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Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirate and His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Sunday (February 7, 2010) between the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Iraqi Environment Ministry to outline the relationship between the two countries for the restoration and the sustainable preservation of the environment and the ecosystems of the Republic of Iraq and their natural resources.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed AL Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of EAD, stated that this MoU aims to achieve mutual goals in various fields of environmental protection, particularly in developing environmental strategies and action plan, conserving endangered species, control various forms of pollution and managing natural protected areas including Arabian oryx release in Iraq.
Sheikh Hamdan added that this MoU is also intended to develop and implement cooperative environmental awareness strategies and action plans, training and capacity building programmes in research, technology, monitoring, evaluation, and environmental research. In the same context scientific information and visit will be exchanged to enhance cooperation and coordination between the two parties at the local, regional and international levels.
The agreement, which was signed by HE Mohammad Ahmad Al Bowardi, Secretary-General of the Executive Council and Managing Director of EAD and HE the Iraqi Environment Minister Nermeen Othman Hassan, aims to provide the necessary support to improve the environment of Iraq and address the major environmental challenges facing the country in the last few years.
In line with the agreement, workshops and specialised scientific seminars will be organised, and contingency plans to cope with environmental disasters will be also developed and implemented. Green buildings and eco-friendly facilities will be encouraged and publishing of environmental serial of publications on species will be also supported. In addition, the two parties will cooperate to develop environmental legislation and provide training in techniques required for proper implementation of these environmental legislations and combating environmental crime.
To facilitate the implementation of activities under this MoU, a joint technical committee will be established. This committee will meet at least once a year to follow up the implementation of the agreement. The Memorandum will be in effect for ten years from the date of signature.
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