Catania Declaration
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UNEP(DEC)/MED IG.15/11 9 December 2003 Original: ENGLISH MEDITERRANEAN ACTION PLAN 13th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution and its Protocols Catania, 11-14 November 2003 REPORT OF THE THIRTEENTH ORDINARY MEETING OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AGAINST POLLUTION AND ITS PROTOCOLS UNEP/MAP Athens, 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS Main body of the Report Pages 1 – 29 ANNEXES Annex I List of Participants Annex II Agenda Annex III Recommendations Appendix 1: Proposals of the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development (MCSD) for recommendations concerning the Commission’s assessment and prospects Annex IV Programme Budget for 2004 - 2005 Annex V Catania Declaration Annex VI Status of ratifications as at 10 November 2003 Annex VII Statement of H.E. Mr. Altero Matteoli, The Minister of the Environment and Territory of Italy Annex VIII Statement of Mr Kakakhel, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP Annex IXI NGO Appeal for Ratification of the LBS Protocol Annex X List of accredited journalists UNEP(DEC)/MED IG.15/11 page 1 Introduction 1. The Twelfth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution and its Protocols, held in Monaco from 14 to 17 November 2001, accepted the offer of the Government of Italy to host the Thirteenth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties in Catania. Accordingly, the Thirteenth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution and its Protocols was held in the former Convento dei Benedettini, Catania, Italy, from 11 to14 November 2003. Attendance 2. The following Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention were represented at the Meeting: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, European Community, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia and Turkey. 3. The following United Nations specialized bodies, specialized agencies and Convention Secretariats were represented by observers: World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UNEP Basel Convention Secretariat, Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (RAMSAR Convention) and METAP represented by the European Community. 4. The following intergovernmental, non-governmental and other organizations were represented by observers: IUCN-World Conservation Union, Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative (MedWet), Amici per la Vita Onlus, Amigos del Mediterraneo, CEDIP-Centro Documentazione Internazionale Parchi, CIDCE-Centre Internationale de Droit Comparé de l’Environnement, Clean Up Greece, Friends of the Earth International, Friends of the Earth Middle East, Greenpeace International, HELMEPA-Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association, ICCOPS-International Centre for Coastal and Ocean Policy Studies, IEF- International Energy Foundation, IJOED-International Juridical Organization for Environment and Development, INDEMER-Institut du Droit Economique de la Mer, MAREVIVO, MEA- Mouvement Ecologique Algérien, MedCities, MIO-ECSDE –Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, OCOME-Organisation des Communicatrices Méditerranéennes, SAD/AFAG-Underwater Research Society/ Mediterranean Seal Research Group, SPNI-Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, UNASD-Union of Northern Associations for Sustainable Development, WWF-World Wildlife Fund for Nature. 5. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Global Programme of Action Office (UNEP/GPA), the Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) and the following MAP Regional Activity Centres were also represented: the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), the Regional Activity Centre for the Blue Plan (BP/RAC), the Regional Activity Centre for Cleaner Production (CP/RAC), the Regional Activity Centre for the Priority Actions Programme (PAP/RAC), the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (SPA/RAC) and MAP Secretariat for 100 Mediterranean Historic Sites. 6. A complete list of participants is attached as Annex I to this report. Agenda item 1: Opening of the Meeting 7. As required by Rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure for Meetings and Conferences of the Contracting Parties, the President elected by the Twelfth Ordinary Meeting, H.E. Mr. UNEP(DEC)/MED IG.15/11 page 2 Bernard Fautrier, Plenipotentiary Minister, Monaco, declared the Meeting open. Reviewing the past two years, he welcomed the fact that the new Specially Protected Areas and Biodiversity Protocol (SPA and Biodiversity Protocol) had entered into force and expressed the hope that the new Emergency and Prevention Protocol would soon do so. He nevertheless regretted that two ratifications were still needed for the amended Convention to enter into force and hoped that these would be registered very soon so that this important instrument could come into effect very early in 2004. He paid tribute to the contribution made by NGOs over recent years to the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development in the region. He wished the new Bureau every success in its very important task of developing and implementing a truly effective Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development. Finally, he paid tribute to the staff of MAP and to Mr. Lucien Chabason, whose 10 years as Coordinator would soon come to an end. 8. Mr Antonino D’Asoro, Commune of Catania, welcomed the delegates to the City of Catania, which was well placed to host such an important meeting in view of its commitment to the promotion of sustainable development. He added that, in collaboration with the association Amici per la Vita Onlus and the Ministry of the Environment, Catania was undertaking a new project consisting of an observatory on communication for environmental protection and healthy nutrition with a view to disseminating good practices for sustainable development. The project was based on an approach which considered the environment as a resource to be respected and defended in a context of the future planning of social, economic, territorial, commercial and occupational development that was compatible with the surrounding environment. He therefore hoped that the Thirteenth Meeting of the Contracting Parties would prove to be a valuable opportunity for closer collaboration between countries with a view to achieving a future of peace and security in a particularly delicate global context. 9. Mr Ferdinando Latteri, Rector of the University of Catania, welcomed the delegates and expressed pride that this significant event was being hosted by his University. He emphasized the importance for Sicily and Italy of taking new action to promote cooperation in relation to the Euro-Mediterranean environment, particularly in such important areas as the protection of the Mediterranean coastal area, the sea flora and renewable energy supplies. He recalled that the Athenaeum of Catania, as one of the oldest European Universities, was a leading exponent of dialogue, solidarity and cooperation with Mediterranean countries in such areas as research and scientific and cultural exchanges to promote the integration of the various disciplines. He added that the general network of framework agreements with the most important cultural and academic institutions in these countries was being steadily extended, particularly in the form of the Polytechnic and the Humanistic Pole of the Mediterranean, which involved close synergy with national and regional governments and other Sicilian Athenaeums. This commitment should be focused on environmental protection, with particular emphasis on elements of causal interconnection and sustainable development, with a view to helping to resolve the contemporary conflict between the capacity of humankind to use resources and the resulting disturbances in the natural equilibrium. He therefore believed that the present Meeting would be a key event for the Mediterranean, with Sicily once again acting as a bridge between its northern and southern shores. 10. Mr Sergio Illuminato, Amici per la Vita Onlus, said that the organization of the present Meeting, during the six-month Italian Presidency of the European Union, capped over 12 years of support for UNEP in collaboration with MAP and the Italian Ministry of the Environment. He drew the attention of the participants to the important side events that were being held during the Meeting on the themes of environmental films and communication for sustainable development, as well as to the national radio campaign undertaken as initiatives by the observatory for communication on environmental protection and healthy nutrition (OCSASA). He expressed pride in the important contribution that was being made in this way UNEP(DEC)/MED IG.15/11 page 3 to placing the Barcelona Convention at the centre of specific awareness-raising and information activities, thereby promoting cultural exchanges and local action. 11. Mr. Lucien Chabason, MAP Coordinator, speaking on behalf of Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of UNEP, paid tribute to the Italian authorities, the Ministry of the Environment, the Sicilian region, the Municipality of