Results of the quartet meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan
The Ministers of Agriculture in Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon stressed the need to form a working group to create partnerships between the ministries of agriculture in the four countries and international organizations to establish joint regional projects to confront climate changes, achieve food security, establish a platform for exchanging statistical data, facilitate the flow of agricultural commodities and address the difficulties facing them.
In the final statement issued by the quadripartite meeting held in Damascus over two days, the ministers agreed to find a formula for cooperation, coordination and integration in the agricultural fields and related services, to achieve the best levels of coordination in the field of agriculture and food between the four countries.
The ministers indicated that the establishment of the platform will contribute to the exchange of agricultural statistical data that helps determine the quantity of products and production requirements available for circulation within the agreed agricultural calendar, legislation, plans and agricultural programs in the four countries.
The ministers stressed the need to enhance the exchange of agricultural products through establishimg private marketing companies specialized in marketing agricultural products, activating contract farming across the four countries, working to harmonize plant and veterinary quarantine systems to facilitate trade exchange.
The ministers agreed to form a joint technical coordination committee to follow up on what was agreed upon, discuss any obstacles and propose appropriate solutions, and transform the provisions of the quartet memorandum of understanding that was signed today into tangible executive measures on the ground.
The final statement presented ways to activate cooperation in the field of agricultural scientific research and plant production through the exchange of scientific and technical information and the results of scientific research, the implementation of joint research programs in the fields of agricultural, environment and climate changes facing the region. The statement also stressed the importance of combating desertification, developing and introducing technologies in the agricultural field and the agricultural practices, and cinsolidating the value chains of agricultural products.
In the field of animal production and livestock, it was agreed to cooperate in the field of veterinary quarantine, the exchange of veterinary health certificates and standardization of these certificates in the party states, the exchange of experiences in the field of animal health and veterinary medicines, the application of genetic improvement programs and embryo transfer techniques, the development of programs for breeding and caring for livestock and cooperation in the field of artificial insemination and feed quality control.
In the field of exchange of agricultural commodities and products, it was agreed to develop a plan for coordination and cooperation in the scientific and technical field and trade exchange between the four states, and to facilitate the flow of agricultural commodities among them while preserving the national interests of each country, and to consult on establishing a joint company for agricultural marketing and addressing the difficulties facing transit.
O. al-Mohammad