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Fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention

10 - 12 November 2009
Geneva Switzerland
HIGHLIGHTS
 

In English and Russian (see below)

The fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties took place on 10–12 November 2009 in Geneva, in the Palais des Nations.

The Meeting adopted the Guide to Implementing the Convention – a strategic document that will be an impetus for future work under the Convention and an important reference for Parties, non-Parties, partners and stakeholders. The Guide is a comprehensive commentary that provides explanations of the Convention’s legal, technical and practical requirements as well as examples illustrating good practices in the UNECE region.

The Meeting gave the mandate to the Legal Board of the Convention to explore options for a mechanism to support implementation and compliance. Such a mechanism is needed to help Parties prevent or settle differences in interpretation and application. Proposals will be considered by the sixth session of the Meeting of the Parties in 2012.

Another unique and very much needed instrument adopted by the Meeting is the Guidance on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change which gives advice to countries on how to cope with the uncertainties of climate change jointly and to effectively tackle its impacts in a concerted way. The Guidance sends a strong message that adaptation must start now and that countries must work together to develop adaptation strategies. The implementation of the Guidance will be fostered through pilot projects and a platform for exchanging experience.

The Meeting also endorsed the Safety guidelines and good practices for tailing management facilities, which should help Governments to safer develop, operate and decommission tailing management facilities.

The meeting welcomed the progress made and decided on the continuation of the National Policy Dialogues under the EU Water Initiative aimed to support IWRM in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. These dialogues are currently carried out by UNECE in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, and, starting from 2010, in Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan. The Dialogues are a useful means to help countries to develop IWRM plans, analyse water reform needs, identify priorities and define action plans to attain the agreed targets through a participatory process.

The Meeting’s high-level segment focused on Central Asia, one of the priority areas of work for the Convention. The Central Asian countries, Parties to the Convention from elsewhere in the UNECE region, and stakeholders shared experiences and lessons learned that could be useful for Central Asian countries.

A road map to develop the Second Assessment of transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters in UNECE region, to be issued by the Seventh Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” ( Astana, Kazakhstan, 2011), was agreed by the Meeting. It will evaluate how the Convention is put into practice and what progress has been achieved to sustainably manage and protect our region’s transboundary waters.

Parties also agreed on the workplan for 2010-2012 and launched a programme of pilot projects to assist Parties with implementing the Convention and making use of the guidance documents it provides. The projects will focus on climate change adaptation in transboundary basins, joint monitoring and assessment, and payments for ecosystem services to support IWRM.

Finally, the Meeting of the Parties showed a firm intention to make the 2003 amendments enter into force by 2012 so that the Water Convention would be open to accession by any member of the United Nations. The participation of Mongolia and Afghanistan, which are not UNECE States, at this Meeting of the Parties showed the interest from outside the region in the Convention.

For the UNECE Weekly on the Meeting of the Parties click here.

ОСНОВНЫЕ ИТОГИ

10-12 ноября 2009 года в Женеве во Дворце Наций состоялась пятая сессия Совещания Сторон Конвенции ЕЭК ООН по охране и использованию трансграничных водотоков и международных озер.

Совещание Сторон приняло “Руководство по внедрению конвенции” - стратегический документ, который станет толчком к работе по конвенции в будущем и важным справочным документом для Сторон конвеции, партнеров и заинтересованных сторон. “Руководство” представляет собой всеобъемлющий комментарий к конвенции, в котором приводятся разъяснения требований правового и технического характера и положений по практическому применению, а также примеры, иллюстрирующие надлежающую практику по выполнению конвенции в регионе ЕЭК ООН.

Совещание Сторон поручило Совету по правовым вопросам, действующему в рамках конвенции, рассмотреть возможности создания механизма по поддержке выполнения и соблюдения конвенции. Такой механизм необходим для оказания помощи Сторонам в предотвращении и урегулировании разногласий по вопросам толкования и применения. Предложения в отношении данного механизма будут рассматриваться на шестой сессии Совещания Сторон в 2012 году.

Еще одним уникальным и необходимым инструментом, принятым на Совещании, стало “Руководство по водным ресурсам и адаптации к изменению климата”, которое призвано оказать содействие странам в том, чтобы эффективно и согласованным образом действовать в ответ на последствия изменения климата. Данный документ четко сигнализирует о том, что адаптацию необходимо начинать уже сейчас и что страны должны работать вместе над разработкой стратегий адаптации. Реализации этого “Руководства” будут способствовать пилотные проекты и платформа по обмену опытом.

