‘political borders won’t impede resolution of environmental issues’

TEHRAN, Oct.18 (MNA) – Masumeh Ebtekar, the head of Iran’s Department of Environment, met with Swiss Ambassador Julio Haus on Tuesday afternoon to stress the expansion of bilateral cooperation in environmental issues. Ebtekar pointed to the global significance of the environment and said, “the environment is a global issue and the recognized political boundaries between countries cannot pose an obstacle to the resolution of environmental issues. We believe that all of the countries in the world must cooperate with one another to overcome environmental challenges.” She maintained that the adverse effects of threats to the environment have led to climate change and global warming and said, “such adverse effects in our region have caused the drying of wetlands and put their biodiversity at great risk.” Ebtekar pointed to Iran and Switzerland’s potentials for cooperation in various areas and said, “the two countries can cooperate in many bi- or multilateral environmental issues such as climate change, air pollution, improving air quality, energy and water efficiency, and the use of new and renewable energy.” She referred to Iran’s cooperation with Group of 77 and China in the field of climate change and said, “Iran is willing to enjoy the experiences of these countries in order to preserve its environment and the unique wildlife species such as the Asiatic cheetah.” Ms. Ebtekar invited Swiss experts and companies active in environmental issues to attend the International Environmental Exhibition in Tehran in February and asserted that this participation would provide Switzerland’s private sector to assume an active part in Iran’s market. Julio Haus, for his part, expressed appreciation for Ebtekar’s activities in the field of environment and said, “in my opinion, the resolution of Iran’s environmental issues needs a social bond with Iranian people in addition to governmental support.”