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Ukrainian conservationists and their supporters worldwide have been confident that the new
president Viktor Yushchenko would repeal the plans of the former administration to drive a deep-water canal through that part
of the core area of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve located in the Ukrainian Republic.
It seems however that the old chains of bureaucracy and corruption have not
yet been broken.
We have just received the news that dredging work has resumed, this time a
Ukrainian dredger is active. Two nesting bird colonies and young fish shoals have already been disturbed. This work must stop
before wide-scale destruction of further bird colonies and other fauna occurs and irreparable habitat damage is caused.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
Lend your support to Proact assistance for Ukrainian conservationists by sending an email, letter or
fax to President Viktor Yuschenko - to persuade him to stop dredging operations immediately
and to reverse the previous government's policy which violated its own legislation and international agreements.
Use the draft text below or write in your own words to the President using the email link or
the numbers and addresses provided below.
EMAIL TO PRESIDENT YUSCHENKO
Subject:
PREVENT
FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE DANUBE DELTA BIOSPHERE RESERVE
by electronic mail to:
President Viktor Yuschenko
Dear President Yuschenko
We are very concerned to hear that the Ukrainian dredging vessel "Skadovsk" has restarted channeling work in the mouth of the Bystroe estuary.
Under the late President Kuchma there was strong international protest against
the construction of the Bystroe canal through the sensitive core area of the Danube biosphere reserve. At an official level the
Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee found Ukraine to be in violation
of its obligations under the Aarhus Convention in the matter of the construction of the Danube - Black
Sea canal and the European Union and Commission also expressed their grave concern at this potential environmental
disaster. Other relevant international organizations who continue to express their concern are the UNESCO and the Bern Convention
committee.
The Ramsar Convention secretariat have prepared an update on the Bystroye estuary which concludes that a proper and
comprehensive analysis of the influence of the proposed canal on the Danube Delta
environment, by all interested parties, should be undertaken. To this end the Ukrainian government should provide precise
information about the status of building operations, as well as an evaluation of the environmental impact.
We urge you to put an immediate stop to the canal dredging before irreparable
harm is done to an area of global environmental interest. - as this way Ukraine
continues violating international obligations and brings serious harm to world-value
territory!
We further urge you to annul the relevant presidential decrees signed by Leonid Kuchma should be annulled, as they are still contrary to Ukrainian
legislation and in breach of international conventions to which the Ukraine is a signatory.
Sincerely,
[Name and Address]
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