MUSCAT -- The King of Sweden and the Sultanate of Oman, both global scout luminaries, have called upon scouts all over the world to play a greater role in protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable development.

Sweden's King Carl Gustaf, Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation, and his Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Chief Scout of Oman, made the plea after a session of talks at Bait al Barakah here on Saturday. The Swedish King arrived in Dubai on Friday on a private visit.

The two leaders said the World Scout Movement ought to play a vital role through its activities to promote the "establishment of a culture of positive behaviour among young women and men to protect and preserve the environment and ensure sustainable development."

A statement issued after the talks underlined that the environment and its preservation was "at the heart of the attention and care" of Sultan Qaboos and King Carl. Both sides urged members of the scout movement around the world "to demonstrate how much difference they can make to achieve that end."

They invited scouts to be engaged in concrete community projects to increase green areas by planting trees and recycling waste. "The world now needs to make the most of young people's potential more than ever," the statement said. The Omani and Swedish leaders praised what had been achieved in the past by members of the movement, young men and women, in 160 countries. They particularly underlined the scouts' effectiveness in working for peace through programmes such as 'Gifts for Peace' and 'Peer Education'.

"Throughout its 100-year history, the World Scout Movement has been one of the most active global environment and youth-concern action networks," the statement noted.

The Swedish King on Saturday toured a 'Scout Jamboree for the Environment' at Naseem Garden in Muscat, and planted a date palm sapling in a symbolic demonstration of his commitment to environment conservation.

In remarks to reporters at the end of the tour, he hailed the progress of the scout and guide movement in Oman.

He added: "The environmental activities I saw at the Scout Jamboree calls for excitement and pride.

"I understood that the environment has been the main focus for a number of activities and programmes in the sultanate over the past years." -