2 HISTORY OF MEKONG COOPERATION IRBP Course PP 6.1

3 Int’l River Basin Organizations There are now over 260 international river basins. Together they cover 45 percent of the earth’s land surface Carry 80 percent of its fresh water. They include parts of 145 nations, 21 of which lie entirely within a shared basin.

4 ROLES OF RIVER BASIN ORGANIZATIONS Provision of common arena for member states to regularly meet and discuss issues related to their shared water resources. Promoting information sharing among various countries and agencies Developing a co-ordinated water resource development and management scheme

5 ROLES OF RBOs CONT. Securing assistance from donor countries and development aid agencies Resolution of conflicts among member states Sharing of costs and benefits in water resources development/management

Mekong Committee 1978 Interim Mekong Committee 1995 Mekong River Commission Birth of Mekong Cooperation

7 Mekong Committee 1957 Committee for Coordination and Investigation of Mekong River Goal: "formulation, investigation, coordination, supervision and control of water resources development plans for the LMB"

8 Interim Mekong Committee Joint Declaration of Principles for Utilization of the Waters of the LMB – Legal framework for cooperation 1975: Cambodia withdrew from Mekong Committee Thailand, Lao PDR and Viet Nam formed Interim Mekong Committee

9 Mekong River Commission 1991 Cambodia asked to rejoin 1992 – search for new agreement framework – Rise of ASEAN as regional framework – Increased economic development of region – China launched construction of Manwan Dam April signing of Mekong Agreement established Mekong River Commission – international organization (4 countries) – reports to Council of Ministers – Joint Committee and National Mekong Committees

10 MRC Organisational Structure JOINT COMMITTEE (Members at level of Head of Department or higher) COUNCIL (Members at Ministerial and Cabinet Level) National Mekong Committee Secretariats NATIONAL MEKONG COMMITTEES (NMC) (Member Agencies) DONOR CONSUL- TATIVE GROUP (Donor countries and cooperating institutions) Government of Cambodia Government of Laos Government of Thailand Government of Vietnam Mekong River Com- mission Secretariat

11 Characteristics of 95 Agreement An intergovernmental agreement 06 chapters and 42 articles. Ground was laid for a more responsible and sustainable management and development: Codification of existing Inter.l water law principles and emerging principles; Provide for a joint permanent mechanism (policy & tech.)for Mekong river basin management; Mechanism for dispute settlement;

12 Goals of the Mekong Agreement Equitable sharing of Mekong water Maintaining ecological balance Social and economic well-being Cooperation and interdependent growth Balanced development, based on understanding of the resource

Agreement and sustainable development Four countries agreed to: “Cooperate.. in the sustainable development, utilisation, management and conservation of the Mekong River Basin water and related resources” Framework agreement which sets out principles, not details

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15 ChallengesChallenges Before 1995 joint investigations After 1995 joint planning coordinated implementation environment protection prevention and cessation of harmful effects adoption of rules for reasonable and equitable use of the river system and for the maintenance of flows on the mainstream freedom of navigation increased cooperation with upstream countries