NICOSIA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus is to undertake an international initiative to face climatic changes and their effects in the Mediterranean, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday.
His statement came 24 hours after parts of Cyprus suffered a heavy hailstorm which wiped out cultivation and turned the peaks of the Troodos central massif into a winter landscape in summertime.
A Cypriot specialist said at the end of last week that hailstorms which lasted for eight days in a row were the direct results of climatic change of which Cyprus bears visible evidence in the form of less winter rain and desertification.
Anastasiades said in a written statement that the initiative was decided at a special meeting on the occasion of World Environment Day.
"The lines were decided for Cyprus to play a coordinating role in efforts by countries in the region to face climatic change and its effects in the Mediterranean Sea," the statement said.
It added that Cyprus will act in the context of international cooperation for the promotion of a climatic change plan which is has already submitted for the reduction of greenhouse effect gas.
Authorities said the latest hailstorm hit seven mountain agricultural communities, completely destroying fruit and vegetable cultivations.
Agricultural union officials said the trees will need special attendance as it would be doubtful whether they will bear fruit next year.