Tisza source inspires international cooperation
The Prut River Basin comes into focus this year with greater attention from
Ukraine’s ICPDR Presidency and the three Prut countries working together to
create a sub-basin plan for the second-longest tributary of the Danube.
Tisza source inspires international cooperation
Symbolising their collaboration in protecting the Tisza Basin, the Tisza countries placed memorial plates at the source of the river in Ukraine.
Istvan Toth of Hungary spoke to the crowd to share the Tisza countries' respect and responsibility for the Tisza River Basin.
Braving rainy weather and a long climb high into the wild heart of the Carpathian Mountains, more than 70 people came together on 25 June to celebrate the cross-border cooperation between the countries sharing the Tisza River Basin. Representatives from each country – Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine – met at the source of the Tisza River in the village of Yasinya, Ukraine, to dedicate memorial plates in recognition of the progress made in working together for the Tisza.
This dedication was planned at the Ministerial Meeting, initiated by the Ukrainian ICPDR Presidency, held in Uzhgorod in April. At the Meeting, the Tisza countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding to commit themselves to further cooperate to protect the Tisza River Basin.
The memorial plates also represent the joint efforts of the Tisza countries in creating the Integrated Tisza River Basin Management Plan, which was also endorsed at the Ministerial Meeting. The plan will serve as the source for actions needed to reach 'Good Status' for waters as set out in the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive.
Together for the Tisza. At the dedication ceremony, Hungary was represented by Gaspar Bodnar, Director of the Upper-Tisza Environmental and Water Directorate, Nyiregyhaza, Deputy Plenipotentiary of the Hungarian-Ukrainian Bilateral Transboundary Water Committee; Attila Lovas, Director of the Middle-Tisza Environmental and Water Directorate, Szolnok; Attila Varga, Head of Unit at the Upper-Tisza Environmental and Water Directorate, Nyiregyhaza, Secretary of the Hungarian-Ukrainian Bilateral Transboundary Water Committee; and István Tóth, Chief Consul, Beregov. The Hungarian memorial plate reads: "Together for the Tisza".
The gift of clean waters. Romania was represented by Bogdan Stelian Ivascu, Chief Engineer, Water Management System Maramures, and Alexa Bout, Chief of Hydrotechnic Systems, Sighet. The Romanian memorial plate reads: "Let's act so that the Tisza may provide the gift of clean waters to the Danube and Black Sea."
United efforts for the future. Serbia was represented by Milica J. Milenković, Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management, Directorate for Water Belgrade. The Serbian plates reads: "Save the Tisza for the future."
Slovakia was represented by Beata Demetrova from the Slovak Hydrometerological Institute. The Slovakian plate reads: "Let's unite efforts for Tisza conservation."
More than 70 people climbed 22 kilometres up to the source of the Tisza River to celebrate the cross-border cooperation between the countries sharing the Tisza River Basin.
Protecting common treasures. Ukraine was represented By Olexandr Bon, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and Volodymyr Chipak, Head of Zakarpattya Water Management Board. The event was opened by Dmytro Andriyuk, Head of Rakhiv Regional Administration, Zakarpattya Oblast. The Ukrainian plate reads: "Tisza, your unstoppable beauty and power is the common treasure of the five countries."
Guests also included Hans Rhein, Head of Operation Section Three, Energy, Transport and Environment, and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine as well as Andriy Bublik from Coca-Cola Beverages Ukraine. Coca-Cola Hellenic sponsored the installation of four of the plates and provided necessary support to make the event possible.
The memorial plates installed at the source of the river represent the Tisza countries' commitment to protecting the river basin, but it is the cooperation between the countries that serves as a source of inspiration for decision makers far and wide.
Inspiring the next generation. The dedication ceremony was followed by a children's festival the next day, which included a performance on protecting the environment, a cooking competition, talent show and the 'Battle for Water' challenge, which allowed children to show off their knowledge of the Tisza River Basin. The celebration was organised with the support of Zakarpattya Oblast Administration, the ICPDR, the EU-funded protect supporting the Danube and Ramsar Conventions, and Ukraine's Ministries of the Environment and Natural Resources and of Foreign Affairs.
Kirstie Shepherd is a freelance journalist living in Vienna and has called the Danube River Basin home since 2000.
Igor Deyak, in cooperation with www.kolyba.org.ua provided the photos for this article.
