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Kyiv, 21 May 2003
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
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MESSAGE TO THE
FIFTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
"ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPE"
Delivered by
Ms. Brigita Schmögnerová,
Executive Secretary,
United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe
Kyiv, Ukraine,
21-23 May 2003
The "Environment for Europe" process
has become an important platform for
dialogue and cooperation not only among
Governments but also with international
organizations, non-governmental organizations
and the private sector. Your efforts
to extend the environmental legal framework,
to ensure that existing international
environmental law is applied, and to
keep the environment high on the international
agenda demonstrate your conviction that
together, we can make a difference and
build a better and greener world for
our future generations.
The previous four
conferences in this process have had
a significant impact on the region covered
by the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe. Moreover, your achievements,
whether in improving environmental rights,
strengthening public participation,
improving energy efficiency or banning
leaded petrol, are closely watched around
the world and have inspired others to
follow suit. You are providing a good
example of cross-border environmental
cooperation for years to come in Europe
and beyond.
This fifth conference
is also a concrete follow-up to last
year's World Summit on Sustainable Development.
I look forward to the steps the ECE
will take to support the implementation
of the decisions taken in Johannesburg
on the environmental dimension of sustainable
development.
I would like to express
my appreciation to Prime Minister Victor
Yanukovich and the Government of Ukraine
for their role in this conference and
for focusing attention on a subject
that affects each of us every day of
our lives. I wish you every success
in your deliberations.
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Ref: ECE/ENV/03/P06