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SPECIAL SEGMENT:
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GLOBAL
INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE:
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Above
photos: COP-7
President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (left) opened the dialogue.
Uriel Safriel, (right) Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel,
introduced the theme of the dialogue “Economic Opportunities in
the Drylands under the UNCCD.”
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The
CZECH
REPUBLIC
outlined its official development assistance to affected
countries for promoting research on land degradation issues.
Above photo: Tomás
Novotńy, Deputy Minister of Environment (Czech
Republic)
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CHINA
called for
financial
and technological support
to
developing countries.
Above photo: Li Yucai, Vice Minister of the State
Forestry Administration (China)
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INDIA
said that it has adopted
policies
that complement the UNCCD objectives.
Above photo: Namo Narain Meena, Minister of State for
Environment and Forests (India) |
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STATEMENTS
BY PARTIES:
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Mtiti
Fakudze, Minister of Agriculture and
Cooperatives, SWAZILAND, focused on the need to review CCD achievements in the last ten
years, and urged implementation of the JIU’s recommendations.
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Bountiem
Phissamay, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, described his country’s
development goals, actions for eradication of poverty, and NAP
implementation.
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Abdymalik
Anarbaev, Acting Minister of Agriculture, Water Economy and
Processing Industry, KYRGYZSTAN, reported on national activities and projects to combat
desertification, including with CCD and GM support.
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Davlastsho
K.Gulmahmadov, Minister, State Committee for Land
Management, TAJIKISTAN, expressed hope that the CCD will have an effective financial
mechanism, and suggested focus on training.
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Henri
Djombo, Minister of Forestry and the Environment, CONGO, expressed concern with deforestation in the region, called for
promoting the effectiveness of the CCD Secretariat, and supported
the JIU report.
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Abobakar
El Mansori, Minister of Agriculture of the Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya, called upon all parties to promote coordination
in implementation of regional and subregional efforts and to
encourage information and data transfer.
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Martin
Puta Tofinga, Minister for Environment, Lands and
Agricultural Development of
Kiribati, spoke on behalf of Pacific island parties. Emphasizing
the vulnerability of SIDS to climate change and land
degradation, he called for financial and technical support. |
Bill
Vakaafi Motufoou, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries of Niue, noted the acknowledgement of vulnerability of
SIDS in the Mauritius Declaration, and called for greater
flexibility under the UNDP/GEF portfolio project for LDCs and
SIDS. |
Max
Puig Miller, Secretary for the Environment and Natural
Resources, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, referred to refugees from desertification, and described
efforts to combat desertification in fragile ecosystems. |
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Lebohang Nts’inyi, Minister for Tourism, Environment
and Culture of Lesotho, urged GEF to increase resource
allocation to OP 15, and called for technical and financial
support by development partners and renewed commitment to the
CCD by all parties.
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Odette
Kayitesi, Minister of Regional Planning, Environment and
Tourism of Burundi, supported the permanent institutionalization of CRIC and
adequate funding for its functions, and called for adequate
resources to the CCD Secretariat.
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Tereza Seresio Ero, Minister of State for Environment, SUDAN, dwelt on economic opportunities in the drylands, and
eco-social
activities.
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CONTACT GROUP:
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REPORT
OF THE JOINT INSPECTION UNIT: Participants to the contact
group met in the morning to make general statements on the
report of the JIU, with many expressing satisfaction with the
report and their
willingness to submit a draft decision for adoption by COP-7.
In the afternoon and evening sessions, discussions focused on
a draft decision prepared by Chair Sem T. Shikongo
(Namibia), which contains
two major paragraphs, with one suggesting development of
a strategic target to
enable parties to reach a common view and understanding of the
future of the implementation of the UNCCD,
and another
suggesting the establishment
of an intersessional working group to address the
recommendations in the JIU report. Participants
were divided on these two
paragraphs. Above photos L-R: View of the contact group
session on the JIU; Chair Shikongo (Namibia) and with
Rajeb Boulharouf, UNCCD
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ENB SNAPSHOTS:
Reception Hosted by Hama Arba Diallo, Executive Secretary, UNCCD and
Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director, UNEP
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SIDE EVENT: GLOBAL MECHANISM
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Christian
Mersmann, (above) Managing Director, GM, presented the report on
activities of the GM in two side events "GM in Action: The Way
Ahead - An Interactive Dialogue" and "Mainstreaming for
Resource Mobilization". He stressed the need to work within the
evolving international framework to mobilize financing, and to
recognize that the UNCCD is in competition for limited resources and
must convey its importance. Mersmann called on international financing
institutions to mainstream funding for UNCCD-related activities. He
also highlighted GM experiences, lessons learned, capacity building
and cooperation with NGOs and private sectors. For
further information regarding GM please visit http://www.gm-unccd.org
and http://field.gm-unccd.org.
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