From now on, the IOC shares responsibility with the Russian
Government for the damage caused to the UNESCO World Natural
Heritage Property «Western Caucasus». Now the Committee will have
to take all possible steps to avoid such an outcome and to
introduce relevant changes into the project of construction of
sports venues and other infrastructure.
«We have said repeatedly that we don't mind the Olympics as
such. We oppose despotism disguised behind it. So far, officials
from the government and the application committee have repeatedly
said that the location of Olympic venues could not be changed until
the decision of the IOC because this could result in the Sochi
application being refused. Now there are no obstacles. If the
Russian government sincerely cares about the image of Russia and
protection of world heritage, they must relocate the projected
Olympic venues out of the borders of the buffer zone of the reserve
and the Grushevy Ridge», said Andrei Petrov, head of the World
Heritage Project in Greenpeace.
The issue of the Western Caucasus Property was the center of
discussion at the session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee,
held last week in New Zealand. To evaluate the threat to the
property, the Committee resolved to send a mission to Sochi. If
experts from UNESCO and the World Conservation Union consider the
threat real, the Western Caucasus will be inscribed in the World
Heritage In Danger list.
This will be proof of two indisputable facts: first, Russia does
not observe its international commitments to protect world heritage
properties, and second, the International Olympic Committee
encourages such behaviour.
This situation raised concern among members of the Olympic
Committee. Yesterday, at the official presentation of the Sochi
application, IOC member Prince Albert of Monaco asked about the
environmental aspect of preparation for the Olympics. The question
was left without an answer.
VVPR info:
+7 495 626 5045, Mikhail Kreindlin, Andrei Petrov, Evgenia Belyakova
Notes:
According to the Olympic Charter, the IOC commits to actively support the Olympic movement in its desire to protect the environment and to take measures to ensure implementation of this principle.
The relatively mild decision of the World Heritage Committee about the Western Caucasus can be explained by the fact that members of the Committee did not want to influence the IOC. However, this will not be valid any more at the next session, which is going to consider the findings of the mission.
Massive construction works are planned in the territories of Sochi National Park and the buffer zone of the Caucasus biosphere reserve, which is a part of the World Natural Heritage Property «Western Caucasus». The construction project includes a coordinated hydroelectric system on the Mzymta River, a high speed railway, mountain Olympic village and bobsleigh route with relevant infrastructure, as well as nine upscale sports centers not related to the Olympics (such as a golf club and a spa center).
Construction operations will inevitably cause the destruction of the habitats and migration routes of rare fauna species inhabiting this area and included in the international and Russian Red Data Book.
Such construction plans in unique nature areas contradict not only the core principles of Russian environmental legislation, they also violate the provisions of the International Convention Concerning the Protection of World Natural and Cultural Heritage.
Exp. contact date: 2007-07-08 00:00:00