Czech Republic
CZECH REPUBLIC
Permanent Mission to the United Nations
1109-1111 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10028 Tel . : 1 (646) 981 .4000
Check Against Delivery
STATEMENT OF THE MR. PETR MARES
VICE-PRIME MINISTER OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC,
AT THE HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF THE 12 TH SESSION
OF THE COMMISSION OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
NEW YORK, 28 APRIL 2004
Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
During the last 15 years the C ech Republic underwent the transitional changes .
I would. like to stress in this regard that the environmental agenda was affected essentially .
And for example, in the area of housing, the successful reali ation of the Healthy Cities
Project and the progress already achieved in implementing the local Agenda's 21 are worth
mentioning.
Extensive and comprehensive restructurali ation was also executed in the water
management policy . In the water quality, between the years 1992 and 2002, the recorded
discharged pollution point sources fell approximately by 75% in the major pollutants . A longterm
improvement in water quality has been accomplished mainly by :
?
the implementation of "polluter-pays principle";
os
?
abolishing of subsidies on the prices of water and sewer services from the state
budget ;
?
the transformation of ownership of infrastructure property (water supply and sewerage
systems) from the state to the municipalities or private companies ;
?
further development and reconstruction of decisive waste water treatment plants, both
municipal and industrial .
In our country, similar accomplishments have been reached in almost all areas of the
Millennium Development Goals .
Excellencies, dear colleagues,
I would like to ensure you that the C ech Republic is very well aware of its share of
responsibility in world sustainable development, both in regional and global scope .
It is important to highlight the growing development assistance provided by the C ech
Republic. Our country acquired know-how in water supply and sanitation management and
development/rehabilitation of water management infrastructure . Therefore we may offer this
knowledge in the water management worldwide, as we are currently executing in about
twenty concrete projects in the developing countries .
Concluding my brief remarks, I would like to shortly comment the challenges before
us towards the CSD- 13 .
The C ech Republic fully supports the integrated approach to the three topics
discussed during this session, as well as to all cross-cutting issues and inter-linkages .
Promoting education for sustainable development is considered the one of the main prerequisites
for the implementation of the internationally agreed common goals .
Thank you for your attention .
Permanent Mission to the United Nations
1109-1111 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10028 Tel . : 1 (646) 981 .4000
Check Against Delivery
STATEMENT OF THE MR. PETR MARES
VICE-PRIME MINISTER OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC,
AT THE HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF THE 12 TH SESSION
OF THE COMMISSION OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
NEW YORK, 28 APRIL 2004
Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
During the last 15 years the C ech Republic underwent the transitional changes .
I would. like to stress in this regard that the environmental agenda was affected essentially .
And for example, in the area of housing, the successful reali ation of the Healthy Cities
Project and the progress already achieved in implementing the local Agenda's 21 are worth
mentioning.
Extensive and comprehensive restructurali ation was also executed in the water
management policy . In the water quality, between the years 1992 and 2002, the recorded
discharged pollution point sources fell approximately by 75% in the major pollutants . A longterm
improvement in water quality has been accomplished mainly by :
?
the implementation of "polluter-pays principle";
os
?
abolishing of subsidies on the prices of water and sewer services from the state
budget ;
?
the transformation of ownership of infrastructure property (water supply and sewerage
systems) from the state to the municipalities or private companies ;
?
further development and reconstruction of decisive waste water treatment plants, both
municipal and industrial .
In our country, similar accomplishments have been reached in almost all areas of the
Millennium Development Goals .
Excellencies, dear colleagues,
I would like to ensure you that the C ech Republic is very well aware of its share of
responsibility in world sustainable development, both in regional and global scope .
It is important to highlight the growing development assistance provided by the C ech
Republic. Our country acquired know-how in water supply and sanitation management and
development/rehabilitation of water management infrastructure . Therefore we may offer this
knowledge in the water management worldwide, as we are currently executing in about
twenty concrete projects in the developing countries .
Concluding my brief remarks, I would like to shortly comment the challenges before
us towards the CSD- 13 .
The C ech Republic fully supports the integrated approach to the three topics
discussed during this session, as well as to all cross-cutting issues and inter-linkages .
Promoting education for sustainable development is considered the one of the main prerequisites
for the implementation of the internationally agreed common goals .
Thank you for your attention .
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