Iranians can play important role in mankind’s future

Iranians are strong people who can play a very important role in the future of mankind, said the outgoing United Nations resident coordinator in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“I am leaving your country while your rich culture, history, architecture, language and literature will always be with me and a part of me. Iran is a very big part of my heart,” added Gary Lewis whose mission in the Middle Eastern nation has come to an end after five years, IRNA reported.

“Iranians are aware of the latest technological advances and achievements and news about them. They are mad about technology. Iran could greatly impress and fascinate me the way it had charmed a large number of other people visiting it prior to me.”

He added unlike many of the leaders of other countries who fail to have any idea of what is taking place in the world, Iranian officials are very well cognizant of the root causes of the problems the world is currently beset with and know what should be done to resolve them.

Shifting to the latest condition of Lake Urmia in northwest Iran, he noted that, “Over the past 15 years we undertook considerable efforts to save the disappearing lake. In case there was no hope to save Urmia, Bakhtegan (southwest Iran), Hamun (southeast Iran) and Shadegan (southwest Iran) lakes, I would not have stayed in Iran for five years.

“We are always required to be in a state of alert to be able to solve environmental problems. Now is not the time to surrender to drought.”

Shifting to the impacts of Western sanctions on Iran’s development, the outgoing UN ambassador said if the embargoes are lifted, Iran will be able to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases within the country 12 percent.

Lewis urged greater cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan to resolve the environmental problems in the region located in the proximity of common borders.