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| E-networking helps Balkan environment and civil society heal wounds of conflict |
 (Szentendre, Hungary, April
10, 2003) Representatives of eight environmental electronic networks
from South Eastern Europe (SEE) met in Kosovo April 4-5, 2003 to foster
further development of such groups in the region. More than 30
participants planned for exchange of environmental information and mutual
assistance. The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern
Europe (REC) and Milieukontakt Oost-Europa helped organise the meeting and
financed it as part of the South Eastern European NGO electronic
networking project. The meeting took place in one of the few islands of
ethnic tolerance - the Serbian enclave of
Brezovica, where ethnic Albanians can enter without difficulty. The
organisers chose the location to symbolise the fact that environmental
pollution respects no political boundaries, making cross-border
cooperation and information exchange vital.
During the meeting networks of environmental groups from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo discussed common challenges, appraised each others' progress and identified tasks to be undertaken. Most the participating networks - including Serbia's Volvox, FYR Macedonia's Eko.net, Albania's Jehona, Bosnia and Herzegovina's EkoMrezaBiH and the Kosovo hosts Sharri.Net - were formed in the last two years. These groups are still working on teething problems (such as marketing, communication, financing and human resources) and issues related to day-to-day operations. A representative from the Turkish environmental movement also attended, signalling the REC's forthcoming extension into Turkey. The meeting gave representatives a chance to work together on the challenges ahead, said Nina Blagoeva, executive director of BlueLink, a Bulgarian environmental NGO network. BlueLink and Romania's StrawberryNet were two of the most established networks present, and as such could offer know-how to the newer groups. The sustainability of the networks was one of the main concerns addressed at the meeting, whose conclusions will be published by the end of April. Conflict in the Balkans has ended but divisions between people are still evident, said meeting participant Jerome Simpson, head of the REC's Information Programme. Concerns were often raised over the choice of locations and language, which drove home the need for continued confidence-building exercises and virtual networking, Simpson said. The Amsterdam-based Milieukontakt Oost-Europa played a key role in the workshop's success by sharing their experience working with NGOs in FYR Macedonia, Albania and Moldova. NGOs have made remarkable progress in establishing their networks and, in effect, entirely new organisations have sprung up in a very short time. However, continued assistance is critical to nurture and guide future development. Any withdrawal of international support could undo the progress to date, said Gabor Heves, the electronic networking project manager at the REC. Having recognised this threat, NGOs hosted a donor and media event in Pristina. The event garnered the attention of several donor and coverage by three TV channels and major newspapers. The governments of the Netherlands, Norway and Italy have been funding the REC's efforts to build environmental civil society electronic networking for South East Europe since 2001. This work is part of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. For more information about the meeting in Brezovica, visit the project website or contact Gabor Heves. Tel: (36-26) 504-000, Fax: (36-26) 311-294. |
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