Amman, December 15 (Petra) – Chairman of the Blue Peace Middle East Initiative Prince Hassan bin Talal on Monday chaired the fourth meeting of the Policy Advisory Committee and the Management Committee, held for the first time in Beirut under the patronage of Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
In opening remarks, Prince Hassan expressed appreciation to Lebanon for hosting the meeting, highlighting the country's historical and intellectual role in the region and its importance as a platform for dialogue and regional convergence.
He emphasised that the Blue Peace Middle East Initiative is a humanitarian project aimed at transforming water from a potential source of conflict into a tool for cooperation, stability and sustainable development.
Prince Hassan welcomed the Syrian Arab Republic's accession to the initiative as its fifth core member, underscoring the importance of inclusivity and noting that water remains one of the few areas for constructive regional engagement.
He called for a unified regional cooperation framework and praised the role of bilateral national committees in integrating Blue Peace principles into national decision-making.
He described the initiative as a neutral platform for Track 1.5 diplomacy, bringing together governments, researchers, youth, media and civil society within an integrated approach based on the Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus.
For his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam praised Prince Hassan's intellectual leadership in shaping the Blue Peace concept, stressing that water should serve as a foundation for regional understanding and cooperation rather than conflict.
The meeting welcomed new members to the two committees, reflecting renewed institutional stability. Countries including Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Syria and Iran reported tangible progress through bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
Prince Hassan called for focusing on high-impact initiatives, strengthening the participation of youth, women and local communities and developing the Blue Peace Middle East 2030 vision, including its institutional framework and financing model.
The meeting was attended by senior representatives of member states and regional and international partners.
The Blue Peace Middle East Initiative, led by Prince Hassan bin Talal, seeks to transform shared water resources into a catalyst for cooperation and peace through dialogue, capacity building and coordinated water policies.
//Petra// AK
