National seminar On the way to the International Year of Water Cooperation: the role of international law, including the UNECE Water Convention, in strengthening cooperation on water resources management Dushanbe, 14-15 March 2011 In the framework of UNECE-GIZ Programme “Regional Dialogue and Cooperation on Water Resources’ Management” and with support of Switzerland Agenda (draft) Venue: Press center “Ittiloot va Muoshirat”, 2nd floor, Center of Strategic Studies under the Government of Tajikistan, Street Rudaki 40 Co-chaired by: Mr. Sulton Rahimov, First Deputy Minister of Melioration and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan and Mr. Bo Libert, Regional Adviser on Environment, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 1st day
14 March 2011, Monday
9.00 - 9.30
Registration of participants
9.30 - 10.15
Оpening Mr. Sulton Rahimov, First Deputy Minister of Melioration and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Rustam Latipov, Chair of the Environmental Committee, Machlisi Namoyandagoni Machlisi Olii / Parliament of the Republic of Tajikistan Ms. O. Sharipova, Deputy Head, State Committee of Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Bo Libert, Regional Adviser on Environment, UNECE Mr. Alexander Nikolayenko, Regional Advisor, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Ms. Sibylle Vermont, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, Chair of the Bureau of the UNECE Water Convention
10.15 - 11.00
Session 1: International water law: role and place of the UNECE Water Convention
11.00 - 11.30
Introduction to international water law and the UNECE Water Convention (Prof. Attila Tanzi, University of Bologna, Chair of the Legal Board of the UNECE Water Convention) Coffee-break
11.30 - 13.00
Session 2: Obligations under the UNECE Water Convention Water Convention: a sound framework for transboundary water cooperation (Ms. Francesca Bernardini, Secretary to the Water Convention, UNECE) Water Convention: “obligations for all Parties” (Mr. Sergei Vinogradov, University of Dundee, and Legal Board of the UNECE Water Convention) Water Convention: “obligations for Riparian Parties” (Ms. Iulia Trombitcaia, UNECE)
13.00 - 14.00 14.00 – 15.30
Lunch “Planned measures” in international law, including the UNECE Water Convention (Prof. Attila Tanzi) UNECE Convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context (Espoo Convention) and its application in transboundary water projects (Mr. Nicholas Bonvoisin, Secretary to the Espoo Convention, UNECE)
15.30 - 16.00
Coffee-break
16.00 – 17.45
UNECE Water Convention – challenges and opportunities for Tajikistan (Mr. Anvar Kamolidinov, expert) Discussion moderated by Mr. Bo Libert
18.30
Reception
2nd day
15 March 2011, Tuesday
9.00 - 10.30
Session 3: Institutional cooperation under the UNECE Water Convention Joint bodies: international experience and best practice (Ms. Iulia Trombitcaia) International Sava River Basin Commission (Mr. Dejan Komatina, Secretary of the Commission) Strengthening institutional and legal frameworks of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea (Mr. Sergei Vinogradov)
10.30-11.00
Coffee-break
11.00-13.00
Session 4: UNECE Water Convention: advancing broader cooperation to protect the environment Protocol on Water and Health: integrating water, health and the environment (Ms. Francesca Bernardini, Co-Secretary to the Protocol, UNECE) Climate change and water resources (Ms. Sibylle Vermont) Projects and activities of the UNECE Water Convention in Central Asia (Mr. Bo Libert)
13.00-13.30
13.30 -14.30
Summing up and conclusions Mr. Sulton Rahimov, First Deputy Minister of Melioration and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Bo Libert, UNECE Regional Adviser on Environment Lunch