Iranian Province, Qatar Discuss Environmental Cooperation

TEHRAN (FNA)- A delegation of provincial officials from Iran's Southeastern province of Kerman is in Doha, Qatar, for talks on mutual cooperation, specially in environmental fields.
The delegation, headed by Kerman's Governor-General Esmayeel Najjar, also includes a large number of Kerman's traders, merchants and economic activists from the province's chamber of commerce and trade and industry.

During the visit to Doha, the Iranian delegation met with Qatari Minister of Environment Abdullah Bin Mubarak Bin A'boud al-Mahdadhi.

At the meeting, Mahdadhi underlined the importance of the visit by the Iranian delegation, and added, "Establishment of links and start of serious cooperation between Kerman's chamber of commerce, trade and industry and Doha can blow a new life into the two countries' economic ties.

He further stressed that his country is fully prepared to cooperate with Iran, Kerman in particular, in import of agricultural and cattle products and also in environmental fields and conducting joint environmental research projects.

In December 2010, Iran and Qatar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost Tehran-Doha cooperation in environmental issues.

The MoU was signed by Head of Iran's Department of Environment Mohammad Javad Mohammadizadeh and Qatari Minister of Environment Abdullah Bin Mubarak Bin A'boud al-Mahdadhi in Kerman.

The agreement is aimed at preserving the environment and preventing smuggling of animals and birds.

The main articles of the agreement are "preventing smuggling of birds, protecting wild animals and stopping activities destroying environment," said Mohammadizadeh at the time.

He added that the two sides also agreed to increase their consultations in international levels regarding the environment issues.

The two Persian Gulf littoral states recently signed several protocols to increase mutual cooperation, specially in different areas of security.