OSCE supports Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan in conducting environmental impact assessments in a transboundary context

BISHKEK, 25 March 2009 - Government officials and experts from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as well as representatives from the OSCE and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) are meeting in Bishkek today to discuss environmental impact assessments (EIA) in a transboundary context.

The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, with the UNECE and with support from Norway, is managing a project to help the countries assess activities with a potentially adverse, cross-border impact on the environment. Today's meeting aims to evaluate implementation of UNECE's Convention on EIA in a Transboundary Context and update regional guidelines.

"The implementation of the EIA Convention is a valuable means of improving environmental cooperation in Central Asia, particularly with different transboundary activities and concerns," said Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

Wiecher Schrage, Secretary to the UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, is also attending the meeting.

The OSCE is working with Kyrgyzstan's International Department of the State Agency on Environmental Protection to improve co-operation with stakeholders and the public as part of the project, which is being implemented in the framework of the Environment and Security initiative (ENVSEC).

A pilot initiative to assess the impact of planned mining activities in Kyrgyzstan is being conducted with the involvement of the Kazakh authorities and public. This aims to help identify legal and institutional gaps, which in turn will contribute to the creation of guidelines and national laws on EIA.

Both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are parties to the EIA Convention, which stipulates that the environmental impact of activities should be assessed at an early stage, and obliges States to consult each other on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across borders.

The OSCE Centre has worked on a number of environment-related initiatives with Kyrgyzstan, added Tesoriere: "The OSCE in Kyrgyzstan has implemented a range of projects in co-operation with our Kyrgyz partners. These include environmental training and awareness through the Aarhus Centre in Osh, addressing radioactive security and disaster mitigation and preparedness issues through the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and support to the Central Asian Ecological Journalism Festivals."