Negotiating in the context of a region Negotiating in the context of a region in conflictin conflict

No direct dialogueNo direct dialogue Different values and framesDifferent values and frames Differences in narrativesDifferences in narratives DistrustDistrust Lack of political supportLack of political support

Context of the Middle EastContext of the Middle East

Differences of religionDifferences of religion Differences of culture and languageDifferences of culture and language Different levels of economic developmentDifferent levels of economic development Different government structures and levels of Different government structures and levels of

democracydemocracy Different levels of freedom of the mediaDifferent levels of freedom of the media Little trade between the partiesLittle trade between the parties

Environmental issuesEnvironmental issues

Water, water, waterWater, water, water Spatial aspects of landSpatial aspects of land Supply of environmental infrastructureSupply of environmental infrastructure Inadequate pollution control of industryInadequate pollution control of industry Marine and coastal managementMarine and coastal management Natural and cultural resource protectionNatural and cultural resource protection Global environmental responsibilitiesGlobal environmental responsibilities

Drawbacks of an ‘island’ situationDrawbacks of an ‘island’ situation

Management of shared resources eg. AquifersManagement of shared resources eg. Aquifers Cross boundary pollution, eg. DownstreamCross boundary pollution, eg. Downstream Protection of cross boundary habitatsProtection of cross boundary habitats Duplication of infrastructureDuplication of infrastructure

Barriers to cooperationBarriers to cooperation

Claims of historical rightsClaims of historical rights Allocation of blameAllocation of blame Claims for compensationClaims for compensation Lack of taking responsibilityLack of taking responsibility Division by borders and fencesDivision by borders and fences Neglect of frontier zonesNeglect of frontier zones

Barriers to negotiationBarriers to negotiation

Lack of appropriate frameworksLack of appropriate frameworks Lack of common conceptual languageLack of common conceptual language Internal oppositionInternal opposition Intensified distrust if previous agreement Intensified distrust if previous agreement

failed to materializefailed to materialize

Role of transgovernmentalizationRole of transgovernmentalization

Removes environment from political contextRemoves environment from political context Transforms language to common professional Transforms language to common professional

conceptual frameworkconceptual framework Transforms attitudes to achieving common Transforms attitudes to achieving common

goalsgoals Allocates joint or separate responsibilityAllocates joint or separate responsibility Encourages transparency and accountabilityEncourages transparency and accountability

Opportunities for Opportunities for transgovernmentalization at transgovernmentalization at

government levelgovernment level

InternationalInternational RegionalRegional Multi lateralMulti lateral BilateralBilateral Role of facilitatorsRole of facilitators Role of donorsRole of donors

Opportunities for Opportunities for transgovernmentalization outside transgovernmentalization outside

governmentgovernment

Between local authoritiesBetween local authorities Through non governmental organizationsThrough non governmental organizations Through academic research Through academic research Through the private sectorThrough the private sector

Types of agreementsTypes of agreements

Ratification of international conventionsRatification of international conventions Bilateral agreementsBilateral agreements Decisions by international organiztions eg. Decisions by international organiztions eg.

UNEPUNEP Conditions on funding by investors or donorsConditions on funding by investors or donors

Difficulties of implementationDifficulties of implementation

No real interestNo real interest Lack of resourcesLack of resources Lack of professional expertiseLack of professional expertise Lack of valid, accepted joint data baseLack of valid, accepted joint data base Lack of contingency mechanismsLack of contingency mechanisms Lack of compliance mechanismsLack of compliance mechanisms

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a transgovernmentalization transgovernmentalization

mechanismmechanism Trusted as neutral by both parties as above and Trusted as neutral by both parties as above and

outside the conflictoutside the conflict Professional respect by the partiesProfessional respect by the parties Proactive, capable of introducing innovative Proactive, capable of introducing innovative

ideas and opportunitiesideas and opportunities Proactive in enabling implementationProactive in enabling implementation

Found (and lost) opportunities in the Found (and lost) opportunities in the Middle EastMiddle East

Multilaterals (Madrid) included environment Multilaterals (Madrid) included environment working group (led by Japan)working group (led by Japan)

EEC environmental experts committee under EEC environmental experts committee under the Israeli-Palestinian interim agreementthe Israeli-Palestinian interim agreement

UNEP Desk study (see simulation exercise)UNEP Desk study (see simulation exercise) Jordan Rift Valley (under Jordan-Israel peace Jordan Rift Valley (under Jordan-Israel peace

agreement)agreement)

Missed opportunities in the Middle Missed opportunities in the Middle EastEast

Barcelona Convention for MediterraneanBarcelona Convention for Mediterranean Jeddah convention for Red SeaJeddah convention for Red Sea West Asia/WEOG regional groups in UNWest Asia/WEOG regional groups in UN Great Rift Valley in UNESCO and UNEPGreat Rift Valley in UNESCO and UNEP Dead Sea – lowest park on earthDead Sea – lowest park on earth