A decade ago, my government joined with the governments of Oman, Israel, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to establish this Center for the benefit of all the people of the Middle East. Together with the European Union, we undertook this concrete action to support regional cooperation on an issue of concern to all on the scarcity of water. Since its founding, the Center has supported nearly 60 research and development projects involving 124 research institutions in 31 countries. Your efforts have helped to foster cooperation and understanding, to advance higher education and exchange, and indeed, to promote peace and stability and hope for a better life for all peoples in the Middle East. The fact that the Center is now celebrating its tenth anniversary is a powerful testament to our governments' longstanding commitment to the future of the Middle East. On behalf of the American people, I congratulate you on your achievements.

The Sultanate of Oman welcomes the 10th anniversary of the Middle East Desalination Research Center, and I offer my warmest congratulations to the Center, to its members, leadership, and staff on the achievements of the last 10 years. I am very proud to reaffirm what I said 10 years ago: that we view the Center as an important contribution to regional cooperation in relation to the vital issue of water, and as a tangible symbol of its founders' commitment to a peace process in the Middle East.

"The Center has served as an important vehicle to pursue the goals of the Middle East Peace Process and has brought about many fruitful and concrete results in the area of desalination training and research. Japan commends the significant role which the Center has played during the past ten years and is confident that it will continue to be an important institution in the Middle East."

The Government of the Republic of Korea extends its heartfelt congratulations to MEDRC on the 10th anniversary of its establishment. On this auspicious occasion, the Korean government highly commends the pivotal role that MEDRC plays in research projects and training activities that involve desalination. Desalination projects along with power generation have been one of the main tasks contributing to sustainable development in the region. The Korean government has a strong conviction that MEDRC will continue to make tremendous efforts that will lay the foundation for peace and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa.

Israel has known for a long time that long-term solutions to the chronic water shortages in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Middle East will only be found through cooperation among peoples of the region. There is no question that one of the solutions to this problem is desalination. It is essential that this solution be advanced on a regional basis. As we celebrate this tenth anniversary event, it is hard to find a better example of regional cooperation than the research and training activity carried out by MEDRC, which is intended to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of the region.

The important cooperative work of the Center and all its regional and extra-regional partners has shown to bring the people of the Middle East closer to the day when desalination will provide a solution to the water shortage that plagues our region. Sharing knowledge, experience and developing capabilities are the core of MEDRC contributions to the region and we salute its ten years of achievements.

The Center’s work is vital and fundamental to tackling the problem of water scarcity in the Middle East region, an issue nearly as crucial and urgent to the region’s long-term prosperity as the Middle East peace process itself. The PWA is proud to support and participate in this noble endeavor and we are especially pleased with the regional and international cooperation MEDRC has developed across industry and public in desalination research and training.

On behalf of the Government of The Netherlands, I am delighted to take this opportunity to convey our very best wishes for the continued and successful development of the Middle East Desalination Research Center. It is a testimony to the energy and commitment of those involved in its creation, that after ten years of its official inauguration, the Center has played an active role in the international community dealing with desalination.