A delegation from the Russian Federation headed by Dr Amirkhan M. Amirkhanov, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Natural Resources, visited the CMS Secretariat in Bonn, 17 August. Representatives of CMS, AEWA, ASCOBANS and EUROBATS delivered presentations on the activities of their agreements. Avian Influenza, Wildlife and the Environment was a major topic of interest to the Russian visitors.

The Russian Federation is an important range state for various species that are listed on the CMS Appendices such as the endangered Snow Leopard and the Saiga Antelope, for which a Memorandum of Understanding is already in place. Breeding grounds of the critically endangered Slender-billed Curlew, which is also covered by a MoU, are presumely located on Russian territory. To date, the Russian Federation has signed the MoU on the Siberian Crane and benefits from its involvement through a major GEF project.

During his visit, Mr. Armirkhanov was confident of the Russian Federation acceeding to the Convention and its daughter agreements by COP 9 in December 2008. Just in respect of the bird species, the Russian Federation is expected to join AEWA and the agreements on the Great Bustard and Raptors. Both parties agreed to pave the way for the Russian accession in the near future.