Ankara - Syria, Turkey, Iran and Iraq agreed on Thursday to work together on protection of environment, forestation, preventing dust and fight against forest fires
Turkish Environment and Forestry Minister Veysel Eroglu said Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria agreed to draft a two-year action plan, adding that a meteorological data bank would be established prior to creation of an early warning system.
"Dust formation is a major problem in the region that causes economic and health problems, even deaths. We have fully agreed to make every possible effort to fight it," Eroglu added.
He pointed out that cooperation of these four countries would be expanded in a way to cover United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and even countries in North Africa.
Ministers of four countries also urged help from international organizations, mainly the United Nations, for their cooperation.
Syrian Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Kawkab Daye, Turkish Environment and Forestry Minister Veysel Eroglu, Iraqi Environment Minister Nermin Othman and Iran's Vice President for Environmental Protection Mohammad Javad Mohammadizadeh gathered in the Turkish capital for the "Ankara Declaration", which will be announced at the end of two-day meetings to set an outline of cooperation.
By Fadi Allafi .Mazen Eyon
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010
