The Deputy Special Representative of The Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. Ghulam Isaczai | UNECE & ESCWA Session 3rd Baghdad International Water Conference

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests, good morning.

Let me begin by thanking ESCWA & UNECE colleagues for inviting me to speak at this important session on Iraq’s accession to the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, Associated Next Steps, and the importance of SDG indicator 6.5.2 for measuring and driving transboundary water cooperation in the region.

The March 2023 UN Water Conference in New York emphasized the importance of cooperation, especially at transboundary level as a prerequisite for ensuring sustainabledevelopment, regional integration, building lasting peace and promoting cooperation in other areas.

The conference also emphasized the importance of promoting the exchange of information, experiences, and good practices.

It also called for the establishment of cooperation agreements where they do not exist as well as strengthening basin organizations on the principles of international law and the UN Water Conventions.

The conference further called on member states to accede and implement the two conventions as key instruments to accelerate cooperation.

Meanwhile, as I also mentioned in my opening remarks yesterday, I would like to commend Iraq for acceding to the UN Water Convention.

The implementation of the Convention offers new opportunities in boosting Iraq’s domestic water management and governance frameworks, as well as a solid basis for strengthening cooperation with Iraq’s riparian countries.

We as the UN family (UN Iraq, UNECE, ESCWA) are very proud to have been part of this outstanding achievements by facilitating the needed steps for Iraq’s accession to the convention and by supporting the Iraqi Government with continuous legal, technical and policy advice.

Iraq must now actively use the Convention and its tools.

A prerequisite for this will be the availability of national capacity to advance implementationof the Convention.

It is therefore extremely promising that Iraq has established an Inter-ministerial Committee for the Implementation of the Water Convention, which gathers all the main stakeholders concerned with water management.

I encourage the Committee to lead and guide their efforts at national and transboundary level.

Facilitating regional dialogue and cooperation, including on issues of environment, water, and the adverse impacts of climate change is also enshrined in the SC Resolution 2631 UNAMI mandate.

Hence, the UN stands ready to support Iraq’s efforts in the implementation of theConvention, and identification of priorities, both for national and transboundary water management, and an associated plan for its implementation.

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests,

There is an urgent need to jointly promote national and regional projects related to water and climate adaptation measures, while using the Convention’s advantages and tools to work towards regional cooperation and integration.

As mentioned by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani yesterday, the country was engaged for too long in conflicts which distracted the country ‘s attention from the important water issue.

Now it is the time to build on the Convention and focus attention and resources on water issues which are vital for the country’s socio-economic development and building sustainable peace.

Iraq, being the pioneer in the region to accede to the Convention is also a promising development for the whole region.

I encourage other countries to follow Iraq and join this important international framework.

Finally, I am looking forward to fruitful discussions and to tomorrow’s 1st inter-ministerial workshop on the implementation of the Convention.

Thank you.