"Environmental protection on the local level in Ukraine is of vital importance. It is becoming increasingly obvious that remote areas will play an increasingly important role in shaping the global environment – in terms of both contributing to the problem, but also in actively generating solutions. The GEF SGP in Ukraine has a good platform to support the local communities in their intention to contribute to global environmental benefits.

Today and tomorrow, we have an important opportunity to influence solving environmental problems, and to tackle this problem through joint efforts by the communities, civil society, State, business and the international community. We have an important opportunity to create a critical mass of people and organizations which will help Ukraine say a definite "NO" to environmental degradation in Ukraine.

I wish Ukrainian people successful projects and I am confident that SGP results will bring concrete improvements in the lives of the women, men and children of Ukraine as well as contribute to environmental protection.

Each one of us here today can make a difference."