(VEE) ITALY-CUBA MOU ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES SIGNED IN HAVANA

(VELINO) Roma, 21 Jul - The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on climate change, vulnerability, and hazard assessment, adjustment and mitigation took place in Havana. The Memorandum between the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea (MATTM) and Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA) was signed, on behalf of the Italian Government, by the Director-General for Sustainable Development, Environmental Impact and Relations with the EU and International Matters of the MATTM, Francesco La Camera, and - on behalf of the Cuban Government - by the Deputy Minister of CITMA America, Santos Riviera. The signing ceremony was preceded by a short exchange of opinions and evaluations on the way in which to effectively kick off the collaboration issuing from the MoU. After signing the MoU, Director-General La Camera underscored the possibility of promptly allocating funds for the implementation of the MoU as well as Italy's open and flexible approach and willingness to provide technical assistance and cooperation in meeting Cuba's needs. After expressing his thanks to the Italian Government and the MATTM for having greatly expedited the closure of the MoU, Deputy Minister Riviera highlighted the priority of the environmental issue for the Authorities involved, outlining to Director-General La Camera the principal objectives of the "Tarea Vida" national environmental programme and listing the areas of priority interest such as coastline management and fighting coastal erosion, renewable energy sources, biomass, and fighting drought. vel
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