OSCE meeting fosters co-operation to reduce environmental threats, says Chairman

PRAGUE, 21 May 2007 - Global security will be increasingly at risk because of man-made environmental threats, but with the right political will and co-operation the threats can be reduced and even transformed into factors increasing stability, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told a high-level meeting today.

"It is important to include environmental security issues in political agendas by fostering the participation of national, international, public and private actors, and by promoting regional co-operation," he said in a speech at the opening ceremony of the 15th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum.

"Environmental co-operation can be an effective catalyst for reducing tensions, broadening co-operation and promotion of peace."

The Spanish Environment Minister, Cristina Narbona, made a presentation during the opening session, as did the Slovenian Environment Minister, Janez Podobnik and Tajikistan's Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources, Masaid Hamidov.

More than 300 decision-makers, experts and officials from more than 60 countries are in Prague for the three-day meeting, which is expected to produce recommendations and plans for activities the OSCE can support to reduce environmental threats posed by land degradation, soil contamination and poor water management - priorities set by the 2007 Spanish OSCE Chairmanship.

Minister Moratinos announced that an OSCE event on transfer of technology related to water will take place in Central Asia later this year.

He underlined the importance of a Spanish proposal for an OSCE Environmental Security Strategy comprising two parts - a Madrid Declaration on Environmental Security and as a complement an Action Plan containing recommendations. The Strategy will be discussed at the OSCE Ministerial Council, to be held in November in Madrid.

"It is high time to think about where the OSCE should stand in regards to environmental matters and to strongly promote the Economic-Environmental dimension this Organization," Minister Moratinos added.

The Chairman invited participants to the International Panel on Climate Change meeting, to be held later this year in Valencia, and to the Zaragoza Expo 2008 on water management and sustainable development.

OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut added that the OSCE, as a platform for political dialogue, "is becoming an unparalleled network for innovation in linking environmental concerns with security. Solutions can be found especially in the promotion of good governance and in deepening regional co-operation."

The Forum is the first OSCE carbon neutral event as the Spanish Chairmanship has invested in projects to reduce carbon dioxide emissions equal to those produced by the conference through a carbon offset and climate consulting service.