Inauguration of the new sluice gate (Koula, Greek Prespa, 14 May 2005)

The water level of Lake Micro Prespa was, until recently, regulated through a simple iron sluice gate constructed on the canal connecting lakes Micro and Macro Prespa on the Greek part of the basin. The sluice – which was moving upwards or downwards by means of a winch – over the years proved itself to be inadequate for the proper control of the water of Micro Prespa, and in 2002 the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) undertook the responsibility for its reconstruction, with co-funding from a LIFE-Nature Project.

The inauguration of the new sluice was held on 14 May 2005. The event was organised by the SPP and the Municipality of Prespa and was attended by representatives of the authorities of all three countries sharing the Prespa basin and local people. Among the participants were: Mr. Gerasimos Giakoumatos, Deputy Minister of the Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ms. Lindita Shakiri Atanasova, Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning (MoEPP) of the FYR of Macedonia, and Ms. Darinka Jantinska, representative of MoEPP in the Prespa Park Coordination Committee, Mr. Dimitar Buzlevski, Mayor of Resen, Mr. Fehmi Xhemo, Head of Korcha District Council, Mr. Pandi Andoni, Head of Liqenas Commune in Albanian Prespa, as well as representatives of the central, regional and local Greek authorities, and local people.

The Mayor of Greek Prespa, Mr. Lazaros Nalpantidis, and the Director of the SPP, Ms. Myrsini Malakou, both emphasized in their opening speeches the significance of trilateral cooperation and the importance of the management of the water regime for the conservation of the ecological values and the biological diversity of the transboundary Prespa Park.