Notification to the Parties

CONCERNING:

Secretary-General’s Certificate of Commendation

1. In Notification to the Parties No. 2002/014 of 6 March 2002, the Secretariat advised the Parties of the introduction of certificates of commendation that would be issued, at the Secretary-General’s discretion, to recognize exemplary enforcement actions.

2. The second such certificate will be awarded by the Secretary-General on 1 October 2003 to Mr Torkjel Rygnestad, Assistant Director, General Secretariat of the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO-Interpol), Lyon, France. It recognizes the exemplary work undertaken by Mr Rygnestad during his secondment to Interpol from the Police Department of Norway between 1999 and 2003.

3. During this period, Mr Rygnestad actively promoted wildlife law enforcement around the world: through his activities with the Interpol Wildlife Crime Working Group; by assisting in raising the general awareness of environmental crime; by participating in the training of police and other specialized officers; through the dissemination of intelligence relating to wildlife crime and illicit trade in wildlife; and by assisting in the coordination of international investigations into crime and illicit trade. His support to the CITES Secretariat in its work relating to enforcement of the Convention was highly valued. Mr Rygnestad’s personal enthusiasm and dedication to this field of law enforcement served as an excellent example to others.