TEHRAN (Iran News) – President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi called for the establishment of a union on environmental cooperation among countries in the West Asian region and stressed the necessity to take measures to preserve the environment away from diplomatic and political formalities.
The “Regional Ministerial Meeting of Environmental Cooperation for a Better Future” with the participation of environment ministers of the region’s countries was held in Tehran on Tuesday with the presence of President Raisi.
At the regional Summit of the environment ministers of the region’s countries, Iran’s President emphasized the necessity of environmental protection.
“I ask everyone to take measures to preserve the environment away from the usual diplomatic and political formalities,” the Iranian President said.
This meeting is being held at the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran and with the presence of ministers and senior officials of 11 countries in the West Asian region titled “Environmental Cooperation for a better future.”
In the meeting, Raisi called for forming a union for environmental Cooperation among countries in the West Asian region.
He welcomed and appreciated the participants and experts for environmental concerns and added: “Preserving the ecosystem and environment, which is the concern of all people and all countries, especially the countries of the region, is an inevitable priority today.
“If the environment is not safe and peaceful for people, the development will not be in its proper place, and it will even become a threat to human health,” the Iranian President said.
Raisi considered environmental protection a critical issue for all creatures and said that every activity for development should consider preserving and protecting our environment.
Earlier, President Raisi had obliged Iran’s Department of Environment to diligently follow up on solving the problem of dust in the region through diplomacy and international forums, as well as interaction with neighboring countries.
The regional meeting of environment ministers of the region’s countries is being held to investigate the solutions to the region’s environmental problems, especially dust.
Speaking at the regional Summit of the environment ministers of the region’s countries, the President called the interference of the domination system terrorism, depriving the governments and nations of knowledge, technology, and participation in decision-making as the leading cause of irreparable environmental challenges.
Raisi stated that he is pleased with the paying attention of the neighboring countries to the critical and intergenerational issue of the environment and the need to protect it, and noted:
“I believe this issue can be the basis for many ways of cooperation among the countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the countries that have addressed the case of the environment in its constitution and introduced it as a requirement for the growing social life of humanity.
He added: “The destruction of the environment, which is the result of social and political inequalities, as well as the improper use of nature, is one of the critical factors in the violation of human rights.
The Iranian President added that the world faces many environmental problems beyond geographical and political borders.
“In the West Asian region, we face many environmental problems such as climate change, dust storms, and pollution of biological resources. Undoubtedly, biological agents pollution, the indiscriminate use of non-renewable energy resources, and the reduction of biodiversity have decreased public and people’s safety and health and hurt the economy and health of the region’s residents.
Raisi emphasized that one of the fundamental aspects of Iranian Foreign policy is “respecting the right of neighbor,” and this issue is one of the neighbor’s rights that the neighbors must respect when it comes to rights. It is also a duty.
The President referred to some environmental challenges, including the increasing intensity of dust storms, as a transboundary issue and said:
“It requires international and regional determination to deal with this crisis and a mechanism to solve environmental issues. It depends on regional convergence and Cooperation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes this convergence to overcome these challenges in order to improve environmental conditions.”
President Raisi said:” Cooperation of the neighbors is definitely necessary to achieve a common view and common action, and this view refers to the Cooperation of all countries.”
In the end, the President said:” Plans should be developed for the management and exploitation of water, air, soil and waste management.”
“Iran is ready to share its experiences and knowledge to other countries and neighbors to reduce pollution. I suggest that a union or an organization for environmental Cooperation of West Asian countries be formed to organize these measures. Also, the establishment of a regional fund for financial support is one of the measures that are necessary to achieve the goals of the UN resolutions in this field,” Raisi concluded.