Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)
Oct 13 2006
More co-operation needed to avoid fires in Nagorno-Karabakh region,
OSCE-led expert mission finds
YEREVAN, 13 October 2006 – An OSCE-led team of international and
local experts today called for more co-operation to prevent and
manage fires in and around Nagorno-Karabakh following the end of a
10-day mission to assess the environmental impact of fires in the
region.
"The fires have covered extensive areas and inflicted significant
damage," said Bernard Snoy, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and
Environmental Activities, who headed the Environmental Assessment
Mission.
"The authorities have used all available means to counteract the
fires; in the future, capacities will need to be strengthened to
prevent and handle fires, through co-operation in a regional and
international framework."
The mission examined and assessed fire-affected areas and met with
officials on both sides of the Line of Contact. It is preparing a
report that will include recommendations towards an environmental
operation and other confidence-building measures as envisaged in a
resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 7 September 2006.
The mission’s report will be submitted to the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
in November. The UN General Assembly Resolution requested the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office to provide a report to the member states of the UN
General Assembly by 30 April 2007.
The mission included experts from the Global Fire Monitoring Center,
the United Nations Environment Programme, the European Commission,
the Council of the European Union and the Council of Europe as well
as local experts. Also participating were officials from the Office
of the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office on the
Conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference.
The mission was supported by a contribution of the Environment and
Security (ENVSEC) Initiative. Armenia and Azerbaijan provided in-kind
contributions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
