Cuba has started its participation in the 37th Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which starts today in Ecuador.
The Greater Antilles are represented at the regional event by a delegation chaired by the Minister of Agriculture Ydael Pérez, also composed of Orlando Díaz, Director of International Relations, and Carlos Fidel Martín, Director of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Trade Foreign Investment.
It also consists of Basilio Gutiérrez, Ambassador of Cuba to Ecuador, and Juan Parra, Commercial and Economic Attaché of this diplomatic mission.
The Cuban minister’s work agenda began with meetings with ministers and senior United Nations officials present at the event, including FAO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Julio A. Berdegué, at which both agencies confirmed the validity of bilateral cooperation , described as historical.
They also confirmed their willingness to continue South-South and triangular cooperation.
In the first session, the preamble to the meeting of senior officials, the person in charge of the Department of Agriculture’s Directorate of International Affairs condemned the negative impact of the economic, financial and trade blockade maintained by the United States for more than 60 years against the Caribbean country that restricts its development of agri-food plans.
In addition to participating in the working sessions, the island territory team will hold bilateral meetings and exchanges with diplomatic personnel and Cuban state missions with missions in Ecuador, as well as with Cubans residing in that South American state.
Cuba is one of the 33 nations taking part in the event, scheduled until April 1st, with the aim of evaluating and proposing strategies aimed at a sustainable and efficient agri-food system.
Also attending the conference are authorities from Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Granada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico , Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and the Dominican Republic.
Teams from Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela also participate.
From Wednesday 30 March to Friday 1 April, delegates will address issues relevant to the area including food sovereignty, healthy eating, family farming and the impact of climate change on the sector.
(Taken from Latin Press)