CAIRO: As Egypt turns its attention to the environment, it has become important to familiarize judges in environmental courts with the ecological culture before assuming their duties. Chief Justices and judges of environmental courts attended a three-day training session on the technical and legal aspects of environmental laws. Organized by the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, the training session brought together environmental experts to enhance the judges' knowledge of the field. Inaugurating the session, Environment Minister Maged George said that necessary elements of the national environmental strategy have mushroomed into a number of important legislation. He added that it is essential to abide by strict regulations when constructing new projects and evaluate the effect of these projects on the environment. Egypt has also signed a number of international and regional agreements that have become part and parcel of the national legislation on environmental protection, noted George. The laws highlight a bevy of issues ranging from protecting the environment against air and water pollution to safeguarding the natural milieu against oil slicks as well as questions related to compensation demanded in cases of environmental damage. George also added that Egypt's efforts to provide a clean environment have recently been boosted by President Hosni Mubarak's decree to establish the supreme council of nuclear energy for peaceful uses. The Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs will cooperate with other ministries and concerned authorities to draft laws that regulate the use of this energy, added George. George pointed out that similar training sessions will yield fruit soon, bringing environmental laws quickly into effect.
