Aref Says Iran Is Ready to Contribute to Mitigation of Drought
Aref told the 26th FAO regional conference for the Near East that FAO is expected to seriously follow the plan for establishment of the center, that would prevent hefty damages, caused by droughts, and would devise strategies for establishment of sustainable systems for mitigation and management of drought.
He said Iran will seriously pursue long-term project for combating drought and work for drought management.
He added Iran -- a member of the Low Forest Cover Countries (LFCCS) -- loses the forests with a speed times faster than in any other parts of the world.
He added that unfortunately Iran's move in raising Tehran process for low forest cover countries and the support extended by all regional states for the proposal has not been much strong.
He expressed hope that FAO will help all regional states that way.
He said that undoubtedly biotechnology (for agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the Near East region) is undoubtedly a major tool for development and renovation of agriculture in the coming years.
The first vice president added that however, the key issue has not been well addressed.
He said further attention by FAO to the issue and collective efforts to that end can be effective.
Elsewhere in his speech, Aref regretted that the meeting is held unfortunately under the condition when the world is mostly attending to war and clashes rather than development, welfare and campaign against poverty and hunger.
He said the international community has the duty to mobilize all its facilities to remove differences and get out of the crises.
He added that Iran is ready to sincerely cooperate with all countries under the auspices of the UN to uproot violence, war, poverty, ignorance, forced displacement and hunger.
Aref said the idea of dialogue among civilizations, promoted by President Mohammad Khatami and endorsed by UN, is the main road to lasting peace and coordination among different tribes and nations.
Undoubtedly, he added, Dialogue Among Civilizations rather than conflict as well as coalition for peace rather than coalition for war and violence can prepare suitable conditions for further attention to development, welfare, campaign against poverty and hunger.
He said the proposal for formation of the international union for campaign against hunger and poverty -- as was raised on world food day and at the conference held in fao headquarters last year -- was welcomed by many countries. he hoped that the issue will be approved by the World Food Summit, five years later and would be enforced by FAO.
The Iranian official said Iran warmly welcomes WFS:FYL meeting scheduled in Rome, Italy, from June 10-13, hoping that the participants will find ways of meeting necessary sources to attain the predetermined goals.
he said due to the same reason, Iran welcomes the establishment of the fund for food security and health, hoping that the regional states would take firm and practical measures in that connection to pioneer other developing states in that respect.