Makhlouf asserts the importance of regional cooperation to reach solutions to environmental challenges

TEHRAN, Jul.12, (ST)- The Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Hussein Makhlouf, has affirmed that reaching the goals of sustainable development necessitates a coordinated system that includes technological and socioeconomic policies in a comprehensive plan for development which guarantees the use of natural and human resources to achieve economic growth.

In his speech at the Ministerial Meeting on Environment kicked off in Tehran on Tuesday under the title “Environmental Cooperation for Better Future” , Makhlouf made it clear that the crisis has hindered the development process and caused a deterioration in the ability to tackle the environmental problems, especially in tge light of the terrorist and sabotage attacks which had left complicated impacts on the environment’s ability to regenerate spontaneously.

The Minister referred to the heinous campaign that targets the Syrian people through the unilateral sanctions and measures being imposed on Syria.

He added that these sanctions do not only target the Syrians but also aim to destroy the environment and sabotage the socioeconomic development that was achieved in the recent decades.

The Minister went on to say that Syria is committed to the international environment treaties, supports the global efforts and shares responsibility along with the rest countries to protect the environment, reiterating the need for regional cooperation in finding solutions to the environmental challenges.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Makhlouf reviewed with his Iraqi counterpart Jassim Abdul Aziz al-Falahi the prospects of cooperation in facing the environmental challenges to serve the interests of the two countries.

The two ministers stressed the need to establish a regional cooperation among the countries of the region to face the climate and environmental changes.

Basma Qaddour