Switzerland

E-mail: jeremy.wates@unece.org

Website: www.unece.org/env/pp

29 June 2006
 

Attn. Minister Nurlan Iskakov
  Ministry of Environmental Protection

Pr. Pobeda 31, office 304, Astana

473000, Kazakhstan

Fax: +7 3172 59 19 52/73
 

Dear Sir,
 

Re: Decision II/5a of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention concerning compliance by Kazakhstan with its obligations under the Convention
 

On behalf of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee, I wish to acknowledge with appreciation the receipt of the implementation strategy submitted by the Government of Kazakhstan to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee pursuant to decision II/5a adopted by the Parties to the Convention at their second meeting on 27 May 2005 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, concerning compliance by Kazakhstan with its obligations under the Convention (ECE/MP.PP/2005/2/Add.7).
 

Having carefully examined the strategy, the Committee considers that it can indeed serve as a good basis for the implementation of the recommendations contained in paragraph 5 of decision II/5a. In order to facilitate the implementation of the strategy, the Committee would like to put forward a number of comments and suggestions.
 

The Committee believes that the Strategy and its implementation would benefit from a more detailed and precise plan which, taking into consideration the precise content of the recommendations of the Meeting of the Parties, could include future and other relevant actions together with a timetable for various activities and events and define in a more precise way the assignment of responsibilities for their implementation. While taking account of the past achievements in implementation of the relevant provisions of the Convention, this plan would need to focus on the future steps and actions. In this regard the Committee wishes to bring your attention to the reference to a timetable and practical measures contained in paragraph 5 of decision II/5a.
 

The Committee wishes to emphasize the importance of ensuring public involvement in any further discussion on and implementation of the actions proposed in the Strategy.
 

The Committee also takes note of the new Environmental Code is being developed in Kazakhstan and expresses its hope that the Code will contain very detailed and precise provisions in order to reflect fully the requirements of the Convention.
 

The Committee would like to draw your attention to its recommendation in paragraph 36 (a) of the findings and recommendations with regard to communication ACCC/C/2004/06.
 

We look forward to hearing about the progress in implementation of the relevant provisions of decision II/5a in Kazakhstan, including with regard to modalities and outcomes of public involvement in such implementation, inter alia, through the Kazakh national implementation report as well as the report to be submitted to the Meeting of the Parties through the Committee pursuant to paragraph 8 of the decision. The Committee remains at the disposal of the Government of Kazakhstan should any assistance in implementing the decision be required.
 

Please accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
 

Yours sincerely,
________________________
 

Prof. Veit Koester
 

Chairman of the Compliance Committee
 

Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental

Matters

Cc: Green Salvation

Ms. L. Gatina