Tehran, May 22, IRNA Iran announced its full readiness for transferring it experience in environment protection area to its western neighbor, Iraq and to cooperate with Baghdad in the field.Iranian Vice President and Head of Department ofEnvironment (DoE) Masoumeh Ebtekar made the proposal in the presence of the visiting Iraqi Deputy Environment Minister Kamran Ali Hassan in a ceremony to sign the implementation document of an earlier reached environmental protection memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Highlighting Irans experience in the field of garbage recycling management, natural resources preservation, de-desertification, and some other environmental expertise, the Iranian vice president announced Irans readiness for transfer of experience in the field to all neighboring countries, and especially to Iraq.
Ms. Ebtekar also noted the border regions joint park establishment agreement between the two countries and the dust pollution problem as two important joint projects in need of urgent joint attention.
Very soon practical moves in a 200 hectare area near Karbala and the other regions will be made to address the dust pollution problem and this move will be the beginning of regional and international cooperation to solve this problem, she said.
The Iraqi deputy minister, too, appreciated Irans worthy cooperation in environment protection field, noting that although the Iraqi Environment Ministry was established some ten years ago the practical efforts in that field are no older than two years, having begun in 2012 academically and in practice.
He also earnestly requested for Irans effective cooperation and contribution to Iraqi environment protection efforts through transfer of experience.
The implementation document of an environmental protection MOU signed between Iran and Iraq during Ms. Ebtekars last winter visit of Turkey was signed between the Iraqi deputy environment minister and Deputy DoE Chief Saeid Motesaddi.
The fall of Saddam Hussein?s regime in 2003 led to the normalization of relations between the two countries. As of January 2010, the two countries have signed over 100 economic and cooperation agreements. Since 2003, Iraq has allowed Shia Muslims from Iran to make pilgrimage to holy Shia sites in Iraq. In March 2008, the former Iranian president became the first Iranian leader to visit Iraq since Iran?s 1979 Islamic revolution.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has made several state visits to Iran since 2006 and expressed sympathy with Iran over its nuclear energy program. Iran is today Iraq?s largest trading partner.
Iran has an embassy in Baghdad and four consulate generals in Basrah, Sulaymaniyah, Arbil and Karbala. Iraq has an embassy in Tehran and three consulate generals in Kermanshah, Ahvaz and Mashhad.
By IRNA
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