The Hague, 17/18 April. Ukraine and Albania became the tenth and eleventh range States to sign the CMS MoU on the Conservation and Management of the Middle-European Population of the Great Bustard.

The Great Bustard is listed in CMS Appendix II because of its unfavourable conservation status. The MoU is designed to improve the conservation status of the Middle-European Population through conservation and management efforts.

On 17 April 2002, H.E. Mr. Serhii Kurykin, Ukraine, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources (above), signed the MoU on behalf of his country. H.E. Mr. Lufter Xhuveli, Albania, Minister of Environment (left) signed the MoU on behalf of his country on 18 April 2002. He was accompanied by Mr. Zamir Dedej, Director of the Natural Resources Management and Biodiversity Directorate and Ms.Gentiana Hasko, Director of the Juridical and Foreign Affairs Directorate, within the Ministry of Environment .

CMS Executive Secretary, Arnulf Mueller-Helmbrecht, invited both ministers to the CMS exhibition booth at CBD COP 6 in The Hague for the signing ceremony.