The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) held a weeklong meeting of its highest decision-making body, the FAO Council, in Rome. During the most prominent event of the 37th session of the FAO Conference, delegation leaders met Pope Benedict XVI. The Hungarian delegation was lead by Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas, who following the papal audience told reporters: the fact that the Pope was kind enough to receive us following the FAO Conference is an important, symbolic and worthy end to the Hungarian Presidency of the Union. Meeting His Holiness touches one's soul and provides strength to persevere with the tasks ahead. It is impressive to see how intensively the Pope is concerned with the world's food supply and the plight of the starving -- continued the Hungarian Minister.

One of the FAO's most important goals is to help the world's hungry, and the Pope is most concerned with the plight of the downtrodden, the needy and the poor. It is for precisely this reason that it has become a tradition that the head of the church receives the delegation leaders of the FAO Conference every two years and also sends an official Papal message to the participants of the meeting.

At this year's audience, the Pope drew Ministers' attention to the fact that access to food is a basic human right, and expressed his appreciation regarding the activities of the FAO in searching for solutions for the world's food supply problems. During the weeklong conference, the FAO chose a new Director-General to replace Jacques Diouf, who had been head of the organisation since 1994. The most support was given to the candidate who was favourite to win, José Graziano De Silva from Brazil, who had become well known for launching a successful program against hunger in his own country.

After the results were announced, Sándor Fazekas wished the newly appointed Director-General luck in the name of the Hungarian Presidency, and offered the FAO the support of the EU member nations towards the successful fulfilment of its mission. During the session, the Hungarian Minister for Rural Development also held private talks with the new Director-General. During the friendly meeting, José Graziano Da Silva accepted Sándor Fazekas's invitation and will be visiting Hungary in October. The visit will be an opportunity for the new Director-General to learn more about the state of the Hungarian agricultural sector and the FAO Service Centre in Budapest. The Hungarian Government hopes that the appointment of the new Director-General will do much to further the expedient operation, expansion and development of the centre.

Sándor Fazekas was also received by the outgoing Director-General, Jacques Diouf, who expressed his appreciation for the support Hungary had provided to the FAO and especially stressed the Hungarian role played in setting up the FAO's offices and service centre in Budapest. Sándor Fazekas thanked the outgoing Director-General for his many years of dedicated work and informed him of the fact that the Hungarian Government had decided to continue the FAO Scholarship Programme.

At the meeting, the FAO budget for the upcoming two years was also approved. The European Union, and especially the Hungarian delegation in representation of the current Presidency, played a decisive role in bringing about a consensus on this issue. The central topic of the weeklong meeting included a review of the world's food supply and discussions on how the role of women in agricultural enterprises may be enhanced. According to the Hungarian Minister for Rural Development, ageing European agriculture also needs women and young farmers to play a more significant role.

(kormany.hu)