Water diplomacy high on Foreign Ministry agenda: Senior diplomat

EghtesadOnline: Iran’s Foreign Ministry attaches great importance to the issue of water diplomacy and makes efforts to help tackle water problems in the country.

News ID: ۷۷۶۱۲۳

10 May 2017

Abbas Araqchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, made the remarks on Wednesday in this northwestern Iranian province, according to IRNA.

Speaking to reporters at the Orumiyeh airport, Araqchi said that the Foreign Ministry is highly involved in the issues related to the territorial, extraterritorial and virtual water.

The Ministry, according to him, is determined to preserve the country’s water resources.

The ministry Its determination is also seeking the cooperation international organizations to use their expertise as well as financial resources to revive Lake Orumiyeh (Urmia), the world's sixth largest saltwater lake located in this Iranian province, he said, referring to the shrinking lake in northwestern Iran.

Araqchi said that the Foreign Ministry has so far managed to ensure cooperation of Australia, Italy and Japan.

He added that research on climate conditions in the Lake Orumiyeh are being done by international organizations and practical measures are expected to be adopted in the near future.

Araqchi further noted that his trip to Orumiyeh is aimed at reviewing the problems surrounding the issue of the Lake Orumiyeh.