Iran, Germany To Boost Environmental Cooperation

Tehran, Nov 2, IRNA – Iran and Germany stressed on the development of bilateral cooperation in the field of environment in a meeting held between Iran’s Vice-President and head of the Department of Environment (DoE) Masoumeh Ebtekar and German Ambassador to Tehran Michael Freiherr von Ungern-Sternberg. Referring to the good record of Iran-Germany cooperation in environmental matters Ebtekar said Iran is ready for exchange of environmental information with Germany. Referring to numerous environmental crises Iran is being faced with, the DoE head said parts of the crises were due to climatic and geographical conditions and parts due to destructive impacts of the warming of the earth. She said due to climatic changes, the temperature in the region has risen more than the world average and this has resulted in reduction of water surface especially in ponds and lakes and has faced Iran with the challenge of scarcity of water resources. Noting that environment is a transnational issue and every change in any corner of the world will affect the entire universe, Ebtekar called for development of scientific and international cooperation in related cases. Hoping for the resumption and expansion of environmental cooperation between Iran and Germany, the vice-president said Germany is an effective member of 5+1 in nuclear talks and is fully aware of negative impacts of unjust sanctions on the Iranian environment. “Therefore, with an aim of protecting the global environment, more interaction is expected from Germany.” She invited German experts and companies in the field of environment to take part in this year’s international environment exhibition in Iran and said no doubt their presence will be a prelude to environmental cooperation and a preliminary step for turning diplomatic relations between the two countries to green. Also speaking, the German ambassador said environmental measures in Iran will encourage Germany for the expansion of cooperation with the country in this regard. He said Germany environmentalists are highly interested in cooperating with Iran especially in the field of protecting and safeguarding forests in Iran and preserving biodiversity. Ungern-Sternberg noted that Germany is not interested in Iran sanctions and is constantly progressive in exporting modern technologies in the field of removing environmental impediments./end