Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, 19-21 June 2007 – The regular session of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD) of the Central Asian countries was convened with the financial support of the UNDP Regional Centre in Bratislava (Europe and CIS).
The meeting was attended by ICSD members, the ICSD Secretariat, heads of the Scientific Information Centre of ICSD (SIC ICSD) and its branches, National Focal Points responsible for the implementation of the Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia (REAP), representatives of the Public Council and the Youth Environmental Network of Central Asia, as well as representatives of international and non-governmental organizations.
Objectives of the ICSD Meeting
The main objective of the meeting of ministers and ICSD members was to discuss a range of issues of regional cooperation in the environmental field with a view to enhancing the effectiveness and coherence of ongoing initiatives. The session was opened by the Head of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Medet Chakanovich Sadyrkulov, who read out an address by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to the participants of the ICSD meeting. In his address, President Bakiyev emphasized that the experience of cooperation among the Central Asian countries, their initiatives and the mechanisms being established provide confidence in the achievability of the subregion’s declared goals and commitments. He further expressed the conviction that the assumption of the ICSD Chairmanship by the Kyrgyz Republic for the next two years would enable the country to fully realize its potential in implementing ICSD’s agreed plans and decisions.
ICSD Meeting in progress. Photocredit to SIC ICSD
In line with the approved agenda, the report of the ICSD Chair (Mr. M.K. Akmuradov) on the activities undertaken during Turkmenistan’s chairmanship and on the overall performance of ICSD for the period 2004-2007 was heard and endorsed. With the conclusion of his mandate as Chair, participants expressed their gratitude to the Minister of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan for his fruitful and effective leadership. An official ceremony was held to transfer the Chairmanship of ICSD from Turkmenistan to the Kyrgyz Republic.
Outcomes and Decisions
Under Goal 1 of the REAP Implementation Concept, “Strengthening the political and institutional framework for regional cooperation”, information was presented on the signing of the Framework Convention on Environmental Protection for Sustainable Development in Central Asia by the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Attention was drawn to the need to accelerate the process of agreement and signing so that the Convention could be finalized at the next ICSD session in November 2007.
The meeting also reviewed and approved the Statute of the Regional Mountain Centre of Central Asia (RMC CA). Following the discussion, a decision was adopted mandating the ICSD Chair to organize the opening of the RMC CA office in Bishkek.
Under Goal 3 of the REAP Implementation Concept, “Strengthening public participation”, the reports of the ICSD Public Council and the Youth Environmental Network of Central Asia were presented. The Public Council provided extensive information on regional activities, including the implementation of UNEP’s Small Grants Programme “Sustainable Development of Central Asian Communities” and the outcomes of a competition for the best examples of public participation in achieving sustainable development goals in Central Asia.
ICSD Meeting in progress. Photocredit to SIC ICSD
The ICSD session also discussed the development of a common position by the ICSD member States regarding the presentation of the Central Asian Initiative on Sustainable Development at the Sixth Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” (Belgrade, October 2007). A Joint Statement of the Environment Ministers of the Central Asian countries for the Belgrade Conference was prepared and adopted. The ICSD Chair was mandated to coordinate a consolidated regional position for presentation at the Conference.
In addition, ICSD members reviewed the Commission’s participation in international initiatives and forums. Information was presented on the implementation in the region of a number of environmental projects, including the Central Asian Programme of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC).
Participants of ICSD Meeting. Photocredit to SIC ICSD
Ms. Olga B. Pereladova, Director of the WWF Central Asia Programme and Head of the Regional ECOnet Project, provided information on WWF activities and the preparation of the Agreement on the Transboundary Implementation of ECOnet. Mr. Ben Slay, Director of the UNDP Regional Centre for Europe and the CIS, reported on the results of the ENVSEC Initiative. Participants discussed the outcomes of three years of activities under ENVSEC projects in the Ferghana Valley, regional priorities for transboundary cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and the prospects for expanding ENVSEC to the Eastern Caspian region (Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan). These discussions were reflected in the decision adopted by ICSD.
The session concluded with the official procedure of adoption and signing of ICSD decisions.
Agenda of the Meeting of Designated Officials (19-20 June 2007)
Agenda of the ICSD Meeting (21 June 2007)