NERC/02/REP
March 2002

REPORT OF THE

TWENTY-SIXTH FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE
FOR THE NEAR EAST

Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 9-13 March 2002

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FAO Regional Office for the Near East

Cairo 2002

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the FAO Regional Office for the Near East, P.O. Box 2223, Cairo, Egypt.

© FAO/RNE 2002

Date and place of FAO Regional Conferences for the Near East

First - Cairo, Egypt, 2-14 February 1948
Second - Bloudane, Syria, 28 August - 6 September 1951
Third - Cairo, Egypt, 1-9 September 1953
Fourth - Damascus, Syria, 10-20 December 1958
Fifth - Tehran, Iran, 21 September - 1 October 1960
Sixth - Tel Amara, Lebanon, 30 July - 8 August 1962
Seventh - Cairo, Egypt, 19-31 October 1964
Eighth - Khartoum, Sudan, 24 January - 2 February 1967
Ninth - Baghdad, Iraq, 21 September - 1 October 1968
Tenth - Islamabad, Pakistan, 12-22 September 1970
Eleventh - Kuwait, Kuwait, 9-19 September 1972
Twelfth - Amman, Jordan, 31 August - 9 September 1974
Thirteenth - Tunis, Tunisia, 4-11 October 1976
Fourteenth - Damascus, Syria, 9-16 September 1978
Fifteenth - Rome, Italy, 21-25 April 1981
Sixteenth - Nicosia, Cyprus, 25-29 October 1982
Seventeenth - Aden, People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, 11-15 March 1984
Eighteenth - Istanbul, Turkey, 17-21 March 1986
Nineteenth - Muscat, Oman, 13-17 March 1988
Twentieth - Tunis, Tunisia, 12-16 March 1990
Twenty-first - Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 17-21 May 1992
Twenty-second - Amman, Jordan, 3-6 July 1994
Twenty-third - Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, 26-29 March 1996
Twenty-fourth - Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, 21-25 March 1998
Twenty-fifth - Beirut, Lebanon, 20-24 March 2000
Twenty-sixth - Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 9-13 March 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

The recommendations made by the Twenty-sixth FAO Regional Conference for the Near East were as follows:

1. General Debate

1.1 For the attention of Member States

The Conference called upon Member States to:

i. strengthen joint activities and programmes, at sub-regional and regional levels, to control and eradicate transboundary plant pests and animal diseases;

ii. enhance exchange of experiences and information among Member States of the Region in relevant priority areas of common interest through the TCDC modality; and

iii. strengthen national capacities and technical skills in negotiations, implementation and assessment of the impact of multilateral trade agreements and arrangements, including WTO.

1.2 For the attention of FAO

The Conference requested FAO to:

i. provide, within its available resources, technical and financial support for the rehabilitation of the agricultural sector in Palestine, and assist in approaching the donor community to finance the reconstruction of that sector;

ii. provide every possible assistance to the most vulnerable countries to food insecurity in the Region, particularly Afghanistan and Somalia;

iii. assist Member States in formulating relevant sub-regional agricultural development strategies, that would maximize benefits based on complementarities and comparative advantage of each country; and

iv. encourage and assist Member States to conduct animal disease surveys and to develop appropriate quarantine and control measures to safeguard their communities against BSE, FMD and other zoonotic contagious diseases, in cooperation with OIE, as well as to assist in establishing a regional/sub-regional reference laboratories independently, or in affiliation with other international reference laboratories.

2. Report of the Senior Officers Meeting

The Conference adopted the report of the Senior Officers Meeting with the following recommendations:

2.1 Preparation for WFS:fyl—Regional Dimension

2.1.1 For the attention of Member States
The Meeting called upon Member States to:

i. ensure an effective participation of national delegations at the highest possible political level at the WFS:fyl to be held in Rome (10-13 June, 2002) to guarantee reaching the desired commitments for enhancing efforts to combat food insecurity in the world;

ii. give voluntary contribution to the established Fund for Food Security and Safety and speed-up making pledges on top of the already received US$100 million in order to reach the declared target of US$500 million for this Fund.

iii. provide support to the setting up of Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) and Food Security Information and Early Warning System (FSIEWS) at the national level, and urge all interested parties to provide needed resources to enable the conduct of initial assessments and to prepare appropriate plans for strengthening national FIVIMS/FSIEWS with coordinated donor support; and

iv. enhance the exchange of expertise and information on SPFS among member countries.

2.1.2 For the attention of FAO

The Meeting requested FAO to:

i. formulate specific and clear operational modality for effecting the “International Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty”, based on the call made by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany on the occasion of World Food Day 2001 in Rome, and submit the proposed modality to Member Countries for consideration and approval.

ii. assist Member States in approaching donors and international organizations for supporting their national efforts towards implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action; and

iii. respond positively to government requests to take part in the SPFS and to enhance technical collaboration between countries of the Region through the South-South Cooperation initiative.

2.2 Trade Liberalization Policies, Intra-regional Trade and opportunities for Sustainable Agricultural Development

2.2.1. For the Attention of Member States

The Meeting called upon Member States to:

i. prepare WTO related pre-negotiations in a meticulous manner in order to have specific and clear objectives for the negotiating teams. Near East countries are encouraged to have collective consultation and bargaining stand before and during negotiations in order to have a strong voice concerning agricultural agreements and commitments;

ii. assess the competitiveness of various agricultural products as a basis for formulating adequate agricultural export promotion strategies, including attempts to internalize externalities and environmental impacts;

iii. develop measures of control against non-indigenous species to protect their environment and indigenous species;

iv. diversify their export system and aim at re-structuring certain agricultural enterprises into commercially run business corporations;

v. develop TRIPS and SPS rules and regulations in order to address WTO requirements based on scientific information, thus avoiding arbitrage;

vi. improve the efficiency of resource use, especially irrigation water, as one of the most limiting factors for increased productivity;

vii. assess the impacts of recent changes in global political and economic environments, including WTO agreements, on the welfare of small farmers in both rainfed and irrigated areas, with particular emphasis on the availability of purchased farm inputs;

viii. study the promotion of intra-regional trade and the best ways to reap the benefits of comparative advantage within the Region;

ix. strengthen the laboratory facilities for food safety to combat emerging threats and hazards of food contamination of chemical, microbial or physical origin;

x. establish and support public information/education centres for extension in promoting food practices that augment the present food safety and control measures as well as environmental concerns in the public image;

xi. strengthen national analytical capacity to estimate Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS) for agriculture, based on reliable and scientific data;

xii. ensure that the country permanent representative at WTO headquarters is at the level of Ambassador, who is adequately supported by a well trained staff in international trade and agricultural policy matters;

xiii. harmonize SPS and TBT standards and coordinate positions within the WTO; and

xiv. study the possibility of setting up regional/sub-regional stabilization mechanisms and, establishing and strengthening regional trade compensatory mechanisms.

2.2.2. For the Attention of FAO

The Meeting requested FAO to:

i. continue assisting countries in preparing for multilateral trade negotiations in agriculture, fisheries and forestry inter alia through studies, analysis and enhancing national capacities in the area of agricultural policy analysis related to international trade and WTO requirements, with emphasis on issues pertaining to the current round of negotiations;

ii. assist Member Countries of the Region to analyze recent changes in the global economic and trade environments and to assess the implications of globalization on the agricultural sectors in the Region, through holding of regional/sub-regional workshops or expert meetings;

iii. assist in strengthening of national capacities to meet Codex requirements and WTO’s Agreements on the SPS and TRIPS, including food quality and safety;

iv. continue providing assistance in developing agricultural sector strategies based on comparative advantage and efficient resource allocation, taking into consideration environmental and gender aspects in order to reap the benefits of trade liberalization and to cope with its negative impact;

v. support efforts for enhancing the country food supply capacity by reducing small farmer risk in rainfed areas, and re-orienting land use in irrigated lands;

vi. participate in, and encourage regional/sub-regional group actions to confront environmental threats (such as desertification, pollution and transboundary plant and animal diseases) and other similar threats that cut across national borders;

vii. assist in organizing a Regional Expert Consultation on capacity building in the area of post-harvest technology, food processing, agro-industries, food safety and standards, in the context of export markets’ requirements, in collaboration with UNIDO and other relevant international and regional agencies and institutions;

viii. continue supporting the Near East and North Africa Regional Network for Agricultural Policies (NENARNAP) and the Agricultural Food Marketing Association for the Near East and North Africa (AFMANENA) through active participation in their meetings and activities and the exchange of experiences and information concerning the formulation and implementation of national strategies for agricultural development and the development of effective marketing systems and intra-regional agricultural trade arrangements; and

ix. re-establish the post of Regional Statistician in the Regional Office to assist Member Countries in enhancing their capacity in data collection and statistical analysis, in line with emerging needs for access to accurate and timely statistical data to facilitate adequate planning and operational purposes.

2.3 International Year of Mountains (IYM), 2002

2.3.1 For the attention of Member States

The Meeting called upon Member States of the Region, particularly those with important mountain regions, to formulate and implement integrated strategies for mountain management; with the support and collaboration of FAO, other international agencies (such as UNEP) and the donor community.

2.3.2 For the attention of FAO

The Meeting requested FAO to convene, as early as feasible, an Expert Consultation on the Long-Term and Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions.

