Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 20 / Trend /
Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan Ismet Abbasov met the sub regional coordinator of the Organisation for Agriculture and Food of UN (FAO) for Central Asia Mustafa Sinasir to discuss the opening ceremony of the FAO Coordination and Partnership Office in Azerbaijan.
According to the ministry, the meeting also discussed the effectiveness of on-going projects and prospects for bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and the FAO.
The minister praised the on-going FAO projects in Azerbaijan and considered it expedient to continue this tendency. The guest promised that he will make every effort for the further development of ties between FAO and Azerbaijan.
Abasov was handed an invitation from the general director of the organisation to chair the FAO European Regional Conference which is due to be held on June 15-20 in Rome.
The FAO has played a leading role in international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet on an equal basis to discuss agreements and debate policies.
The organisation helps developing countries and countries in the transition to modernise and improve agriculture, forestry and fishery practices.
Since its establishment in 1945, the FAO focuses on the development of rural areas where 70 per cent of the world's poor people facing starvation live.
FAO includes 191 member states, two associate members and one organisation - the European Union. In addition to its headquarters in Rome, FAO is present in over 130 countries.
The decentralised FAO representatives formed by a network of five regional offices, 11 sub-regional offices, two multidisciplinary teams, 74 branches in countries (except for those in regional and sub-regional offices), eight offices with technical experts or representatives of FAO, as well as representations with multiple accreditation in 36 countries.