Invitation

Dear Sir /Madame,

As you may know we have in our region more than four thousand islands, belonging to eight Mediterranean countries and hosting a population of 11 millions. These islands make approximately 6% of the total Mediterranean watersheds of countries surrounding the basin. They receive about 6% of the total precipitation of the basin and account for about 4,5 % of the total flow to the sea. Water is among the main limiting factors of the islands development.

Already within the Mediterranean 'Vision to Action' process that formed the regional input to the 2nd World Water Forum, The Hague, 2000, the Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (at that time MEDTAC) has elaborated through a regional consultation a "Framework for Action for Integrated Water Recourses Management (IWRM) in Mediterranean Islands". You will find more information on the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and GWP-Med by following the above links.

Keeping the aforementioned facts in mind and following the general concepts and methodologies of IWRM, we are approaching here the issue of water in islands with the expectation to better comprehend and address the matter in a systematic way through the 1st Experts Workshop of the GWP-Med Sub-Regional Working Group on Mediterranean Islands. The Workshop will focus on "Alternative Water Resources & The Impact of Tourism on Water in Mediterranean Islands" and is going to be held on 7-9 November 2001, in Nicosia, Cyprus, organized by MIO-ECSDE and MWN.

An Exhibition on Water Issues in the Mediterranean is organized in conjunction with the Experts Workshop by MIO-ECSDE and the Federation of Ecological Organisations of Cyprus. The events are supported by the Global Water Partnership, the Commission of the European Union / DG ENV and the Water Supply & Sewerage Corporation of Athens (EYDAP).

In view of your interest and involvement in the issue, we are happy to invite you to participate at the Experts Workshop and Exhibition. Please fill in and return by e-mail or fax the Registration Form, stating also if you wish to have your travel and accommodation expenses covered by the organizers. We will do our best to accommodate as many requests by experts or related stakeholders as possible.

We are looking forward to welcoming you in Cyprus.