NAM talks on food security in Bali

NAM talks on food security in Bali

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, in its capacity as chairman of the
Non Aligned Movement (NAM), will host a five-day ministerial
meeting on food security in Bali beginning on Oct. 7, says
Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah.

"President Soeharto will open the meeting," he told reporters
in his office here yesterday.

He said that out of NAM's 111 countries, 30 have already
confirmed their attendance.

The minister also said that representatives from Germany, the
Netherlands, Canada and Finland will attend the Bali meeting as
guest participants.

In addition, he said, representatives from China and Croatia
will attend as observers, while Director General of the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) Jacques Diouf will arrive on Oct.
10 for the meeting.

Sjarifudin also explained that Director General of the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Klaus Lampe is also
scheduled to participate in the meeting.

The minister also cited that Indonesia will propose
apprenticeship programs which will include an exchange of farmers
and agricultural experts between participants to ensure food
security among NAM members.

President Soeharto was awarded a special medal by FAO in 1986
due to his achievement in promoting food and agricultural
development. Indonesia, formerly one of the biggest rice
importers in the world, achieved self-sufficiency in rice in
1984.

The NAM members which have confirmed participation in the Bali
meeting include Bangladesh, Benin, Colombia, Ethiopia, Gambia,
Iraq, Iran, Seychelles, North Korea, Comoros, Syria, Ghana,
Egypt, Mali, Thailand, Sierra Leone, South Africa, India,
Pakistan, Myanmar, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines,
Madagascar, Jordan, Togo, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and Saudi
Arabia.(hdj)