TEHRAN, Oct. 27 (MNA) � In a meeting between Iran�s head of Department of Environment Ebtekar and Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Khalil Akcha, the two sides held talks on environmental issues and expanding mutual cooperation.


�Expanding cooperation will lead to further and better coordination among ECO�s ten member states on environmental issues, and it is imperative for all regional countries to maintain full coordination in order to achieve sustainable development,� Iran�s Vice-President and the Head of Department of Environment Masoumeh Ebtekar said in a meeting with the newly-appointed Secretary General of ECO, Khalil Akcha.

Ebterka referred to the 2015 COP21, also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, as an important upcoming issue this year, saying the meeting aims achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change and global warming, as well as reducing the release of greenhouse gases.

�In the current situation, regional countries are faced with various environmental crises, with the phenomenon of haze being one of the most important, as Iran is severely affected by it,� said Ebtekar.

For his part, Khalil Akcha while welcoming Ebtekar�s proposals on improving the environmental situation, added that certain coordinated measures in topics on climate change, such as expanding and preserving forests, plant and animal biodiversity, controlling water, air and soil pollution, can be taken.

Head of ECO Institute of Science and Technology�Ali Asghar Mohammad Fazel�who was also�present at the meeting,�said the project on climate change for ECO member states will launch immediately after COP21 -- to be convened in Paris�from 30 November to 11 December, adding Iran has allocated $100,000 and ECO secretariat $50,000 to the project.

By Mehr News Agency