EU warns of water crisis in Mideast

BRUSSELS, Nov 19 (KUNA) -- The European Union Monday warned of increasing water scarcity in much of the Middle East and North Africa, which could lead to armed conflicts.
"Tensions and conflicts over access to and use of water continue to rise, including cross border effects of water related conflicts within countries, as the availability and quality of the world's water resources and ecosystems deteriorate, and the threat of water scarcity spreads," said the EU's Foreign Affairs Council, which met in Brussels today, in a statement.
"Construction of large dams in international rivers such as the Nile or Mekong can contribute to tensions among riparian States and the wider affected areas," it said.
The Council said it intends to enhance EU diplomatic engagement about water as a tool for peace, security and stability, and firmly condemns the use of water as a weapon of war.
"Destroying water infrastructures, polluting water or diverting watercourses in order to limit or prevent access to water could constitute violations of international law," it said.
The EU stands ready, it said, to work in partnership with others to promote sustainable water management, encouraging and supporting regional and international cooperation.
Good examples of such cooperation already exist in the Mediterranean basin and in Latin America, it noted. (pickup previous) nk.bs