In the last expanded plenary session of the binational body, important definitions were made. One of them contemplates the change of name of the body, which ceases to be called the Waterway Committee, to the body for the Development of the Uruguay River Basin. The meeting was led by the mayor Enrique Cresto, as host, together with the Mayor of Salto Andrés Lima and the Technical Secretary of the body. It was also attended by officials from the Committee, mayors from the region, diplomatic representatives from Argentina and Uruguay, the president of CARU, Mauro Vazón, among other authorities.
The meeting was held in Concordia (Entre Ríos), and representatives of the Rotary Club, the Corrientes Water Institute, councilors and aldermen from different cities in the region, among other authorities, were also present.
The Public Declaration agreed upon at the Session and issued by the Committee for the Development of the Uruguay River Basin at the end of the meeting, makes known 18 points, in which the support to the national governments for the relaunch of CoDeFro (Committee for Border Development) is highlighted; local governments of the Upper Uruguay are invited to join the Committee; and it establishes as a priority the efforts to enable the connectivity and navigability of the Uruguay river.
In this sense, it is worth adding the strong support for the efforts that CARU has been carrying out for the dredging and navigability works of our river, and the continuity of the works was requested.
The Committee also highlighted the efforts carried out by the Mayors of Concordia and Salto in order to achieve the three international projects on which both cities are working.
In another point, the aspiration that Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay create a trinational Integration Committee for Monte Caseros, Bella Unión-Artigas Dept., Barra Do Quarai is declared of Regional Interest.
And in view of the institutional reformulation of the binational body, a support office is integrated into the Technical Secretariat in the city of Concordia, with the logistical support of the Municipal Government of Concordia.
Below, the 18 points of the Public Declaration are transcribed verbatim:
PUBLIC DECLARATION
The Committee for the Development of the Uruguay River Basin/CCRU (formerly Uruguay River Waterway Committee), meeting in plenary session on November 28, 2017, in the city of Concordia, Argentine Republic, agrees to the following Public Declaration:
- Expresses its satisfaction with the decision of the Foreign Ministries of Argentina and Uruguay to relaunch CODEFRO, with the understanding that it will result in an effective treatment of the aspirations of the subnational and local governments of both countries.
- States its expectation that both countries will agree to carry out the corresponding studies to enable the connectivity and navigability of the Uruguay river in the area of the Salto Grande Dam.
- Decides to prioritize efforts before the Member States (Argentina and Uruguay) in order to achieve the definitive and permanent navigability of the Uruguay river to boost the development of our riverside cities and their productive sectors.
- Reaffirms the decision of the subnational and local governments of the Uruguay River Basin to have a strong role in the development of Proposals and the execution of Development Programs and specific projects that provide solutions to the various common problems.
- Expressly records the invitation to join the collective construction of the CCRU to the subnational and local governments of the Upper Uruguay in its entire extension and areas of influence.
- Greets the Municipality of Estancia Grande/Entre Ríos-Argentina for joining the collective effort of the CCRU.
- Congratulates the coordinated effort of the Mayors of Salto and the Municipality of Concordia in promoting the Concordia International Airport, the Salto Barge Port and the Neighborhood Bridge that connects both cities.
- Congratulates the Municipal Mayors of Monte Caseros-Argentina, the Mayor's Office of Bella Unión/Artigas Dept.-Uruguay and the Prefect of Barra Do Quarai-Brazil for the Twinning Agreement.
- The aspiration that Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay create a trinational Integration Committee for Monte Caseros, Bella Unión-Artigas Dept., Barra Do Quarai is declared of Regional Interest, as proposed by the Movement for the Trinational Integration Committee in its meeting on September 29, 2017.
- Reaffirms the importance and validity of the work carried out by the Permanent Commission on port, navigability, energy and environmental affairs, with the support of the Permanent Technical Secretariat.
- Reiterates the commitment of all members of the Committee to the Resolutions agreed upon by the plenary sessions from 2010 to date, as well as the Declarations of Regional Interest, Action Proposals and the Development Activity Plan.
- Redefines the name of the Uruguay River Waterway Committee as the Committee for the Development of the Uruguay River Basin/CCRU
- Reiterates the will to advance progressively in the efforts to institutionalize and formalize the CHRU/CCRU, in permanent interaction with national governments and pre-existing binational bodies with specific competencies in matters referring to the Uruguay River Basin.
- Reformulates the institutional logo, in accordance with point 12, adding two stripes, green and yellow respectively.
- It is decided to make the maximum efforts to budgetarily and logistically sustain the permanent operation of the Technical Secretariat.
- Maintains the office of the Permanent Technical Secretariat in the city of Paysandú, with the logistical support of the Paysandú Mayor's Office.
- Integrates a support office into the Technical Secretariat in the city of Concordia, with the logistical support of the Municipal Government of Concordia.
- Expresses its gratitude to the CAF/Development Bank for its permanent support for the efforts carried out by the CHRU.