Since its independence, in response to significant environmental deterioration, the country adopted basic environmental legislation and proclaimed the introduction of a new environmental policy. These are often very general statements of policy, many of which refer to the importance of "command-and- control" approach. Few of these policy statements are, however, based on holistic approach to economy/ environment interactions during the transition period or backed up by specific legislation, obligations and resources. In June 1991 Verkhovna Rada (the Parliament) adopted a general environmental law -- the Law on the Protection of the Environment. The provisions of the law touch on nearly all aspects of environmental management and state very idealistic goals, but define few clear commands or enforcement mechanisms. Unfortunately, as with legislation of the past, the law re-mains primarily a declarative document. In 1992 Parliament announced the whole territory of the country as a zone of environmental disaster. This merely political declaration had a very limited environmental outcome, as it did not clearly delineate process or authority for specific activities, and it did not set priorities or deadlines. Moreover, it was not based on the well-structured National Environmental Action Plan. In spite of the provisions of the UNCED, the National Agenda 21 or any other equivalent document has not been adopted by the Parliament.
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