Regional Workshop on “Water Management”
In Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan
20-21 April, 2007
At KADRI Grand Hotel - Zahle
Opening Ceremony
Welcome speech of the president of LEBA_JICA- Mr. Kamal MOKDAD:
• Your Excellencies.
• Representative of the Japanese Embassy in Lebanon
• Representatives of JICA Syria and Jordan
• Dear Friends from JICA Syria and Jordan
• Dear colleagues and guests.
On behalf of the cultural cooperative of the Lebanese JICA alumni – LEBA-JICA, allow me to welcome you in Zahle, capital of the Beqaa-valley.
Our regional workshop today, dealing with such an important and vital issue, like water and water management lead us to evaluate very highly every person or organization contributing in the sustainable development of our countries.
We hope and wish that this workshop will represent a corner stone for building of a comprehensive and coherent system which insure a high efficiency responding to the requirements of our societies.
Last but not least, I would like to thank you for your presence and participation with us today, and hope that this workshop will lead to practical proposals which could be followed up and be able to enhance the bilateral efforts between JICA and our national, relevant institutions.
Thank you very much for your attendance.
Speech of the Representative of JICA Alumni Association in Jordan (JAAJ):
Dear attendance and colleagues:
In the behave of all JAAJ participants and my self, would like to convoy the best regards to you all wishing you all more success and prosperity of our region to be fair and peaceful to be kept in best conditions.
We in the region looking forward to conserve the resources especially water which is great in meaning and value As you know the water is very necessary for all sectors and with water we sharing to keep super and clean environment Which needed for all creatures and nature therefore we are here to cooperate with each other to assist in understanding the right meaning for water and it's use.
So we are very pleased to share you this important workshop hoping to cooperate with you to increase the ways of using waste water to be fruitful in Agriculture and Industry.
Now allow me to inform you a little information about our JAAJ which is very young because it was established in June last year.
So JAAJ is looking forward to reactivate with local community in Jordan, and with cooperation and support of JICA.
I'd like to indicate some of our activities carried out in the last seven months:
1) Two days workshop in identification of Japanese culture in one of the secondary girl school in Amman.
2) Entertainment activity for orphan centers.
3) Conducting tow days workshop for flower arrangement.
4) Conducting ICOL training course for JICA Alumni and their relatives which lasted tow months.
5) Conducting a one day activity workshop titled "Utilization from experience of Japan to reduce work accident and improve productivity".
6) Through this short duration we have conducting two General assembly meetings one for election and the other is an annual meeting.
At the end I'm looking forward to keep more and more communication and cooperation together.
Speech of the Representative of the Japanese Embassy- Mr.Yoshikazu HASUNUMA, Second Secretary.
Ladies and Gentleman,
It is a great honor for me to participate today in this regional workshop on "Water Management".
This workshop is organized by the people who attended training courses offered by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and learned the know-how and technology from Japanese experts. Those JICA Alumni are playing an important role by transferring this know-how to their countries and promoting friendship between this region and Japan.
I think it is a great achievement that those people in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan cooperated to hold this important workshop. I believe that this workshop will contribute to raise awareness on the issue of water, for the countries of the region.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Mr. Kamal Mokdad, President of LEBA-JICA, and all the people who participated in making this workshop happen.
I look forward to the successful completion of this workshop
Thank you
Speech of H.E. Minister of Energy and Water, Represented by Dr. Fadi Comair, General Director of Hydraulic and Electric Resources.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Colleagues,
I have the pleasure and the honor to represent H.E. Minister Mohammad Al Safadi in the regional workshop on "water Management" organized by LebaJica to discuss about water which constitutes a vital resource for Lebanon, These resources must be planned and managed in a global integrated approach with a quantitative, qualitative, coherent and balanced concept in order to secure sustainable development.
The Land of Cedars and water is the title of an adventure story that goes back to the drawn of time and Biblical quotations. Since olden times, the Lebanese have rationally managed their water resources. However, demographic growth, social and economic changes lead to a new situation in the 20th century. In an increasingly spoilt environment, water in Lebanon became a rare source and a limiting factor for development.
The Lebanese administration is currently undertaking an ambitious program that continuously defines policies, directions and expectation within the water sector and for which the stakes and dead-lines are becoming increasingly urgent.
Within the framework of the organization of the Lebanese water sector, a ten-year strategy that plans the construction of some thirty dams and hillside Lakes which should store a yearly average of 800 million m3 of water that will be distributed in times of drought was proposed. Moreover the plan includes the creation of a waste water collection network with the relative treatment plants spread throughout the Lebanese territory.
This treated water will be recycled for irrigation or for the artificial replenishment of coastal ground water.
The ten year strategy also sets down plans for the balanced management of this sector in low water periods and by during winter periods recuperating the water generally lost to the sea and using it to naturally or artificially replenish ground water. This is why it is necessary to publish a white paper on the issues of a new management of underground water usage.
Within the framework of the laws (221, 241 (2000) and 337 (2007) which initiated a new institutional policy in Lebanon, for four new Autonomous Water Boards were recently created and will be taking over the management, operations and maintenance, of drinking water supplies, sewage collection and irrigation networks within their respective operations areas whilst ensuring environmental preservation. Strategic plans for the good integrated and sustainable management of all of the country's water resources. A close work with the technical personnel of foreign Institutions such as the French Development Agency (AFD), the World Bank, the European Union through its EU water initiative program the Rhone Alpes regional Council and the USAID will be needed. A geographical Information System (GIS) for all of the water resources in Lebanon will be set up.
