U.S. Delegation Attends the 4th World Water Forum“I am pleased to welcome the U.S. Delegation to the World Water Forum in Mexico City. Twenty-six official delegates representing nine government agencies are here to share information, offer technical assistance and collaborate with some of the world’s experts on water issues. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky heads our delegation, which also includes nearly 50 U.S. government technical experts,” said U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza.
Mexico City, Mexico, March 15, 2006. – The large delegation attending the 4th World Water Forum demonstrates the U.S. government’s commitment to international efforts to provide safe water and sanitation.
“The United States is determined to help nations that are struggling with poverty. Access to clean water and adequate sanitation along with sound water management are key components to addressing poverty and disease. The United States supports achieving internationally agreed goals at the Water Forum that are essential for human health and dignity, economic growth, and regional stability,” added Ambassador Garza.
Senior officials and technical experts from the following agencies are participating in the Forum: U.S. Department of State; U.S. Agency for International Development; Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Forest Service; Department of Health and Human Services; U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; U.S. Geological Survey; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The World Water Forum is the largest international meeting on water issues in the world and occurs every three years. This year it includes over 150 technical sessions and courses, partnership meetings, exhibit booths, and a Ministerial Conference that Under Secretary Dobriansky will attend. Many of the technical sessions demonstrate the results of U.S. partnerships with other organizations and countries, including joint work with the World Health Organization and the U.S-Japan partnership. Dobriansky will also co-chair a roundtable discussion among Ministers on mobilizing resources for water and sanitation and will participate in the launch of the Water Action and Networking Database.
Added Ambassador Garza, “The theme of the Forum this year is ‘local action,’ a focus the U.S. strongly supports – building capacity at the local level combined with entrepreneurship will be key to addressing many of the water challenges facing the world today. In Mexico, as throughout the
world, the U.S. government supports local action and partnership through activities stressing bilateral cooperation managed by the U.S. Embassy.”
* * * * * For more information on recent U.S. Embassy Mexico activities related to water, see:
http://mexico.usembassy.gov../ep060215water.html
http://mexico.usembassy.gov../ep051007Coahuila.html
http://mexico.usembassy.gov../ep050421earthday.html
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