In a ceremony organized on July 18, 2007 at the World Bank headquarters in the presence of high level officials, H.E. the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the United States Alexandros Mallias presented the Vice President for Middle East and North Africa Region Ms. Daniela Gressani with the contribution of the Hellenic Government ($1 million USD) to the Multi Donor Trust Fund established for the Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment of the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Concept.

Greece is one of the 5 bilateral donor countries (along with France, Japan, The Netherlands and the United States of America) to have made a firm commitment to support the Study Program, as evidence of the strong interest that Greece attaches to the support of stability in the Middle East and the challenges facing the region.

Specifically, Greece’s participation in the Study aims at:

1. Enhancing the building of a symbol of peace and cooperation in the Middle East
2. Contributing to the prevention of further deterioration of the Dead Sea environment
3. Contributing to the supply of energy and water desalination at affordable prices

The Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Concept was publicly announced at the World Economic Forum-Dead Sea in May 2005. The Study is a joint project between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, in cooperation with the World Bank, with the aim to tackle the great economic and social challenges posed by the ecological degradation of the Dead Sea. The Project is expected to take approximately 24 months to complete at an estimated cost of $15 million USD.

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