Jordan Times
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Jordan’s Washington embassy hosts book launch
AMMAN (JT) — The embassy of Jordan, in
cooperation with the Resources for the Future Press, hosted the launch of a book
edited by former minister of water and irrigation Munther J. Haddadin on
Wednesday.
“Water Resources in Jordan: Evolving Policies for Development, the Environment
and Conflict Resolution,” covers numerous topics such as the population-water
resources equation in Jordan, institutional and legal frameworks as well as
social and environmental issues.
Together with other prominent Jordanian and international water professionals,
Haddadin offers a comprehensive multidisciplinary book to address water policy
in Jordan, according to a statement released by the embassy.
It introduces the term “shadow water” to mean the scarce indigenous water
resources that the import of agricultural and industrial commodities saves or
replaces.
This volume also brings into focus the water conflict between Jordan and its
neighbours, primarily Syria and Israel. The resolution of each conflict is
analysed, and recommendations are made for implementation of the agreements.
The book also shows how financially profitable it can be to treat water as a
tradable commodity, to be exchanged peaceably across international borders, the
statement said.
Haddadin, a recognised authority on water resources in Jordan and the region,
has held many senior level positions related to water policy, including
president and chairman of the board of the Jordan Valley Authority from 1982 to
1987, and minister of water and irrigation from 1997 to 1998.
Haddadin also headed the Jordanian team on water, energy and environment in the
bilateral negotiations with Israel in 1991 to 1995.
Haddadin is currently a consultant and a courtesy professor in the Department of
Geosciences at Oregon State University and an affiliate professor at the
University of Oklahoma.
The book launch will mark the beginning of the embassy’s cultural series for
this fall.
The cultural series, organised by the Jordan Information Bureau, seeks to
introduce the Washington, DC audience to the different aspects of the
socio-political and cultural heritage of Jordan and the wider Arab and Muslim
worlds.