Minister of Agriculture: The terrorist war on Syria caused the loss of accumulated achievements
The Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Eng. Muhammad Hassan Qatana, affirmed that the exceptional circumstances that Syria has been due to the terrorist war and the unilateral coercive measures imposed on it have caused the loss of the accumulated achievements of many years of sustainable development.
Minister Qatana explained in a speech he delivered today during his participation in a virtual dialogue via Zoom program, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO, that this war caused the waste of a large part of the development gains in several sectors, and the decline of important economic indicators, such as self-sufficiency in food and basic commodities.
Qatana noted the importance of this dialogue to discuss the issue of food security in the light of the crises and climate changes that negatively affected food supplies and prices.
The minister pointed out that Syria has contributed to building the sustainable development goals through its participation in the regional consultations to define its priorities in the Arab region, and in the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, based on national motives to achieve the goals of sustainable development and implement the United Nations plan.
The Minister stated that Syria achieved, during the years before the terrorist war, good and stable growth rates and successes in several fields, including education, health, women’s empowerment and self-sufficiency, which made Syria one of the countries moving towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Qatana referred to the role of FAO in assisting and supporting countries affected by crises, wars and climate change, stressing the need to enhance investment in transforming the agricultural and food systems in these countries to become more efficient, inclusive and sustainable.
NR