Introductory Address

Two years have passed since the International Conference on Environment Protection and Development was held in Rio de Janeiro and which was an important milestone in the history of mankind. This meeting of heads of countries and governments that took place under the aegis of the United Nations stated that nature protection is an indispensable component of sustainable development. So it is only natural that we are now considering this particular meeting as the next stage of implementation of the decisions taken in Rio de Janeiro. Of course, the practical implementation of those recommendations has to be tried on some concrete object. And we are grateful for the fact that the Lake Baikal Region has been recognised as a potential model territory for sustainable development. We believe that the recommendations of the Symposium that is being inaugurated today will allow us, the Republic of Buryatia, and neighbouring regions of the Lake Baikal Region to find the right balance between the solution of our socioeconomic problems and environmental protection. It is especially important for us who live in the Republic of Buryatia because all our economic activities take place in the water-catchment area of Lake Baikal.