Совещание Сторон также приняло документ “Руководящие принципы обеспечения безопасности и надлежащая практика для хвостохранилищ”, который поможет правительствам повысить безопасность при проектировании, эксплуатации и выведении из эксплуатации хвостохранилищ.

Совещание Сторон приветствовало прогресс, достигнутый в ходе реализации национальных политических диалогов в рамках Водной инициативы ЕС, направленных на поддержку интегрированного управления водными ресурсами (ИУВР) в Восточной Европе, на Кавказе и в Центральной Азии. Было принято решение о продолжении национальных политических диалогов. Такие диалоги в настоящий момент проводятся ЕЭК ООН в Армении, Кыргызстане, Республике Молдова и Украине, а в 2010 году начнутся в Таджикистане, Азербайджане, Грузии и Туркменистане. Диалоги являются полезным инструментом, помогающим странам разрабатывать планы ИУВР, анализировать потребности в реформах в водном секторе, определять приоритеты и планы действий по достижению согласованных целевых показателей посредством процесса, основанного на участии всех заинтересованных сторон.

Сегмент высокого уровня в ходе Совещания был посвящен Центральной Азии – одному из приоритетных направлений работы в рамках конвенции. Государства Центральной Азии, Стороны конвенции из других частей региона ЕЭК ООН и иные заинтересованные стороны обменялись опытом и уроками по реализации конвенции, которые могут быть полезны для государств Центральной Азии.

Совещание Сторон согласовало процесс дальнейщей работы над “Второй оценкой состояния трансграничных рек, озер и подземных вод в регионе ЕЭК ООН”, которая будет выпущена к седьмой конференции министров “Окружающая среда для Европы” (Астана, Казахстан, 2011 год). “Вторая оценка” позволит ответить на вопрос о том, как конвенция выполняется на практике и какой прогресс был достигнут в устойчивом управлении и защите трансграничных вод региона.

Стороны также согласовали план работы на 2010-2012 годы и объявили о начале программы пилотных проектов, призванной помочь Сторонам в реализации конвенции и использовании разработанных под ее эгидой руководящих документов. Пилотные проекты будут направлены на адаптацию к изменению климата в трансграничных бассейнах, на совместные мониторинг и оценку, а также на внедрение платы за экосистемные услуги в контексте комплексного управления водным ресурсами.

В ходе Совещания Стороны показали четкую решимость добиться встуления в силу до 2012 года поправок к конвенции, принятых в 2003 году, с тем чтобы конвенция по трансграничным водам стала открыта для присоединения всеми государствами-членами Организации Объединенных Наций. Участие в этом Совешании Сторон Монголии и Афганистана, не являющихся членами ЕЭК ООН, свидетельствует об интересе к конвенции за пределами региона.

 

High-level Segment

Transboundary water cooperation in Central Asia and the role of the Convention

Efficient and sustainable management of water resources and related energy, social and environmental issues in the five countries of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – remain highly important for political, economic and environmental cooperation in this subregion and in many respects for the rest of the UNECE region as well. In the past few years, discussion of the possible role of the Convention as a framework to facilitate cooperation on water resources has been actively ongoing in Central Asia.

The high-level segment discussed the needs of Central Asian countries with regard to cooperation and sustainable management of transboundary water resources as well as the role that permanent cooperation under the Convention can play in meeting these needs and in bringing the different partners together.

For more information, see the report of the high-level segment, Note on the high-level segment, a programme for the high-level segment in English and Russian, and statements by panellists and interventions from the floor (in the table below).

 

Statements by Panellists

Document title

ENG

RUS

Opening by Ms. Hannele Pokka, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment of Finland, the Chairperson of the segment.

DOC

-

“The role of the UNECE Water Convention in Central Asia: achievements, challenges and future perspectives”, Introduction by Mr. Marco Keiner, Director, Environment Housing and Land Management Division, UNECE

DOC

-

Session 1
Document Title ENG RUS

Session 1: Institutional arrangements for transboundary water cooperation

   

Key note address “ Strengthening the regional water cooperation: the role of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea”.
Mr. Sagit Ibatullin, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea

PPT

PPT

H.E. Mr. Saidi Yoqubzod, Minister of Melioration and Water Resources, Tajikistan

-

DOC

H.E. Mr. Gheorghe Salaru,Minister of Environment, Republic of Moldova

DOC

DOC

Mr. Shavkat Khamraev , Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Uzbekistan

-

DOC

Mr. Laszlo Kothay, State Secretary for Water, Hungary

DOC

-

Ms. Marina Seliverstova, Head, Federal Agency of the Water Resources, Russian Federation

-

DOC

Mr. Chyngyz Uzakbaev, Deputy Director General of the Water Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Processing Industries, Kyrgyzstan

DOC

DOC

 

Session 2
Document title ENG RUS

Session 2: Water management and environmental aspects: challenges and opportunities for transboundary water cooperation

   

H.E. Mr. Saidi Yoqubzod, Minister of Melioration and Water Resources, Tajikistan

-

DOC

Mr. Dan Cârlan, State Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Romania

DOC

-

Mr. Nariman Umarov , Chairman, State Committee for Nature Protection, Uzbekistan

-

DOC

Mr. Mukhtar Tultabayev, Deputy Director, Department of Ecology, Policy and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Kazakhstan

-

DOC

Ms. Taisia Neronova, Deputy Chief of Department, State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry, Kyrgyzstan

-

DOC

Mr. Victor Dukhovny, Director, Scientific Information Center, Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia

DOC

DOC

Mr. Yusup Kamalov, Coordinator of the Energy and Climate Issue Group, European ECO-Forum; Chairman, Union for the Defence of the Aral Sea and Amu Darya

DOC

DOC

 

Interventions from the floor
Document title ENG RUS

Secretariat of the Alpine Convention

PDF

 -

United Nations Development Programme

DOC

-

 

Documents and other materials

Document title   ENG FRE RUS
Post-session documentation (report)

Report

ECE/MP.WAT/29

  PDF PDF PDF

Workplan for 2010-2012

ECE/MP.WAT/29/Add.1

  PDF  PDF PDF

Chair’s summary of the High-level Segment and other documents adopted by
the Meeting of the Parties

ECE/MP.WAT/29/Add.2

  PDF PDF PDF
Documents for all items of the agenda

Provisional agenda
ECE/MP.WAT/28

  PDF PDF PDF

Draft workplan for 2010–2012
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/L.1

  PDF PDF PDF

Report on the implementation of the workplan for 2007–2009
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/2

  PDF PDF PDF

Programme of work for 2007–2009
ECE/MP.WAT/19/Add.2

  PDF PDF PDF
 
Item 3. Constitution of the fifth meeting of the Parties

Ratification status of the Water Convention, its amendments and its Protocols

MOP-5/2009/INF.1

  PDF - -
 
Item 4. Amendments to articles 25 and 26 to open the Convention to countries outside the region

Opening the Convention to States outside the region: Why the amendments to articles 25 and 26 should enter into force soon
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/1

  PDF PDF PDF

Background document

       

Amendment to articles 25 and 26 of the Convention
ECE/MP.WAT/14

  PDF PDF PDF
 
Item 5. Integrated management of water and related ecosystems

Background documents

       

Report on the third meeting of the Working Group on Integrated Water Resources Management
ECE/MP.WAT/WG.1/2008/2

  PDF PDF PDF

Report on the fourth meeting of the Working Group on Integrated Water Resources Management
ECE/MP.WAT/WG.1/2009/2

  PDF PDF PDF
 

(a) Guide to implementing the Convention

       

Draft Guide to implementing the Convention
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/L.2

  PDF PDF PDF
 

(b) Reviewing and promoting implementation and compliance

       

Facilitating and supporting implementation and compliance:a needed step in the Convention’s evolution
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/3

  PDF PDF PDF
 

(c) Ecosystem services and payments for such services in integrated water resources management

       

Background document

       

Recommendations on payments for ecosystem services in integrated water resources management (publication)
ECE/MP.WAT/22

  PDF PDF PDF
 

(d) Water and climate adaptation in transboundary basins, including flood and drought risk management

       

Water and adaptation to climate change
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/4

  PDF PDF PDF

Guidance on water and adaptation to climate change (publication)
ECE/MP.WAT/30

  PDF - PDF

Future programme of pilot projects under the Convention
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/5

  PDF PDF PDF

Background document

       

Transboundary flood risk management: experiences from the UNECE region (publication)
ECE/MP.WAT/31

  PDF - PDF
 

(e) European Union Water Initiative and National Policy Dialogues

       

Background document

       

Progress report on National Policy Dialogues in countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/6

  PDF PDF PDF
 

(f) Water and industrial accidents

       

Safety guidelines and good practices for tailing management facilities ECE/MP.WAT/WG.1/2008/5-ECE/CP.TEIA/2008/9

