BAKU - Turkish Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe said on Friday that Turkey has a great experience in forestry issues, and added ''we would like to share our experience with Azerbaijan.''
Pepe and Azerbaijani Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Huseyngulu Bagirov signed a Cooperation Agreement on Protection of Environment in Baku today and held a joint press conference.
Pepe said that they encountered various problems in protecting the environment and launched an appeal for a public support in this area.
On the other hand, Bagirov said that there were wide opportunities for a cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan in the environment matters. He added that the basis of this cooperation will be provided with the agreement signed today.
Answering questions of reporters, Pepe said that cooperation among the regional countries was very important to solve environmental problems. ''Without cooperation'' he added, ''every country should pay a heavy price''.
Upon a question about the nuclear power plant in Armenia, Pepe reminded that the power plant is very close to Turkey's border. He said however that tests were conducted in the region and it was revealed that the radiation level was not above the accepted limits.
Answering to another question, Pepe indicated that Turkey is very interested in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline and adding that ''meanwhile they were also focused on protection and diversity of the environment''.
(GC-ULG) 09.07.2004