A number of Arab officials on Thursday expressed relief over the UN's endorsing of a special assembly that cares for environmental affairs.

 

In separate interviews on the sideline of the ministerial meeting held within the first UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, the officials underlined that Arab states were confident that all proposals tabled would offer root solutions for all global environmental issues.

 

"Arab countries gave special care to greening and contributing in sustainable development within the UN team," Adviser to the Minister for Nature Conservation at the Omani Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs Ali Al-Kayoumi said.

 

Other issues that Arab delegations showed great interest in included desertification, biological diversity, climate affects, food and water security.

 

On his part, Egyptian Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Khaled Fahmy said that the ministerial meeting is a "landmark" for all participating countries, as interests and environmental fears are different from one country to another, and these meetings revolve around dealing with negative impacts of environmental hazards.

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Mohammad Bin Daineh, CEO of the Supreme Council for the Environment in the Kingdom of Bahrain, said that the MDGs took a significant portion of the Bahraini government's interests.

 

He also stressed significance of regional and international cooperation to face challenges that hinder sustainable development, as well as intensifying precautions to preserve the wild life, especially illegal trafficking of endangered species.

 

Among the eight UN MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) is to ensure environmental sustainability.