  PDF PDF PDF

Draft Strategy for the Joint Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/L.3

  PDF PDF PDF

Questionnaire on priority needs in the area of water and industrial accidents in the transboundary context. (English only)

  PDF - -

Background documents

       

Report of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on its fifth meeting
ECE/CP.TEIA/19

  PDF - -

Progress report of the Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents
ECE/MP.WAT/WG.1/2008/6-ECE/CP.TEIA/2008/8

  PDF PDF PDF

Challenges and opportunities of transboundary accidental water pollution, liability and compensation – progress towards ratification of the Civil Liability Protocol
ECE/BELGRADE.CONF/2007/INF/2-ECE/MP.WAT/24-ECE/CP.TEIA/17

  PDF PDF PDF

Report on the Workshop on the safety of tailing management facilities ECE/MP.WAT/SEM.8/2007/2-ECE/CP.TEIA/SEM.3/2007/2

  PDF PDF PDF

Minutes of the ninth meeting of the Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents (English only)
JEG18/25 July 2008

  PDF - -

Minutes of the eighth meeting of the Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents (English only)
JEG16/19 December 2007

  PDF - -
 

(g) “Capacity for Water Cooperation” project

       

Background document

       

River basin commissions and other institutions for transboundary water cooperation (publication)
ECE/MP.WAT/32

  PDF - PDF
 
Item 6. Monitoring and assessment of transboundary waters

Background documents

       

Report on the eighth meeting of the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment
ECE/MP.WAT/WG.2/2007/2

  PDF - -

Report on the ninth meeting of the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment
ECE/MP.WAT/WG.2/2008/2

  PDF PDF PDF

Report on the tenth meeting of the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment
ECE/MP.WAT/WG.2/2009/2

  PDF PDF PDF
 

(a) Assessment of the status of transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters

 

Note on the second Assessment of transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/7

  PDF PDF PDF

Main findings of the assessment of transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters in South-Eastern Europe
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/8

  PDF - PDF

Assessment of transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters in South-Eastern Europe discharging in the Black Sea
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/9

  PDF - -

Assessment of transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters in South-Eastern Europe discharging in the Adriatic Sea
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/10

  PDF - -

Assessment of transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters in South-Eastern Europe discharging in the Aegean Sea
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/11

  PDF - -

Background document

       

First Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters (publication) ECE/MP.WAT/25

  see web page
 

(b) Strengthening capacity for data administration and exchange for monitoring and assessment of transboundary water resources in EECCA

       

Background document

       

Strengthening capacity for data administration and exchange for monitoring and assessment of transboundary water resources in EECCA: proposal for a pilot activity
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/12

  PDF PDF PDF
 
Item 7. Proposed programme of pilot projects

Future programme of pilot projects under the Convention
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/5

  PDF PDF PDF
 
Item 8. International Water Assessment Centre

Draft strategy and workplan of the International Water Assessment Centre for 2010–2012
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/L.4

  PDF PDF PDF
 
Item 11. Cooperation with the Protocol on Water and Health

Background documents

       

Programme of work of the Protocol on Water and Health for 2007–2009
ECE/MP.WH/2/Add.5-EUR/06/5069385/1/Add.5

  PDF PDF PDF

Report on the first meeting of the Working Group on Water and Health
ECE/MP.WH/WG.1/2008/2-EUR/08/5086340/12

  PDF PDF PDF

Report on the second meeting of the Working Group on Water and Health
ECE/MP.WH/WG.1/2009/2- EUR/09/5086340/4

  PDF PDF PDF
 
Item 13. Promotion of the Convention and the role of focal points

How to better promote the Convention and its Protocol on Water and Health: a guide for focal points
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/13

  PDF PDF PDF
 
Item 14. Workplan for 2010–2012 and resources needed for its implementation

Draft workplan for 2010–2012 (as above)
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/L.1

  PDF PDF PDF

Draft guiding principles for financial assistance to representatives of countries with economies in transition, non-governmental organizations and countries outside the region
ECE/MP.WAT/2009/L.5

  PDF PDF PDF
Item 16. Date and venue of the sixth session of the Meeting of the Parties
Provisional calendar of meetings   PDF - -

 

 

Presentations and Statements

(delivered at the session or submitted in writing after the meeting)
Document title   ENG FRE RUS
Item 1. Opening of the session

Opening Address by Mr. Willy Geiger, Vice Director of the Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland

