Ministerial Meeting on Environmental Cooperation for a Better Future kicks off in Tehran

TEHRAN, Jul.12, (ST)-With Syria’s participation, the Regional Ministerial Meeting on Environmental Cooperation for a Better Future kicked off on Tuesday. 

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said  that protecting the environment is quite necessary and urged everyone to put all diplomatic and political formalities aside and try to protect it.

President Raisi”s remarks came during the opening ceremony of the meeting in which ministers and senior officials of 11 countries in West Asia are taking part.

The meeting is being held at the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In the meeting, the president noted that finding a solution to the issue of sand and dust storm can be a ground for cooperation among neighboring and friendly countries.

Already, Iran’s Department of Environment had been tasked with following up on solving the sand and dust storm problem through diplomacy and interaction with the neighboring states.

As the president announced, the hegemonic system’s expansionism, terrorism, and regional nations’ deprivation of technology have caused environmental challenges.

The environment is an important issue because a secure environment would bring development, he stressed

Further, he called on the countries to respect the rights of their neighbors.

International and regional determination is needed to meet environmental challenges, including sand and dust storms, the president underlined adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes convergence to deal with the challenges and improve the conditions of the environment.

He went on to say that Iran is ready to share its relevant experiences and knowledge with other states and neighboring countries.

A proposal for formation of a union or an organization to pursue environmental cooperation was also presented by President Raisi at the regional meeting, according to IRNA.

Yestersay, the Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Hussein Makhlouf, who heads the Syrian delegation to the meeting, held talks with several Iranian officials over bilateral cooperation in documenting real estate and confronting environmental challenges 

 Basma Qaddour