2.4 Long-term Plans for Drought Mitigation and Management in the Near East

2.4.1 For the attention of Member States

The Meeting called upon Member States to:

i. take the necessary steps for formulating "National Action Programmes for Drought Mitigation”, within the framework of overall development programmes for communities in drought-prone areas;

ii. create the required institutional set-up for implementing, coordinating and monitoring the execution of national programmes for Drought Mitigation and attach this set-up to the highest governmental level possible;

iii. provide the necessary resources to establish a "Drought Watch and Early Warning System" for timely alert and preparedness at country level;

iv. adopt a “participatory approach” that closely involves community sectors at grass-root levels, including NGOs, women and youth, in formulation/implementation of programmes and in launching an awareness and education campaigns to sensitize all stakeholders to drought impacts; as well as identification of the role of each sector in the relief and rehabilitation activities;

v. provide facilities and enact required legislation and policies to allow the initiating of relevant enabling mechanisms that could be entrusted with drought mitigation measures to be implemented at village, district, provincial and national levels;

vi. establish adequate liaison with regional and international organizations, such as UNCCD, UNSO, UNEP, ICARDA, ACSAD and other interested organizations for the follow-up of drought mitigation activities at regional and global levels;

vii. accord due attention and consideration to the socio-economic dimension of drought within the framework of the "Preparedness and Mitigation Plans", which should be comprehensive and integrated to address rehabilitation and development, including rangeland, livestock, forestry and crop production;

viii. adopt the improvement of water demand management and efficiency of use as the basis for drought mitigation, and review the current use of natural resources to better cope with drought;

ix. establish monitoring stations on wadis and dig monitoring wells to assess the short- and long-term fluctuations in available surface and groundwater resources; as well as construct small dams for water-harvesting whenever this is socially, economically and environmentally feasible, in order to mitigate the negative effects of drought;

x. increase investment in agricultural research including research to improve water use efficiency, crop production under water shortage conditions, development of drought and salt tolerant varieties and the identification, classification and registration of indigenous drought resistant crop species and landraces;

xi. endorse the recommendation by the Agriculture, Land and Water Use Commission for the Near East (ALAWUC) Second Session (5-7 March 2002), in relation to the conservation and use of germplasms in the Region;

xii. endorse the recommendation by the ALAWUC Second Session in relation to considering the possibility of establishing a Regional Centre for Drought Mitigation and Management, in a country of comparative advantage, and if decided, the Islamic Republic of Iran offered to host such Centre; and

xiii. support and strengthen the established Regional Network on Drought Management for the Near East and North Africa, and promote regional cooperation and exchange of experiences among Member Countries.

2.4.2 For the attention of FAO

The Meeting requested FAO to:

i. provide technical assistance and advisory support to Member Countries in formulating and developing their long-term Action Programmes for Drought Mitigation;

ii. examine the feasibility of establishing a regional drought monitoring and early warning system for assisting Member States to cope with drought, with FAO as the lead agency and in collaboration with relevant international and regional organizations, and explore possibilities of funding with potential donor agencies;

iii. assist Member States in the formulation of a Regional Project on Drought Mitigation for submission to interested donors; and

iv. support the operation and sustainability of the recently launched Regional Network on Drought Management for the Near East and North Africa.

2.5 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Risk Assessment: Implications for the Near East

2.5.1 For the attention of Member States

The Meeting called upon Member States of the Region, particularly those at risk of BSE, to implement effective surveillance for BSE and to apply controls on animal feed and meat industries and imports, as per recommended OIE standards.

2.5.2 For the attention of FAO

The Meeting requested FAO to:

i. continue supporting BSE diagnostic, prevention and risk assessment capacity in Member States through national or regional Technical Cooperation Projects (TCPs);

ii. assist Member States in preparing and implementing an FMD control programme and to examine the possibility of initiating a Regional Project for that purpose, in collaboration with the Animal Health Commission for the Near East and North Africa (AHCNENA) and with other Member States.

2.6 The Tehran Process for Low Forest Cover Countries

2.6.1 For the attention of Member States

The Meeting called upon Member States to endorse the Tehran Process and to support its Secretariat through the provision of expertise and financial support, particularly with regard to the formulation of National Forest Programmes, in view of the importance of the Process to Member Countries.

2.6.2 For the attention of FAO

The Meeting requested FAO to support the Tehran Process through a Regional Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) to initiate National Forest Programmes.
2.7 Report of the Agriculture, Land and Water Use Commission for the Near East (ALAWUC)

The Meeting reviewed the Report of the Agriculture, Land and Water Use Commission for the Near East (ALAWUC), which met from 5 to 7 March 2002 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Following thorough examination and discussion, the Meeting adopted the Report, after introducing some amendments.

3. Proposed List of Topics to be Considered in the Preparation for the 27^th Regional Conference for the Near East

The Conference formed a committee, consisting of representatives of four Member States (Algeria, Iran, Iraq and Yemen), plus the Secretariat, to assist in collating proposed topics by Member Countries and to prepare a list of topics for consideration by the Conference. The Conference debated the various topics compiled by the committee and requested that the Conference Secretariat prepare a consolidated list of proposed topics and submit the condensed list of topics (shown below) and submit to FAO/HQ for consideration and possible inclusion in the Conference Agenda for the 27^th Regional Conference for the Near East:

i. Fisheries Resources Development.
ii. Role of Micro Credit in Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development and Food Security.
iii. Post Harvest Losses Cum Food Industry and Food Safety within the New International Multilateral Trade Environment.
iv. Marketing Development and Export Promotion.
v. Research, Extension and Technology Transfer.
vi. Plant and Animal Genetic Resources: Collection, Utilization, Classification, Registration and Certification.
vii. Evaluation of Technical and Economic Feasibility of Desalination and Utilization of Brackish and Saline Water as well as Utilization of Treated Sewage Water in Irrigation.
viii. From Emergency/Relief to Rehabilitation to Development: a Programme Approach.
ix. Agriculture Investment Policies in the Region.
x. Prospects for the Development of Organic Farming.

4. Date and Place of the Twenty-seventh FAO Regional Conference for the Near East

The Conference welcomed the two invitations, extended by the Government of Yemen and by the Government of Qatar, to host the 27th FAO Regional Conference for the Near East and requested the Director-General of FAO to take these kind invitations into consideration when deciding on the date and place of the coming Conference, in consultation with Member Governments of the Region.

I. INTRODUCTORY ITEMS

Organization of the Conference

1. The Twenty-sixth FAO Regional Conference for the Near East was held in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran, from 9 to 13 March 2002 at the kind invitation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Conference was attended by 144 participants from 23 countries, and 32 observers. The list of participants is given as Appendix B to this Report.

Inaugural Ceremony

2. The inaugural ceremony was attended by representatives of member countries, The Independent Chairman of FAO Council, observers and ministers, high-ranking state officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic and UN missions in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as representatives from the news media.

3. Dr. Jacques Diouf, the FAO Director-General, expressed his thanks and deep appreciation to His Excellency Dr. Mohammad Reza Aref, the First Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran for giving up part of his busy schedule to participate in the inaugural ceremony of the Conference, and to the Government and the people of Iran for hosting once again the FAO Regional Conference in Tehran. He praised the country’s rich history, great and ancient civilization and pointed out the significant strides that Iran had made in recent years in all spheres of economic activity, particularly in the area of agricultural development.

4. His Excellency Dr. Mohammad Reza Aref, the First Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, inaugurated the Conference. In his opening address, the First Vice-President welcomed all participants on behalf of his Government and expressed that it was an honor for his country to be hosting the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East. He further indicated that convening the Conference at this juncture was most opportune to identify collectively an action-oriented programme for agricultural development at the national and regional levels and to promote dialogue as a requisite for peace, cooperation and development.

5. The First Vice-President stressed the need for intensifying national and regional efforts to combat the problems of widening food gaps, drought, increased desertification, hazards of plant and animal pests and diseases and the deterioration of land, water and forest resources at rates that could endanger their sustainability. He further emphasized the importance of technical co-operation especially in areas of drought mitigation and irrigation management.

6. The First Vice-President concluded by commending FAO’s role and its relentless efforts in providing technical assistance and advice to countries of the Region and expressed his Government’s support for and endorsement of the Director-General’s efforts in the follow-up and implementation of the World Food Summit (WFS) Plan of Action.

Election of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons and Appointment of the Rapporteur

7. His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Hojjati, Minister for Jihad-e-Agriculture of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was unanimously elected Chairman of the Conference.

8. The Conference resolved that all other Heads of Delegations would be Vice-Chairpersons and appointed Mr. Ahmed El Badawi (Sudan) as the Conference Rapporteur.

Adoption of the Agenda

9. The Provisional Agenda NERC/02/1 (Appendix A) and Timetable NERC/02/INF/2 were adopted by the Conference, with one amendment: to give the opportunity to His Excellency Mr. Hikmat Zaid, the Minister for Agriculture in the Palestinian National Authority, to brief the Conference on the state of agriculture in Palestine.

II. STATEMENTS

Statement by the Director-General

10. Dr. Jacques Diouf, Director-General of FAO, presented his statement (Appendix D) in which he noted the changing global economic climate and the importance of having multilateral trade agreements that could provide developing countries with greater opportunities to participate in more equitable and fairer manner in international trade. He reaffirmed the readiness of FAO to continue making available to its Member States the analysis and information needed to reinforce the technical skills of negotiators in agricultural trade.

11. The Director-General surveyed trends in agricultural production underlining the persisting gap between industrialized and developing countries, particularly the LDCs/LIFDCs. He also underlined the negative repercussions of food insecurity in the Near East Region, where drought, civil strife and war were identified as leading causes for food insecurity in a number of countries. The Director-General pointed out that FAO plays an increasingly important role in assessing agricultural needs during emergencies and in alerting the international community through its Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS), in collaboration with WFP, UNDP and the extensive network of governmental and non-governmental organizations.

12. The Director-General noted the adoption, by a number of Member States, of policies conducive to economic and agricultural development growth and the ensuing advances made in this regard. He also stated that the low percentage of the under-nourished in the Near East, as compared to other regions, should not hide the fact that this Region includes two of the world’s most food insecure nations: Somalia and Afghanistan. He also indicated that the prevalence of under-nourishment in Iraq has not improved while Palestine witnessed an increased trend in food insecurity over the last year.

