Annual meeting of the Aarhus Centers-2023 in Dushanbe                   

                                          

On the initiative of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, according to the instruction of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated February 14 of this year, No. 5331, and in cooperation with the OSCE Program Office in Dushanbe, the annual meeting of the Aarhus Centers was held on October 17-18 with the participation of representatives of 14 member countries of the Aarhus Convention and more than 70 participants.

The event was attended by representatives of ministries and government departments, Majlisi Namoyandagon Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as journalists from the National Agency of Tajikistan “Khovar” and other state and independent media of Tajikistan.

The opening speech of the event was opened by the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, the National Coordinator of the Aarhus Convention in the Republic of Tajikistan Kiyomzoda Zarafo Sufijon, who pointed out the progress of Tajikistan's obligations to the Aarhus Convention. In particular, it was noted that representatives of the Aarhus Centers of Tajikistan, in close cooperation with the departments of the Committee, conduct seminars, round tables and training events with representatives of various segments of the population of Tajikistan on environmental issues.

At the international event, representatives of countries from Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia discussed three issues: “The role of the Aarhus centers in attracting public participation in environmental decision-making”, “Promoting the principles of a “green” economy” and “The role of the Aarhus centers in hazardous waste management". On these issues, in addition to reports and presentations, the experience of the centers was exchanged.

The annual session of the Aarhus Centers was concluded with a closing speech by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Protection Mavlodad Abdukodir and a speech by the representative of the Office for the Coordination of Economic and Environmental Activities of the OSCE, Ms. Sylvie Hoye.