Turkish first lady meets Iranian VP at Istanbul Zero Waste Forum

First Lady Emine Erdogan, who chairs the UN High-Level Advisory Council on Zero Waste, held a meeting with Iran's Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment, Shina Ansari, during the International Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul on Friday. The high-level encounter took place at the forum themed "Zero Waste Movement: People, Places, Transformation," which marked the region's first major environmental gathering hosted by Türkiye.

Strengthening Regional Cooperation

Following the event, Vice President Ansari congratulated Mrs. Erdogan on organizing the significant environmental summit. The Turkish First Lady noted that Ansari's participation strengthened the forum's impact and emphasized the importance of solidarity between neighboring nations. She highlighted the special relationship between Türkiye and Iran, describing it as a bond extending from their shared history into future collaboration.

Environmental Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

The Iranian official acknowledged her country's intensive work on waste management while expressing interest in further improvement through knowledge exchange. She specifically praised Türkiye's expertise in environmental protection, waste management, and water conservation, noting that enhanced cooperation between the two neighboring countries would yield mutual benefits in addressing ecological challenges.

Linking Environmental Progress to Regional Peace

Both leaders connected environmental success to broader regional stability. Vice President Ansari acknowledged Türkiye's consistent support for Iran during challenging periods and stressed that "achieving success in environmental matters requires the establishment of peace." First Lady Erdogan echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that diplomacy should prioritize negotiation and peace, while lamenting that "aggression, war, and conflict have recently become widespread in the region."