Appeal by participants of EECCA NGO seminar
on discussion of the draft of
“East-West Environmental Partnership: [European] Environmental Strategy for
Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia for the first decade of 21 century”
We, the participants of NGO seminar (Moscow, 1-2 February
2003) for the discussion of the draft of EECCA Environmental Strategy, prepared for Kiev
Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” (May 2003),
Taking into account the need to improve environmental situation in UNECE
region and to strengthen the environmental pillar of sustainable development,
Understanding that UNECE region has an established classification of
regions justified by historical, economic and other factors,
Considering that natural ecosystems of EECCA countries are the natural
heritage of all UNECE region and international community,
Recognizing that EECCA countries have a number of common problems and
features in the area of environmental protection,
Insisting that environmental policy shall become the highest priority
for the activities of states and the instrument to protect human right to healthy
environment,
Understanding that the settlement of these common problems will be
beneficial for all states of UNECE region,
We underline our commitment to the principles of new
East-West environmental partnership launched at WSSD in Johannesburg (2002).
We support the idea of East-West Environmental
Partnership: Environmental Strategy for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia for the
first decade of 21 century.
We believe that the draft text of the Strategy shall be
considerably revised, because it is extremely important to clearly define who and how will
coordinate the implementation of the Strategy, what is the mechanism of mutual
responsibilities, and to take into account a great number of amendments and additions,
suggested by governments, NGOs and other partners during consultations in EECCA countries.
There are fears that the Strategy will not work unless
implementation mechanisms, action plan with quantitative indicators and timeframes, and
the mechanism of public control over implementation of commitments taken by ministers of
our countries in Kiev are developed.
The Strategy could become an instrument for implementation
of the “regional deal” concept. We believe that the implementation of the Strategy is
a partnership task for all participating countries and other participants of
“Environment for Europe” process.
It is important not only to officially approve the
Strategy in Kiev Ministerial Declaration, but to draft and put into practice concrete
partnership initiatives to implement the Strategy (based on East-West and East-East
cooperation and efforts of different sector – states, public, business and others).
As representatives of civil society institutions from
EECCA countries, we call to take urgent action in order to complete the revision of the
document and to adopt it at Kiev Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” in
May 2003.
We consider it expedient to provide opportunities for
wider participation of EECCA NGOs in revision of the Strategy text. This will allow
preparing the final text of the Strategy taking into account all suggestions and remarks
made during multi-stakeholder dialogues in EECCA countries and recommendations prepared at
the EECCA NGO Seminar (1-2 February 2003) and EECCA NGO electronic discussion.
In the future, it is expedient to establish a Public
Advisory Board for implementation of the Strategy and to ensure its activities within the
implementation mechanism of the Strategy.
We attach the Summary of discussions of EECCA NGOs on the
Strategy and the Compilation of suggestions and remarks on the draft text of the Strategy
which were produced during electronic discussion of EECCA NGOs and at this seminar, as
well as the outcomes of national consultations.
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