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OSCE and UNECE Experience in Transboundary Water Cooperation
Sunday 12 August
13:30-17:00, Folkets Hus, Hall C
Convenors: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) – Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
The OSCE is the world's largest security organisation, offering to its 56 participating States a forum for dialogue and decision-making. It has a comprehensive approach to security, also encompassing economic and environmental aspects. The OSCE’s network of field missions assists with the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments as agreed by the participating States.
The annual Economic and Environmental Forum (EEF) is one of the main OSCE instruments. The Forum focused on water management and co-operation in 2002, which led to OSCE supporting projects related to water.
The UNECE convention on transboundary waters lies at the heart of the work of the OSCE in the sector of water and a close collaboration with the UNECE Secretariat is essential to this work.
The proposed OSCE seminar aims at drawing attention to various types of water co-operation in 4 different regions and political contexts. Activities include data gathering, drafting of bi-lateral agreements, capacity-building and facilitating partnerships. While introducing the audience to different types of water collaboration, the seminar will in particular go into more detail on the cooperation on the Chu and Talas and the Dniester rivers.
The seminar will also briefly introduce the audience to the Environment and Security Initiative, ENVSEC, which is a collaboration between six partner organisations.
The seminar will finally look at the role of the OSCE in transboundary water initiatives and this will be an opportunity to establish new partnerships and identify possible joint activities with others.
Seminar details, 13:30-17:00, Folkets Hus, Hall C
Chair: Ms. Saba Nordstrom, Environmental Advisor, Secretariat of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) - Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA)
Co-Chair: Mr. Bo Libert, Regional Adviser on Environment, Environment, Housing and Land Management Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
13:30 Welcome and Introduction. Ms. Saba Nordstrom, OSCE
13:40 Introduction to the OSCE, OCEEA and the Forum Process. Mr. Gabriel Leonte, Economic and Environmental Adviser, OSCE
14:10 Brief Introduction to the ENVSEC Initiative and the Sava and Kura-Araks Experiences. Ms. Saba Nordstrom, OSCE
14:30 Introduction to the UNECE Water Convention Followed by the Experience of Facilitating Legal Agreements: The Dniester Experience. Mr. Bo Libert, Regional Adviser on Environment, UNECE and Dr. Ilya Trombitsky, International Environmental Association of River Keepers “Eco-Tiras” (tbc)
15:15 Coffee Break
15:45 Institution Building: The Chu-Talas Experience. Mr. Bo Libert, UNECE
16:15 Further Discussion on the Role of the OSCE and Transboundary Water Cooperation
17:00 Close of Seminar
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Presentations from the seminar
 Introduction to the Economic and Environmental Dimension of the OSCE
The establishment of a bilateral Commission on the Chu and Talas rivers shared by Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan
UNECE Convention on the protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Environmental and Security Initiative ENVSEC
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY DNIESTER RIVER AND ROLE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION |
