International EMECS Center Director General, Junichi Kikui
The MEDCOAST '99/EMECS '99 Joint Con
ference, carrying "Land-Ocean Interactions: Managing Coastal
Ecosystems" as its main theme was held in Antalya, Turkey over the
four days of November 9-12, 1999, with the International EMECS Center,
involved with the preservation of the world's enclosed coastal sea environment,
and MEDCOAST (Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment) as
its hosts. Despite the major earthquake that occurred in northwest Turkey
the same year, the conference received international sponsorship from
various groups including the European Community, the United Nations Environmental
Plan's Mediterranean Action Plan Coordinating Unit (MAP-UNEP), Turkey's
Ministry of Environment, Antalya Municipality and the Japan Environment
Corporation's Japan Fund for Global Environment, wide support from the
International Ocean Institute, the World Wide Fund for Nature, etc., and
the attendance of five hundred participants from fifty countries; thus
enabling it to be held as scheduled.
The conference was opened with the hosts greeting the participants with
their determination to "promote activities aimed at the sustainable
development of nature, ecosystems and human society in a harmonious and
balanced manner through the participation of organizations and rese
archers who are working to preserve enclosed coastal sea environment."
Following complimentary addresses by the guests, namely, President of
the Environmental Commission of the Turkish Parliament, the Governor of
Antalya and the Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Antalya, a commemorative
address was given by Dr. Agni Vlavianos-Arvantinis, representative of
Bio-Politics International Organization, and speeches on the current state
of the preservation of enclosed coastal sea environment in each region
were presented by former Secretary of the Maryland Department of Environment,
Professor Emeritus of Stockholm University and Director of the Office
of Seto Inland Sea Environmental Conservation at the Water Quality Bureau
in Japan's Environmental Agency. Over the following three days, fifteen
subcommittees and four workshops, in which a total of ninety people (15
from Japan) gave oral presentations, were held. At the poster sessions
held on the 10th and 11th, a total of approximately one hundred people
(29 from Japan) presented posters. Distinguished researchers, citizens
and administrative officers were able to exchange high quality information
and foster partnerships for the resolution of environmental issues in
enclosed coastal seas and coastal seas. At the closing session, the Antalya
Declaration of Coastal Seas, which calls for the participation of citizens,
administration and scientists in local environmental programs, was unanimously
adopted, and the conference closed in success. Also, upon conclusion,
Japan (Kobe) was designated host for the Fifth EMECS Conference to be
held in 2001.
A report introducing the contents of this conference and newsletters are disclosed to the public at
our center's website (http://www.emecs.or.jp).
Those who require a booklet should contact the International EMECS Center at (secret@emecs.or.jp)
International EMECS Center
1-5-1 Wakihama Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Pref.
International Health Development Center Bldg. 3F
TEL: +81-78-252-0234
FAX: +81-78-252-0404
E-mail: secret@emecs.or.jp
URL: http://www.emecs.or.jp
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