The chairman of the Tribunal de les Aïgues de la Vega of València, José Font Sanchis, gave to the principal of the Universitat de València, Mª Vicenta Mestre the traditional honorary ‘shirt’ in a ceremony which took place in front of the Valencian gothic cathedral.

The traditional plenum on Thursday of the Tribunal de les Aigües was where the principal, Mª Vicenta Mestre , received the honorary ‘shirt’, taking sit as an honorary action of this institution.  Afterwards, Mestre signed in the Book of Honour of this institution and she also received the commemorative Silver Medal.

In her speech, the principal, who reminded her link with the field as she is the daughter and granddaughter of farmers, thanked this appreciation, ‘which I consider an appreciation for the whole Universitat de València, therefore, I receive it with the highest honours.’

Once the plenum was finished, the meeting continued in the rooms of the Tribunal de les Aïgues.  The chairmen José Font was pleased to show his gratitude for the university support in the several ceremonies in which they are working on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Tribunal de les Aïgues under the honour of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.   ‘The activities in which we are working will have a positive impact on the city of València, but we are aware of the fact that without the Universitat de València these ceremonies would not have been possible’, underlined Font.

When it came her turn, the principal showed her gratitude for his words and she has ensured that the agreement between both universities shall remain ‘since there is a common link between both institutions, which were born to five services to the society’. Mestre has also reminded that in 2019 the Universitat de València celebrates 520 years since this institution was created.

Moreover, the principal has talked about the necessity of environmental conscience highlighting that ‘water will be a scarce resource and we shall make a good use of it in the future.  We have developed this good use here, we are aware of its importance and we try to administer it with justice’.

The general secretary of the Uinversitat de València, Mª Elena Olmos and the vice-principal of territorial extension and society, Jorge Hermosilla, have attended the ceremony as well.

The last month, the Tribunal de les Aïgues decided to give the appreciation of the honorary ‘shirt’ to the principal of the Universitat of València on the occasion of a meeting of the following commission of the agreement between both institutions for the organisation of several commemorative ceremonies, which will be carried out in 2019. They will be celebrated in honour of the Tribunal de les Aïgues of València, which was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in the 30th of September of 2009.

The Tribunal de les Aïgues de la Vega of València is the oldest existing institution in Europe.  Even though that its origin is unknown and it is generally thought that this institution was developed during the Roman Empire, the most widespread theory is that it was founded by the Caliphate of Córdoba, more than a thousand years ago.  

Its task is to refer conflicts between farmers related to irrigation water, which comes from the following ditches:  Sèquia de Quart, Benàger i Faitanar, Tormos, Mislata, Mestalla, Favara, Rascanya  and Rovella. These ditches are part of what is called la Vega de València, over which the Tribunal can legislate. Together with the Sèquia Reial de Montcada, over which they have no jurisdiction, they compound the ‘Horta de València’, the fields of this territory.  It has been an item of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO list since the 1st of October of 2009.

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