13. The Director-General indicated that if present trends persist, the Region might not meet the target set at the 1996 WFS of halving the number of the hungry by 2015. He emphasized that concerted and focused development efforts, combined with investment in manpower development and productivity of land and water, were key areas for action to reverse the current trend. The Director-General explained to the Conference that the aim of the World Food Summit: five years later (WFS:fyl, Rome 10-13 June 2002) is to revitalize the global campaign against hunger, take stock of what had been achieved and decide on what should be done to realize the set goals of WFS. The Regional Conference for the Near East, being held 3 months before WFS:fyl, would be an excellent opportunity to examine what was achieved in the Region and what should be done in the preparation for the forthcoming WFS:fyl.

14. The Director-General presented salient points on the agenda starting with the preparation for WFS:fyl, the recurring drought phenomenon and the need for long term plans for drought mitigation and management; and trade liberalization and promotion of intra-regional trade for sustainable agricultural development in the Near East.

15. The Director-General made reference to the call issued by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany on the occasion of WFD 2001 in Rome for an “international alliance against hunger and poverty.” He further indicated that such an Alliance could be the tangible expression of reinforced political will and an important step towards removing the despair and anger that are so favourable to extremism. The Director-General also appealed for contributions to the FAO Trust Fund for Food Security and Food Safety, hoping that pledges could be made before the forthcoming WFS:fyl.

State of Agriculture in Palestine

16. Pursuant to the request from several delegates to amend the Agenda to include a briefing on the state of agriculture in Palestine, His Excellency Mr. Hikmat Zaid, the Minister for Agriculture in the Palestinian National Authority, presented a brief statement.

17. In his statement, the Minister thanked FAO for its recent decision to formulate a programme for the rehabilitation of the Palestinian agricultural sector and for the planned FAO/WFP assessment of the nutritional situation in Palestine. The Minister presented an overview of the substantial agricultural rehabilitation efforts conducted during the 1994-2000 period. However, the Minister pointed out that, starting in September 2000 and continuing to date, the Israeli military operations have resulted in $500 millions in direct and indirect damages to the Palestinian agricultural sector, including substantial destruction of the agricultural infrastructure and the uprooting and burning of about 500,000 trees. As a result, the Minister estimated that 50 per cent of the population are currently living below the poverty line.

18. The Minister concluded by expressing his hope that the Conference would make the necessary recommendations to facilitate adequate and timely provision of technical and financial support for the rehabilitation of agriculture in Palestine.

III. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Report on FAO Activities in the Near East Region 2000-2001

19. Mr. Atif Bukhari, Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative for the Near East, reviewed FAO activities in the Region during the 2000-2001 biennium. He started by briefing the Conference on actions taken in response to the recommendations of the 25^th Session of the FAO Near East Regional Conference. Mr. Bukhari went on to review the main highlights of the ongoing programme of work and to outline future orientations of the Regional Programme to respond to priority issues in the Region.

20. The Conference noted with satisfaction the wide range and comprehensiveness of FAO activities in the Region during the 2000-2001 biennium. Following a thorough discussion and interventions by numerous delegates, the Conference endorsed the future orientation of the Regional Programme and expressed its satisfaction that this Programme would succeed in assisting Member States to face priority food and agriculture issues in the Region.

Report of the Senior Officers Meeting

21. The Senior Officers Meeting Report (NERC/02/SOM/REP Appendix E) was presented by the Meeting’s Rapporteur for consideration and adoption by the Conference. Following a thorough examination and discussion, the Conference adopted the Report of the Senior Officers Meeting after introducing minor amendments.

General Debate

22. In addition to specific comments related to the FAO Regional Programme and to the Report of the Senior Officers Meeting, the delegates addressed in their interventions a range of issues of interest to the Region. Most delegates re-iterated some of the key recommendations of the Senior Officers Meeting, which have been already adopted by the Conference.

23. The Conference welcomed with appreciation the initiative taken by FAO's Director General to convene the World Food Summit: five years later (WFS:fyl), to be held in Rome from 10 to 13 June 2002. The Conference also urged Member States to ensure an effective participation of national delegations, at the highest political level possible, to renew the political commitments for enhancing the efforts to combat food insecurity in the world.

24. The Conference endorsed the establishment of an “International Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty”, based on the call made by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany on the occasion of World Food Day 2001 in Rome, and stressed the need for FAO to play a leading role in formulating a specific and clear operational modality for effecting this Alliance. The Conference also welcomed FAO efforts in setting up a Trust Fund for Food Security and Safety and urged all Member Countries (and development partners) to provide their contributions.

25. The Conference expressed its concern that, although some of the trading agreements in the Region proved useful in facilitating promotion of intra-regional trade; yet the existence of a wide scope for improvement was recognized. The Conference called for intensified efforts to design and implement well defined Regional or Sub-regional programmes of cooperation to face the major constraints and challenges that continue to restrict intra-regional trade.

26. The Conference recognized a number of shortcomings in the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture and urged Member States to intensify efforts for making corrections of these shortcomings in future negotiations, as well as examining the possibility of re-negotiating certain clauses of the Agreement that are deemed particularly unfavorable to developing countries, including some in the Near East. The Conference emphasized the role of FAO in assisting Member Countries to analyze recent trends in the global economic and trade environments and to assess the implications of globalization on the agricultural sectors in the Region, as well as to assist in strengthening of national capacities to meet Codex requirements and WTO Agreements.

27. The Conference expressed its serious concern about the devastating impact of the prolonged drought, which hit this Region during the past three years, and realized that the present episode could be further aggravated in the future, if drought-prone countries do not embark immediately on sustainable and coherent programmes for preparedness and management of drought. The Conference recognized the need for Member States to take the necessary steps for formulating "National Action Programmes for Drought Mitigation” and appealed to FAO to provide technical assistance and advisory support to the formulation of these national programmes. The Conference also urged Member States to support the Regional Network on Drought Management for the Near East and North Africa.

28. The Conference welcomed the participation of His Excellency Mr. Tursunboi Rahmatov, the Minister for Agriculture of Tajikistan, and expressed the wish that all other Central Asian Member States of the Region to participate in future Regional Conferences for the Near East, as well as in other regional meetings and activities.

29. In addition to the already adopted recommendations of the Senior Officers Meeting, the Conference called upon Member States to:

- strengthen joint activities and programmes, at sub-regional and regional levels, to control and eradicate transboundary plant pests and animal diseases;

- enhance exchange of experiences and information among Member States of the Region in relevant priority areas of common interest through the TCDC modality; and

- strengthen national capacities and technical skills in negotiations, implementation and assessment of the impact of multilateral trade agreements and arrangements, including WTO.

30. The Conference requested FAO to:

- provide, within its available resources, technical and financial support for the rehabilitation of the agricultural sector in Palestine, and assist in approaching the donor community to finance the reconstruction of that sector;

- provide every possible assistance to the most vulnerable countries to food insecurity in the Region, particularly Afghanistan and Somalia;

- assist Member States in formulating relevant sub-regional agricultural development strategies, that would maximize benefits based on complementarities and comparative advantage of each country; and

- encourage and assist Member States to conduct animal disease surveys and to develop appropriate quarantine and control measures to safeguard their communities against BSE, FMD and other zoonotic contagious diseases, in cooperation with OIE, as well as to assist in establishing a regional/sub-regional reference laboratories independently, or in affiliation with other international reference laboratories.

NGOs/CSOs Consultation for the Near East

31. In line with the WFS Plan of Action, calling for “actively encourage a greater role for civil society organizations in addressing food security”, a Regional Consultation for several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) was convened from 6 to 7 March 2002 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, parallel to the Regional Conference. The Report of this Consultation was presented to the Conference, which took note of this Report and emphasized the important role of NGOs and CSOs as essential partners and key actors in enhancing the participatory approach for sustainable agricultural development and food security in the Region.

Proposed List of Topics to be Considered in the Preparation for the 27^{th Regional Conference for the Near East}

32. The Conference formed a Committee, consisting of representatives of four Member States (Algeria, Iran, Iraq and Yemen), plus the Secretariat, to assist in collating proposed topics by Member Countries and to prepare a list of topics for consideration by the Conference. The Conference debated the various topics compiled by the Committee and requested that the Conference Secretariat prepare consolidate the list of proposed topics and submit the condensed list of topics (shown below) to FAO/HQ for consideration and possible inclusion in the Conference Agenda for the 27^th Regional Conference for the Near East:

- Fisheries Resources Development.
- Role of Micro Credit in Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development and Food Security.
- Post Harvest Losses Cum Food Industry and Food Safety within the New International Multilateral Trade Environment.
- Marketing Development and Export Promotion.
- Research, Extension and Technology Transfer.
- Plant and Animal Genetic Resources: Collection, Utilization, Classification, Registration and Certification.
- Evaluation of Technical and Economic Feasibility of Desalination and Utilization of Brackish and Saline Water as well as Utilization of Treated Sewage Water in Irrigation.
- From Emergency/Relief to Rehabilitation and Development: a Programme Approach.
- Agriculture Investment Policies in the Region.
- Prospects for the Development of Organic Farming.

IV. CONCLUDING ITEMS

Date and Place of the Twenty-seventh FAO Regional Conference for the Near East

33. The Conference welcomed the two invitations, extended by the Government of Yemen and by the Government of Qatar, to host the 27th FAO Regional Conference for the Near East and requested the Director-General of FAO to take these kind invitations into consideration when deciding on the date and place of the coming Conference, in consultation with Member Governments of the Region.

Adoption of the Conference Report

34. The Conference adopted the Report after introducing some amendments.

Closure of the Conference

35. On behalf of FAO, Mr. Atif Bukhari, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East, expressed his deep gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Hojjati and to the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran for hosting the Conference and for the excellent facilities and arrangements which contributed to the success of the Conference.

