*EPF209 09/03/2002
Text: U.S. Says It Supports Clean Water Goals in Poor Countries
(Calls for immediate action) (420)

The United States says it is fully supporting global efforts to reduce by half by 2015 the proportions of people without access to clean water and basic sanitation adopted in the Johannesburg Plan of Action.

In a September 2 news release, the U.S. delegation to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, called on all countries to begin immediately identifying programs and resources necessary to implement this goal.

The delegation also appealed to public and private entities to form partnerships to meet the challenge.

Following is the text of the U.S. delegation's news release:

(begin text)

Delegation of the United States of America to the World Summit on Sustainable Development
Johannesburg, South Africa
August 26��September 4, 2002

2 September 2002

United States Acts to Provide Clean Water and Improved Sanitation

The United States announced today its full support for global actions to reduce by half by the year 2015 the proportions of people without access to safe water and basic sanitation. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, the United States called on all nations and public and private institution to join together to meet the challenge of providing safe drinking water and improved sanitation for millions of people in developing countries. The United States action helped forge a consensus for global action for water and sanitation adopted in the Johannesburg Plan of Action.

In announcing this action, the United States called on all countries to proceed immediately to identify programs and resources needed to implement this goal, just as the United States has done in its $970 million "Water for the Poor Initiative" in partnership with Japan and non-governmental groups, foundations and the private sector. This partnership will expand access to clean water and sanitation services, improve watershed management, and increase the productivity of water in industry and agriculture.

These steps are part of the new approach to development that President George W. Bush and other national leaders embraced at the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development in March 2002. This new approach is based on shared accountability among developed and developing countries. As President Bush has stated, "This new vision looks beyond arbitrary inputs from the rich and demands tangible outputs for the poor."

In announcing these actions, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky said: "We are encouraged that developed and developing countries alike are fully committed to identifying the means to achieve this goal. Our 'Water for the Poor' Initiative represents a challenge to others to match their actions to their words through concrete actions to improve the lives of people around the world."

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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