Belarusian delegation is taking part in the FAO Regional Conference for Europe

The 28th FAO European Regional Conference (ERC) and the 37th session of the European Commission on Agriculture (ECA) are taking place at the Hilton Hotel in Baku from 16-20 April.

Representatives from 53 member countries and one member organization have been invited to the meeting. Observers from international non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations organizations have also been invited.

The ECA is a preparation meeting for the European Regional Conference. The agenda of its 37th Session on 17-18 April 2012 includes the implementation of the 2012-2013 Program of Work and Budget (PWB) for the European and Central Asia region as well as discussions on land and gender equality issues.

The main item on the agenda of the ERC (19 April 2012) is a ministerial round table on the policies for food security in the region, and particularly the coming challenges and perspectives based on a background paper which makes projections and estimates up to 2050. Member countries will have the opportunity to discuss specific short and long-term recommendations aimed at enhancing regional and global food security, policy actions and institutional set-up.

The Regional Conference Week will be supplemented by side events and small exhibitions to provide a platform for exchange and discussion among the delegates and observers from the member countries of the region.

Belarusian delegation headed by the deputy minister of agriculture Vasily Sedin is taking part in the Conference. The working programme of the delegation involves participation in debates on the main issues of the agenda, public speaking at the ministry round table with statement of Belarusian position on questions of present interest of the FAO activities. Vasily Sedin together with the delegations of the member-countries of the Single Economic Space are also planning to take part in bilateral meetings for agrreing of common positions and proposals on reformation of the FAO activities.

Besides, there were provided consultations with the representatives of the Secretariat on projects of the FAO technical assistance for Belarus. Besides the previously agreed-on project of "Strengthening of Food Security" (value $400 thousand), there was proposed a new project "Strengthening of possibilities on liquidation and prevention of return of out of date pesticides as a model for solution of the problem of hazardous chemical substances in the former Soviet Union" (value 561 737 euro).

Conference Web-site: Regional Conference for Europe

Photos: Azeri-Press Agency (APA) LLC