1. His Excellency Mr. Saeed Bin Mohammed Al-Raqabani, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, United Arab Emirates (UAE), spoke on behalf of the delegates expressing thanks and appreciation to the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also commended the Conference Secretariat for the good preparation and smooth running of the Conference. He proposed sending a cable of thanks to His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Khatamy, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, for the generous hospitality afforded to all participants of the Conference. The UAE Minister also extended, on behalf of the delegates, his best wishes to Mr. Atif Bukhari, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East, on the occasion of his forthcoming retirement from FAO. He proposed sending a cable to Dr. Jacques Diouf, the FAO Director-General, to thank FAO for the invaluable contribution that Mr. Bukhari has made during his twelve years of service at FAO in assisting member countries in the promotion of agricultural development and food security in the Region.

2. In his closing statement, His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Hojjati, Minister of Jihad-e-Agriculture, Islamic Republic of Iran and Chairman of the Conference, reiterated his deep gratitude to the Director-General of FAO, to the Regional Representative and to the Conference Secretariat for their efforts in making the Conference a success. He thanked their Excellencies the Ministers and their accompanying senior officers and heads of delegations for their valuable contributions and views related to the Region’s main concerns during the Conference deliberations. He expressed his hopes that member countries and FAO would be able to implement the recommendations of this 26^th Regional Conference, in an effective and timely manner.

3. The Chairman declared the Conference closed at 17.00 hours, on Wednesday, 13 March 2002.

APPENDIX A

Revised Agenda

(A) SENIOR OFFICERS MEETING
9-11 MARCH 2002

I. INTRODUCTORY ITEMS

1. Opening of the Senior Officers Meeting
2. Election of Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons and Appointment of the Rapporteur
3. Adoption of the Agenda and Timetable

II. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

4. Preparation for the WFS: Five Years Later – Regional Dimensions
5. Long-Term Plans for Drought Mitigation and Management in the Near East
6. Trade Liberalization Policies, Intra-regional Trade and Opportunities for Sustainable Agricultural Development
7. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Foot and Mouth Disease Risk Assessment: Implications for the Near East
8. Tehran Process for Low Forest Cover Countries
9. The International Year of Mountains (IYM)
10. Report of the Agriculture, Land and Water Use Commission (ALAWUC) for the Near East

III. OTHER MATTERS

11. Biotechnology for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Near East Region (Information Note)
12. NGOs/CSOs Consultation for the Near East

IV. CONCLUDING ITEMS

13. Adoption of the Report of the Senior Officers Meeting
14. Closure of the Senior Officers Meeting
(B)
MINISTERIAL MEETING
12-13 MARCH 2002

I. INTRODUCTORY ITEMS

1. Inaugural Ceremony
2. Election of Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons and Appointment of the Reapporteur
3. Adoption of the Agenda and Timetable

II. STATEMENTS

4. Statement by the Director-General
5. State of Agriculture in Palestine

III. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

6. Report of the Senior Officers Meeting
7. Report of NGOs/CSOs Consultation
8. Action Taken on the Main Recommendations of the Twenty-Fifth Regional Conference and other FAO Activities in the Region 2000-2001.

IV. OTHERS MATTERS

9. Proposed list of topics to be considered at the Twenty-Seventh Regional Conference

V. CONCLUDING ITEMS

10. Date and place of the 27^th Regional Conference for the Near East
11. Adoption of the Report of the Regional Conference (including the Senior Officers Meeting Report)
12. Closure of the Conference

(المرفق باء)
APPENDIX B

قائمة بأسماء المشاركين

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

هيئة مكتب المؤتمر

OFFICERS OF THE CONFERENCE

موظفو المنظمة
FAO STAFF

Jacques Diouf Director-General, FAO
Atif Y. Bukhari ADG/Regional Representative, RNE
M. Sinaceur Sub-Regional Representative, SNEA
Ahmed BenAmeur Chief, Interpretation Group, GIC
A. Abbassian Commodity Specialist, ESCB
Hassan Abdel Nour Senior Forestry Officer, RNEO
Talib Ali Animal Production and Health Officer, RNEG
Dyaa Abdou Chief, Policy Assistance Branch, RNEP
Mohammed Bazza Senior Irrigation and Water Resources Officer, RNEG
Ghassan Hamdallah Senior Soils and Fertilizers Officer, RNEG
Fawzi Taher Crop Production Officer, RNEG
Yassin Wehelie Food Systems Economist, RNEE
Gafaar Karrar FAO Consultant
Y. Hakimi National Programme Officer, Iran

أمانة المؤتمر
CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT

Conference Secretary Zohair Abdalla, RNEG
Conference Affairs Officer A. Rashid, FAOR Iran
Reports Officer M. Saade, RNEP
Information Officer M. Hage, FAOLOWA
Information Technology Officer M. Meshref, RNE
Documents Officer Shahira Sharawy (Ms), RNE

APPENDIX C

List of Documents

Discussion Items

NERC/02/1 Provisional Annotated Agenda

NERC/02/2 Action Taken on the Main Recommendations of the Twenty-Fifth Regional Conference for the Near East and other FAO Activities in the Near East Region 2000-2001
NERC/02/3 Preparation for the WFS: Five Years Later – Regional Dimensions

NERC/02/4 Long-term Plans for Drought Mitigation and Management in the Near East

NERC/02/5 Trade Liberalization Policies, Intra-Regional Trade and Opportunities for Sustainable Agricultural Development

Information Items

NERC/02/INF/1 Information Note
NERC/02/INF/2 Provisional Timetable
NERC/02/INF/3 Provisional List of Documents
NERC/02/INF/4 Statement by the Director-General

NERC/02/INF/5 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Foot and Mouth Disease Risk Assessment: Implications for the Near East

NERC/02/INF/6 Teheran Process for Low Cover Forest Countries
NERC/02/INF/7 The International Year of Mountains
NERC/02/INF/8 Biotechnology for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Near East Region

APPENDIX D

STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Mr. Chairman
Distinguished Ministers
Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen

(Introduction)

It is an honour and great pleasure to find myself again among the leaders of agriculture in the Near East Region to participate in this Twenty-sixth FAO Regional Conference for the Near East. I would like first to express in the name of the Conference and on behalf of the FAO Secretariat, all distinguished delegates and observers our profound thanks to the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran for, once more, hosting this Regional Conference in this history-rich, beautiful and hospitable country. The fraternal welcome we have all received, the splendid facilities provided and the excellent arrangements made for this Conference bespeak of this country’s noble heritage of cordiality and generosity.

(State of food and agriculture in the world)

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

This Regional Conference is taking place in a global economic, social and political context that is under rapid change.

The Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), that was held in Doha last November, has established the framework for more equitable terms of international trade of agricultural products. During the next years, the globalisation and liberalisation of trade, for agricultural products, the movement of capital and the transfer of technology should take place in such a way that both the developed and the developing countries will be able to enhance the living conditions of their people. For agriculture in particular, it is essential that the new negotiations under the WTO should provide the developing countries with greater opportunities to participate in fairer international trade. FAO will continue to make available to its Member Nations the analyses and information needed to reinforce the technical skills of negotiators in agricultural trade.

The last two years have seen a relatively modest performance of the agricultural sector, the economic mainstay of the poorer regions that employs more than 70 percent of the economically active population in the least developed countries (LDCs). The annual rate of growth of world agricultural production fell to 1.2 percent in 2000 and to 0.6 percent in 2001, the lowest level since 1993 and a sharp drop from the 2.6 percent of 1999. This slowdown has been due to a general levelling-off of growth in the developing and developed countries alike.

World cereal production fell in 2001 to 1,850 million tonnes, 1.2 percent down from the previous year. A number of factors have contributed to this reduction: the natural disasters and low prices of recent years and government policies to reduce surplus supply.

The projections are that world utilisation of cereals in 2001/02 should exceed output for the second consecutive year, amounting to 1,935 million tonnes, up 1.7 percent from the previous crop year.

Importantly, however, Australia, the European Union and North America have sizeable food surpluses for export (with a total value of 36,000 million US dollars) and are probably in a position to significantly increase their food production. On the other hand, food production in the low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs) is not enough to satisfy the needs of their populations, and these countries have neither the means nor the funds to offset the shortfall through imports.

The world still has some 815 million people suffering from chronic malnutrition, including 777 million in the developing countries, 27 million in the countries in transition and 11 million in the industrialised countries. The improvement recorded in some countries and parts of the developing world, notably in East Asia, is thus neutralised by the worsening situation in other regions, especially sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and the Caribbean.

The gap between output and needs in the food deficit regions will continue to widen unless there is an increase in rural investment to generate higher employment, income, productivity and production. Until there is an abatement in hunger and malnutrition, it will be difficult, indeed impossible, to achieve appreciable and sustainable results in other vital domains of the fight against poverty, such as health and education.

(Emergencies)

Food shortages caused by natural disasters continued to affect many countries. As of September 2001, there were 33 countries and 62 million people facing food emergencies. However, data indicate that their relative frequency has changed over the last thirty years. Whilst in the 1970s and 1980s food emergencies were mainly the result of natural factors, in more recent years they originate from manmade disasters.

In the Near East, they are attributable to persistent drought conditions in some countries, and, recently, the crisis in Afghanistan. In Africa, the emergency situations arise in particular from civil strife and recurrent droughts. In Asia, millions of people have seen their basic access to food eroded by declining purchasing power mainly as continuing effects of the financial crisis in 1997/1998. In Latin America and the Caribbean, hurricanes and financial instability have been the main factors.

The role of FAO in such a context is more important than ever, primarily in assessing the food and agriculture situation, determining food aid needs and informing the international community, thanks to the Global Information and Early Warning System, which is working together with the World Food Programme, the UNDP and an extensive network of governmental and non-governmental organizations.

(Other crises)

The long-term viability of intensive agriculture in the developed countries raises concerns and poses problems. The epidemics of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and foot-and-mouth disease, salmonella linked to eggs and chicken, and mutant drug-resistant E. coli infection from contaminated meat and water have changed consumer perception of the consequences of unbridled efforts to intensify, to maximise yields and to cut costs.

