1. From Johannesburg to Kyoto - Reflection into the Ministerial Conference

Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Masaaki Nakayasu, the Executive Manager of the Secretariat of the Ministerial Conference, WWF3. I am very happy to have an opportunity to provide information and to seek opinions on linkage between WWF3 and MC. Discussion on water issues for WSSD in Johannesburg will be followed by WWF3 to be held in Kyoto in March, 2003. And then, discussion in WWF3, especially commitments and actions towards resolving water problems around the world, should be followed by MC. Therefore, I think it is very important to ensure the linkage between WWF3 and MC.

2. Poverty eradication in the discussion for WSSD

Let me first review current discussion on water for WSSD. It is true that one of the main reasons why the increase in the mortality of children is attributed to water related disease caused by water scarcity and water pollution. The most seriously affected people by water problems are always the vulnerable such as children, women, the aged and the poor. Therefore, MDG indicates the target to halve the proportion of the people lacking access to safe drinking water, and it is claimed that the target should be complemented by improved sanitation. So, water must be dealt with one of the main issues in WSSD. 

3. Protecting and managing natural resource base of economic and social development in the discussion for WSSD

There are no substitutes for water. Water, that is an environmental resource as an essential element of life, composes a body of flora and fauna as well as supports ecosystems. Water, that is an economic and social resource as a medium of vitality, maintains human activities in dairy life as well as facilitates industry and agriculture. One of the key water issues is improvement of the efficiency of agricultural water use, because agricultural water shares 70% of the total water use, while securing food supply with population growth requires more irrigation water. On the other hand, water sometimes brings about risks to our lives. A report says that the total damage caused by natural disasters in the 90s was 608 billion US dollars, showing a trend of increase. More attention should be paid to the fact that Asia including Indonesia is the region most severely affected by natural disasters. Some of water problems such as those in international watercourses cannot be dealt with by a single nation. International community, therefore, should establish a scheme of international cooperation to address such problems.

4. What makes MC significant?

Each Minister is expected to play an important role in water governance in his/her own country. In this sense, MC can provide a significant opportunity for the Ministers to exchange opinions and to share experiences. However, it is said that water is everyone's business, while water management is one of the basic roles of governments. WWF3 has been exploring a new challenge to address many kinds of aspects of water issues, based on the three basic principles on WWF3: open to all; created by participants and; vision to commitment and action. MC is not a single event, but it should be closely related to WWF3. The session statements of Forum sessions which discuss the active themes will be transmitted to MC. It is also important to have another opportunity for both Forum participants and Ministers to communicate directly in a dialogue. In addition, MC will be effective and significant by the active participation of the Ministers who will be personally inspired by the Dialogue, so that they can dispatch politically strong messages in order to raise public awareness on water issues. It is also expected that Forum Participants will play an active role in the implementation of ‘Commitment and Action’.

5. Organization of MC and MSD

As informed at the Bonn Conference, the Japanese Government has already announced to hold the MC. The MC will be divided into two parts: Ministerial meeting including plenary sessions and several thematic sessions and Senior official meeting. One of the most attractive events related to the Forum and the MC is the MSD, the Dialogue between the representatives of the Forum Participants and the Ministers.

6. Schedule of MC and MSD

The Dialogue will be organized on the 21st of March, prior to MC, by the national Steering Committee of the WWF3 and the Japanese Government as shown. I think this will provide a very good opportunity to ensure the linkage between WWF3 and MC, by transmitting the results of WWF3 to MC. Of course, there will be some sessions in the Forum, which encourage some Ministers to participate in, such as the proposed session on ‘Water, Food and Agriculture’ inviting some Ministers in charge of agricultural policies, and that on ‘Water Development Partners Panel’ inviting some Ministers in charge of development policies, and then the session reports or statements of these sessions will be transmitted to MC and through the dialogue. However, these sessions should be clearly organized, being separated from MC.

7. How should MSD be organized?

We have recognized the importance of direct communication among Multi-Stakeholders including the Ministers in order to bridge WWF3 over the MC. In this sense, we are planning to conduct MSD by employing Brainstorming style meeting. What should be discussed is yet to be decided. So, I would like to ask you to participate in the following brainstorming meeting. Thank you very much.