Notification 2012-135

Dear Madam/Sir, In decision X/1, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to provide technical assistance to Parties, subject to the availability of financial resources, with a view to supporting the early ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing. In accordance with this request, I am pleased to inform you that a regional workshop on the Nagoya Protocol for countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia will be held from 11 to 13 December 2012 in Budapest, Hungary. The workshop is being organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and hosted by the Hungarian Ministry of Rural Development under the framework of the Medium-sized project (GEF-MSP) on Capacity-Building for the early entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol on ABS, funded by the Global Environment Facility and the Japan Biodiversity Fund. The objective of the workshop is to raise awareness and build the capacity of participating countries on the Nagoya Protocol and provide an opportunity to exchange experiences and lessons learnt in preparing for its ratification and implementation. Further details on the workshop, including the agenda and logistical arrangements, will be communicated in due course. Simultaneous interpretation of English and Russian will be provided. Nomination of participants Parties from Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia are invited to nominate one representative to participate in the workshop at their earliest convenience, but no later than Wednesday, 7 November 2012. The Secretariat will be in a position to finance the participation of one representative from each eligible Party noting that the European Union member states are not eligible for this funding. Parties are requested to nominate representatives that are actively involved in the ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in his or her country. The nomination should be in the form of an official letter addressed to the CBD Executive Secretary signed by the CBD Focal Point, or a senior government official, and should contain the name and full contact information of the nominated participant, including email address. This letter can either be scanned and emailed to secretariat@cbd.int or faxed to the Secretariat at + 1 514 288 6588. Upon receipt of nominations, further information on travel and hotel arrangements will be duly communicated to nominated participants. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD Focal Points with copy to ICNP Focal Points in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan