TEHRAN Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said here Wednesday that he believes the outcome of the international seminar on environment, religion and culture will serve as a solid base for promotion of collective approach toward the global environmental challenges.

According to IRNA, Kharrazi told the closing ceremony of the seminar, "Today, climatic changes, increased pollution, destruction of ecosystem and extinction of species, deforestation and the expansion of deserts are major issues in the media as well as regional and international meetings."

Despite renewal of commitments and all the strong efforts made for protection of environment, a long way is still ahead and environment destruction still continues. The short-term economic achievements are preferred to the long-term universal interests," Kharrazi added.

He continued, "Religious and cultural norms and values play an important role in creation of a comprehensive attitude toward environment and responsible behavior toward nature and its conservation. The viewpoint of Islam as a global religion on the issue is very rich."

Kharrazi referred to the recent remarks made by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and said, "From an Islamic outlook there is coordinated and balanced ties between man and nature."

Islamic civilization has had a brilliant record in the adherence to protection and conservation of nature and environment and efforts for compilation of Islamic environmental ethics needs to be elaborated from a historical point of view.

He called on the religious communities and scholars to play a more active role at the global level to protect environment and define environmental ethics and values in a new way so that its results would be evident in the general policies.

He said the year 2001, designated as the year of dialogue among civilizations by the United Nations, is an appropriate opportunity for strengthening dialogue among religions and cultures in the field of environment.

The idea of dialogue among civilizations is for presentation of a common strategy by the international community on global exchanges and also for adoption of a firm decision on shaping a better future for the coming generations on the basis of a new paradigm of mutual respect.

World's major religions and cultures enjoy high potential to present morals on the conservation of the environment. He expressed hope that the outcomes of the meeting will be effective in presenting a comprehensive attitude toward lasting development.