  DOC - -

Opening remarks by Mr. Marco Keiner, Director, Environment, Housing and Land Management Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

  DOC - -

Azerbaijan

  - - DOC

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  PDF - -

Bulgaria

  DOC - -

Croatia

  PDF - -

Czech Republic

  DOC - -

Finland

  DOC - -

Romania

  DOC - -

Russian Federation

  - - DOC

Slovakia

  DOC - -

Ukraine

  - - DOC
 
Item 4. Amendments to articles 25 and 26 to open the Convention to countries outside the region

Statement by Mongolia

  DOC - -

Statement by Ukraine

  - - DOC

Statement by Afghanistan

  DOC - -
 
Item 5. Integrated management of water and related ecosystems
 

(c) Ecosystem services and payments for such services in integrated water resources management

       

Statement by MCPFE

  DOC    
 

(d) Water and climate adaptation in transboundary basins, including flood and drought risk management

       

The Guidance on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change. Mr. Joost Buntsma, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, the Netherlands

  PDF - -

Future activities on water and climate change. Mr. Joost Buntsma, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, the Netherlands

  PDF - -

The Nairobi Work Programme on Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change (NWP). Understanding Vulnerability, Fostering Adaptation. Ms. Xianfu Lu, Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

  PDF - -

The workshop on transboundary flood risk management. Mr. Thomas Stratenwerth, Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany

 
-
-

Statement by WMO on climate change adaptation

  DOC - -

Statement by WMO on transboundary flood management

  DOC - -
 

(e) European Union Water Initiative and National Policy Dialogues

       

National Policy Dialogues on Integrated Water Resources Management. Mr. Rainer Enderlein, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

  PDF - PDF

Statement by Ukraine

  - - DOC
 

(f) Water and industrial accidents

       

Safety guidelines and good practices for tailing management facilities. Mr. Peter Kovacs, Ministry of Environment and Water, Hungary

  PDF - -

The Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents. Mr. Peter Kovacs, Ministry of Environment and Water, Hungary

  PDF - -
 

(g) “Capacity for Water Cooperation” project

       

Capacity for Water Cooperation. Ms. Francesca Bernardini, UNECE

  PDF - -
 
Item 6. Monitoring and assessment of transboundary waters
 

(a) Assessment of the status of transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters

 

The First and Second Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters in the UNECE Region.

Ms. Lea Kauppi, Finnish Environment Institute

  PDF - -

The results of the second Assessment of Transboundary, Riivers, Lakes and Groundwaters in South--Eastern Europe.

Mr. Dimitris Faloutsos, Globla Water Partnership Mediterranean

  PDF - -

 

       
 

(b) Strengthening capacity for data administration and exchange for monitoring and assessment of transboundary water resources in EECCA

       

Capacity building in data administration for assessing and monitoring transboundary water resources in the
countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA). Presentation of the pilot project proposal.

Mr. Jean-Paul RIVAUD, Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea, France and Mr. Paul HAENER, International Office for Water, FRANCE

  PDF - -
 
Item 7. Proposed programme of pilot projects

Future programme of pilot projects under the Convention. Ms. Sonja Koeppel, UNECE, Water Convention Secretariat

  PDF - -
 
Item 8. International Water Assessment Centre

The International Water Assessment Centre. Mr. Boris Minarik, Slovak Hydrometerological Institute, Slovakia

  PDF - -
 
Item 9. Technical assistance and implementation projects

The UNECE Water Convention Advisory Services, Technical Assistance Projects. Mr. Bo Libert, Regional Advisor, UNECE

 
-
-

 

Pictures

PICTURES
 

Opening session: Mr. Geiger (Switzerland), Mr. Keiner (UNECE), Ms. Jekel (chairperson, Germany), Ms. Bernardini (UNECE Water Convention Secretariat), Ms. Ella Behlyarova (UNECE Water Convention Secretariat), Ms. Koeppel (UNECE Water Convention Secretariat)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Side events

Several side-events were organised every day during lunch time.

Tuesday, 10 November, 13.15-14.45, room VII: Managing transboundary rivers

Wednesday, 11 November, 13.15-14.45, room VII: The National Policy Dialogue Process under the EU Water Initiative: learning from experience – shaping the future

Thursday, 12 November, 13.15- 14.45, room VII: The Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC)

Thursday, 12 November, 13.15- 14.45, room IV: Petersberg Phase II Process / Athens Declaration Process: Facilitating transboundary cooperation for the management of shared water bodies and their basins in South-Eastern Europe (brochure of Process)

List of participants