AmirAbdollahian: Environmental problems have affected the entire region of West Asia

According to the correspondent of Fars news agency’s foreign policy group, the message of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hossein Amirabdollahian, to the first national conference on diplomacy and transboundary environmental challenges, which was held today (Sunday, March 7) at the Office of Political and International Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by Reza Najafi became the deputy of legal and international affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In this message, the foreign minister stated: the capacity of the environment and its ability to rebuild itself is not compatible with the amount of destruction caused by human interference with this divine gift. The result of human indulgence and lack of love for nature are many challenges that the people of the world are currently facing from local to international levels.

He adds: Human interventions in the natural cycles of the environment and its extensive destruction, including improper management of water resources, energy resources and territorial destruction have caused the development and security of societies to be subject to real and urgent concerns. On the other hand, military interventions, war and terrorism have formed an ominous triangle, which, in addition to all its destructive effects, has led to widespread destruction of the environment and the destruction of infrastructure.

In the message of the foreign minister, stating that foreign interference, the phenomenon of terrorism and the creation of insecurity in some countries of the region have focused all the attention and limited resources of these countries and environmental challenges are not given enough attention, it is stated: this situation, The sustainable management of the environment has faced serious obstacles and has intensified territorial destruction. In the West Asian region, the wars and crises of the last few decades have weakened or destroyed the existing regional mechanisms and infrastructure for cooperation in various fields, including the environment. .

He adds: These conflicts have imposed terrible effects on the environment of the region, which should be seen as a single whole, the destruction of water resources and wetlands, the damage to biological resources, and the destruction of land have been such that, in the best case, decades of close cooperation are required. We are a region to restore these resources.

This message states: In this conference, the emerging and transboundary challenge of climate change, dust storms, marine pollution and the pollution of border rivers, which have affected large areas of the world and the surrounding region of our country, will be examined in order to find solutions. To reduce the consequences and manage these big environmental challenges, it should be provided by experts. Since environmental challenges have a close relationship with other economic, health, social, political-security and cultural issues, any cooperation at the regional level requires the support and accompaniment of relevant domestic institutions and international agencies to provide financial resources and provide and transfer technologies. It is also necessary to build capacity to consolidate and continue these cooperations.

* Some developed countries impose their illegal policies such as unilateral sanctions even on areas such as environmental cooperation.

In this message, the foreign minister stated that it is unfortunate that the developed governments, which have contributed the most to military interventions and played the biggest role in environmental pollution, especially climate change, do not pay attention to their historical responsibilities, contrary to the obligations contained in international agreements. , has pointed out: It is more unfortunate that some of these countries impose their illegal policies such as unilateral sanctions even on areas such as environmental cooperation, while this cooperation pursues good and global benefit.

In this message, the foreign minister adds: small steps have been taken at the regional level to show the collective political will to address the most urgent environmental challenges and manage resources in order to comprehensively ensure the rights of the current and future generations. However, in addition to political will, the implementation of these agreements requires appropriate and necessary resources and cooperation in technical, technological and capacity building fields. For example, climate change is one of the factors that increase the frequency and strength of dust storms. These changes have had an adverse effect on rainfall patterns in many countries of the world, including the countries of origin of these storms.

The head of the diplomatic service stated that climate change alone is not enough to justify this situation and said: Climate change, along with excessive interference and human mismanagement in controlling water resources, has made this situation difficult.

By stating that in our country, environmental damage, including the consequences of climate change, dust storms and lack of water resources, has become a daily issue for the people of some provinces and has left an unfortunate impact in these areas, he adds: Population displacement with long-term social and economic consequences is only one of the challenges ahead. The participation and cooperation of relevant domestic institutions in areas such as poverty eradication, ensuring food and health security, sustainable management of water resources and preventing territorial destruction, environmental protection and economic growth and development can reduce the effects of environmental crises.

* Approval of several resolutions in the General Assembly

In this message, it is stated: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been trying to mobilize the relevant international and regional institutions in the field of dealing with dust storms and climate change, and so far with our country’s pursuit of several resolutions in the United Nations General Assembly, The United Nations Environment Program and the United Nations Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific have been approved.

He adds: I hope that these resolutions will inspire the activities and actions of international institutions and agencies to deal with environmental crises and that this gathering can provide appropriate initiatives and solutions in this regard.

In the message of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, it is stated: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to pursue bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the direction of sustainable development with the countries of the region, and considers this cooperation useful for creating stability and a better future for all the people of the region.

The Head of Diplomacy by mentioning that the consequences and environmental problems of the region are not directed only at a few specific countries; Rather, it has affected the entire region of West Asia and the development and well-being of the people of this region have been subjected to serious adversity. Avoiding environmental cooperation is not a solution for any country. In the long run, these challenges will turn into environmental crises in the absence of cooperation, which will impose huge costs on all countries in the region.

At the end of this message, it is stated: I hope we will witness the significant development of these cooperations between the governments of the region. The National Environmental Diplomacy Conference can be a precursor to holding an international conference on dealing with dust storms next year in our country. The conference will be held according to the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly with the aim of expanding international cooperation in this field.

end of message/