The mass media on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was represented by leading Russian mass media. Seven most popular TV and radio national broadcast stations covered the event in their news programs. Instant coverage of the event was provided by various news sites on the Internet.

Appointment

This is the first time in UNEP’s almost thirty years’ record that a regional office has opened in Russia. What is the reason for this?

I believe it is thanks to the recognition of Russia’s role in the settlement of global and regional environmental problems, securing global environmental safety as well as the need for closer and more constructive interaction between Russia and UNEP at the governmental and non-governmental levels. The UNEP officials and the Russian Foreign Ministry and State Committee for Environmental Protection joined forces to resolve some difficult organizational and financial problems, that in the end made it possible to open a UNEP branch in Moscow, and, significantly, the first country office of this organization in Europe.

UNEP is mainly responsible for the environmental aspect of sustainable development. How will this task be carried out in Russia?

UNEP is ready to take its step along the thorny path, which the UN as a whole must travel to solve the problems of sustainable development. We intend, using the organization’s potential, to continue rendering Russia possible assistance to resolve its environmental problems, including by drawing up and implementing UNEP projects. Moreover, UNEP is also interested in Russia’s efficient contribution to international cooperation, since global and regional problems can only be resolved jointly. Russia’s experience and the knowledge of Russian scientists and experts are extremely important here. The UNEP Moscow Branch will primarily be involved in helping to apply these approaches in practice. We are ready to carry out constructive work with the executive and legislative authorities as well as with business and NGOs.

Which environmental projects will UNEP carry out in Russia?

UNEP is working in Russia on a whole set of projects. The most important include the Caspian Sea, environmental impact assessment, harmonization and development of environmental laws and information systems in the environmental sphere. Environmental projects in the Russian Federation are being initiated jointly by the Russian government and UNEP. On its part, UNEP is ready to establish constructive mutually rewarding cooperation, leaving all the negative experience in the past and heading into the future on a positive note.

UNEP and UNDP, and the World Bank, are the implementing agencies of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), each with its own mandate under the GEF projects. UNEP mandate is primarily conducting scientific expertise. The activity of GEF in Russia is gaining momentum, and I believe the agencies will beneficially supplement each other. We have accumulated positive experience of cooperation by working on environmental problems of the Black Sea, biodiversity, etc., and by developing joint activities on the Caspian. An appropriate memorandum has been recently signed by the Russian party, UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank to improve coordination of GEF project activity in Russia by eliminating duplication and dispersion of efforts.

Despite for some reason existing opinion, Russian legislation on environmental protection is not as bad as it may look at first glance. The main problem is that laws, and sometimes very good ones are inadequately implemented. This shortcoming is also, as far as I understand, characteristic of other branches of the Russian law. Nevertheless, the legislative basis in the environmental sphere definitely needs improving. Besides, it is important to ensure harmonious coordination among all three components of sustainable development - economic, social and environmental. UNEP considers this aspect of cooperation important and intends to promote it in practice. For example, we supported the proposal made recently by the State Duma Committee on Ecology on a draft federal law on sustainable development of the Volga Basin. This project is already being worked upon.

How can Russian partners submit proposals for joint projects?

Our main partner is the Russian government in the person of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Natural Resources, which is entrusted with liaison with UNEP. So, it would be best if project proposals are first submitted to this Ministry. Our office is ready to render the necessary consulting assistance and advise on how to proceed in a specific situation.

A Return from Hell

During the small hours of December 18, 1995, when a freight plane on its way from Bulgaria to Bangladesh was overflying Indian territory, one Devi, the owner of the AN-26B aeroplane, and his companion forced the crew at gun point to change course and bring the aeroplane down to a lower altitude, after which they opened the cargo bay and threw out the freight, later revealed to be weapons.Five days later, as they flew over Bombay, the crew was ordered by the airport air traffic controller to land. Immediately upon landing, the owner and his companion fled, and the crew members were arrested.

On the initiative of UNA-Russia, an International Committee for Humanitarian Support for the Pilots was formed in Moscow under UNA-Russia Chairman Anatoly Torkunov, with representatives of national and international human rights associations becoming its members. A widespread campaign was launched in the mass media. Government officials, primarily at the Russian Foreign Ministry and the State Duma, as well as representatives of the Orthodox Church, petitioned for the pilots’ release. But it was a personal appeal by the Russian President to the Indian leaders that led to a happy outcome.

After four-and-a-half years of imprisonment luck finally shone on the pilots. The joy they felt is probably difficult to understand and convey, since it only comes after experiencing the worst suffering and inhuman torture, both physical and spiritual. Now they are back home with their near and dear ones.A new life awaits them and, of course, new problems. During the long years of imprisonment, their health has so deteriorated that it is unlikely they can return to their favourite occupation. Their families live in Latvia, while they are themselves now Russian citizens. The committee created for their support and UNA-Russia will naturally continue closely to follow their future.

In Brief

On June 14, the top officials of UNA-Russia met with a UNA-Japan delegation led by Chugi Yamada. The participants in the meeting noted in particular that Japan’s political and economic weight should be taken into account when changes are made in the UN system. They shared the opinion that Russia must overcome its current difficulties and agreed to intensify bilateral relations within the framework of the two national Associations and conduct a regular exchange of delegations.

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In July, three winners of the Culture of Peace competition organised jointly by UNA-Russia and UNA-USA received their long-awaited prizes, a trip to Washington. The trip was a genuine success. The Russian girls were not only overwhelmed by America’s extraordinary beauty, but also demonstrated their own professional qualities. In New York, they were cordially received by the Russian Permanent Mission at the UN. The Russian diplomats acquainted the winners with the office’s activity and showed them around the city. The winners attended a conference on UN Models. They particularly enjoyed the award ceremony, where the Russian girls were presented to the audience. At one point, William Luers, President of UNA-USA, started talking in fluent Russian, which sent all those present into indescribable raptures. A representative of UNA-USA, Lucia Rodriguez noted, “the Russian girls were a special embellishment to our conference and showed themselves in the best possible light.”