NEW FAO REPRESENTATIVE FOR AZERBAIJAN PRESENTS HIS CREDENTIALS
Minister Ismat Abbasov warmly congratulated Abdellatif Tabet, who is also FAO’s representative for Turkey, on his new appointment and said he welcomes the decision of the world-famous FAO to accept an offer of the Azerbaijani Government to accredit him to the country.
“This would open a new page in the history of Azerbaijan-FAO relations, existing for more than ten years”, he added.
Ismat Abbasov also spoke of the ongoing reforms and work done in the agricultural sector of Azerbaijan, saying some 99,8% of the agricultural producion falls to private sector.
The Minister expressed his regret having only four joint projects implemented in Azerbaijan for last ten years, while in Georgia and Armenia - 26 and 29, respectively.
“There is no FAO’s representative office in Azerbaijan. Its opening would be expedient”, Ismat Abbasov emphasized.
“We have three projects worked out under the FAO’s Technical Assistance Program, but FAO needs donors to sponsor them”, he said.
The Minister also offered to implement three projects in 2006: “Raising of competitiveness capacity of agricultural produce in Azerbaijan”, “Safety of Produce” and “Development of silkworm breeding in Azerbaijan”.
Taking the floor, Abdellatif Tabet expressed his gratitude to Ismat Abbasov for the warm welcome.
He said FAO plans to prepare long-term and short-term projects on produce safety and will help Azerbaijan to seek for donor countries.
Abdellatif Tabet also added FAO schedules to hold an investment conference in Azerbaijan to develop its agriculture.