LOC10:16
07:16 GMT
By Mahdi Nemr (with photo)
ROME, July 15 (KUNA) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO) honored Kuwait, along with another 37 member countries, for
meeting the anti-hunger targets for 2015, reflecting the Gulf state's leading
food security strategy.
The 38 countries have met targets in the fight against hunger, chalking up
successes ahead of the deadline set by the UN as part of the eight Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). They have been honored at a special ceremony on the
sidelines of the just-ended week-long 38th FAO Conference, Kuwait permanent
delegate to the UN organizations in Rome Faisal Al-Hasawi told KUNA on Sunday.
"The honoring of Kuwait came in recognition by FAO of the country's
outstanding contributions to famine relief efforts of UN agencies worldwide,"
he said.
"Kuwait, under wise instructions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was able to meet the first MDG - relating to the
efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, three years ahead of time.
FAO recognized Kuwait a positive role model for other countries of the world,"
Al-Hasawi affirmed.
"This achievement is the fruit of concerted interagency cooperation by the
government of Kuwait, notably the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kuwait Fund for
Arab Economic Development (KFAED), and the Public Authority for Agriculture
and Fish Resources (PAAFR)," he went on.
"The letter of intent signed by Kuwait and FAO during the recent conference
paves the way for steps to build a closer partnership and the launching of a
FAO office in Kuwait," he noted.
Al-Hasawi affirmed that Kuwait has made headway in achieving comprehensive
and sustainable socio-economic development since its independence and has
contributed to development on the regional and international scales.
He noted that Kuwait has had a strong presence in the activities of the FAO
Conference, commending the attendance of PAAFR Director General Eng. Jassem
Al-Bader as head of the Kuwaiti delegation.
He added that Kuwait's role in the FAO activities will be further enhanced
next September when the country chairs the Near Eastern group of states. (end)
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