On 30 October 2001, a celebration of the entry into force of
the Aarhus Convention took place in the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
Double click for big size Representatives of governments, intergovernmental organizations and NGOs took part in the celebrations,
which included a champagne cocktail hosted by UNECE. After a number of keynote speeches and a short film
on the Convention, a ceremony symbolising the entry into force of the Convention took place. The ceremony
involved opening "THE DOORS TO DEMOCRACY" to mark the beginning
of a new era in which environmental democracy
is recognized in international law. A short film of the celebration will soon be available here. A
number of European Environment Ministers, head of important intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations sent a statement in support of the Convention. A compilation of the statements can be
downloaded here.
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Double click for big size Mr. Kaj Barlund,
Director, Environment and Human Settlements Division,
opened the celebration. Mr. Barlund delivered
the statement of the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Mr. Kofi Annan, in which the Secretary-General
described the Convention as the most ambitious
venture in environmental democracy undertaken
under the auspices of the United Nations.
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| Following the opening by Mr. Bärlund, a Video
News Release - a short film on the Convention
- was shown. You can see the film with Real Player.
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Double click for big size The first keynote speaker was Mr. Bozo Kovacevic, Minister of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning, Croatia.
He said inter alia that "the entry into force of the Aarhus Convention is a historical landmark and an unprecedented
example of the international community's successful quest towards more effective protection of the environment."
Full statement
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Double click for big size Ambassador
Jean-Marie Noirfalisse, Permanent Representative
of Belgium to the United Nations, then delivered
a statement on behalf of the European Union. He said inter
alia: "This day ... marks a beginning,
in that the vitality of the exercise of the 3
important legal rights of the Convention will
undoubtedly influence political development within
the UN-ECE region, beyond the environment sector...
In addition, the EU recalls its earlier statements
that the Aarhus Convention may attract public
attention, beyond the ECE-region, and underlines
Art. 19, para 3 of the Convention that also other
Members of the United Nations may accede to the
Convention..."
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Between the keynote addresses, the guests had time to meet and discuss
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Ambassadors to the United Nations of Denmark, Germany and Belgium
The Chairman of the Meeting of the Signatories to the Convention, Mr. Francesco La Camera (Italy),
talking to Sofie H. Flensborg, Aarhus Convention Secretariat.
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Double click for big size Ms Anna Golubovska, special adviser to Mr. Serhii Kurykin, Minister of the Environment, Ukraine, spoke on behalf of the Minister who had to cancel his planned trip at the very last minute. She said inter alia "the day that
the Aarhus Convention enters into force is a great day for the environment. But it is also
a great day for democracy - not just representative democracy, but a new and more participatory
form of democracy in which the crucial role of many social actors is recognized."
Full statement
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The Deputy Director for the Regional Office
of the United Nations Environment Programme,
Ms. Francoise Belmont, delivered a statement of behalf of the Executive Director
of UNEP, Dr. Klaus T?pfer: "I wish to congratulate
the Economic Commission for Europe for the entry
into force today of the Aarhus Convention, the
first legally binding instrument for access
to information, public participation and and
justice in environmental matters. Such an achievement
is of global significance... Today is an important
landmark for the environment. The Convention
gives us a golden opportunity to pursue our
environmental endeavours from the right approach."
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A statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Ms. Mary Robinson, was delivered
by Ms. Stephanie Grant, Chief, Research and
Right to Development Branch. She said inter
alia: "The Convention is a remarkable achievement
not only in terms of protection of the environment,
but also of the protection of human rights...
The Convention touches on the fundamental issues
of democracy and the rights of people to protect
their well-being and that of their children."
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Considering the central involvement of environmental NGOs in
the negotiation process of the Convention and its
implementation, the floor was then given to the Secretary-General of the European Environmental
Bureau, Mr. John Hontelez, who delivered a statement on behalf
of the European ECO Forum. Among other things, he said: "So the UN-ECE work, first on the Sofia Guidelines,
later on the Aarhus Convention, was characterized by openness and recognition of the role of environmental
organizations in the preparatory process. While we regretted the weaknesses in the final result, we have become strong
advocates of the Convention. We campaign for its ratification and accession in the entire pan-European region, as
well as in regional and international bodies. We will not be satisfied with formal introduction in
national laws only."
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Cornelia Quennet-Thielen, Germany, member of the Advisory Board and secretary to the Aarhus Convention, Jeremy Wates
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The last two
keynote speakers were Mr. Willem Kakebeeke, Chair
of the Advisory board for the Convention and Chair
of the Convention negotiations
and
Magda Toth Nagy, Public Participation Programme
Coordinator of the Regional Environmental Center
for Central and Eastern Europe.
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 "Because
the Convention is about the rights not only of
today's but also future generations, we have invited
some children to come and open the doors to democracy.
I would now like Sarah and Sofie to come forward
and open the doors to democracy."
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"Excuse me, Mr. Convention Secretary, the doors won't open!"
"Good Heavens! Won't open? What do you mean won't open?"
"They're stuck."
"We paid a lot of money for those doors. Wait till I find the man who made them."
"Can we ask our friends to come and help us?"
"Oh well, if you must. I don't know, it is hard to get a good carpenter these days. OK, Dhanya, Tamsin, Anna, let's see if you can get those doors open." |
"We need somebody stronger! Where
are Jack and Corin?"
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"What is wrong with these doors? Where are Sofie and
Subashini? Sofie, I thought you did a trial run
with these?"
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"Well, they worked
perfectly well when we did the dress rehearsal.
But I think the doors to democracy can only be
opened and the Convention properly implemented
if governments give it their full support"
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"Aah! That could be the explanation.
Croatia, Ukraine, Italy, can you help us? We
need to get these doors open."
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"Well, this is a mystery. Can
anyone suggest how we might get these doors
open? Perhaps we need the support of the NGOs!
John, Svitlana, Fe, come and help us."
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"Well, now that we have the key stakeholders
all working together, maybe we can really open
the doors to democracy. OK, everybody, one,
two, three, PUUULLL!!!"
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And finally the doors begin to open....
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"Thank you everyone for your actively participatory approach. Let it be a symbol of good co-operation between governments and civil society, between young and old, between secretariats and the rest of the world. Of course
when we go to Johannesburg, we will need all nine major groups of Agenda 21 to be politically correct
but let us cross that bridge when we come to it..."
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"I am convinced that future generations will remember what happened on 30 October 2001."
Kjell
Larsson, Minister of the Environment,
Sweden
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