site.btaBern Convention Representatives Visit Bosilegrad Over Environmental Concerns

A meeting of a team from the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats was held on Tuesday in Serbia at the Bosilegrad Cultural and Information Centre.

The team from Strasbourg, comprising Karl Amirgulashvili, Chair of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention; Mateusz Jakubjak, an independent international expert; and Marta Mendlinska from the Secretariat of the Bern Convention, met with representatives of Eco Kraishte from Bosilegrad, Balkanka from Bulgaria, and local environmental activists.

The delegation is in Bosilegrad following a complaint filed by the environmental organization Eco Kraishte and local environmental activists.

The Republic of Serbia is a signatory to the Bern Convention, and the complaint primarily concerns pollution of the environment and water resources and threats to protected and rare species of birds, reptiles and fish. It also concerns environmental pollution posing a threat to the health and lives of domestic animals, agricultural land and people as a result of the mining activities of the Bosil-Metal lead and zinc mine in the village of Karamanica.

Following the meeting at the Bosilegrad Cultural and Information Centre, the Bern Convention delegation is scheduled to meet with local authorities in Bosilegrad and the management of the mines, as well as representatives of Serbia’s Ministry of Mining and Energy and Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection. The delegation is also expected to visit the most critical areas along the Tlŭminska River valley. A joint meeting is also scheduled to take place in Bosilegrad later in the afternoon.

Sofia-based activist Dr. Valentin Yanev also travelled to Bosilegrad for the meeting with representatives of the Bern Convention. However, Serbian border authorities barred him from entering the country this morning, citing a potential threat to national security.