Amman-Sana
The work of the quadripartite meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture in Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon began today in the Jordanian capital, Amman, and will last for two days.
The Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Eng. Muhammad Hassan Qatana, explained in a speech that the meeting supports efforts to draw clear action steps towards strengthening Arab relations, which is a continuation of what was started in Iraq, Lebanon and now in Jordan, leading to the signing of agreed memoranda of understanding to be the nucleus for achieving common interests in the field Agricultural integration and facilitation of intra-trade movement.
Qatna referred to many previous inter-agreements that had a direct positive impact on bilateral cooperation between the countries, pointing out that today's meeting comes to discuss the signing of a four-way agreement that outlines the road map towards strengthening joint scientific research in the fields of natural resources, plant and animal production, agricultural management, marketing of agricultural products and others. It will be implemented with joint efforts between the ministries of agriculture, in coordination with study centers and Arab organizations.
Minister Qatana called on Arab countries to join this quadripartite alliance because Arab agricultural integration is an opportunity to overcome the challenge of each country's ability to achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural products, which is a tool for achieving Arab food security.
Qatna pointed to the need to search for innovative solutions to the problems afflicting agriculture in the Arab region and to invest in opportunities, strengths, comparative advantages, research and studies in each country to address these problems and advance towards a strong Arab economy that meets the needs of Arab peoples.
Qatna pointed out the importance of coming out of the meeting with clear work programs by facilitating the transit of agricultural products to countries and through them to other countries, pending the completion of the regulations for the unification of veterinary and plant quarantine procedures and the unification of health certificate forms in accordance with international standards and local requirements for each country, and that a clear structure and calendar are put in place A joint agricultural sector that takes into account the needs of each country's market.
Ghassoub Abboud and Mahran Maalla
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