Address to the participants

ARTUR CHILINGAROV

Coordinator of the Project “St. Petersburg — the Sea Capital of Russia”
The Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic
Bureau Member of the UNITED RUSSIA Party Supreme Council
Member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Member of the Federation Council of Federal Assembly of Russian Federation

Dear Participants!

Environmental situation of the pollution of marine areas, deterioration of the general state and depletion of biological resources, an active oil and gas exploration in offshore areas need the attention of the world community. State policy to reduce anthropogenic pressures on water resources calls for closer international cooperation and developing common principles for responsible business.

In this regard, the need for harmonization of environmental standards in Russia and abroad is clearly shown. One of the central themes of the forum is to discuss the issues of Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization. Adoption of the WTO rules and regulations will change the principles of market regulation, enhancing the role of the professional community. Clearly, this transition will have a significant impact on the environment system.

III International Forum "Saint-Petersburg - the Sea Capital of Russia. Environment" will let to identify and develop the optimal set of actions for the implementation of urgent changes and the introduction of innovative methods in problem solving for the protection of ecosystems of the seas and inland waters.

I wish you a bright innovative ideas, innovative approaches and successful results in the formation of strategies for water conservation during the III International Forum "Saint-Petersburg - the Sea Capital of Russia. Environment"!

VADIM TULPANOV

Member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Secretary of the Political Council of the St. Petersburg regional branch of the Party "UNITED RUSSIA "
Project manager of  “St. Petersburg — the Sea Capital of Russia”

Dear Colleagues,

Issues of environmental protection of water resources is getting more urgent. The main pollutants of water bodies are the petrochemical industry, marine, rail, air and other modes of transport. Moreover, significant sources of pollution of watercourses are city housing and communal services.

The state of water bodies is an important indicator of ecological well-being of the country. The need for international cooperation in environmental protection is dictated more and more by environmental dependence of the countries from each other. To solve these problems legislative acts on international and interregional levels are developing, but creating them requires consolidation of efforts, both public and private organizations.

I am sure that delegates’ to the III International Conference "St. Petersburg - the sea capital of RUSSIA. Environment" work on discussion of the environmental problems of the seas and rivers would be productive!