PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN ACTION PLAN (MAP)

Malta's Minister for the Environment, Francis Zammit Dimech, yesterday had the occasion to declare open and deliver the inaugural address at the 12th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention. Francis Zammit Dimech opened the meeting in his capacity as outgoing President of the Bureau of the Contracting Parties.



In this respect he also had the privilege to welcome to the meeting His Royal Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco, who accepted to be present for the opening ceremony and to deliver an address in support of the work carried out by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and of the Mediterranean Action Plan. Also present for the opening ceremony was Monaco's Minister for the Environment, Bernard Fautrier who now succeeds Dr Zammit Dimech as Bureau President.



In his opening address, Dr Francis Zammit Dimech referred to the progress achieved in different areas of the Mediterranean Action Plan during the last two years, which was the term of his Presidency. In particular he highlighted the new Emergency Protocol to the Barcelona Convention, which is expected to be adopted by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries to be held in Malta next January.



Dr Zammit Dimech also referred to "the Mediterranean participation in the World Summit on Sustainable Development". Following decisions of the Bureau over which he presided, the Secretariat prepared a 'Declaration of the Contracting Parties to Barcelona Convention on Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean' which is being discussed by Ministers attending the Monaco meeting and which is to be presented to the World Summit of Sustainable Development that is planned for Johannesburg in September 2002.



Dr Zammit Dimech also had the opportunity to meet the First Minister of Monaco Patrick Leclercq.