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Tashkent conference focuses on Aarhus Convention
TASHKENT 7 May 2001
TASHKENT, 4 May 2001 - Access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters was the topic for discussion during a recent two-day workshop held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The workshop examined details of the Aarhus Convention of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE). The sessions were organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Centre in Tashkent, in collaboration with the State Committee on Nature Protection of the Republic in Uzbekistan (GosKomPriroda), the American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative.
The UN/ECE Aarhus Convention was adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe" in Aarhus, Denmark, on 25 June 1998. Uzbekistan is scheduled to accede to the convention this spring.
The workshop was attended by representatives from 13 state ministries and agencies, five Tashkent khokimiyats, and four Tashkent mahallah. In addition, some Uzbek environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended the workshop, and representatives from NGOs in Kazakhstan attended and shared their experiences in Aarhus Convention implementation matters. Ms. Valentina V. Pidlisnyuk, advisor to Yuri I. Samoilenko, Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament "Committee on the Problems of Environmental Policy, Nature Resources Utilization and Elimination of Chernobyl Catastrophe" also attended and discussed the Aarhus Convention implementation process in Ukraine.
The workshop agenda included a review of Uzbek national environmental legislation relating to access to information and public participation, a presentation of the Uzbek "Law on Ecological Expertise", and an analysis of the Aarhus Convention. Workshop participants prepared a set of recommendations regarding the implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Uzbekistan, and the recommendations will be presented to appropriate state officials.
For more information or press queries, please contact: OSCE Centre in Tashkent, Western Side, 2nd Floor, Khamid Alimdjan Sq., 700 000 Tashkent, Uzbekistan, tel.: (+998-71) 132 01 52, fax: (+998-71) 120 61 25, e-mail:[email protected]
The workshop examined details of the Aarhus Convention of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE). The sessions were organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Centre in Tashkent, in collaboration with the State Committee on Nature Protection of the Republic in Uzbekistan (GosKomPriroda), the American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative.
The UN/ECE Aarhus Convention was adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe" in Aarhus, Denmark, on 25 June 1998. Uzbekistan is scheduled to accede to the convention this spring.
The workshop was attended by representatives from 13 state ministries and agencies, five Tashkent khokimiyats, and four Tashkent mahallah. In addition, some Uzbek environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended the workshop, and representatives from NGOs in Kazakhstan attended and shared their experiences in Aarhus Convention implementation matters. Ms. Valentina V. Pidlisnyuk, advisor to Yuri I. Samoilenko, Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament "Committee on the Problems of Environmental Policy, Nature Resources Utilization and Elimination of Chernobyl Catastrophe" also attended and discussed the Aarhus Convention implementation process in Ukraine.
The workshop agenda included a review of Uzbek national environmental legislation relating to access to information and public participation, a presentation of the Uzbek "Law on Ecological Expertise", and an analysis of the Aarhus Convention. Workshop participants prepared a set of recommendations regarding the implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Uzbekistan, and the recommendations will be presented to appropriate state officials.
For more information or press queries, please contact: OSCE Centre in Tashkent, Western Side, 2nd Floor, Khamid Alimdjan Sq., 700 000 Tashkent, Uzbekistan, tel.: (+998-71) 132 01 52, fax: (+998-71) 120 61 25, e-mail:[email protected]