Arab environment officials meet in Cairo

CAIRO, Nov 19 (KUNA) -- The 27th session of the Council of Arab Environment Ministers kicked off here on Thursday, focusing on vistas for cooperation in the fields of environment and sustainable development.
Director General and Board Chairman of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Sabah led Kuwait's delegation participating in the meeting.
In a keynote speech during the meeting, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League for Economic Affairs Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri said the council would discuss a host of key environment, economic and social issues.
The council would also assess the implementation of resolutions adopted during Arab and international sustainable development conferences, he added.
International agreements and conventions bearing on environment, desertification, biodiversity, chemicals substances and toxic waste are also to be considered during the gathering, he pointed out.
On his part, Secretary-General of the Arab League Nabil Al-Araby called on Arab countries to exert more concerted efforts in order to address climate change and relevant serious reflections on regional sustainable development.
Climate change should not be allowed to have negative impacts on Arab development blueprints aiming to provide the Arab people with a decent life, Al-Araby said.
This gathering comes at a time when the entire Arab region is facing various crises, he said, warning of the effects of growing terrorism on sustainable development in the Arab region.
The Arab League's chief stressed the necessity of taking long-term measures and arrangements to further promote and beef up integration among all Arab countries with a view to fulfilling development goals and providing necessary funding to environmental development projects and pushing forward scientific research. (end) mfm.rg.mt