Nahr el-Kabir is a coastal Mediterranean river, the basin of which is shared between Syria and Lebanon. The watershed is 991 km² wide, 40% of which is situated on Lebanese territory and 60% in Syria. A 2002 agreement signed between the two neighbouring countries, which foresees the construction of a dam and a surface water reservoir, is a good example of integrative negotiations.

The role-play participants were invited to address integrated water management and upstream-downstream water management versus North bank-South bank politics in a side discussion of a negotiation process that would lead towards the establishment of a Joint Committee, surrounding water quality issues and pollution alleviation and financing.

Mr. Yusuf Al-Mooji (Youssef el-Mooji), representative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA), delivered a keynote introducing the main characteristics of the Nahr el-Kabir Basin [PDF format - 87,5 KB].
:: See the PowerPoint presentation [PPT format - 2,22 MB].

The role-play was developed and guided by Eng. Evelyne Lyons, CHORUS Management, France, and Mr. Dominique Fougeirol, BURGEAP, France.

The Session and debriefing were chaired by Dr. Steve Kadivar, senior strategic planner, who also acted as rapporteur.