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Central and West Asia and North Africa Regional Meeting Report
22. Messrs
Andreas Hadjichristodoulou and Abdusattar
Abdoukarimov reported on the activities and recent meetings
of the steering committees of the plant genetic resources
Network for West Asia and North Africa (WANANET) and the PGR
Network for Central Asia (CAN/PGR) respectively. CAN/PGR is
a new network which still needs developing. Mr Hadjichristodoulou
indicated that the forthcoming steering committee meeting
would examine the possible restructuring of WANANET and its
decision making bodies to improve its effectiveness, and strengthen
the role of national programmes in implementing its recommendations.
23. Mr
Yousif Al Shayji, Vice-president of the Association for
Strengthening Agricultural Research Institutes in the Near
East and North Africa (AARINENA) reported on the changes to
the organization agreed at the recent general assembly in
Tehran. The organization identified five regions (Maghreb,
Nile valley/Red Sea, Mashreq, Arabian peninsular, Central
and West Asia). He indicated AARINENA's willingness to develop
stronger links with WANANET and CAN/PGR. 24. Mr
Othman El Shawesh and Mr Adel Joudah described the activities
of Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) and
the Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands
(ACSAD) respectively. Both Arab League organizations indicated
their willingness to contribute to the implementation of the
GPA in the Arab countries. 25. Mr David Cooper
briefly outlined potential sources of funding for the
implementation of the GPA, and introduced a discussion on the
topic. Mr Mohamed Taeb briefed participants on the ongoing
negotiations in the Commission on Genetic Resources for the
revision of the International Undertaking.
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