OSCE Office Supports Discussion on Environmental Governance

TSAKHKADZOR, Armenia, 4 November 2009 -Armenian officials and
representatives of non-governmental organizations began a two-day
seminar in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia, today on environmental governance
challenges at the municipal level.

The event was organized by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute of Norway
with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, and in co-operation
with the Ministries of Nature Protection and Territorial
Administration of Armenia.

"Effective environmental protection includes transparent and
accountable management at all levels. Joint efforts by the authorities
and the public will help secure environmental rights locally and
nationally," said Christoph Opfermann, the Economic and Environmental
Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Representatives of municipal authorities, regional environmental
organizations and non-governmental organizations took part in the
seminar, discussing ways to secure environmental rights at the
municipal level, international practices of environmental government,
and the implementation of the Aarhus Convention by Armenia.

The Aarhus Convention is an environmental agreement of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe; it covers access to
information, public participation in decision-making and access to
justice in environmental matters. Representatives of the OSCE-
supported public environmental information centres serving as a link
between environmental NGOs and governmental officials (Aarhus Centres)
took part in the seminar.

"Knowledge about international governance tools will be a valuable
contribution for the reform of self-government bodies in Armenia,"
said Peter Johan Schei, the Director of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute.

"The seminar participants outlined effective approaches to
environmental governance. The event contributed to more active
co-operation between the Aarhus Centres and local self-governmental
bodies in the country," said Ashot Giloyan, Head of the
Self-Government Department at the Ministry of Territorial
Administration of Armenia.