EVENT

The UN announced the start of an All-Ukrainian photography contest

From April 15 to August 1 the State Service for Protected Areas and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine will conduct the All-Ukrainian photography contest entitled “Ukraine’s Nature Reserves.” It will be a contest between photographs taken in reserves throughout the country: natural or biosphere reserves, national natural parks, regional landscape parks, sanctuaries, and botanical gardens, reports Korrespondent. The best five pictures will be honored with diplomas, special prizes from the Association of Nature Protection of Ukraine, and hard drives for storing information from the partner of the contest – Samsung Electronics Ukraine. The next ten photographs will receive participation diplomas. The purpose of the competition is to promote the importance of preserving our country’s biodiversity. On July 7, 2010, for the first time in the history of Ukraine, the professional holiday – The Day of protected areas workers – will be celebrated.

Clinton praises Estonia’s inestimable role in NATO

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton believes that NATO’s main task for this organization’s allies is to guaranty collective security. In her words, this very topic will be near the top of the agenda at a two-day summit of NATO foreign mi­nisters in Tallinn.

“Let me be clear, our commitment to Estonia and our other allies is a bedrock principle of the United States and we will never waver from it,” she stated at the joint press conference with her Estonian colleague Urmas Paet. Clinton also marked Estonia’s inestimable role as the US’ ally. “At the moment Estonia is not only a faithful and important ally of the US, but also a model for other new democratic countries over the world,” she emphasized. It is planned that the ministers will discuss the new strategy, the Alliance reform, nuclear policy, anti-missile defense, and the “open door” policy.

Incidentally, on the eve of this meeting of ministers NATO Spokesman James Appathurai expressed NATO’s attitude to the agreement concerning the Black Sea Fleet recently signed between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. “We have seen the reports in the press on signing this agreement. Beyond doubt, this is a question of bilateral relations between the countries, which are both NATO partners,” Appathurai noted.