Elsewhere, the genetic modification of food crops and animals has sparked off fierce controversy. While they are not required today to achieve the objectives of the Summit of 1996, their development and application need to be studied and monitored scientifically and in an international framework. This will make it possible to benefit from the positive aspects, while avoiding any possible detrimental effects on plant and animal health or in terms of food quality.

(State of food and agriculture in the region and challenges)

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

Since the late 1980s, many countries in the Region have adopted profound economic policy changes to macro-economic imbalances reflected in a large current and fiscal account deficit, mounting foreign debts, inflation and high unemployment rates. While some countries made positive strides in adopting reforms, many others are still struggling. According to available information, the annual GDP growth rate in the Region reached 4.7 percent in 2000, and registered an average increase from 2.4 percent in 1981-1990 to 3.1 percent in 1991-2000. Changes and levels of oil prices have a noticeable effect on the direction and magnitude of the average growth rates and economic development in the Region. However, countries with a limited economic resource base continued to face mounting debt problems, rising unemployment rates, commodity price shocks and an escalating balance of payment deficits.

The record-high growth rate of agricultural output in the Region in 1998 could not be maintained, and a decline of 4.0 percent ensued in 1999. Furthermore, the 2000/2001 season saw little improvement as agricultural production fell by 0.8 percent. The main attributing factors are natural causes relating to inadequate rainfalls, culminating in droughts that hit many countries in the Region and to man-made disasters, including civil strife, wars and, sometimes, inappropriate policies.

The impact of drought is most evident in cereal production, which declined by 7.7 percent in 2000 and by 17.9 percent in 1999. I am pleased to note the news of good rains in many parts of the Region, which I hope will lead to good harvest.

Agricultural production did not keep pace with the rapidly increasing demand for food in the Region, and hence a widening food gap persisted which had to be filled by imports, especially of cereals followed by dairy products, sugar and vegetable oil. Only very few countries in the Region succeeded in realizing self-sufficiency in basic food items. The value of agricultural imports is, on average, about 30 billion US dollars - three times the value of exports from the Region. The net cereal imports rose from 6.5 million tonnes in 1960-71 to 55 million tonnes in 1999, which is about one-fifth of world imports of cereals.

The Near East Region, as compared to other regions in the world, has the lowest indicators relating to under nourishment (7.2 percent) and extreme poverty (2 percent). However, these average figures hide a wide range of variation among the countries. The Near East Region contains two of the most food insecure countries in the world – Somalia (about 75 percent of the population are undernourished) and Afghanistan (70 percent undernourished). And the prevalence of under nourishment in Iraq has not improved in recent years, while the situation in Palestine has worsened in the past year.

Projections indicate that the number of the undernourished in the Near East Region would, by 2015, still remain far from the WFS target of reducing their number by 50 percent. In this regard, I wish to recall commitments of the member countries to this goal and emphasize that concerted and focused development efforts, combined with investment in manpower development and productivity of land and water, can make a difference and reverse the current trend. It is noted, with satisfaction, that most countries of the Region continued during 2000 and 2001 to pursue radical macro-economic and agricultural sector reform programmes that, if carried through, would improve economic prospects and accelerate sustainable and equitable growth.

The current developments in the international economic environment including the new rules of international trading systems set by the Uruguay Round Agreement (URA), the EU-Mediterranean Agreements (EMA), and the proliferation of regionalism world-wide, bring co-operation in the Near East again to the forefront. Despite a seeming lack of clear and significant success, regional integration continues to be an issue of great importance in the Near East; and agricultural trade liberalization and promotion of intra-regional agricultural trade remain key objectives in several regional trading agreements.

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Agriculture in the Near East Region operates under severe natural limitations characterised by scarce cultivable land and water resources. Arable and permanent cropland constitutes about 8 percent of the total area, while a further 27 percent consists of permanent pasture.

The Near East is the most water scarce region in the world. The Region has 6.2 percent of the world’s population, 8.6 percent of arable land and 11 percent of its irrigated land, but it has only 1.5 percent of the world’s renewable fresh water resources. The region relies heavily on surface and underground water, which will become increasingly scarce in the Region and, as such, it will remain a serious barrier to the achievement of food security in many countries. Almost all easily accessible conventional water resources in this Region have already been committed and the demand for water, in most countries, will soon likely exceed renewable freshwater supplies, and by the year 2025 the per capita availability of renewable water for most countries in the Region will fall below 700 cubic metres compared with a world-wide average of 4,780 cubic metres per person in that year. Therefore the future emphasis must be directed towards increasing the efficiency of water management systems and increasing water productivity, getting more crops per drop, as well as to move seriously towards tapping new non-conventional water resources to be utilized for increasing agricultural production.

Poor food marketing systems constitute a major constraint to the availability of and accessibility to food in the Near East countries. Much of the locally produced and imported food does not reach consumers largely due to inefficient distribution and large post-harvest losses. Accelerating urbanisation, in particular, presents an enormous challenge to ensuring adequate supplies and to the food distribution system in the Region. Enhancing competitiveness of national agricultural products to secure local and foreign market outlets under the present prevailing open trade and liberalisation policies is another daunting challenge.

Other challenges for the realization of high levels of food security and reduction of rural and urban poverty include sustainable management of natural resources, sustained increases in crop and livestock production, mitigation of drought, combating desertification, improving quality and value added of agricultural products, adoption of quality standard and reduction of post harvest food losses, control and eradication of plant pest and livestock disease, increasing investment in agriculture, and intra-regional economic cooperation.

(FAO activities in the region)

The Organization has pursued its policy of reform and decentralisation. In this regard, the day-to-day management of its field programme is being transferred from the Regional Office to the Country Representations.

Programmes of normative and operational activities have been formulated and implemented in the spheres of the Organization's mandate, and detailed reports have been submitted to the Regional Conference.

(Issues on the agenda)

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

This Twenty-sixth Regional Conference will examine the key issues relating to the fight against food insecurity. One of its major tasks will be to prepare for the World Food Summit: five years later, which will be held in Rome from 10 to 13 June this year to accelerate implementation of the decisions taken in 1996 and make it possible to reduce by half the number of people suffering from hunger by 2015. This important meeting, which was postponed because of tragic international circumstances, should help revitalise the fight against hunger. Progress made towards the objective set in 1996 of halving the number of undernourished people in the world by 2015 has been inadequate. At the present rate, this would only be achievable towards 2050. The Summit this June will be called upon to identify and adopt concrete measures to correct this delay. It is imperative to reinforce the political will at the highest level and to mobilise the necessary financial resources.

In this context, the participation of the Heads of State and Government of the Near East Region at the World Food Summit is essential for its success. Besides the statements at plenary sessions, the Heads of State and Government will be able to exchange views at round tables and participate if they so wish in daily press conferences. Separate meetings of parliamentarians, private sector NGOs and Civil Society would give other stakeholders the opportunity to provide their input to the debate.

On your agenda is also the report, prepared by the Secretariat, on action taken on the recommendations of the Twenty-fifth Regional Conference.

Another major item is the Report of the Senior Officers meeting which preceded this Plenary Session. Issues of great significance to the development of agriculture in the Region were discussed by them during the last three days.

Let me highlight just two of the areas:

• Drought, a recurring phenomenon in the Near East Region, with cumulative deleterious consequences on agricultural development. In this context, the Conference document No. NERC/02/4 on “Long-term Plans for Drought Mitigation and Management in the Near East” included a proposal for establishing a regional network for drought mitigation; and
• Trade liberalization policies and their implication for intra-regional trade and sustainable agricultural development.

I would also like to draw the attention of the Conference to the information documents that are being distributed:

• International Year of Mountains, 2002: FAO has been invited by the UN General Assembly to be the Lead Agency for the preparation and co-ordination of observance of the International Year of the Mountains in 2002. The document reports on the observance of the Year with a number of follow-up actions.
• The Tehran Process for Low Forest Cover Countries, initiated in this City where we are currently meeting. The document reports on follow-up action which has its origins in an expert consultation on “The Special Need and Requirements of Developing Countries with Low Forest Cover and Unique Type of Forest”, and concludes with a number of proposed actions for accelerating progress.

Your attention is also drawn to two information notes:

The impact of BSE and Foot and Mouth Disease and the Development of Biotechnology for Agriculture, including Forestry and Fisheries.

(Other issues)

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me mention two other important issues. On the occasion of World Food Day, last October, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Mr Johannes Rau, called for an International Alliance against hunger and poverty. This concept was subsequently widely supported at the FAO Conference in November 2001. Such an Alliance could be the tangible expression of reinforced political will and an important step towards removing the despair and anger that are so favourable to extremism.

Also, the Organization has set up a Trust Fund for Food Security and Food Safety. Its Member Nations and development partners have been invited to provide voluntary contributions. The success to date, with 20 percent of the initial sum of 500 million US dollars already secured, would be even greater if further pledges could be made before the Summit.

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is the first FAO Regional Conference for the Near East to be held at the dawn of this Century. I am confident that you will contribute to the efforts of preparing agriculture, at national and regional levels, for the challenges of the Twenty-first Century. I trust you will spare no effort in giving due consideration to these vital issues and propose the most required actions for accelerating the progress of agricultural development and ensuring food security for all men and women of this Region.

I eagerly await the results of your deliberations and I wish you a very successful meeting.

Thank you.

