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MR JÁNOS ÁDER, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARYLooking at the future of our water resources, I am sure many readers of Free Flow will agree with thestriking conclusion of Hungarian-born Nobel laureate physicist, Dénes Gábor: “Until today man hasfought nature. From now on man has to fight his own nature.” Over the next few decades, 2 billion humanbeings will be added to the global population amid dramatically changing climatic conditions, and this willnecessitate significant changes in the way we manage our waters.I am convinced that the growing uncertainties surrounding the availability and quality of water can onlybe tackled successfully if all affected stakeholders – government, businesses, civil society and academia – acttogether. Mutual dependencies will only increase over time as regions and sectors exposed to water shortage relymore and more on waters controlled by others. Water must therefore be treated as a high political priority that isintegrated into other policy areas. Needless to say, cooperation is essential – not only between sectors, but alsoacross geographical and political boundaries.In view of these objectives, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio deJaniero in June 2012, I invited the international community to Budapest to better define an internationalwater-related sustainable development goal. Hungary was honoured to host the Budapest Water Summitwhere decision makers, scientists, civil society activists and business people gathered to discuss the role ofwater in sustainable development.Hungary has developed a strong tradition of prudent water management over the centuries. Our water expertshave provided assistance to developing nations for decades. Given the hydrogeological conditions of the country,transboundary water cooperation is an unquestionable imperative for Hungary. Naturally, Hungary wishes toremain at the core of the global political discourse on water, as this discourse is a precondition to safeguardour water resources for future generations. We, Hungarians, stand ready to join other nations and share ourexperience to give the future a chance!Mr János ÁderPresident of the Republic of Hungary[ 10 ]