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of today must temporarily shift our focus on one issue for awhile in the United States, but cer- tainly our effort must be getting back to where our true interests are. I don't think our interest can be any stronger than they are with Mexico. In this line, our undersecretary for global affairs, Paula Dobrioski, is the person within the State Department and within the U.S. govern- ment who has responsibility for all global or trans-boundary issues. She is in charge of the narcotic's policy and our environmental policies. Any real issue that doesn't effect a single state, which is cross-boundary nation, she has respon- sibility for it. She asked me to read a statement for her. She can't be here today, but she's not here for a very good reason. Today she was to meet with a very senior delegation from Mexico for, I think two days, for some conversations on an international dolphin conservation program. So at least, if she cannot be here, we can take some comfort in knowing that she is working on a theme impor- tant to U.S.-Mexican relations. Let me just read undersecretariat Dobrioski's remarks. I'm putting words in her mouth, so let me just read from the text here. "1 regret that I cannot be here today in person, but I applaud the efforts of the sponsoring agencies, the International Boundary and Water Commission, U.S. Department of the Interior, and Mexico's Secretariat of Environment, Natural Resources and Fishery, in bringing together officials of both governments, represen- tatives of the non-governed organizations, and the academic community, in an effort to share knowledge and to poll their respective resources. I hope this effort will help to clarify the scientific and legal framework that needs to be taken into account when considering management of the Colorado River system. "By so doing, policy makers in both countries will be better able to make decisions relating to the preservation of the riparian and estuarine ecology of the Colorado River in its international region and in the Delta. As undersecretary for global affairs, I understand diplomacy's pivotal (JJ22~3 role in reconciling competing interests and finding mutually beneficial solutions. "1 think earlier today someone said we must find some win-win solutions here. It's not an easy job; there very often aren't easy solutions. Nevertheless, we just have to keep working at it until we get it right. This is clearly the case with the Colorado River where state, municipal, tribal, agricultural and environmental interests converge, each competing for an increasingly scarce natural resource, competing and confront- ing the demands of growing populations on both sides of the border. "Let me assure you that we take water issues very seriously. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has launched an ambitious effort to promote better management and reduce the tensions associated with scarce water resources world- wide. In this regard, the Department of State is aware of Mexico's concerns that certain U.S. actions with respect to the management of the Colorado River system within the United States have failed to take into account the potential impacts on our neighbor Mexico. <(However, the Department of State believes, nonetheless, that the United States carefully considered such transboundary impacts during a series of consultations held with Mexico under the auspices of International Boundary and Water Commission over the past year, as well as during the development of the Environmental Impact Statement called for by the United States National Environmental Policy Act. "The Department of State also believes that in taking these actions the United States is acting in a manner that is consistent with the 19R~ T.a Paz ~nt. The United States concluded that adjustments to the management of the Colorado River system within the United States. Those adjustments which have occurred will not result in appreciable adverse impacts on Mexico. "In closing, it's important to add that the United States intends to fulfill its trerlty ohligrl- tions to deliver to Mexico 1.5 million acre-feet .Q.f COlorado River water per year as proviciedJor_in ~- -- .. the 1944 Water Treaty. And the United States ------ COLORADO RIvER DELTA BI-NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS ENGLISH 17