A draft code of conduct to protect the environment was agreed between most states of the region at a late July multilateral meeting in Cairo as part of the Middle East peace process. The code of conduct will form the basis for sharing technology to protect the environment in the Middle East.

'We are not working on legally binding things, given the general situation in the Middle East, but we made very good progress,' Japanese delegate Toshinori Shigeie said. The parties agreed to inform each other of projects they planned. They are also discussing a series of projects aimed at containing environmental damage.

The draft is to be agreed at a further meeting in Bahrain in October.