Russian experts discuss the main environmental issues reflected in the four segments of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan

The national interdepartmental meeting on preparation for signing of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan was held on 20-23 August 2007 in Saint-Petersburg. The meeting was organized by the International Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and SPb PO “Ecology and Business” with the assistance of  Apparatus (Personnel) of the Plenipotentiary of the Prezident of the Russian Federation on the Northwest Federal Okrug, represetatives of some profile federal legislative and executive bodies as well as Administration of Saint-Petersburg, Leningrad, Pskov and Novgorog regions, Republic of Karelia and with the assistance of the leading russian experts and specialists (Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sience, Institute of Limnology of the Russian Academy of Sience, Saint-Petersburg State University,  Russian State Hydrometeorology University, Neva-Ladoga Basin Water Administration, Administration on Technoligical and Ecological Inspectorate on  Saint-Petersburg) and also with the assistance of environmental NGOs  representatives.

Meeting aimed to discuss on the national level the main environmental issues reflected in 4 segments of the BSAP: eutrophication, hazardous substances, biodiversity and maritime activities including shipping.

The meeting was opened by Mr. Ivlev, Deputy Director of the International Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation. He noted that  Russian Federation will be the HELCOM Chair in the period 2008 – 2010 and this will allow to Russia to activate the  available mechanisms for cooperation with different actors in the Baltic Sea region and also with the European Union to study national interests in the field of consumption of the natural resources.   

Mr. Ivlev noted that BSAP will identify the kind of actions needed to achieve the agreed goals of a Baltic Sea unaffected by eutrophication, undisturbed by hazardous substances, with favourable biodiversity and environmentally friendly maritime activities. It will regulate the implementation of the most matters of the economy on the Baltic Sea including the followings: shipping, development of the ports infrustructure, offshore platform activity,  fishing, industrial activity, waste water treatment on the Baltic Sea catchment basin. He also drawned the attention of the meeting participants that obligations undertaken by Russia will essentially determine the environmental state and development of the economy of the Northwest Federal Okrug of the  of the Russian Federation.

In framework of this meeting there was held the working session of Mr. Ivlev with Mr. Lukijanov, Deputy of the Plenipotentiary of the Prezident of the Russian Federation on the Northwest Federal Okrug. They discussed the key trends for cooperation of the body, represented by Mr. Lukijnov, and Subjects of the Russian Federation with the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation. They also discussed the matter about expediency for creation of the Working Body on execution of the obligations concerned with the future presidency of Russia in the HELCOM.