By declaring 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation, the United Nations General Assembly recognizes the broad benefits of cooperation in the water domain for achieving the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed goals, and calls Members States and all concerned stakeholders to strengthen dialogue and partnerships.

FORBES: World Water Day 2013: Water Can Be Fought Over or Shared, But Cooperation Brings More Benefits for All

Furthermore, it is all the more urgent to take action in this domain because 50% of the biodiversity and fresh water of the planet is concentrated in this region of the world.

UNESCO: Social and Human Sciences