Mr. Chairman,
Sustainable development is rightfully considered today as one of the priority issues on the
international agenda, which was once again reaffirmed at the highest political level during the Summit-
2005 and reflected accordingly in its Outcome Document .
The Russian Federation is fully committed to the implementation of "Agenda 21" and the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and will continue to do its best to contribute to finding solutions to
the issues of sustainable development, both at national and international levels .
Within the framework of the current two-year cycle of the Commission we are mandated to
consider crucial yet complex thematic issues of energy, climate change, industrial development and air
pollution/atmosphere. It is of principal importance, to our mind, to focus the work of CSD-14 on an
objective analysis of implementation of WSSD outcomes, based as much as possible on concrete data .
The report of the Secretary General offers quite a good basis in this regard, although we find that
its format - an integrated report - limits the scope for addressing each theme and making the indepth
analysis .
As for the practical organization of work of forthcoming discussions, it is important that in the
course of these discussions we stick to the parameters set out in the WSSD outcome document and focus
the thematic debates on conceptual issues of Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, so as to exclude
duplication with substantive activities of relevant international organizations and conventions in respective
areas.
In the same context we would also like to stress the need to work consistently during the whole
intersessional period on such issues as preparation and organization of work of the session . The key
element here is to ensure such an organization of the session that would allow to adequately consider all
the issues under CSD-14 thematic cluster .
We believe that the Commission will be able to come to a consensus conclusions on the issues
under consideration bearing in mind the diversity of circumstances and specificities of different countries,
groups of countries and regions . The outcome of the session should set a solid basis for better
understanding of constraints in implementation of the WSSD outcomes and facilitate effective political
decisions to address these constraints at the next - "policy" - session of CSD.
In the analysis of implementation of the provisions of Johannesburg Plan it is also important not
to loose sight of national and regional dimensions . Building upon outcomes of regional fora would help to
come to adequate decisions with a view to harmonizing the pace of implementation of WSSD decisions
and making necessary adjustments in implementation activities bearing in mind regional specificities . We
must also aim at broader participation in the work of various UN bodies of those experts and specialists
who are able to assess the potential effectiveness of initiatives through regional and sub-regional
perspective and to streamline those initiatives into the national efforts of countries .
Turning commitments of the WSSD into practical actions is high on our national agenda . To this
end, partnership cooperation between government authorities and administrations, civil society and
business are being enhanced in this regard.
The Russian Federation is committed to scaling up implementation of activities at national level in
keeping with the Johannesburg outcomes as demonstrated by the implementation of "The Environmental
Doctrine of the Russian Federation", adoption of legislative acts of a new generation that incorporate
sustainable development principles and ever growing attention to the implementation of strategies
addressing thematic issues directly related to CSD-14 cluster, namely "Energy Strategy of the Russian
Federation until 2020 ."
Our country is also a party to almost all major multilateral environmental conventions related to
CSD-14 cluster. Russia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change ensured its coming into force . At the end of 2005, Russia also ratified a number of amendments to
the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer - Montreal, Copenhagen and Beijing
amendments.
We are currently working on the accession to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants .
Measures have been taken to enhance the effectiveness of efforts to decrease the level of air
pollution : production of leaded gasoline was phased out ; new criteria on harmful auto transport emissions
were established .
We would like to mention that the issues of environment and sustainable development take a
prominent place on the agenda of Russia's presidency in the G-8 - energy security is one of the priority
themes of our presidency.
During the forthcoming thematic discussions we also intend to elaborate in more detail on our
national experience gained in the area of energy, climate, industrial development and air pollution/
atmosphere.
Thank you .