PRESS RELEASE Transboundary forum on West Stara Planina

 

(February 21-22, 2005, Burzia, Bulgaria - Press R. No.02E-2005) The second transboundary forum on West Stara Planina sustainability issues was organised by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe REC) within the framework of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme (REReP) project “Promotion of Networks and Exchanges in the Countries of South Eastern Europe,” which was funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The meeting was a continuation of a previous transboundary forum that took place in Pirot, Serbia and Montenegro in October 2004. Eleven mayors from Bulgaria and Serbia and Montenegro (from Belogradchik, Berkovitza, Vurshetz, Georgi Damianovo, Godech, Chiprovtzi,Chuprene, Dimitrovgrad, Zajecar, Knjazevac and Pirot) discussed the achievements and future priorities for development of the West Stara Planina region. Following discussions, the mayors signed a forum protocol. The protocol focuses on member identification of targeted working groups concerning cooperation priorities — namely, environmentally friendly tourism and agriculture. One aim of the protocol is joint application for projects under the European Commission’s “Neighbourhood” programme and other international programs. District governors of Pirot and Zajecar, the deputy district governor of Montana, a representative of the Ministry of Environment and Waters of Bulgaria, and a representative of the Regional Forestry Board in Bulgaria supported the decisions taken and confirmed their future support through by signing a memorandum of understanding for future transboundary cooperation in the field of sustainable development. For more information, please contact: Zsolt Bauer Head of Communication Tel: (36-26) 504-069 E-mail: zsbauer@rec.org

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