Creation of enabling environment for integrated management of Kura-Araks transboundary river basin discussed

PanARMENIAN.Net - REC Caucasus organized the Regional Stakeholder Meeting of the Project: Creation of Enabling Environment for Integrated Management of the Kura-Araks Transboundary River Basin.

The objective of the project is to gain a consensus-based agreement between the South Caucasus countries, donor organizations and other concerned parties on further steps towards improvement and creation of basis for sustainable cooperation and coordination through establishment of regional institutional mechanisms for major participating countries of the Caucasus, including governments, supporting control and coordination of projects (including donor ones) for integrated management of the Kura-Araks transboundary rivers basin, and adoption of Road Maps for assessment of progress in sustainable management of the Kura-Araks river basin with view to introduction of the EU Water Directives.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of governments of South Caucasus countries; EU Delegation; international organizations, such as USAID, WB, OSCE; NGOs and independent experts.

Georgi Arzumanyan, REC Caucasus Executive Director made the presentation on the history of the project, its goals and objectives, future prospects and obstacles.

Pierre Henry de Villeneuve, IWRM project director at the International Office for Water introduced the principles of IWRM and made the presentation on the experience of the transboundary river basin management in Europe.

Denis Besozzi, Expert of the Rhine-Maas Water Agency, made the presentation of the experience based on the Rhine transboundary river basin management plan preparation.

Several presentations were done on the situation in South Caucasus countries concerning IWRM and introduction of EU water framework directives. The need of regional cooperation in integrated management of the Kura-Aras transboundary river basin has been stressed at the meeting.

The discussions of institutional set-up options, consensus- based agreement on creation of basis for sustainable cooperation and coordination through establishment of regional institutional mechanisms were held on the second day of the meeting.

In light of several discussions over institutionalization of the transboundary management of Kura-Araks basin, considering experience of a number of projects conducted in the region with the aim of establishing regional coordination body for joint management, and referring to political realities of the region, participants have come to the conclusion, that establishing of new structure in short-term perspectives is not realistic. It has been decided and agreed by all participating countries, that REC Caucasus, as the already established regional institution, within its mandate is the best positioned in the region for implementing coordination activities towards implementation by countries of EU WFD and providing kind of secretariat functions for thematic working groups for introduction of IWRM principles.

Further elaboration of National and Regional Road Maps, as well as finalization of institutional mechanism will be expected at later stages of the project, REC Caucasus press service reported.