Turkey, Libya Sign Cooperation Agreement on Environment, Forestry

Turkey's Environment and Forestry Ministry signed Tuesday a "Cooperation Agreement on Environment and Forestry" with Libya's General People's Committee for Health and Environment in Ankara.



Speaking at the signature ceremony, Turkish Minister of Environment and Forestry Veysel Eroglu said that Turkey and Libya shared relations coming from history. Turkish Minister Eroglu said they aim at boosting cooperation between our two countries, Eroglu said. During our talks with the Libyan delegation, we have decided to cooperate in the matters of floods, droughts, fight against sea pollution, climate change, meteorology activities, evaluation of the effects of environment, preservation of natural and biological diversity, forestation and erosion control works, Eroglu said. Eroglu noted Libla will be included in a working group of Turkey, Syria, Qatar, Iraq and Iran in the fight against dust coming from deserts and wind erosion. Libya will also be included in the Group Fighting against Climate Change in the Mediterranean, Eroglu said. Turkish minister also noted that they would work with Libya in diverse environmental issues, including in fighting against forest fires, Eroglu also said. Libyan Secretary of the General People's Committee for Health and Environment Muhammad Hijazi, in his part, said that they signed the "Cooperation Agreement on Environment and Forestry" with Turkey in order to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Our delegations on Monday discussed various issues, including climate change, development of forests, water and air pollution and the fight against industrial and agricultural wastes, Hijazi also said.