2nd Istanbul International Water Forum

We completed successfully the First Istanbul Water Forum which has been made into a brand and a tradition to be performed biennially in February 2009 just before the 5. World Water Forum. This international meeting, in virtue of its being a platform water culture is developed, became an opportunity for global information exchange and for raising the necessary political awareness on water.      

Water is an indispensable part of human life and many of its activities. Water is the source of life; in addition, the other name of peace. Clean and healthy water supply accepted as a development standard for countries is a vital subject. Because, today in our world in which 2.5 billion people do not obtain healthy water, more than 5 million people many of whom are children lose their lives because of the water-related diseases every year. Thus, Millennium Development Goals underline this matter. It is aimed at providing half of the people who do not obtain healthy water to achieve this in the year 2015. By considering this picture in mind, the importance of accelerating the studies for the effective use of water with the aim of eliminating water scarcity and of decreasing the pressure on water resources can be understood better.

Global water problems deserves transparent, participatory and future and solution oriented negotiations. A developed cooperation among countries on water resources will serve as a model for other sectors. Turkey endeavors for becoming water as a cooperation tool that will help the promotion of stability in her region and the world. Therefore, one of the main reason of the identification of the theme of 5. World Water Forum as "Bridging Divides for Water" was to make a contribution for the use of water for peace, stability, friendship and the warming of the nations towards each other. 

Istanbul is a capital of culture which has been shaped by water and has a story on water in all her pages of history. So, it is very meaningful to hold an international water forum under the concept of "İstanbul Perspective". The 2. Istanbul International Water Forum whose main theme is "Regional Cooperation on Water" aims at dealing the water issues and at finding a common solution by providing a platform for more coordination and cooperation among main international and local water partners in Turkey and around. During this Forum, the methods of effective use and protection of "water" in the way that it makes contributions to peace, security and cooperation among countries will be discussed in every degree.

The 2. Istanbul International Water Forum to be held in May 2011 will be an internationally participated occasion in which both water issues on agenda will be handled and water culture will be increased with water-related cultural and social activities. 

With the wishes of a successful Forum, I hope you to be precious like water.