Environment And Forestry Minister Pepe Due To Italy

ANKARA - Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe will go to Italy on Wednesday to attend the ''13th Conference of the Parties to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea and of its Coastal region.''
A statement of Environment and Forestry Ministry said on Tuesday that Pepe would attend the conference to be held in Catania, Italy on Wednesday.
The statement said that implementation of Sustainable Development Action Plan (Johannesburg Plan) in the Mediterranean, determination of strategies aiming to decrease polluters, development of Council of Europe Action Plan for the Mediterranean, and adoption of Biological Diversity Strategic Action Plan and Catania Declaration.
Besides officials of countries side to the convention, representatives of international organizations and non-governmental organizations concerned with the matter will attend the conference.
Pepe will later attend the ministerial meeting on ''The specificity of Mountain Areas in the European Union'' to be held in Taormina, Italy between November 14 and 15.
The meeting will draw attention to the International Year of the Mountain in 2002 which was announced at the end of a series activities pioneered by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in order to increase consciousness of public opinion for protection of mountain ecosystems and mountain resources.
Formation of a permanent secretariat within FAO regarding the issue will come onto agenda during the meeting.
Enhancement of mountain areas will also be taken up in the meeting as a part of the program of EU Term President Italy.
Pepe will return to Turkey on November 15.
(BRC-AÖ) 11.11.2003