SEPARATE
OPINION
of EECCA NGO participants of the Second High Level Meeting
on EU-EECCA Water Initiative
Since the Statement of the Second High Level Meeting on
EU-EECCA Water Initiative (26-27 February 2004) does not include all proposals suggested
by participating non-governmental organizations, we believe it is important to express our
separate opinion regarding the issue, which is not reflected in the Statement.
In present, the role of citizens’ initiatives and
organizations in the settlement of environmental problems is widely accepted. This role is
fixed in a number of key international agreements, in particular Rio Declaration, Agenda
21, documents of “Environment for Europe” process including the Aarhus Convention.
NGOs can effectively participate in policy making and development of legislation, projects
and programs at all levels to address water problems; they can make active contribution to
their implementation. Lack of finances for implementation of environmental projects by
non-governmental organizations is a serious problem of EECCA region. Finding solution to
this problem could contribute to more efficient implementation of EU Water Initiative in
EECCA region.
We believe that NGOs should be full partners in
implementation of the Water Initiative, which deserve support from governments and
international organizations. We suggest to provide financial support for NGO initiatives
in the framework of donor support programs for implementation of the Water Initiative in
EECCA countries.
We are disappointed by the fact that other participants
of the Meeting did not find it possible to agree with this provision. We are convinced
that this provision is particularly important so that NGOs would become real, rather than
proclaimed, partners in implementation and development of the Water Initiative.
Non-governmental organizations:
“Aquamedia”, Georgia;
Association “For Sustainable Human Development”, Armenia;
Chisinau Branch of the Environmental Movement of Moldova, Moldova;
Eco-Accord Center, Russia;
Ecoline, Belarus;
Ecoproject, Belarus;
Foundation for Support of Civil Society, Tajikistan;
“Greenwomen”, Kazakhstan;
Independent Environmental Expertise, Kyrgyz Republic;
International Environmental Association of River Keepers “Eco-TIRAS”, Moldova;
MÀÌÀ-86, Ukraine;
NGO “For Civil Society”, Kyrgyz Republic;
Volgograd-Ecopress, Russia.
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