Yerevan hosts FAO Regional ConferenceMay 13, 2010 - 12:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Regional Conference for Europe and Central Asia kicked off in Marriott hotel, Yerevan, Armenia, on May 13. The conference is conducted in English, French, Russian and Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation provided. High-ranking officials from 41 FAO member countries, EU (Member Organization), observers from EU Council, UN and Holy See of Vatican are participating. In his opening remarks, Minister for Agriculture of Armenia Gerasim Alaverdyan said: “This conference is important for implementation of regional programs. It will also focus on urgent issues, including usage of water resources, animal breeding, rural areas development and climate changes.” For his part, FAO Director-General, Mr. Jacques Diouf regretted that starvation is still a pressing problem, due to reduction of investments and rise in food prices. “The number of people starving has increased by 105 million, reaching 1 billion,” he said. Mr. Diouf also mentioned that that the economic crises resulted in slump of agriculture, specifically in Central and Eastern Europe. “The countries come across huge problems, including reduction of money transfers and private sector financing,” he said, adding that the best way to reduce poverty is to invest in agriculture. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |