Soeharto accepts FAO award

Soeharto accepts FAO award

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto (left) yesterday accepted an
international award from the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) for his efforts in maintaining food security.

The award, which was given as part of the FAO's 50th
anniversary, was presented yesterday by FAO Director General
Jaquez Diouf (right) at Merdeka Palace.

Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah, after
accompanying Diouf for the latter's meeting with Soeharto, told
reporters that the award was given in light of Soeharto's
contributions not only at the national level but also at the
international level.

Sjarifudin noted that Soeharto, in his capacity as chairman of
the Non-Aligned Movement from 1992 to 1995, initiated cooperation
in food production among developing countries.

"The President's efforts on South-South cooperation has
received positive responses from African and other developing
nations," he said.

Yesterday's award was the second that Soeharto has received
from the FAO. In 1985, he was presented with an honorary medal
after Indonesia managed to gain self-sufficiency in rice the
previous year. Before 1984, Indonesia was the largest rice-
importing country in the world.

Indonesia managed to maintain its self-sufficiency in rice
until 1993, when unfavorable weather and plant diseases that year
forced the country to lose its accolade and resort to imports.

Until early this year, rice imports still arrived in the
country.

But the government announced earlier this month that Indonesia
will be able to retain rice self-sufficiency this year, putting
its 1996 production at 51.16 million tons, or 2.6 percent higher
than the 49.86 million tons reached last year.

Sjarifudin said yesterday that during the meeting with Diouf,
Soeharto agreed to become a member of the board of patrons for
the World Food Summit which will be held in Rome in November
1996.

Soeharto yesterday also confirmed his attendance at the
summit, Sjarifudin said. (pwn)