31 October 2006
by Dimitris Faloutsos

Cooperation for the management of the shared lake basins has been initiated in all three lakes of focus which are in different stages of development:

- A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Albania and Montenegro in 2003 providing also for the management of Lake Shkoder. Wide cooperation of the stakeholders has been already established through a project implemented in the region with the support of the Swiss government. The GEF  "Integrated Management of Skadar Lake Ecosystem" project (soon to begin) will provide the basis for enhanced cooperation.

- A Declaration of Lake Prespa as protected area was signed by the Prime-Ministers of Albania, Greece and FYR Macedonia in 2000, while an agreement for the management of the Lake and its Basin is underway. The Prespa Park Coordination Committee, a non-legal entity with multi-stakeholder synthesis has been established by the three Ministers of Environment. Broad cooperation between local stakeholders has been succeeded and initial activities for the management of the area have been implemented with the local NGOs having the leading role. The soon to begin GEF ?Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Prespa Lakes Basin of Albania, FYR Macedonia and Greece? will help towards the institutionalization of the cooperation and the implementation of activities included in the Strategic Action Plan - which already developed.

- As a result of the trust developed at all levels between Albania and FYR Macedonia through the GEF "Lake Ohrid Conservation Project", an Agreement for the management of Lake Ohrid and its Watershed was signed by the two countries in 2004 and ratified by the parliaments in 2005. The Lake Ohrid Watershed Committee has been established. Its secretariat is based in Ohrid, FYR Macedonia.

- Each area is unique in terms of the means used and the process followed to move forward with cooperation for the management of the shared lake basins. The building of a vision for the future of each area in terms of local development and status of the natural resources has been a prerequisite in all three cases. The financing sources used in each one of the cases both for the building of the vision and its gradual implementation, have been diverse. International financing has been used in the cases of Ohrid and Shkoder while in the initial stage in Prespa financing came from domestic resources. International experience has shown that the sustainability of the outputs of the initial investment is a key issue. Local governments has a very important role in sustaining these outputs.

- How can local governments succeed in addressing such an issue at the same time that the countries of the region are still in a transition period, having to respond to a series of challenges, while domestic financial resources are limited?

- In your opinion, and based on the current stage of local developments, is it feasible to sustain achievements and enhance these to achieve effective joint management? What would be the key prerequisite?

- What is the role of international donor community in this task?

- The greater Drin river basin is a regional transboundary system comprising of the Prespa, Ohrid and Shkoder lakes and Drin river basins. The idea of cooperation among the basin countries for the management of the greater Drin river basin has been met with diverse reactions by the wide group of local stakeholders, representatives of international organizations and donor countries participating in the Roundtable. The reactions ranged from "cooperation is not needed or is not feasible? to "cooperation is essential and we have to move forward?. Nevertheless, there has been a consensus that countries have to move with due attention forward, further develop this idea and build a common vision as a first step towards the integrated management of the greater Drin River Basin.

- What would be the key prerequisite for this process to be initiated?

- What could be the immediate next steps?

- Can experiences generated through cooperation for the management of Prespa, Ohrid and Shkoder lakes basins assist such a process?

- What is the cooperative scheme that you envisage for the greater Drin river basin?