Iran, Finland vow to enhance ties on waste management

Tehran, IRNA – The Ambassador of Finland to Iran, Kari Kahiluoto, in the meeting with the head of the Basel and Stockholm conventions Regional Center located in Iran (BCRC-SCRC Iran), Mehdi Khadem Sameni, called for exchange of technical knowledge and the use of joint power and expertise in order to strengthen environmental cooperation. According to Department of Environment of Iran, the meeting was held at the Regional Center of Basel and Stockholm Conventions in Tehran, and the two officials discussed the fields of joint environmental cooperation and development. Expressing concern about the existing sanctions on Iran, the Ambassador of Finland to Iran called for the exchange of technical knowledge and the use of joint expertise to strengthen environmental cooperation. Both sides in the meeting agreed to follow up the exchange of relevant information and joint plans through holding video conference meetings. It was agreed that according to the environmental capabilities of the two countries, environmental cooperation between the two countries would be increased. The Basel and Stockholm Conventions can be considered as the most important international treaty in the field of proper management of hazardous waste and chemicals, and this Convention aims to control transboundary transfers of hazardous wastes and other types of wastes and improve their environmental management, and it came into force in 1992 for the member countries, and so far, 189 countries have become members of this convention with its legal approval. Iran also joined the Stockholm Convention in 2004, the signatories agreed to ban the use of 9 chemicals, limit the use of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) to control malaria, and reduce the unwanted production of dioxins. So far, 185 countries have become members of this convention with its legal approval. Basel Convention Regional Center (BCRC) in Iran is established according to Decision VII/10 of the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 7) of the Basel Convention in October 2004. Bangladesh, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan are members of the BCRC Iran. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish