Initiated by the German Federal Environmental Agency and supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety, the project aiming at the development of the transboundary cooperation for hazard prevention in the catchment area of the Kura river was started in June 2003 as part of the consultancy fund for Middle and East European countries. The project aims to contribute to a more effective water management in the Caucasian region as well as the safety of the natural water basis for the drinking water supply and an enhanced environmental safety.

The project comprises the following tasks:

• Survey of industrial plants with potential water pollution and its assessment (2003 - 2004)
  • Identification and quantification of hazardous incident potential and associated risks for men and environment in the Kura River catchment area
• Selection and exemplary investigation of relevant plants with a high potential water pollution (2003 - 2004)
• Recommendation of measures concerning safety engineering for defined plants fraught
• Procurement of technical knowledge in the range of installation and safety engineering
• Compilation of checklists for investigation and assessment of plants with water pollutants and suited processing facilities (here: tailings management facilities, closure of plants (2004 - 2006)
• Procurement of applicable methods to reduce potential of hazardous incidents
• Gradual development of a security level comparable with that of EU countries to improve integration opportunities of the South Caucasian Countries into the EEA (European Economic Area)
• Compilation of an international warning and alarm program in the Kura River catchment area (2005 - 2005)
• Implementation of International Main Warn Centre (IHWZ) to provide cross national communication (2005 - 2006)

From 9th to 11th June 2003, a working meeting of the project steering group was organized in Tbilisi, Georgia. Subsequently, the project was officially opened on July 13 th 2003 attended by the project team, national coordinators from the states Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and official representatives of the environmental ministries of the countries involved.

The project team is much obliged and wishes to thank the Georgian environmental minister Mrs. Nino Tschchobadse for the privilege of attending this meeting and for her friendly and confident words with regard to the realization of the project.