TEHRAN (IRNA) -- Head of Department of Environment (DOE) Masoumeh Ebtekar back from Austria here on Saturday, said that the Austrian authorities, welcoming Tehran statement, hoped that it will be ratified by the Majlis.

Ebtekar told IRNA that in a meeting with Austrian Minister for Agricultural, Forestry, Environment and Water Management Josef Proell, an executive committee was appointed to implement the mutually-signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) on joint cooperation in the field.

Ebtekar and the Austrian minister of environment had inked the MOU on environmental cooperation in 2001.

"Given Austria's good environmental experience and know-how, during the meetings with Austrian officials, transfer of their technology and environmental training programs between the two states were discussed," she added.

The Vice-President also declared Austria's support for and approval of establishment of a regional center for the control of the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal as confirmed by the Basel convention.

Turning to mutual talks on Kyoto Protocol, she hoped that once the advanced states including the U.S. and Russia sign it, Iran will be the first OPEC member state to take charge of going through various phases of its approval. According to the protocol, all countries have to take measures to reduce the effects of the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide,

The official noted that both the Iranian and Austrian officials underlined the need to facilitate implementation of the economic development plans and provide favorable opportunities for investment and further cooperation between the private sectors of the two states.

"Transfer of Iran's gas to EU member states, specially Austria, and information technology (IT) were also among the issues discussed by the two sides," she added.

Ebtekar noted that in a meeting with Austrian banking officials, they proposed to participate in Iran's environmental projects including the management of the areas under protection by extending a loan of three billion euros.

The DOE head arrived in Vienna on Thursday for a two-day visit at the official invitation of President Thomas Klestil.

In addition to meeting the Austrian president, she submitted President Mohammad Khatami's written message and held talks with the Austrian ministers of foreign affairs, environment and economic affairs as well as a number of Austrian industrialists on matters of mutual interest.