Drin Dialogue: 1st National Consultation Meeting, 2 Nov. 2010, Ohrid, FYR Macedonia + 2nd Drin Core Group Meeting Ohrid, 3 Nov. 2010, Ohrid, FYR Macedonia

The National Consultation Meeting in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, one of the activities within the Drin Dialogue, will be organized in Ohrid, on Tuesday, 2 November 2010, with the support and collaboration of the: Lake Ohrid Watershed Committee, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med), and the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE).

The activities within the Drin Dialogue, including this meeting, are financially supported by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The 2nd Drin Core Group will be organized back-to-back, on3 November 2010.

The Drin Dialogue is conducted within the frameworks of the UNECE Water Convention and the Petersberg Phase II / Athens Declaration Process. Activities within the Dialogue contribute directly to and are part of the Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative and of the GEF Med Partnership.

UNDP actively supports the Drin dialogue process by providing technical support and methodologies for the development of the Drin transboundary assessment. In the same time UNDP together with all the partners has initiated the development of the new GEF International waters project for the Drin basin.

The Drin Dialogue aims to develop a Shared Vision for the sustainable management of the Drin Basin that is shared by Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244) and Montenegro. This will include exploring ways to enhance transboundary cooperation in compliance with the provisions of the UNECE Water Convention and other related multi-lateral Agreements, as well as the EU Water Framework Directive. National Consultation Meetings will also be held in Albania and in Montenegro, and one Transboundary Consultation Meeting will be organized at the Drin Basin level, involving major stakeholders.

The National Consultation Meeting will:

- discuss and elaborate on management issues, needs and actions for the sustainable management of the part of the Drin Basin extended in the country i.e. Prespa, Ohrid and Black Drin sub-basins;

- facilitate the development of the Strategic Shared Vision for the management of the Drin Basin.

The findings of a Situation Analysis prepared to identify the key issues and problems linked with water resources management will provide the background for the discussions; the meeting will discuss these findings and provide input to the further development of the Situation Analysis.

Targeted representatives of national and local stakeholders including national, regional and local authorities, important economic sectors (such as agriculture, energy, industry, tourism etc.), water users associations, academia, private sector, NGOs and civil society organizations will be invited to participate.

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Drin Dialogue: 2nd Drin Core Group Meeting Ohrid, 3 November 2010, Ohrid, FYR Macedonia

The second meeting of the Drin Core Group (DCG) is organized inOhrid, FYR Macedonia, on Wednesday, 3 November 2010. It is part of the activities of the Drin Dialogue for the establishment of a Shared Vision for the management of the extended Drin Basin and the project that supports its implementation, financed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Water Convention, the EU Water Framework Directive and the Petersberg Phase II / Athens Declaration Process provide the policy framework.

It is organized with the support and collaboration of: UNECE, Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med), Lake Ohrid Watershed Commission and Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE).

UNDP actively supports the Drin dialogue process by providing technical support and methodologies for the development of the Drin transboundary assessment. In the same time UNDP together with all the partners has initiated the development of the new GEF International waters project for the Drin basin.

The 2nd DCG Meeting is organized on the basis of the decisions of the 1st DCG Meeting (1 December 2009 Podgorica, Montenegro) related to the: - Content of and the activities within the Drin Dialogue; - DCG and more specifically its scope, overall and specific objectives, synthesis, means to deliver results and preliminary work-plan.

GWP-Med serves as the Secretariat of the DCG providing technical and administrative support in cooperation with the existing secretariats of the sub-basins.

The Meeting will primarily discuss the following:

- Outcomes of the National Consultation in FYR Macedonia (2 November 2010): experience gained to be used in the upcoming national consultation meetings under the Drin Dialogue; main managerial issues identified with regard to the Drin sub-basins extending in FYR Macedonia.

- Preparation of the Drin Situation Analysis; progress achieved, and next steps.

- Developments regarding management activities in the Drin sub-basins.

- Preparation of a Project Identification Form for a GEF supported project for the management of the Drin Basin; a draft framework including the structure, aims, objectives and components of such a project will be presented by UNDP for your consideration and input.

- Upcoming activities within the Drin Dialogue; UNECE and GWP-Med will inform the DCG about developments and next steps and seek advice and input.