Iran says GEF not paying $26M environment aid
Head of Iran's Environment Protection Organization Masoumeh Ebtekar said the Global Environment Fund (GEF) has suspended an aid package of $26 million to the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian official said the GEF has done so under pressure by Western countries, IRIB news agency reported June 23.
Pointing out that Western sanctions on Iran have even impacted the environment sector, she said that the GEF has so far settled only $4.2 million of a $30 million help that was to empower Iran to carry out environmental projects.
Ebtekar stated the issue has been frequently brought before the Global Environment Fund Assembly as well as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Despite all such efforts by the Islamic Republic, the GEF secretariat has given way to Western pressure and refrained from transferring the money to Iran, Ebtekar said.
The EU and US tightened their sanctions on the Islamic Republic in mid-2012 to include the Central Bank of Iran in their sanctions list.
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