Multilateral Working Group
on Water Resources Muscat, Oman

(April 17-19, 1994)

Press Statement of the Gavelholder

-- an Omani proposal, the first Arab proposal to reach consensus in the Working Group, to establish a desalination research and technology center in Muscat. This center will support regional cooperation in desalination research among all interested parties;

-- an Israeli proposal - the first Israeli proposal endorsed by any working group - to rehabilitate and make more efficient water systems in medium-sized communities (in the West Bank/Gaza, Israel and elsewhere in the region);

-- a U.S. proposal, sponsored by both the Water and Environment Working Groups, to develop wastewater treatment and re-use facilities for small communities at several sites in the Middle East (West Bank/Gaza, Israel and other interested regional parties); and

-- implementation of a U.S./EU regional training program. The EU, U.S., Japan, Canada, Israel, Netherlands, Spain, and France offered specific training courses. Implementation will begin with the U.S. course in June, 1994.

Also, the working group welcomed the creation of a Palestinian Water Authority consistent with the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles and expressed its intention to work with this new institution on multilateral water issues.

In closing, we would like to offer our deep felt appreciation to the Omanis, particularly to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Bin Alawi bin Abdullah and to the Head of the Omani delegation, Ambassador Al Khusaiby, for hosting this meeting - the first working group meeting held in the Gulf.