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Jordan to host Mediterranean union water meet in December
Amman (AFP) Nov 12, 2008 European Union and Mediterranean states have agreed "in principle" to hold a water conference in Jordan next month after it was called off over regional tensions, a senior official said on Wednesday. The ministerial conference was due to take place last month in the kingdom at Swaimeh on the banks of the Dead Sea, but it was postponed due to tensions between the Arab League and Israel, according to officials. "It has been agreed in principle to hold the conference in Jordan on December 18," Jordanian Minister of State for Information Nasser Judeh told reporters, without specifying the venue. "Problems related to the conference and the postponement have been solved and the Arab League will take part as an active member." The water meeting was mentioned in the July 13 declaration at the Paris summit marking the creation of the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM). The Arab League said last month that the 22-member organisation would attend meetings of the UPM despite objections from Israel, which said the League would oppose the Jewish state's participation. But at a November 4 meeting in Marseille, France, UPM foreign ministers struck a deal for Israel and the Arab League to take part side-by-side. Ministers from the Mediterranean's mainly-Arab southern rim agreed to back the Spanish city of Barcelona's candidacy to host the Union in exchange for the post of secretary-general going to a southern member. They also clinched a deal on granting the Arab League a full-time seat at the forum. Israel agreed in exchange for one of five deputy secretary-general posts for an initial three-year period, possibly renewable. The water meeting seeks to establish the broad framework of a long-term strategy for water in the Mediterranean and to establish the first concrete plans in the sector. The UPM has 43 members: the 27 European Union states and 16 Mediterranean nations. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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One dead, five hurt after Mali authorities open fire on protest
Bamako (AFP) Nov 10, 2008One person died and five were injured Monday when security forces opened fire on a protest over plans to privatise drinking water distribution in northwestern Mali, hospital and official sources said. |
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