Address by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman at the Water Cooperation Agreement signing ceremony
Nairobi, 4 September 2009
Your Excellencies the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Water and Irrigation, Distinguished Guests and Dear Friends,
I am very pleased to participate here today at this signing of an agreement on water cooperation between Kenya and Israel. This water cooperation agreement will help not only to strengthen our ties in this sphere, but also our cordial ever-growing bonds of friendship.
The friendship between Israel and Kenya has grown and flourished over several decades. These warm ties go back to the days when both our countries were newly established states that freed ourselves from foreign rule and the ravages of exploitation and racism, and built our modern societies in keeping with our cultural and historic legacies.
Our cooperation in such important areas as agriculture and water has been very close and productive. We are both very interested in bringing this cooperation to an even higher level. Indeed, Israel, as a country which is itself not rich in water resources as well as other raw materials, had to from the very outset as a newly reborn state develop its capabilities in technology and techniques for irrigation and water management. These developments were extended and improved to such an extent that today Israel is at the forefront of water technology. In fact, in November this year we will be hosting our 5th International Water Technologies and Environmental Control Exhibition (WATEC) and I urge your participation.
Kenya has benefited and can benefit even more from its cooperation with Israel in this regard, so as to overcome Kenya's severe drought problems, the lack of water in its cities as well as in rural areas, and its shortfalls in crop yield. Her Excellency, Kenya's Minister of Water and Irrigation saw for herself Israeli technology and techniques when she visited the 2009 AGRITECH Exhibition just four months ago.
I will conclude by welcoming again the signing of this water cooperation agreement, which I am sure will enhance further the already excellent cooperation and bilateral ties between Kenya and Israel.