APPENDIX E

NERC/02/SOM/REP
March 2002

TWENTY-SIXTH FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE
FOR THE NEAR EAST

REPORT OF THE
SENIOR OFFICERS MEETING

Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 9-11 March 2002

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Regional Office for the Near East

Cairo 2002

I. INTRODUCTORY ITEMS
Organization of the Meeting
1. The Senior Officers Meeting of the Twenty-sixth FAO Regional Conference for the Near East was held from 9 to 11 March 2002 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Inaugural Ceremony
2. The Meeting was inaugurated by His Excellency Mr. Abdel Mahdi Bakhshandeh, the Deputy Minister of Jihad-e-Agriculture in the Islamic Republic of Iran and addressed by Mr. Atif Bukhari, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East. In attendance, there were 70 delegates from 21 countries, and 36 observers. The list of participants is given as Appendix B. The Meeting was also attended by some host country senior officers, representatives of diplomatic and UN missions in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and representatives from the news media.
3. His Excellency Mr. Bakhshandeh expressed his sincere thanks to FAO and its Regional Office for the Near East for convening the FAO Regional Conference once again in Tehran, as well as its preparatory and preceding Senior Officers Meeting. He stressed the need for sustainable development of agriculture to realize the objectives of raising production, improving farmers’ income, alleviating poverty and reaching higher levels of food security at national and regional levels. He further emphasized the need for regional technical and economic co-operation.
4. Mr. Atif Bukhari, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East, in his Opening Statement, thanked the Iranian Government and H. E. Mr. Mahmoud Hojjati, the Minister for Jihad-e-Agriculture in the Islamic Republic of Iran and other Ministry Officials for their efforts and for the excellent arrangements made to facilitate the convening of the Regional Conference.
5. The Regional Representative stressed the role of the Senior Officers Meeting as an integral part of the Regional Conference and as a preparatory forum for an in-depth discussion of technical issues of concern to the Near East. Mr. Bukhari reviewed the Agenda of the Senior Officers Meeting and expressed his hope that the Meeting would reach positive and operable recommendations for adoption by the Ministerial Meeting.
Election of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons and Appointment of the Rapporteur
6. The Meeting unanimously elected Mr. Abdel Mahdi Bakhshandeh, Deputy Minister for Jihad-e-Agriculture in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as its Chairperson and resolved that all other Heads of Delegations for the Senior Officers Meeting would be Vice-Chairpersons. Mr. Jehad Abu Mushref (Jordan) was appointed Rapporteur.
Adoption of the Agenda and Timetable
7. The Provisional Annotated Agenda (NERC/02/1) and Timetable (NERC/02/INF/2) were adopted, with the following amendments: (i) to consider documents NERC/02/INF/5, NERC/02/INF/6 and NERC/02/INF/7 as “Items for Discussion”; and (ii) to present the report of the NGOs/CSOs Consultation for the Near East under “Other Matters”.
II. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Preparations for the World Food Summit: five years later - Regional Dimensions
8. The Meeting welcomed with appreciation the initiative taken by FAO Director-General to convene the World Food Summit: five years later (WFS:fyl), which will be held in Rome from 10 to 13 June 2002, and commended FAO's diligent efforts to build on the success of the 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) to further promote global commitment to eliminate hunger and malnutrition and to achieving sustainable food security for all people.
9. The Meeting reviewed Document NERC/02/3 "Preparations for the World Food Summit: Five Years Later - Regional Dimensions" and recognized FAO's continued efforts in spearheading WFS follow-up actions to support the implementation of the Summit's seven commitments.
10. The Meeting noted that the estimated average annual reduction of six million in the number of undernourished people in the world, which was achieved during much of the 1990s, was far below the average rate of 20 million per year required to reach the 2015 target set by the 1996 Summit. The WFS Plan of Action requested that Governments undertake, by 2006, a major broad-based progress assessment of the implementation of the WFS Plan of Action. The Meeting agreed with FAO's assessment that it would be crucial that the policy makers of the world take stock of the situation as soon as possible, so as to ensure implementation of the necessary measures to step up the pace of change. The holding of the WFS:fyl in June 2002 would make it possible to mobilize the necessary political will relating to effective and timely implementation of the adopted plans of actions for the realization of the declared goals for eliminating hunger. It will also ensure that the required decisions are taken by world leaders in a position to influence policy for all sectors of the economy and all segments of society. In order to ensure the success of the WFS:fyl, the Meeting noted that it would be beneficial to the debates if FAO conducted a detailed assessment of the main reasons why the targets set up by the WFS Plan of Action were not achieved, as well as an analysis of the main lessons learned and to incorporate such analyses in the background documents of the WFS:fyl.
11. The Meeting commended the FAO Regional Office for organizing a "Regional Consultation on the World Food Summit: five years later for the Near East and North Africa", which was held on October 17-18, 2001 in Cairo, Egypt. Representatives of 36 NGOs and CSOs from 12 countries of the Region participated in this Consultation.
12. The Meeting noted with satisfaction FAO’s continuous efforts to actively support the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) in implementing Objective 7.4 of the Plan of Action on the right to adequate food. The Meeting noted the need to promote the effective implementation of the “Right to Food” and the prevention of using food as a weapon during conflicts.
13. The Meeting noted with appreciation that FAO's Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) has been launched in nine low-income food deficit countries (LIFDCs) in the Region, six of which have already been operational by January 2002, two have been successfully completed (Djibouti and Mauritania), four are underway (Egypt, Sudan, Syria and Yemen) and three are in preparation stage. The SPFS is an effective means of follow up to the goals of WFS Plan of Action and offers great opportunities for joint South-South Co-operation and action at the country level. FAO’s continued positive response to all government requests to take part in the SPFS was also greatly appreciated.
14. The Meeting welcomed the initiative taken by FAO to play a proactive role in setting up Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) at national level (Yemen), in addition to two such projects which are in the formulation stage (Syria and Turkey). The Meeting also noted with appreciation that FAO initiated and supported training programmes on Food Security Information and Early Warning System (FSIEWS) during the year 2000 and 2001 and is preparing a regional state of Food Insecurity for publication.
15. The Meeting commended the FAO Regional Office for arranging successful TeleFood events such as the two-hour live broadcast by the Arab News Network and the three-hour celebrity live show via satellite in Bahrain during the year 2000. TeleFood funded projects in the Near East are currently being implemented in Djibouti, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey and Yemen.

16. The Meeting noted with satisfaction the valuable input provided by FAO in the preparation of the "Draft Strategies for National Agricultural Development - Horizon 2010" and welcomed FAO's support and guidance in holding the one-day WFS follow-up workshops in Member Countries (Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, UAE and Yemen) during the period 2000-2001. These National Workshops, organized by respective Governments, were well attended by relevant Government Officials, Parliamentary Commissions, actors of civil society, private sector, non-governmental organizations and development partners.

17. The Meeting also appreciated FAO's support in the formulation of Regional Strategies for Agricultural Development and Food Security (RSADFS). These strategies have been prepared for the following Regional/Sub-regional economic groupings relevant to Member Countries of the Near East: Arab Maghreb Union (AMU); Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC); Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU); Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO); Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD); Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The Meeting recognized that the formulated Regional Strategies highlighted the common problems facing agriculture and food security, and the mutual benefits to be gained from sharing policy options and strategic thrusts for co-operative efforts among concerned economic groupings.

18. The Meeting endorsed the establishment of an “International Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty”, based on the call made by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany on the occasion of World Food Day 2001 in Rome, and recognized that this Alliance would represent a tangible expression of political will for the fight against hunger and poverty.

19. The Meeting noted with satisfaction FAO efforts in setting up a Trust Fund for Food Security and Safety. The Meeting further invited all Member Countries (and development partners) to provide voluntary contributions. The Meeting urged that more pledges should be made, on top of the already received US$100 million, to reach the declared Fund target of US$500 million.

20. The Meeting called upon Member States to:
- ensure an effective participation of national delegations at the highest possible political level at the WFS:fyl to be held in Rome (10-13 June, 2002) to guarantee reaching the desired commitments for enhancing efforts to combat food insecurity in the world;
- provide support to the setting up of Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) and Food Security Information and Early Warning System (FSIEWS) at the national level, and urge all interested parties to provide needed resources to enable the conduct of initial assessments and to prepare appropriate plans for strengthening national FIVIMS/FSIEWS with coordinated donor support; and
- enhance the exchange of expertise and information on the SPFS among member countries.
21. The Meeting requested FAO to:
- formulate specific and clear operational modality for effecting the “International Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty”, based on the call made by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany on the occasion of World Food Day 2001 in Rome, and submit the proposed modality to Member Countries for consideration and approval.
- assist Member States in approaching donors and international organizations for supporting their national efforts towards implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action; and
- respond positively to government requests to take part in the SPFS and to enhance technical collaboration between countries of the Region through the South-South Cooperation initiative.

