We watch with particular interest the interviews and announcements of yourself and members of your government that underline the enormous importance of protection of the environment in our Country.

We have however to observe that so far the policies of those responsible at the Ministry of Environment, particularly as regards Biodiversity, cause particular concern.

The diverse and unique biotopes in Greece are considered richer and no less important than those in other countries of the European Union. As a consequence it is obviously the obligation of the Greek state to take all the essential measures for the protection and maintenance of this unique European treasure.

In this framework the 27 established Protected Areas constitute part of the European Community Network "Natura 2000". Unfortunately however, the operation of Protected Areas in Greece is problematic or non-existent and can be considered anything but effective.

The term of office of all Administrative Bodies for the management of the "Protected Areas" has expired since September 2004, and their essential funding from the government budget has been withheld. The co-financing under approved Community Programmes for Management Bodies has also ceased. The essential management plans for the “Protected Areas” await approval in the “time capsules” of the responsible Ministries.

In particular, the National Marine Park of Zakynthos (NMPZ), having the first Park Management Body in Greece, its operation serving as a model for other "Protected Areas” of our Country, has ceased to function since April 2004, being unable to meet its financial commitments. Consequently, during the summer of 2004 the ecological destruction in Laganas Bay, the main nesting area in the Mediterranean of the endangered sea turtle Caretta caretta, was enormous. Illegality prevailed in the chaos of mass tourism, with pollution of the Bay, illegal construction, and motor vehicles driving along the nesting beaches day and night.

Through memoranda and announcements, the environmental organisations that are active in the region, together with the local organisations and institutions, have repeatedly informed the Greek government about the unacceptable situation that prevails in the NMPZ, and of the unfavourable consequences that this has, not only for the sea turtles and the ecosystem, but also for the international prestige and reputation of Greece in the field of protection of its Biodiversity. Press Releases through the mass media have gained the attention of the International Community and the general public.

The response from the International Community was immediate, unfortunately however we cannot say the same for the Greek government. Greek and European Members of Parliament submitted questions in the European Parliament, Greek MPs brought the subject to the Greek Parliament, the EC Commissioner for the Environment Mrs Margot Wallstrom sent a "Reasoned Opinion" to the Greek government, and the new EC Commissioner for the Environment Mr Stavros Dimas warns that Greece is in danger of being taken to the European Court of Justice. However it appears that the leadership of the Ministry of Environment Planning and Public Works (MEPPW) lacks the essential political will to meet its obligations and responds to the pleas, calls and warnings with mere unfulfilled promises.

With the imposition of a heavy fine from the European Court “knocking at the gates”, the MEPPW, even at this last moment, remains indifferent to the management of the NMPZ, and fails to support it financially, thus its objectives cannot be achieved. The vague and unfulfilled promises made by the political leadership of the MEPPW since September 2004 to immediately provide €90.000 to the NMPZ for its re-opening, and to proceed with the establishment of a new Management Body are insufficient, as €90.000 does not even cover the salaries owed to the employees of the Management Body of the Park since April 2004, when they withdrew their labour. Even if the new Management body is established, it will be unable to proceed without approved Management Plans and sufficient short and long-term financing.

We note that the recent involvement of the General Inspector of Public Administration and the mission of Inspectors to Zakynthos are a very positive initiative towards the resolution of some of the problems related to the NMPZ. We look forward to seeing some quick and positive results from their investigation.

Although15 March 2005 is considered by the European Commission to be a pivotal date for developments on the subject of the NMPZ, we are very afraid that the measures that the MEPPW intends to announce will be judged insufficient to avoid the imposition of heavy fine from the European Court of Justice, and in any case will not provide for the effective long term operation of NMPZ. The 2005 turtle nesting and the tourist seasons begin in Laganas Bay in about 7 weeks. It is obvious that if for the second year running no immediate effective measures for protection and management of the nesting beaches within the boundaries of the NMPZ are implemented, the appalling situation of 2004 will continue.

Sir, we today express to you our intense concern and our indignation, not only about the future of NMPZ but also about the other 26 Protected Areas of our Country, and to you we deliver the distress of 17,000 citizens from around the world regarding the protection of Biodiversity in Greece. These 17,000 signatures that we have gathered are in addition to the thousands more collected by other Environmental Organisations and local Zakynthos bodies during the summer of 2004. Irrespective of the way they are expressed, the cries and the pleas from Greece and around the world, addressed to the political leadership of our Country, are the same: Please, Protect the Environment, Maintain the Biodiversity of your Country, take Action on your Political Promises and Announcements, Apply the Environmental Directives of the European Commission that your Country has accepted.

The Greek government must provide long-term political commitment to guarantee yearly funding, provide Parks with the legal authority to enforce conservation laws and regulations within their boundaries, implement a long-term commitment to make all twenty-seven National Park management bodies viable with immediate effect.

Prime Minister, we call on you to personally intervene, not only to abrogate the international outcry and condemnation of our Country, but also to ensure the effective operation of the NMPZ and the other 26 "Protected Areas" that together constitute part of the European Community "Natura 2000" Network, part of our European heritage.