Agriculture Minister calls for addressing food security problems in the region

Beirut, SANA- Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Mohammed Hassan Qatana, stressed the importance of promoting trade and agricultural exchange and addressing all problems of Arab food security.

Qatana, during a meeting at the Syrian Embassy in Beirut, attended by Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Abbas Hajj Hassan, pointed out the importance of unifying all agreements among Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq in order to enhance trade and agricultural exchange and activate it to form an Arab economic power in the region.

He called for dealing with all Arab food security problems, describing relations between Syria and Lebanon as deep and distinguished.

Hajj Hassan stressed that the aim of the Arab agricultural ministerial meeting, which will be hosted in Beirut Thursday, is to revitalize relations among Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq

“It is in the interest of our peoples that the results be fruitful, especially since there are organizations, including ACSAD, that help boost agricultural work and major projects” he added.

In turn, Syria’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Kareem said Syria is a significant food basket, adding that during the terrorist war it has faced, agriculture has been a strong factor in increasing the resilience and resistance for its people.

He added, “there are experts who can benefit from the country’s resources and abundant production to confront all obstacles that prevent from making use of it.’

Beirut will host Thursday the quartet Arab Agricultural Ministerial Meeting, that includes ministers of Agriculture in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.

English Bulletin/ Mazen Eyon