The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2008 -- Albania

Tirana, on 5.2.2008

2 February 2008
Activities on the World Wetlands Day in Albania

According to the annual program of the Ministry of Environment Forestry and Water Administration for 2008, the World Wetlands Day was celebrated in Tirana and in Shkodra city . Activities were also organized in the framework of the trilateral project being implemented in Prespa region in south-east region of Albania.

In Tirana (Capital)

11:00 hours: Tirana
Press Conference of the Minister of Environment Forestry and Water Administration for the Environmental performance of the country.
The Minister held a Conference in the premises of the Council of Ministers on behalf of the Albanian Government. The Minister represented some achievements on the environment protection in Albania.

Shkoder City (In north of Albania , close to Shkoder lake)

In Shkoder there were some activities organized in collaboration with Regional Environmental Center for South Eastern Europe , country office. The activities were organized according to the program as following

10:00 hours Hotel Rozafa: Fair of the artisan products of the community living in the area of Shkoder lake from both sides of the borders, Albania and Montenegro. Several kind of products were demonstrated and many visitors had the opportunity knowing and buying the local products.

12:30- 14:30 Hotel Grand :Symposium on the Word Wetlands Day with the participation of the local representatives, from both sides of the Shkodra Lake, media and NGOs etc. The Minister of Environment arrived from Tirana at this time. During this symposium several speeches were held as following

Opening by representative of REC in Shkodra city

Speeches by

• Minister of Environment Forestry and Water Administration
• Prefect of Shkodra
• Vice mayor of Shkodra
• Presidents of the Albanian and Montenegrin Forums of Shkoder lake.

In the end both representatives of the Albanian Forum and Montenegrin forum of Shkoder lake signed the memorandum of collaboration in field of the protection of the Shkoder lake.

During these activities coffee and lunch for the participants were served.

Minister Lufter Xhuveli during the press conference

Prepared by
Dr. Sajmir Hoxha
Director of Nature Protection Policies
Tel&Fax: +3554270624
Email: shoxha@moe.gov.al

For further information about World Wetlands Day or the Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 14 February 2008, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.