FAO urges Near East countries to settle food security issues [Archives:2006/930/Front Page]
Mohamed Bin Sallam
SANA'A, March 16 ) Concluding its functions in Sana'a last Thursday, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 28th Near East Regional Conference confirmed support for reforming the organization, as suggested by participating delegations.
The conference also approved a coordinating meeting in Amman, Jordan for senior Near East officials, in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), to study the region's bird flu situation and exchange information about the epidemic.
The conference called on member states to enhance concerned parties' abilities to analyze agricultural policies and trade-related issues to help Qatari teams negotiate with the World Trade Organization (WTO). It invited 150 member state representatives and 22 international, governmental and private organizations to encourage agricultural investment and ensure funding for Qatari agricultural development programs.
The conference recommended joint efforts with international and regional finance corporations to discuss possible support for Qatari and regional activities. Such support is aimed at building capacities in areas related to multi-side trade negotiations in cooperation with FAO.
Participants expressed satisfaction at moves to reform the organization, particularly aspects related to decentralization, saying FAO has outdated programs and systems established 60 years ago. They emphasized the need to bring about a suitable balance between the main headquarters, regional offices and Qatari commissioners to enhance achievement and efficiency.
Conference recommendations also called for FAO to discuss any possible support for building regional member states' capacities to do their best in multi-side trade negotiations and regional trade agreements.
Recommendations urged helping regional countries facilitate information exchange and useful lessons of member states in the WTO, as well as countries seeking WTO entry. Such exchange of information and experiences is expected to include Mediterranean countries, which have broader experience in areas of partnership with the EU and other countries in the region.
Participants expressed concern over the decline in regional agricultural trade performance, despite reaching regional complementary agreements. They affirmed the need to assess regional trade agreements and their interaction with trade reforms, obstacles and gained experiences.
The two-day conference discussed many persistent issues, mainly those related to current world developments and regional trade environments and their impacts on Near East food security and agricultural development. It also discussed new agricultural practices, organic agriculture, international market demands and the means of supporting institutions to alleviate poverty and facilitate reaching Millennium Development Goals. Participants also laid more emphasis on promoting quality of the region's products and the role of forests in combating desertification.
The conference listed many issues to be discussed at the 29th conference in another two years, including discussing a strategic framework for sustainable agricultural development and food security in Near East countries. It also will discuss suitable means for confronting challenges to the region's agricultural development and coping with modern trade advancements and their influence on Near East countries' food security and sustainable agricultural development.
Among issues due for discussion at the next conference is a mechanism for ensuring Near East food security and supporting and reforming national agricultural guidance and research systems. Additionally, discussions will cover economic and social issues of animal diseases transmitted across borders, as well as other issues related to technological biology, which upholds plans for improving the region's agriculture.
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