Media Advisory: Ministerial Conference To Address Forest Law Enforcement And Governance In Europe And North Asia

Contacts –In Moscow and St. Petersburg: 
Marina Vasilieva  +7 095 920 77 85
mvasilieva@worldbank.org

Tatiana Piunovskaya – 7095 745 7000 ext.2026
tpiunovskaya@worldbank.org

Artem Kolesnikov – 7095 745 7000 ext.2040
akolesnikov@worldbank.org

Laura A. Ivers - +7095-970-6354
livers@worldbank.org

In DC: 
Kristyn Ebro +1-202-458-2736
Kebro@worldbank.org

St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

November 22-25, 2005 - Illegal logging is a significant problem in all European and Central Asian countries in transition. A Ministerial Conference on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) in Europe and North Asia (ENA) will take place in St. Petersburg, Russia, from November 22nd-25th, bringing together governments, private sector, and civil society to tackle the complex issues of illegal logging and forest sector governance.

The objective of the ENA FLEG process is to:

• Confirm governmental (from both “producer” and “consumer” countries) and other stakeholders’ will and commitment to address illegal activities in the forest sector and issues of associated trade;
• Confirm the need for shared responsibility and cooperation between stakeholders to address these issues; and
• Plan a program of action to move these intentions forward through the development and endorsement of a Ministerial-level Declaration and Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement and Governance in Europe and North Asia.

Initiated by the Russian Federation and co-hosted by the World Bank, participants in the ENA FLEG will include up to 50 Ministers and deputy-ministers from Eastern European and Central Asian countries, as well as high level officials from China, Canada, Japan, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and multilateral organizations.

The conference will conclude with three press conferences on November 22 - November 25:

What: ENAFLEG Ministerial Conference

When: Schedule of Press Conferences
- Tuesday, November 22, 2005 (10:30 am, right after The Grand Opening at 9:00 am)
- Thursday, November 24, 2005 (16:00 pm)
- Friday, November 25, 2005  (12:15 pm)

Where: Hotel Pribaltiyskaya, 14 Korablestroiteley str, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

For information on participants, a complete agenda of the Forum, coverage of panel/plenary sessions, and one/one interviews please be in touch with the contacts listed above, or visit the website:
www.worldbank.org/enafleg