Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 15 / Trend, A. Taghiyeva /
Turkey blocked Cyprus and Israel's affiliation with the International Agency for Renewable Energies (IRENA), Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said, Anadolu agency reported on Tuesday.
The Minister said that voting on admission of new members to the IRENA was held in the UAE's capital Abu Dhabi. Given that Turkey is a member of the agency, the country was able to oppose the adoption of Cyprus and Israel to membership in IRENA.
The International Agency for Renewable Energies (IRENA) was established in January 2009 at its founding conference in Bonn. The event was attended by over 120 countries.
IRENA is the first organization on the intergovernmental level with the power to stimulate the development of renewable energy sources. The Agency aims to take its rightful place in the global energy sector, along with the IAEA and IEA.
The organization's charter is signed by 141 States (47 African, 37 European, 33 Asian, 15 representing the American continents, 9 - Australia and Oceania), and the European Union. The charter was ratified by 75 states and the EU by June 2, 2011.
The main activities of the agency include the provision of consulting services, the creation of framework conditions for the use of renewable energy sources, as well as financing and provision of appropriate technology for their application.