The Mediterranean sea is very important for the economies of the countries that surround it, Cyprus` Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment Nikos Kouyialis has said in his intervention during a High Level meeting of Mediterranean states.
Addressing the 21st COP-21 meeting, at the invitation of its chairwoman Segolene Royal, which took place in Washington this week on the sidelines of the conference “Our Ocean 2016″, he said “As Ministers for the Environment we are obliged to protect our common sea, our economies and our future.”
He welcomed an initiative by Royal and EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella to develop regional cooperation, saying that no country, on its own, can address the serious dangers which threaten the Mediterranean.
He referred in particular to illegal fishing, pollution from waste and ships and possible oil leaks.
“These problems can only be addressed if we act in concert. We can lay the foundations of a wider regional cooperation in the Mediterranean to protect the environment at sea,” he added.
The Cypriot Minister proposed the creation of a cooperation framework, to be initialed by all countries bordering the Mediterranean.