Page 16 - ARUBA TODAY

A16 LOCAL
Tuesday 28 March 2017
Negotiations for Regional Agreement on Rights of Access

in Environmental Matters Will Continue in Argentina

-Countries will advance on (referring to access to in- This will help us implement
the quest for a legal instru- formation), 8 (on participa- the agenda for sustain-
ment on the application of tion), 9 (access to justice) able development, con-
Principle 10 of the Rio Dec- and 10 (capacity-building flict prevention and the
laration on Environment and cooperation). They attainment of peace and
and Development in late also initiated discussions respect for human rights,”
July in Buenos Aires. on the agreement’s insti- Joseluis Samaniego said
tutional arrangements (ar- during the event’s closing
BRASILIA - Representa- ticle 11 onward) based on session.
tives of 23 Latin American the fifth version of the text “We can celebrate a week
and Caribbean countries compiled by the presid- of much work and commit-
ended a five-day meeting ing officers of the process ment, where we have dis-
in Brasilia last Friday aimed Representatives from the countries attending the Sixth Meeting – the technical secretariat cussed and analyzed texts
at advancing negotiations of the Negotiating Committee of the Regional Agreement on of which is held by ECLAC on articles 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
toward a regional agree- Principle 10, held in Brasilia, Brazil. – which brings together I am grateful for the good
ment on rights of access the proposals put forth by contributions made by the
to environmental informa- tee of the Regional Agree- which was held in Brazil’s countries. public and experts, and by
tion, participation and ment on Access to Infor- capital and organized by At the end of the gather- all those who followed us
justice, making a commit- mation, Public Participa- that country’s government ing, participants thanked via web streaming,” Patri-
ment to continue conver- tion and Access to Justice and ECLAC, the delegates the people and govern- cia Madrigal said in turn.
sations in Argentina in July. in Environmental Matters and representatives of the ment of Brazil for their hos- “Rights of access are at
During the Sixth Meeting of in Latin America and the public moved negotiations pitality and efforts in orga- the heart of environmental
the Negotiating Commit- Caribbean (Principle 10), forward on articles 6 and 7 nizing the event, along with democracy and they are
the Argentine government reflected in the Sustain-
for offering to host the sev- able Development Goals
enth meeting of the Nego- (SDGs). In Buenos Aires I
tiating Committee of the am confident that consen-
Regional Agreement on sus will be reached on the
Principle 10 in Buenos Ai- texts.”
res, from July 31 to August Meanwhile, Ambassador
4, 2017. Prior to this seventh José Antonio Marcondes
meeting, the Negotiating de Carvalho indicated
Committee will meet pe- that the meeting was very
riodically, both in person meaningful for Brazil. “We
and virtually, using flexible are reaching the conclu-
ways of working in order to sion of a process that has
conclude the negotiation inspired us.
this year. The ideas of Principle 10
The closing ceremony of have always been pres-
the sixth meeting of the ent in Brazil and we are
Negotiating Committee of pleased with the progress
the Regional Agreement made,” he said. He also
on Principle 10 was head- thanked the people who
ed by Joseluis Samaniego, accompanied the process
Director of ECLAC’s Sus- virtually.
tainable Development Finally, Rubens Born stated
and Human Settlements that “we need to listen to
Division; Patricia Madrigal, the voices of all people,
the Deputy Minister of En- especially those affected
vironment for Costa Rica, or who are the most vulner-
and Julio Cordano, a rep- able, those people who
resentative of the Foreign expect of the authorities,
Affairs Ministry of Chile, technicians and society
whose countries co-pre- leaders measures that en-
side the process; José An- sure the right to dignity and
tonio Marcondes de Car- a balanced environment.
valho, Undersecretary for But listening is not enough!
Environment, Energy and That is why the adoption
Science and Technology of a regional agreement
at Brazil’s Ministry of For- with essential standards for
eign Affairs; and Rubens the application of Principle
Born, in representation of 10 in Latin America and
the public. the Caribbean is a way of
“We are negotiating a strengthening the condi-
positive agenda, a pro- tions that we have in our
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cess that the countries countries to tackle envi-
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