Bishkek Mountain Summit

http://www.kabar.kg/english/02/Oct/29/22.htm
Kabar News
October 29, 2002

Global Mountain Summit is opened in Bishkek

The solemn opening of the Global Mountain Summit was held in Bishkek in the Government House. The opening ceremony began with the speech of well-known writer Chyngyz Aitmatov, who welcomed participants of the Summit in Kyrgyzstan.

The working presidium is elected, where includes President of Kyrgyzstan Askar Akaev, Director-General of UNESCO Konchiro Matsuura, Prince Anton von und zu Liechtenstein, President of the International hunters’ council on protection of wild animals Diter Schram, Prime Minister of Tajikistan Akil Akilov, writer Chyngyz Aitmotov. President of Kyrgyzstan A. Akaev welcomed participants of the Summit and noted the necessity of its conducting for stable development of mountain territories.

In 1998 the United Nations General Assembly declared the year 2002 as the International Year of Mountains (IYM). The decision was made in response to a proposal by the Government of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, and builds on Chapter 13 of Agenda 21, signed at the 1992 Earth Summit, which focuses on mountain issues.

During 2002 people all over the world have participated in events to celebrate mountains and discuss ways to promote their conservation and sustainable development.

The Bishkek Global Mountain Summit is the final global event of the International Year of Mountains. It draws together the ideas and recommendations generated by previous events, from all levels and sectors of society, into proposals for concrete action, including:

1. The Bishkek Mountain Platform, a synthesis of the results of mountain meetings since the 1992 Earth Summit, including recommendations for sustainable mountain development drawn from these meetings and ten thematic papers prepared for the Summit.

2. The International Partnership for Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions, based on the Platform and on the partnership initiative launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

3. A draft proposal for a UN General Assembly resolution on a framework for action for integrated management of mountain ecosystems.

4. Establishment of a network of Mountain Developing States (MODS).

5. The Central Asian Mountain Charter.

This summit is organised by the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and UNEP in collaboration with FAO and with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), UNESCO, UNDP, United Nations University, the Mountain Forum, the Governments of Switzerland, Germany, Italy and several other partners.