Université de Droit, d'Economie et des Sciences d'Aix-Marseille - France

Université Saint Esprit de Kaslik - Liban

International Congress on Water

International Law - Education

Aix en Provence, 30 January 1998

Subject : International Congress on Water, Lebanon - June 1998

Sir,

Repeated warnings of a global water crisis due to a scarcity of non-polluted freshwater should lead to the adoption of urgent measures to deal with it. Indeed, the increasing number of people suffering from a lack of non-polluted freshwater resources has placed certain countries in an irreversibly critical state whereas others are either in a state of war or preparing for one. Mr Ismaël Serageldin, Vice-President of the World Bank, has made a number of declarations in the past several years concerning the urgent need to find solutions.

A number of academics have taken upon themselves since many years to alert several national and international institutions to this situation, pointing out notably that "Water is not an eternally pure and inexhaustible gift of God".

Following the declaration of UNESCO's Director-General : "Now is the time for action, not reflection" (International Journal Hydroplus, November 1997), I took the initiative, in my capacity as representative of an International University Institute of Water, to organise in Lebanon from 18-20 June 1998, an International Congress with the following two themes :

International and Comparative Law on International Watercourses Education for a Shared and Protected Water Culture

The Congress is under the high patronage of H.E. Mr Elias HRAOUI, President of the Lebanese Republic and the auspices of UNESCO, whose Director-General, Mr Federico Mayor is to deliver the opening speech.

The Saint Esprit de Kaslik University (Lebanon) and the University of Aix-Marseille (France) are responsible for the organisation of this Congress which will be held at the Kaslik University.

In case your country would like to participate in this International Congress and/or propose a keynote speaker on one of the subjects mentioned above, I would request you to communicate the addresses of the Secretariat of the Congress as indicated in the attached document.

I would be grateful to you to give this matter all your attention, and would like to insist particularly on the necessity of an urgent reply.

I am entirely at your disposition for any further information that you may require and beg to remain, Sir,

Yours sincerely,

Professor Jean A. Vergnes, Director
Advisor to the Rector of Aix-Marseille Academy
Director of IUI-Eau

Institut Universitaire International de l'Eau - Université de Droit, d'Économie et des Sciences d'Aix-Marseille - Tél. : 33-4 42382081 - Fax: 33-4 42382898 - E-Mail : [email protected]