Trade Liberalization Policies, Intra-Regional Trade and Opportunities for Sustainable Agricultural Development
22. The Meeting considered Document NERC/02/5 “Trade Liberalization Policies, Intra-Regional Trade and Opportunities for Sustainable Agricultural Development” and deliberated at length on various trade and sustainability issues of agriculture in the Region. It was noted that most countries of the Region had continued to liberalize their agriculture sectors including elimination or reduction of input subsidies, removal or minimization of guaranteed producer prices, reduction in the number of subsidized commodities and liberalization of the exchange rate and the trade regime. The Meeting noted that many Near East countries continue to provide substantial support to their agriculture sectors and it recognized the potential role of targeted agricultural subsidies, within the scope and limits of the existing Agreement, in enhancing rural incomes and food security, particularly in remote and underdeveloped areas, provided that such subsidies do not lead to inefficient allocation and utilization of scarce natural resources.
23. The Meeting expressed concern that agricultural imports continued to outweigh exports in the Region and most countries remained net food importers. During 1990-1999, agricultural imports increased by 17 percent while agricultural exports increased by 30 percent. However the Meeting expressed satisfaction that some countries of the Region have good export potential in high value crops (fruits and vegetables) and in livestock and fish products, and noted that a number of countries have made noticeable progress in reducing their dependency on food imports.
24. The Meeting also expressed concern that the total intra-regional agricultural exports for the Near East barely reached 10 percent of total agricultural exports. The commodity pattern of intra-regional trade is centered on few items like live animals and fish that are also concentrated among few partners. The Meeting noted that, although some of the trading agreements in the Region proved useful in facilitating promotion of intra-regional trade, yet the Meeting recognized the existence of a wide scope for improvement. Further efforts need to be intensified to design and implement well defined regional or sub-regional programmes of cooperation to face the major constraints and challenges that continue to restrict intra-regional trade such as: lack of diversity in agricultural products, non-tariff barriers, the choice of integration approach, failure of outward-orientation, lack of enabling trading environment particularly support services and divergent political and economic interests.
25. The Meeting noted that out of the 29 countries of the Region, 16 are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), six are observers and the remaining are applying for membership. WTO Member Countries have already reduced tariff substantially and thus fulfill reduction commitments. The level of Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS) for agriculture is either negative or very low. The information on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) in countries of the Region is scanty and often not available. The Meeting further noted that countries of the Region have not yet developed or enacted laws governing Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The institutional support to address issues related to the WTO and to the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (UR/AoA) is weak or perhaps non-existent in the Region.
26. The Meeting recognized that water use issues need to be increasingly integrated into the analysis of agriculture and trade, in view of the known scarcity of water resources in most countries of the Region. The water issue relates to the multilateral trade reforms in several important aspects, including: First, scarcity of water means increasing dependence on the international market for supply of basic food and other agricultural commodities. Therefore, increases in world market prices for agriculture products, as a result of multilateral trade liberalization or otherwise, may imply increased drain on water resources. Second, most countries in the Region still provide heavy subsidies, both operational and investment, to irrigation water. Under the existing Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (UR/AoA) requirements, almost all subsidies to capital investment in irrigation could be exempted from the reduction commitment under Article 6.2 of the Agreement. Third, given the high dependency on rainfed agriculture with high variability in rainfall, countries of the Near East are subjected to heavy fluctuations in food production. Cereal production, in particular, remains highly variable in the Region. The Meeting expressed concern that the implementation of the UR/AoA might have negative impact on Low Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs) and therefore urged for full implementation of the relevant Marrakech Decision on Net Food Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs).

27. The Meeting recognized a number of shortcomings in implementing the UR/AoA: a) inequity in the way the Agreement was designed and applied; b) lack of recognition of the pressing need to increase food production in the Region; c) no exemptions were envisaged to meet food security objectives; d) impossibility of correcting anomalies in the tariff structure, especially for staple food crops; e) lack of recognition of the social impact of escalating imports; and f) non-implementation of the Marrakech Decision. The Meeting felt the need to bring about changes in the UR/AoA to provide enhanced Special and Differential Treatment (S&D) measures in the Agreement. This would enable Member Countries to better address their food security and developmental concerns. The Meeting recognized that countries of the Region ought to consider corrections of these shortcomings in their future negotiations, as well as examine the possibility of re-negotiating certain clauses of the UR/AoA that are deemed particularly unfavorable to developing countries, including countries of the Near East.

28. The Meeting reviewed the various recommendations proposed in Document NERC/02/5. The Meeting encouraged WTO Member Countries of the Region to request that domestic support measures should include support to low-income resource-poor farmers; measures to increase domestic production; transport costs for food deficit areas; and higher de minimis level with low or zero AMS. Market Access should include: exemption of food security crops from reduction commitments, renegotiations of low-tariff bindings related to food security crops and availability of revised Special Safeguards to all developing countries as part of the Agreement on Agriculture. The Meeting urged WTO Member Countries of the Region to develop strong institutional support to prepare for WTO negotiations and promote intra-regional trade in order to mitigate the negative effects of trade liberalization.

29. The Meeting recognized that countries of the Region should develop their agricultural strategies based on comparative advantage and improved resource use efficiency particularly in relation to irrigation water. Member Countries ought to develop TRIPS and SPS rules and regulations to address WTO issues.

30. The Meeting noted that the reduction of post-harvest losses is one of the basic requirements in improving food security and enhancing the development of the agro-processing industry, particularly for promoting agricultural exports in many Near East Countries. In view of the inherent linkage between adequate post-harvest techniques and a dynamic agro-processing industry, the Meeting underlined the complementarity between the relevant programmes of FAO and UNIDO in post-harvest technology and agro-processing. The Meeting stressed that inadequacy in updating post-harvest and agro-processing technologies as well as in upgrading quality standards, could make the agricultural sectors in many countries of the Region even less competitive in the international markets.

31. The Meeting called upon Member States to:

- prepare WTO related pre-negotiations in a meticulous manner in order to have specific and clear objectives for the negotiating teams. Near East countries are encouraged to have collective consultation and bargaining stand before and during negotiations in order to have a strong voice concerning agricultural agreements and commitments;

- assess the competitiveness of various agricultural products as a basis for formulating adequate agricultural export promotion strategies, including attempts to internalize externalities and environmental impacts;

- develop measures of control against non-indigenous species to protect their environment and indigenous species;

- diversify their export system and aim at re-structuring certain agricultural enterprises into commercially run business corporations;

- develop national rules and regulations related to TRIPS and SPS in order to address WTO requirements based on scientific information, thus avoiding arbitrage;

- improve the efficiency of resource use, especially irrigation water, as one of the most limiting factors for increased productivity;

- assess the impacts of recent changes in global political and economic environments, including WTO agreements, on the welfare of small farmers in both rainfed and irrigated areas, with particular emphasis on the availability of purchased farm inputs;

- study the promotion of intra-regional trade and the best ways to reap the benefits of comparative advantage within the Region;

- strengthen the laboratory facilities of food safety for emerging threats of hazards and contamination of chemical, microbial or physical origin;

- establish and support public information/education centers for extension in promoting food practices that augment the present food safety and control measures as well as environmental concerns in the public image;

- strengthen national analytical capacity to estimate AMS for agriculture, based on reliable and scientific data;

- ensure that the country permanent representative at WTO headquarters is at the level of Ambassador, who is adequately supported by a well trained staff in international trade and agricultural policy matters;

- harmonize SPS and Technical Barriers and Trade (TBT) standards and coordinate positions within the WTO; and

- study the possibility of setting up regional/sub-regional stabilization mechanisms and establishing and strengthening regional trade compensatory mechanisms.

32. The Meeting requested FAO to:

- continue assisting countries in preparing for multilateral trade negotiations in agriculture, fisheries and forestry inter alia through studies, analysis and enhancing national capacities in the area of agricultural policy analysis related to international trade and WTO requirements, with emphasis on issues pertaining to the current round of negotiations;

- assist Member Countries to analyze recent changes in the global economic and trade environments and to assess the implications of globalization on the agricultural sectors in the Region, through holding of regional/sub-regional workshops or expert meetings;

- assist in strengthening national capacities to meet Codex requirements and WTO’s Agreements on the SPS and TRIPS, including food quality and safety;

- continue providing assistance in developing agricultural sector strategies based on comparative advantage and efficient resource allocation, taking into consideration environmental and gender aspects in order to reap the benefits of trade liberalization and to cope with its negative impact;

- support efforts for enhancing the country food supply capacity by reducing small farmer risk in rainfed areas and re-orienting landuse in irrigated lands;

- participate in and encourage regional/sub-regional group actions to confront environmental threats (such as desertification, pollution and transboundary plant pests and animal diseases) and other similar threats that cut across national borders;

- assist in organizing a Regional Expert Consultation on capacity building in the area of post-harvest technology, food processing, agro-industries, food safety and standards, in the context of export markets’ requirements, in collaboration with UNIDO and other relevant international and regional agencies and institutions;

- continue to support the Near East and North Africa Regional Network for Agricultural Policies (NENARNAP) and the Agricultural Food Marketing Association for the Near East and North Africa (AFMANENA) through active participation in their meetings and activities and the exchange of experiences and information concerning the formulation and implementation of national strategies for agricultural development and the development of effective marketing systems and intra-regional agricultural trade arrangements; and

- re-establish the post of Statistician in the Regional Office to assist Member Countries in enhancing their capacity in data collection and statistical analysis, in line with emerging needs for access to accurate and updated statistical data to facilitate adequate planning and operational purposes.

International Year of Mountains (IYM), 2002

1. The Meeting examined the Document NERC/02/7 “International Year of Mountains (IYM), 2002” and appreciated the role of FAO in taking a number of measures to prepare and coordinate observance of IYM, 2002. The Meeting noted the activities such as creation of IYM website for communication, mobilizing country actions and resources, collaboration of IYM global events and the linkage developed between the International year of Ecotoursim (IYE) and IYM. However, the Meeting urged FAO to involve the countries referred to in the Document in the planning process for formulating long-term sustainable development strategies for the mountains, as well as in the activities for the observance of IYM, 2002. The Meeting recognized that Morocco and Tunisia have already developed mountain-focused programmes and that Yemen has a nationwide project on watershed management and forestry.
2. The Meeting emphasized that mountains play a notable role in many countries of the Near East as a source of water, biodiversity, tourist areas and main source of living to the concerned local inhabitants. The Meeting underlined the importance of an integrated strategy for the sustainable development of mountain regions with active participation of the local communities.
3. The Meeting called upon Member States, particularly those with important mountain regions, to formulate and implement integrated strategies for mountain management, with the support and collaboration of FAO, other international agencies (such as UNEP) and the donor community.
4. The Meeting requested FAO to convene, as early as feasible, an Expert Consultation on the Long-Term and Sustainable Development of the Mountain Regions.

