ARMENIA APPRECIATES EFFORTS FOR RAISING FOOD SECURITY: PRIME MINISTER
ARKA
November 18, 2009
Yerevan
YEREVAN, November 18, /ARKA/. Addressing a FAO Summit in Italy on
November 17 Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said it was
common knowledge that food production is at high risk all over the
world including Armenia. He added that the current financial and
economic crisis adds its negative impact on the issue of food demand,
especially in developing countries.
In his speech Tigran Sarkisian said being a full member of the
FAO since 1993, Armenia has been involved in the activities of the
Organization for about twenty years now. The past years of cooperation
were those of effective work leading to numerous achievements.
"We are stating with pride that our country’s example was cited
among four other success stories in the FAO’s "Ways of Success"
report as a good experience of setting tasks and addressing them
with perseverance. Indeed, this does not mean that all the problems
are solved, so we should work with renewed effort to build on these
achievements and continue with progress in the sphere of agriculture,"
he said.
He said Armenia highly appreciates the decision to hold the 36th
Session of FAO’s European Commission on Agriculture and the 27th
European Regional Conference of FAO in Yerevan from May 10-14, 2010.
"We hope that the decisions adopted in Yerevan will contribute to
the considerable improvement of the level of food security. We are
looking forward to seeing you again in Yerevan,’ he said.
After the proceedings of the forum, Armenian prime minister had an
interview with Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Dr.
Jacques Diouf to discuss a bilateral cooperation-related agenda,
the government press office said.
It said Tigran Sarkisian expressed Armenia’s appreciation of the
ongoing RA-FAO collaboration and the programs implemented in Armenia.
. The head of government reiterated Armenia’s readiness to host the
36th Session of FAO’s European Commission on Agriculture and the 27th
European Regional Conference of FAO in Yerevan from May 10-14, 2010.
The Prime Minister underscored the need for making joint efforts toward
grain, corn, potato seed breeding, pisciculture, cattle stock recording
and registration, as well as introducing a system of agricultural
insurance in Armenia.
The FAO Director-General said the new cooperation priorities may
result in a more efficacious collaboration between the Republic of
Armenia and his organization.
During the day, the head of government was also scheduled to meet
with President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD) Kanayo Nwanze and UN World Food Program (WFP) Executive Director
Josette Sheeran. Later on November 17 the Prime Minister-led delegation
was back to Yerevan.