IRNA � Head of the Iranian Department of Environment (DoE) Masoumeh Ebtekar said on Monday that Iran is able to introduce successful plans, such as reforestation and lake revival, whose example is the Lake Urmia, to counter particles pollution.

Talking in the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms (SDS), Ebtekar said, �Iran has taken successful steps in counteracting dust and can share its expertise with other countries.�

She added Iran has been economically and socially hurt by dust pollution and has tried hard in the UN to pass four resolutions concerning the problem.

She also said that holding the conference and so many ministers� gathering together aim at finding a solution for the problem.

Referring to the fact that wars deteriorate the situation, she said, �The dust centers in foreign countries that are effective on Iran are becoming more, thus we have started our regional collaborations with Iraq and hope they will work.�

The International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) which is being hosted by the United Nations (UN) and Iranian Department of Environment is to review challenges and practical solutions to the issue.

Iran is among the countries which have been badly hurt by the SDS phenomenon.
Iran�s President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif, Head of Department of Environment Massoumeh Ebtekar, Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian, a number of Iranian MPs, UN Assistant Secretary General Haoliang Xu and the executive secretary Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) Abdul Rahman Al-Awadi have taken part in the Tehran international conference to be held at the level of ministers and experts for three days.

34 countries, including Italy, France, China, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Kuwait, Pakistan, Chad, India, Armenia, Jordon, Serbia, and the US, are attending the conference.