Public hearings on Tajikistan’s Environmental Code concluded with OSCE support

DUSHANBE, 27 August 2013 – The OSCE Office in Tajikistan held the last round of public hearings on the final draft of the Environmental Code for Tajikistan.The final draft was developed and presented to government and civil society representatives by the working group on the development of the National Environmental Code, which consisted of Tajik and international experts. The document incorporated the comments received during other sessions of public hearings held in all the regions of Tajikistan in June 2013.

“The aim of the public hearings was to discuss the draft Code and give an opportunity to the relevant actors to contribute to the final draft presented today,” said Ambassador Markus Mueller, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

The project aims at improving the environmental legislation and ensuring its compliance with international standards. It was initiated following the request of the Government and the Parliament of Tajikistan.

Khayrullo Ibodzoda, the Head of Emergency and Ecological Department of the Executive Office of the President of Tajikistan said: “The Environmental Code is to become a key legislative document in the field of environment. The OSCE’s support in the development of this document was crucial.”

The Environmental Code will be submitted to the Parliament of Tajikistan in 2014 for the approval.