§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the recent conference on the future of the Nile; and what bilateral discussions he has had with each of the participating countries involved in the conference. [160942]
§ Hilary BennOfficials and Ministers from the Nile Basin countries meet frequently within the framework of the Nile Basin Initiative to discuss co-operation on the complex issues relating to the Nile.
The annual Nile Council of Ministers meeting begins on 18 March 2004 in Nairobi, and will continue previous discussions on how best to use the Nile basin for poverty alleviation, resource protection, and mutually beneficial gains including promoting regional integration and reducing potential conflict.
The UK has taken part in technical and political discussions in the region and will be participating in the Nile Basin Trust Fund committee meeting in Nairobi 32W from 16–18 March, which precedes the Council of Ministers meeting, and includes a session with them on the final day of the conference.
The UK is providing some financial support to the Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office in Addis Ababa for capacity building, and will be providing additional funding through the Nile Basin Trust Fund, to assist with water resources management and socio-economic development across the basin.