OIC water ministers conference concludes in Istanbul

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) concluded a conference of ministers responsible for water in Islamic countries in Istanbul between March 5-6, to adopt the OIC Water Vision. The OIC Water Vision was approved, the final statement of the conference said. It offers a comprehensive perceptive of diversity of water environments in the OIC member countries, and means of dealing with the challenges in this field. The statement also called on the member countries to enhance activities recommended in the Water Vision, like further cooperation in the researchers on water, besides organizing special conferences and forums on that matter. It also called on OIC member countries to cooperate and coordinate with the organization's various institutions specialized in the water affairs, besides guaranteeing a political commitment and spreading social awareness on water consumption at a larger scale. It called for achieving water safety, and sustainable management of water resources, besides launching national campaign that works to enhance rationalization of water usage. The statement requested from the chairman of the OIC current session of ministers responsible for water and the OIC General Secretariat to determine the powers of OIC Water Council to be discussed during the next OIC water ministers conference. The participants asked the OIC Secretary General to emphasize the positions of the OIC Water Vision in the international forums. The two-day conference was attended by ministers and experts from more than 62 Islamic countries, including Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar, Sudan, Syria, Libya Oman and Turkey