Almaty + 5: meetings in Yerevan

From 15th till 18th of November 2005 the meetings on problem solving in the sphere of water sector in the EECCA took place in Yerevan.

On the 15th of November the meeting of working group of the EECCA countries on EC Water initiative took place. There were discussed reports of 8 EECCA countries about the situation in these countries and their priorities. These reports were prepared by Technical Secretariat of WI EC — EECCA on the base of the expert mission to the EECCA countries on summer 2005.

On the 16 th of November NGO of the EECCA regions held a special activity on presentation of NGO position concerning the work of the sector of water supply and sewage in the EECCA countries: «Reforms for people or reforms for reforms». The meeting with representatives of Armenian NGOs, which work on the problems of ecology and water, also took place. During the meeting there was exchange of information about the work of NGOs in the EECCA regions and about strengthening of the NGOs' role in the reformation of the water community sectors.

On the 16th—17th of November there were 3 joint meetings of the Special work group on realization of the Action Program on environment protection and Committee on project preparation took place. There were discussed the main topics and the documents that will be presented on the Ministry conference, preparation to the Belgrade 2007, evaluation of the work of the Committee and the Program and perspectives of their future work. In the frame of the meeting there was a round table, dedicated the partnerships between private and public sectors in water supply sectors of the countries.

On the 18th of November the conference of the Ministers on financing of the water supply and sewage sectors in the EECCA countries took place. In the work of the Conference official delegations from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine didn't take part.

There were following questions in the conference agenda:

• Evaluation of Almaty Leading Principles of realization and Millennium Development Goals in the sphere of water supply and sewage;
• Providing finances for effective operation and technical service of water community sector infrastructure and investments to this sector;
• Reformation of relationship between local authorities and manufactories of water community sector, including the role of the private sector.

There were 9 information-analytical documents issued, that could be found on the site:
http://www.oecd.org/document

During the work of the conference the delegation of NGO, which consisted of 8 delegates from EECCA countries, 2 NGOs from Netherlands and an NGO from Armenia took part.

The position of the NGO was represented in the special document of the Conference and was represented during the Conference of the Ministers on the 18 th of November by the representatives of NGO: Sascha Gabizon, WECF Germany; Elena Manvelyan — NGO «Women of Armenia for pure water and health»; Diana Iskreva NGO «The Earth forever», Bulgaria and Tsvetkova Anna NGO «МАМА-86», Ukraine held a parallel activity that was dedicated to the financing of the problem solving of water supply and sanitation in rural area from the experience that was received in Armenia and Ukraine in MDG the EECCA region.

For further information contact please Anna Tsvetkova: [email protected]