First of all, this region is a very rich region and allocating money for environmental issues is often a matter of setting priorities. Let us make the environment a priority.
The United Nations, esp. UNEP and the United Nations Development Programme, stand ready to assist in developing a regional program and related trust-fund.
We stand ready to assist governments in developing a formula that ensures a fair distribution contributions made.
The UN offers a vast experience in providing technical oversight and in effectively administering large funds with a full guarantee of impartiality and transparency.
ED Steiner already presented valuable and substantive ideas on how to proceed. In close cooperation with UNEP and UNDP, I would like us to consider here, today, the following.
- To agree on the recommendations and timetables;
- To establish a follow up working group, consisting of appointed decision makers from each government in the region;
- To establish working relations with the private sector and to include key private sector representatives in this working group;
- To task this working group to agree on a way forward and to develop a concrete work-plan, budgets and next steps;
- This working group should meet regularly on the basis of an agreed agenda;
- To monitor progress and report back- to all of us in a transparent manner.
Ladies and gentlemen, I strongly believe that there is a solution to every problem- and I encourage all of us here to be constructive and forward looking in tackling dust-storms with concrete and well resourced action. Looking 10 years ahead, I ask you- do we have any other choice?
Thank you.
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