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7th Session of the IFAP Mediterranean Committee, Alger

Farmers from Mediterranean Region have agreed

on common goals: 10 years already!

Paris, 5 February 2003 – After a thorough review of the last 10 years of work, during the 7th Session of the IFAP Mediterranean Committee held in Algiers on February 4th, farmers from IFAP adopted a final declaration in order to pursue their common goals together. They agreed on the reinforcement of exchanges between national organisations in the Region, cooperation between both coast of the Mediterranean Basin for capacity building and more active participation on the part of its socio-economic stakeholder in the Barcelona Process (Euro-Mediterrenean partnership). Farmers had underlined the work accomplished by the Committee since its creation. They celebrated the open dialogue between the different countries as well as the stability achieved around the Basin.

The IFAP Mediterranean Committee was honored by the presence of Mr.Ali Benflis, Prime Minister of Algeria, escorted by 23 government representatives. «The remarkable participation of the Algerian government showed its interest in the work of the Committee, in IFAP itself and in agricultural development», noted IFAP Secretary General, Mr. David King, « in his address, the Prime Minister showed a very good understanding of the common problems faced by the Mediterranean Farmers.» Mr. King and the Committee also met, the day before with the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Said Barkat, who re-iterated his strong support for the IFAP Mediterranean Committee’s activities.

Hosted by the Algerian National Chamber of Agriculture, the 7th Session of the Committee resulted in the election of a new Chairman, this time from the Southern Region of the Mediterranean, M. Mohamed Bouhadjar (Algeria). Also elected were 4 vice-Chairmen from Cyprus, France, Italy and Tunisia. Finally, the Committee’s members paid tribute to the contribution of Mr. Giuseppe Avolio (Italy), former chairman and founding father of the Committee.

Note : Final Declaration of the IFAP Mediterranean Committee available.

IFAP Mediterranean Committee: Created in the 90s, the IFAP Mediterranean Committee has advocated peace and stability in the region and the strengthening of regional integration between the countries of Southern Europe, North Africa and Middle East. The Committee particularly supports an integrated approach to Mediterranean agriculture aimed at sustainable development and the establishment of a coherent policy. The first meeting, held in Cairo, April 1993, elaborated the general program.

Member Countries: Algeria, Cyprus, Egypte, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Tunisia and Turkey.

Julie Emond

Communications Coordinator

E-mail: julie.emond@ifap.org

Phone:+33 1 45 26 05 53 Fax: +33 1 48 74 72 12

IFAP is the world farmers’ organisation representing over 500 million farm families grouped in 100 national organisations in 70 countries.

It is a global network in which farmers from industrialised and developing countries exchange concerns and set common priorities.

IFAP advocates farmers’ interests at the international level since 1946 and has General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.