Honorable Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for the Natural Sciences Ms. Flavia Schlegel,
Honorable Deputy Minister of Education, Research & Religious Affairs, Mr. Theodossis Pelegrinis,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is our shared belief that problems relevant to water management cannot be solved without taking the intricate interaction of socioeconomic and political parameters into account. To be exact, managing such problems does not solely depend on one single field of science but it is rather contingent on interactions given that respective solutions pertain to various fields of knowledge and call for synergies and cooperation between academia, experts in water management and decision-makers. These are the main reasons why the University of Thessaloniki established the Center for Integrated Water Resources Management back in 2011.
Its mission is to help IWRM science and practice advance to address water-related challenges through regional/international/global action involving innovation, interdisciplinary research and networking.
We, the citizens of Thessaloniki, are very pleased with the designation of the Aristotle University Center for IWRM as a Category 2 Center under the auspices of UNESCO. It is going to help manage our city’s water resources while the Center’s operation promotes and showcases the role of our area as an educational and research pole of attraction yet again through this new addition of a global standards facility in the vicinity of CERTH, CEDEFOP and so many others.
Dear guests,
Drinking water is most important and the greatest of resources for mankind since it permeates and is linked to all kinds of social, economic and environmental activity. Water is fundamental, a prerequisite for the life of every living organism on our planet and as long as it is there it facilitates social and technological advances while its absence hinders such progress. Moreover, water is a source of prosperity and cooperation while the absence thereof leads to poverty and conflict.
Therefore, the designation of the existing Centre for Integrated Water Resources Management of Aristotle University as a Category 2 Center in line with UNESCO standards in Thessaloniki is a major challenge and great responsibility for the Hellenic Republic.
Let me, for my part, in my capacity as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, express my satisfaction with this Agreement and assure you all that I fully support the operation of the Category 2 Center for Integrated Water Resources Management.
September 16, 2016