Long-Term Plans for Drought Mitigation and Management in the Near East
5. The Meeting considered Document NERC/02/4 “Long-term Plans for Drought Mitigation and Management in the Near East”. The Meeting reviewed the drought situation in the Region and took note of the national policies and programmes for enhancing food production and food security during and after drought. The Meeting noted that many countries of the Region had experienced recurrent droughts during last two decades. The countries most affected were Afghanistan, Algeria, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and the Sudan.
6. The Meeting took note that food production in the Region had been subject to continuous fluctuations, but the prevailing trend indicated that food consumption had been rising at much higher rates than food production. The increasing gap between food consumption and production was aggravated by drought, which at times had caused total crop failures. The history of affected countries showed that only very few countries had options to utilize assistance during drought, and these were mainly the ones which had a reasonable area under irrigation since this was not affected by drought. A related matter of concern is that the food imports bill for the majority of countries have been growing.
7. The Meeting stressed the importance to ascertain three basic positions vis-à-vis drought. First, drought should be taken as an inevitable recurrence of a natural phenomenon, being a variation in the pattern of normal rainfall. Second, drought should not be treated like an outbreak of an epidemic disease, but rather like a condition that people have to learn how to cope with. Third, it would not be enough to anticipate the coming of drought, but also the extent to which the country would be prepared for such a difficult occasion, and to be ready with a package of measures to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought.
8. The Meeting, aware of the devastating impact of prolonged drought, which hit this Region for three years, realized that the present episode could be further aggravated during future drought waves if drought-prone countries do not embark immediately on sustainable programmes to modernize their agricultural production systems. Recalling some of the past catastrophic droughts, the Meeting noted the extent to which national and international efforts contributed to assist the victims of drought.
9. The Meeting noted that IFAD-financed projects, at the national and regional levels, were being implemented with full collaboration of the two leading research centers for arid and semi arid lands: ICARDA and ACSAD. The latter is the Regional Focal Point for the CCD in the Arab Region. Through a tri-partite collaboration between IFAD, ICARDA, ACSAD and the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), low-input and simple techniques had been introduced at the farm level for better soil and water conservation, higher integration of crop-livestock and environmentally friendly farming systems.
10. The Meeting noted with appreciation FAO's efforts against drought and desertification, particularly in relation to the participation in the preparation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought (UNCDD) and the series of special FAO programmes to follow up on the recommendations of the Convention. The Meeting appreciated in particular the assistance provided by the Regional Office on the issue of Drought Mitigation and Preparedness Planning including an "FAO-ICARDA-EU Expert Consultation and Workshop on Drought Mitigation in the Near East and the Mediterranean" held in May 2000; a nucleus of a ’Regional Data Base’ on Drought Mitigation studies; a Drought Information Network (November 2001); assistance to the Governments in developing their National Action Programmes for Drought Mitigation, through TCP projects (Iran and Pakistan); “Risk Management’ of the recurrent drought phenomenon; and a Regional Consultation on Investment in Land and Water in the Near East (October 2001, Amman, Jordan), where, among other major issues, those relating to “Long Term Drought Management” were highlighted.

11. The Meeting recognized the proposed framework for establishing sustainable systems for drought mitigation measures based on the three principles: a) the inseparable link between drought and desertification; b) the fragility and limited ecological resilience and its permeating influence on peoples’ livelihood and stability; and c) the adopted management methods should have specifications compatible with the natural and man-made modifications into the life style of these fragile ecosystems. The Meeting took note of the elaborated drought mitigation action programme, which comprised the following components: a) drought resilience policies; b) monitoring and early warning systems; c) drought contingency planning; d) drought mitigation measures; e) relief measures; and f) rehabilitation measures.

12. The Meeting called upon Member States to
- take the necessary steps for formulating "National Action Programmes for Drought Mitigation”, within the framework of overall development programmes for communities in drought-prone areas;

- create the required institutional set-up for implementing, coordinating and monitoring the execution of national programmes for Drought Mitigation and attach this set-up to the highest governmental level possible;

- provide the necessary resources to establish a "Drought Watch and Early Warning System" for timely alert and preparedness at country level;

- adopt a “participatory approach” that closely involves community sectors at grass-root levels, including NGOs, women and youth, in formulation/implementation of programmes and in launching awareness and education campaigns to sensitize all stakeholders to drought impacts and identification of the role of each sector in the relief and rehabilitation activities;

- provide facilities and enact required legislation and policies to allow initiating of relevant enabling mechanisms that could be entrusted with drought mitigation measures to be implemented at village, district, provincial and national levels;

- establish adequate liaison with regional and international organizations, such as UNCCD, UNSO, UNEP, ICARDA, ACSAD and other interested organizations for the follow-up of drought mitigation activities at regional and global levels;

- accord due attention and consideration to the socio-economic dimension of drought within the framework of the "Preparedness and Mitigation Plans", which should be comprehensive and integrated to address rehabilitation and development, including rangeland, livestock, forestry and crop production;

- adopt the improvement of water demand management and efficiency of use as the basis for drought mitigation, and review the current use of natural resources to better cope with drought;

- establish monitoring stations on wadis and dig monitoring wells to assess the short- and long-term fluctuations in available surface and groundwater resources; and construct small dams for water-harvesting whenever socially, economically and environmentally feasible in order to mitigate the negative effects of drought;

- increase investment in agricultural research including research to improve water use efficiency, crop production under water shortage conditions, development of drought and salt tolerant varieties and the identification, classification and registration of indigenous drought resistant crop species and landraces;

- endorse the recommendation by the Second Session of the Agriculture, Land and Water Use Commission (ALAWUC) for the Near East (5-7 March 2002), in relation to the conservation and use of germplasms in the Region;

- endorse the recommendation by the Second Session of the ALAWUC in relation to considering the possibility of establishing a Regional Center for Drought Mitigation and Management, in a country of comparative advantage. If decided, the Islamic Republic of Iran offered to host such Center; and

- support and strengthen the established Regional Network on Drought Management for the Near East and North Africa and promote regional cooperation and exchange of experiences among Member Countries.

13. The Meeting requested FAO to:

- provide technical assistance and advisory support to Member Countries in formulating and developing their long-term Action Programmes for Drought Mitigation;

- examine the feasibility of establishing a regional drought monitoring and early warning system for assisting Member States to cope with drought, with FAO as the lead agency and in collaboration with relevant international and regional organizations, and explore possibilities of funding with potential donor agencies,;

- assist Member States in the formulation of a Regional Project on Drought Mitigation for submission to interested donors; and

- support the operation and sustainability of the recently launched Regional Network on Drought Management for the Near East and North Africa.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Risk Assessment: Implications for the Near East

14. The Meeting reviewed the Document NERC/02/5, “Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Risk Assessment: Implications for the Near East”. The Meeting expressed its concern that all countries that have imported cattle, meat or bone meal from Western Europe since 1980, especially from the UK, could be considered at risk. It also expressed its concern about the spread of FMD in many countries of the Region and recognized the need for these countries to implement FMD control programmes.

15. The Meeting called upon Member States, particularly those at risk of BSE, to implement effective surveillance for BSE and to apply controls on animal feed and meat industries and imports, as per recommended Office International des Epizooties (OIE) standards.

16. The Meeting requested FAO to:

- continue supporting BSE diagnostic, prevention and risk assessment capacity in Member States through national or regional Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP);

- assist Member States in preparing and implementing an FMD control programme and to examine the possibility of initiating a Regional Project for that purpose, in collaboration with the Animal Health Commission for the Near East and North Africa (AHCNENA) and with other Member States.

The Tehran Process for Low Forest Cover Countries

17. The Meeting considered Document NERC/02/6 “The Tehran Process for Low Forest Cover Countries”. The Meeting recognized the importance and role of forest and tree resources in most countries of the Region, especially relating to the conservation of the resource base for food production and food security.

18. The Meeting expressed its full support of the actions implemented in response to the Tehran Declaration of 1999, particularly action plans and programmes at national and regional levels for sustainable management, conservation and development of the forest and tree resources in the Region. The Meeting commended the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for all its efforts in supporting and promoting the Tehran Process. The Meeting recognized the need for Member States, FAO, UNEP and other interested international and regional organizations, to support the Tehran Process and the implementation of its programmes.

19. The Meeting called upon Member States to endorse the Tehran Process and to support its Secretariat through the provision of expertise and financial support, particularly with regard to the formulation of National Forest Programmes, in view of the importance of the Process to the Member Countries.

20. The Meeting requested FAO to support the Tehran Process through a Regional Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) to initiate National Forest Programmes.

Report of the Agriculture, Land and Water Use Commission (ALAWUC) for the Near East

21. The Meeting reviewed the Report of the Agriculture, Land and Water Use Commission for the Near East (ALAWUC), which met from 5 to 7 March 2002 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Following thorough examination and discussion, the Meeting adopted the Report, after introducing some amendments.

III. OTHER MATTERS

Biotechnology for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Near East Region:

22. The Meeting took note of the Document NERC/02/INF/8 “Biotechnology for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Near East Region”. The note revealed that biotechnology could support solving many of the constraints that limit crop, livestock, forestry and fisheries production in the Region. However, the document suggests that national programmes need to ensure that all sectors, including resource-poor rural population in marginal areas, where productivity increases, are difficult to achieve, should benefit from biotechnology.

NGO/CSO Consultation for the Near East

23. In line with the WFS Plan of Action, calling for “actively encourage a greater role for civil society organizations in addressing food security”, a Regional Consultation for several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) was convened from 6 to 7 March 2002 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, parallel to the Regional Conference. The Report of this Consultation was presented to the Meeting, which took note of this Report and emphasized the important role of NGOs and CSOs as essential partners and key actors in enhancing the participatory approach for sustainable agricultural development in the Region.

IV. CONCLUDING ITEMS

Adoption of the Report of the Senior Officers Meeting

1. The Meeting adopted the report after introducing some amendments.

Closure of the Senior Officers Meeting

2. The Meeting was declared closed at 17.30 hours, on Monday, 11 March 2002.

Known as the United Arab Republic from 01/03/1958 to 28/09/1961.

² Known as the United Arab Republic until 02/09/1971.