The administration must face up to the questions raised by the privatization of the water sector that the Lebanese Government intends to undertake.
Faced with the extremely serious nature of the problems linked to water shortage and if its no doubt tragic consequences due to the geopolitical issues within the region of the Near East, it is urgent that we increase our efforts in attempting to find means by which to eradicate this threat. The problem of water and possible solutions cannot be isolated from other issues, but must be included within a global development plan that involves regional hydro-diplomatic cooperation for the equitable sharing of this resource.
In the region of the Near East and North Africa, water must form a bond between people. This vital natural resource1must become a cause for "peace" appeasement and reconciliation. The only course that remains open to the countries of this region Is to find a way of dealing with the problems related to this rare resource, based on cooperation and on the technical and economic criteria concerning resources, availabilities, current and future needs, within the framework of integrated management and equitable sharing.
"Water Culture" must be the means by which to cultivate peace in the Middle East. We must give cooperation a serious boost if we wish to maintain peace. In learning to share water, the populations will also get to know each other and learn to live together in a climate of confidence, respect and prosperity.
We rely on your discussions about these challenges that facing the water sector in Lebanon and hope that the essence of your presentation would be useful to the process of Awareness that JICA is is implementing in the Middle East and Lebanon.
Wish you a good meeting,
God bless you all
Dr. Fadi Comair
General Director of Hydraulic and Electrical Resources
Opening Ceremony
• Welcome speech of the president of LEBA_JICA- Mr. Kamal MOKDAD
• Speech of the Representative of JICA Alumni Association in Jordan (JAAJ):.
• Speech of the Representative of JICA Syria Office.
• Speech of the Representative of the Japanese Embassy- Mr.Yoshikazu HASUNUMA, Second Secretary.
• Speech of H.E. Minister of Energy and Water, Represented by Dr. Fadi Comair, General Director of Hydraulic and Electric Resources.
Session 1: Water Management in the Arab Countries, Case Studies
Chairman: Eng. Bassam Jaber, Rapporteur: Eng. Ali Ghorayeb
• Environmental Legislation and Water Issues, Dr. Berj Hatjian, D.G. of the Ministry of Environment.
• The Lebanese Water Sector - Restructuring Process, Eng. Bassam Jaber, Former D.G. of the Ministry of Energy and Water.
• The Water Resources in Jordan - Problems and Solutions, Eng. Jabir Hmoud, Director of central workshop, Ministry of Water and Irrigation
• The Water Resources Information Center – Syria, Dr. Bachar Faiad, Director, Ministry of Irrigation.
Session 2: Water Management in the Arab Countries
Chairman: Dr. Yolla Ghorra, Rapportreur: Mss. Mirvat Kraydieh
• Effet De L'irrigation Sur La Coloration et Le Rendement Du Raisin De Table Dans La Plaine De La Bekaa (Liban), Dr. Yolla Ghorra, dean of USJ – faculty of agronomy.
• Wastewater Master plan and treatment management in Lebanon, Eng. Ismail Makki, CDR.
• Role of JICA in Supporting Human Capacity Building, Eng. Ali Ghrayeb, IT Administrator, MEW.
Session 3: Transboundary River Basin Management in the Arab Countries
Chairman: Dr. Fadi Comair, Rapporteur: Dr. Ali Haydar (A.U.B)
• Lebanese Case Study: Lessons Learned From The Negotiations On Transboundary Water, Eng. Bassam Jaber.
• Jordanian Case Study: The Jordan River Basin Part 1, Water Conflict And Negotiated Resolution, Dr. Munther J. Haddadin, Dr. Ahmed Bolad, Water management and environment, program director (NCARTT).
• Japan-Jordan Cooperation on Water Sector, Mr. Ushiki Hisao - JICA Jordan office (Japanese Expert on water management).
Field Visit organized by LEBAJICA & Litany River Authority
Eng. Kamal Karaa, Head Of Rural Development Department, Litany River Authority – Lebanon:
• IRWA Project: Main Objectives & Works In Lebanon,
• Litany River Authority Projects, (Karoun Dam).
Regional Workshop on “Water Management”
In Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan
20-21, April, 2007
Recommendations
1. Empower the role of JICA to establish a dedicated institute of research and training to support JICA alumni in their working fields and to transfer Japanese expertise in the water sectors management and other subjects to the benefiting countries (in Lebanon, Syria or Jordan), according to them National Strategies.
2. Permanent annual regular meeting for all JICA alumni associations: Lebanon, Syria and Jordan and others, to exchange experiences, thinking, and expertise.
3. JICA alumni association in Syria is willing to assist LEBAJICA in the field of capacity building.
4. Continue the efforts to protect water resources from environmental and industrial impacts, and to assure the proper investment of water resources through the application of integrated water management, and the introduction of information technology at the administrative and the technical levels.
5. Nominating the focal point committee to follow up the recommendations:
a. Eng. Ali Ghrayeb – LEBA-JICA Member - Lebanon
b. Dr. Mostapha Al-Aghbar – President of JAAS - Syria
c. Eng. Ramadan Eqeilan – President of JAAJ - Jordan