Multilateral Working Group
on Water Resources, Hammamet, Tunisia

(May 16, 1996)

Press Statement of the Gavelholder

The Group agreed to two new projects. The United States introduced an initiative to expand public awareness of water issues, particularly conservation of water. Among others, the Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and Egyptian delegations indicated their desire to work together on such a project, which would also highlight the cooperation occurring through the multilateral peace process. The parties welcomed an offer by Tunisia to host the first meeting of experts to explore next steps to implement this new regional initiative. In a second new project, France will finance a major effort to manage critical changes, such as pollution crises or system damage, in drainage areas and river basins. The project will assist the Palestinians, Israelis, and Jordanians.

The participants also reviewed progress in a number of projects already underway, including the Middle East Desalination Research Center being established in Oman under the auspices of the Group. Several of the Group's participants have pledged a total of fifteen million dollars in support of the Center, which has already begun region-wide training courses. A regional data banks project focusing on Jordan, Israel and the West Bank and Gaza has begun to produce substantial results, including development of Palestinian capacity to collect and manage water data. The United States, the European Union, Canada, and Norway have financed the data banks project.

The Water Resources Working Group is one of five such groups established in January 1992, shortly after the Madrid Peace Conference. In addition to water, the groups cover environment, regional economic development, refugees, and arms control and regional security. They are designed to complement and support the bilateral negotiations by increasing practical cooperation on topics of regional interest. Tunisia has hosted three plenary meetings in the multilateral track since these talks began.