Cuba began its participation in the 37th Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which takes place from today in Ecuador.
The Greater Antilles is represented at the regional event through a delegation chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Ydael Pérez, and also made up of Orlando Díaz, Director of International Relations, and Carlos Fidel Martín, Director of International Organizations of the Ministry Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment.
It is also made up of Basilio Gutiérrez, Ambassador of Cuba in Ecuador, and Juan Parra, Commercial Economic Attaché of that diplomatic mission.
The Cuban minister’s work agenda began with meetings with ministers and senior representatives of the United Nations present at the event, including the FAO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Julio A. Berdegué, in which both authorities ratified the validity of the bilateral collaboration, described as historic.
Likewise, they ratified the will to continue South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
Also, in the initial session, preamble to the meeting of Senior Officials, the person in charge of the Directorate of International Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture, denounced the negative effects of the economic, financial and commercial blockade that the United States has maintained for more than 60 years against the Caribbean country, which limits its development of agri-food plans.
In addition to participating in the work sessions, the island territory team will hold bilateral meetings and an exchange with diplomatic personnel and Cuban state missions with representation in Ecuador, as well as with Cubans residing in this South American nation.
Cuba is one of the 33 nations participating in the event, scheduled until April 1, with the purpose of evaluating and proposing policies aimed at a sustainable and efficient agri-food system.
The Conference is also attended by authorities from Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Granada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico , Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and the Dominican Republic.
Teams from Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela also participate.
From Wednesday March 30 to Friday April 1, delegates will address issues of relevance to the area in terms of food sovereignty, healthy nutrition, family farming and the effects of climate change on the sector, among others.
