Qatana asserts the need to address problems of Arab food security

BEIRUT, Jul.27, (ST)- The Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Mohammed Hassan Qatana, has asserted the importance of promoting trade and agricultural exchange and addressing all problems of Arab food security.

His remarks came  during a meeting at the Syrian Embassy in Beirut, attended by Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Abbas Haj Hasan.

He referred to 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, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

The minister in addition called for addressing all Arab food security problems, describing relations between Syria and Lebanon as “deep and distinguished”.

For his part, Haj Hasan clarified that the goal of the Arab agricultural ministerial meeting, which will be held in Beirut on Thursday, is to revitalize relations among Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq

“It is for the interest of our peoples to reach fruitful results since there are organizations such as ACSAD, that help boost agricultural work and major projects” he added.

Syria’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Kareem said: “Syria is a significant food basket…During the terrorist war it has faced, agriculture has been a strong factor in increasing the resilience and resistance for its people.”

He added that 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.’

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

Basma Qaddour