Romania says Ukraine fails to discuss Danube canal
Source: Reuters
BUCHAREST, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Romania has complained to the United Nations that Ukraine has failed to consult it about works on a huge ship canal slicing through the ecologically sensitive Danube Delta, the Foreign Ministry said. The Bastroe Canal sparked tensions between Romania and Ukraine, which share the Delta, and drew criticism from the European Union and environmental groups, which say it could harm the unique ecosystem, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1991. Ukraine, which began work on the canal in 2004 without formally notifying Romania, has said Bastroe will help boost the impoverished economy on its side of the border. Romania, a new EU member, asked the U.N.'s Economic Commission for Europe, which manages the 1991 Espoo Convention committing signatories to consult on development projects that could affect their neighbours, to analyse Ukraine's plans. The U.N. body drafted a report in July 2006 concluding the Ukrainian canal posed a real threat to wildlife in the Delta. It committed Ukraine to consult Romania on how to tackle construction works. Ukraine was also asked to discuss the project with inhabitants of the Delta and non-governmental organisations. "So far, the Ukrainian party has respected none of these requests, persisting on a one-sided approach of the Bastroe problem," Romania's Foreign Ministry said in a statement late on Friday, adding it had sent a letter to the United Nations earlier in the week. "Such behaviour may create an unwanted precedent in international practice." The Espoo Convention, named after the Finnish town where it was signed, does not mention any sanctions for signatories that violate its provisions. This is the first case since it went into effect in 1996 that has reached dispute stage.
| AlertNet news is provided by |  |
