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Cook Islands Statement at the Whales in a Changing Ocean Conference, Vava'u, Tonga

The development of the first Comprehensive Manual on Port Reception Facilities was agreed at the thirty second session of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in March 1992.

Increasing recognition of the changes in the natural environment as a result of human interference has lead to the international community agreeing on a number of multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEAs). At the 1992 Earth Summit, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for "sustainable development" – meeting our needs while ensuring that we leave a healthy and viable world for future generations. Three key agreements from the Summit are the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. These three are known as the Rio Conventions.

This consolidated report, for the first semester of 2007, comes out one month late because of the programme coordinator participation and involvement in the preparation of the Towns- ville Forum co-organised by Australia and France in September 2007 (see CRISP Enlightnings and CRISP Partnerships chapters further in this report).

All communication activities and materials relating to the CRISP Programme are subject to this Charter. The purpose of this Charter is to set standards, promote uniformity and define target groups for all CRISP Programme communication activities and materials in a collegial spirit and with a concern for effectiveness. The communication and dissemination of programme results are 'products' of the programme, subject to planning (logical frameworks) and assessment (reporting and indicators). The overall consistency of communication is therefore decided on collegially by the Programme partners as required by the target groups and beneficiaries of the Programme, under the responsibility of the Programme Manager.