Riyadh, July 03: Saudi Arabia will be a partner of a major European initiative called Green Public Diplomacy, which calls for intensified efforts to create green environment, control pollution on a global level, adopt environmental-friendly technology and encourage journalists to write more on environmental issues, according to Swedish Ambassador Jan Thesleff.
Thesleff said Sweden has teamed up with the King Saud University and Saudi Research and Publication Company to hold a major seminar on climate change and the environment later this year as part of the initiative.
“We will encourage writers to shed more light on environmental issues,” said the diplomat, adding that Sweden seeks to expand ties with Saudi Arabia and other member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council in different fields.
The Saudi involvement in Green Public Diplomacy will be significant keeping in view the fact that the European companies are world leaders in green technology. Companies gave added value to their products and services by increasing eco-efficiency.
The diplomat said Sweden would hold consultations with Saudi Arabia to align efforts on the issue of climate change. “This consultation process will start ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen at the end of this year,” he said.
Thesleff said the Swedish EU presidency was tasked with bringing together a coherent position on climate change. It will also be laying the groundwork for what could be a major climate deal in Copenhagen in December, when more than 190 countries will try to work out a new UN treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol.
Referring to the priorities of the six-month EU presidency of Sweden, Thesleff said: “Sweden will help to coordinate with Saudi Arabia efforts to deal with the global financial crisis. The Kingdom is a member of G-20 and hence a closer coordination is essential.”
Thesleff also said Sweden would exert all efforts to ensure resumption of talks for a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “The EU is a member of the quartet, hence it will play a more active role to solve the regional problems in the Middle East,” said the diplomat.
—Agencies