Baghdad hosts 36th Regional Ministerial Conference for the Near East and North Africa Countries in February 2022

Ambassador Safiya Al-Suhail, Iraq’s delegate to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, announced that Baghdad will host the 36^th Regional Conference for the Near East and North Africa of the Organization (FAO) in February 2022 at the level of agriculture ministers of member states, in the presence of senior officials of the International Organization and United Nations experts.

The approval to hold the meeting in Baghdad is a clear indication of Baghdad’s return to its normal role by hosting international meetings at a high ministerial level and with the presence and participation of countries of the Near East and North Africa region.

The United Nations has confirmed its approval of Iraq’s request, represented by its delegates to the Organization (FAO), to officially host the conference.

The delegation of Iraq was officially notified, and this was announced at the opening of the main session of the regional dialogue of the concerned parties, which met today with a preparatory dialogue conference entitled; “Recovery and Resumption of Operation towards the 36^th Session of the Regional Conference for the Near East” which was virtually held today led by Iraq. The opening session was chaired by the technical Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Iraq, Dr. Mithaq Abdul Hussein.

Mrs. Al Suhail, presented the speech of the Near East Group to the FAO at the beginning of the opening session, expressing her gratitude for the support of the organization and its fellow delegates of the member states for their support to chose Iraq; Baghdad the capital, to host the high-level regional meeting and for trusting Iraq to host this important conference. Moreover, Iraq is keen starting from now to receive the tasks entrusted to it to ensure holding of an effective and ambitious conference to achieve sustainable development goals and provide better food and agriculture systems.

Mrs. Suhail stressed the group states’ aspiration for more cooperation to create new mechanisms for more effective work to achieve the desired goals.