on the theme pertaining to activation of Arab water security strategies and the protection of Arab water rights.