Prime Minister’s Office Communications Department Translation July 13 2008

prime minister’s office communications department translation july 13, 2008 prime minister ehud olmert’s speech at the m

Prime Minister’s Office
Communications Department
Translation
July 13, 2008
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s Speech at the Mediterranean Union Summit
The Honorable President of France, Chairman of the Mediterranean Union
Summit,
The Honorable President of Egypt, Co-Chairman of the Mediterranean
Union Summit,
Leaders of the Mediterranean Countries,
Leaders of the European Countries,
Distinguished Guests,
Honorable Chairmen,
I came here today, to Paris – the capital of France, from Jerusalem –
the capital of the State of Israel, in order to take part in the
vision of courageous men. On behalf of the people of Israel, I would
like to express our tremendous appreciation for your hard work and
your sincere efforts to realize the vision of regional cooperation – a
vision of hope, a vision of peace and closeness among the peoples of
the Mediterranean.
Members of the Summit,
According to Jewish tradition, and for many generations, we believe in
a value called tikkun olam, or repairing the world. This means that
each and every one of us is responsible not only for ourselves, but
also for repairing the world and solving its crises.
The global crises in the fields of energy, the climate and food
threaten us all. However, in addition to these, the Middle East faces
additional problems such as water scarcity and an expansion of its
deserts. Israel, like its neighbors, which must deal with these
challenges on a daily basis, encouraged the finest Israeli researchers
to conduct intensive research & development in the field of water
technology.
Thanks to this experience, Israel currently has unique experience in
managing a limited water economy, reclamation of sewage for
agricultural irrigation, desalinization, and in advanced agricultural
irrigation technologies. The State of Israel is successful in reusing
sewage at the highest rate in the world – 75%.
We pay special attention to desalination technologies, and by 2012,
approximately two-thirds of the amount of water for domestic use (600
million cubic meters) will be derived from desalination. In Israel,
the largest, most advanced and cheapest reverse osmosis desalination
plant in the world operates, and in one year an additional plant will
be established – one even larger. The cost of desalination, which has
become highly attractive at less than 70 cents per cubic meter of
desalinated water, led to the solution of desalination becoming the
most concrete and attainable solution.
Agricultural development in the Negev, the “Israeli desert”, presented
us with difficult challenges. Drip irrigation, a revolutionary Israeli
invention which only grows more sophisticated over time, contributes
to the maximal utilization of irrigation water – 70% to 80%, as
opposed to 40% with regular irrigation – around the world.
I do not list these accomplishments in order to tell you of our
successes. These achievements and others can significantly reduce the
water problem and the increased desertification of the Middle East, as
well as in other areas in the world; improve agricultural production;
and reduce poverty around the globe.
To this end, we must create partnerships and cooperate with our
neighbors on matters of water technology; we must integrate Israeli
inventions which are used in many countries around the world,
including in the European Union – in the Middle Eastern countries as
well.
Indeed, from the earliest times until today, the Middle East has been
witness to tensions, conflicts and even wars waged over water
distress. However, today we have the technological solutions to water
shortages and desertification in our hands, and we must discover a way
to cooperate and work together – governments, academia and
businesspeople – so that we can take full advantage of the accumulated
knowledge to improve the use of water for the benefit of our citizens,
and primarily – in order to prevent unnecessary tensions.
Distinguished Leaders,
The foundation for good relations between peoples and the building of
long-term interests is supported, in great part, by economic
cooperation. I believed so when I signed agreements for industrial
cooperation with my colleagues in Egypt and Jordan, and I still
believe so today when I stand at the head of a country with an
impressive scope of trade with other countries in the Mediterranean
region.
I believe that we must expand the framework for this cooperation, not
only with the countries with which Israel already conducts economic
and commercial ties, but also with those with whom we do not have
ties.
I take this opportunity to respond to statements made here during this
important summit: the State of Israel is committed to continuing the
process of political negotiations in order to bring about a stable,
speedy and comprehensive solution to the historic conflict with the
Palestinian people, represented here by their president, Dr. Mahmoud
Abbas, and with the Arab countries who have yet to sign peace accords
with us.
We are in the middle of negotiations. We will continue the
negotiations – they are important, they are serious, and they are
being conducted with caution and responsibility. I know that all those
who are seated here around this table, and many who are not here –
first and foremost, the United States of America, headed by President
George Bush and led by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice – are
working towards, wish for and strive for our success in reaching an
agreement which will lead to greater stability, to an atmosphere of
greater justice and calm, to a cessation of violence and to peace for
us and the Palestinians founded on the vision of two states for two
people: the State of Israel – the state of the Jewish people, and a
Palestinian state for the Palestinian people.
We are doing so; we will continue to do so with all Arab countries
with which we have yet to sign peace accords.
Israel may be a young country – one which recently celebrated its 60th
anniversary – but it has managed to develop many capabilities.
Together with these capabilities, Israel also comes to the table with
a large measure of good-will – the good-will to create partnerships
with countries so that there will be economic prosperity and stability
in the Middle East.
Any great accomplishment seems impossible until one individual stands
up, determines a goal and makes it a reality. This individual is each
and every one of us, Fellow Heads of State – not tomorrow, not in the
future, not when the processes have been completed, not when all the
disagreements have been ended – but today! Today we must act to create
bridges between our nations; today we bear the responsibility for the
welfare of our peoples; today we must work together for the Middle
East and the entire Mediterranean region – for ourselves, for our
children, for the coming generations.
Here, in Paris, today, I call, together with you, for the creation of
a new economic horizon for the entire region, and I thank you, sir,
President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, for your initiative, your
leadership, your determination and your strength, together with your
Co-Chair, my friend, Hosny Mubarak – to hold this Summit and reach
this starting point which can lead to agreement, cooperation and peace
for our peoples.
Thank you very much.
3 Kaplan St. Hakirya, Jerusalem 91950