Mr. President,
The President of IFAD,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Meeting the generous invitation of Mr. Lennart Bage , the president of International Fund for Agricultural Development , I have the pleasure to participate in the activities of the 30th session of IFAD Governing Council which is held today under the title of “Employment and Rural Livelihood“.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep thanks and appreciation to the president of IFAD and his assistants for their kind efforts exerted to achieve IFAD objectives represented by raising the living , social and economic standards of the rural population , wishing them a continuous progresses , and hoping all the success and good luck to the participants .

Ladies and Gentlemen

We meet today in this vast institution which is considered one of the most important international institutions that contributed and is still contributing seriously to achieve better levels of social and economic development , taking into consideration that this institution has focused all its concerns on the rural population and is seeking hardly to eradicate poverty and malnutrition  which millions of people are suffering all over the world . This has been done through the development of agricultural techniques used in developing countries in particular, and the application of serious plans represented by adopting effective mechanisms which unify the efforts of governments , local communities  and international and regional agencies within the framework of preparing and implementing developmental projects capable of creating new job opportunities that provide the generous living for the rural poor through the optimal use of the available natural resources .

This institution has been able to work hardly to achieve the desired goals especially concerning developing the poorest agricultural areas, developing their natural and human resources and introducing them into the productive system . In addition , there has been an effective participation of IFAD , with the governments ,local communities and all international and regional agencies, in the implementation of successful developmental projects in many poor countries which are considered encouraging models for achieving a successful international cooperation and a social and economic stability in the target areas . This institution could indeed develop its performance and expand its activities by developing new initiatives and successful policies and methodologies in spite of the difficult financing circumstances that several international organizations face .

Ladies and Gentlemen

The agricultural sector in Syria is occupying a distinguished position within the successive National Development Plans due to its economic and social importance in the sustainable development process .The government set up a clear vision till 2020 through ambitious strategy to reduce poverty . It started with the (10th ) five –years plan (2006-2010) by trans  forming to the social market economy which aims to increase the economic growth average and job opportunities , poverty reduction and the social justice guarantee .The main phases of poverty reduction focus on increasing the didactic level of poor households and improving the social services in the most poor areas , creation of social guarantee networks , developing the financial resources of these areas , enabling the civil and local communities to activate their role in the development process . The five –years plan also focuses on the creation of job opportunities especially for the poor unemployed youth by encouraging the special initiatives, decreasing the government role , promoting competitiveness within the small and medium size companies and focusing on developing training , qualification and building of self and communal capacities.

Dear Audience,

The development process, in general and the agricultural process , in particular has become an urgent issue in the Middle East . So ,the agricultural development practices in the five –years plan should focus on the optimal and the sustainable use of natural resources to achieve the development objectives generally , guarantee food security and modernize the production means depending on agricultural scientific research development and providing training and extension for rural population .

For this reason , Syrian Arab Republic has aimed at strengthening the institutional building along with special focus on public institutions which provide main support for rural sector . As well as, it has given special attention for the role of woman in preparing and implementing ambitious development programs in the framework of economic reform program implemented at this stage , and that is in compliance with the fulfillment of the aspirations of targeted communities and focus on socio- economic enabling for rural poor.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Despite of all successes which have been achieved, agricultural sector is still need more to be done to increase agricultural production quantitatively and qualitatively  ,reduce  production costs and improve marketing process to raise economic standards for farmers .

No doubt, Syria determinately is working  on both comprehensive agricultural development and poverty  fighting  fronts , on the  one side . On the other side , extinguish the torch of conflicts and wars in the region and put an end to Israeli occupation of the Arab lands which hinders development course as a result of its practices for ugliest terrorism types in the world and its continuous violation of the simplest Man rights starting from assassinations , robbery and stealing to tree uprooting , agriculture destruction and environment spoiling before the eyes of whole world . Syria has chosen the comprehensive and just peace approach starting off that there in no safety and development in presence of occupation.

In conclusion , we would like to evaluate the fruitful and useful cooperation with the international fund for agricultural development and look forward to its deepening and support its plans and prospective for the development of needing countries all over the world .

On this occasion , I would like to thank all financing  institutions and regional and international organizations which cooperate with Syria and developing countries to achieve the targeted agricultural progress for the farmers of poor rural areas specially (WFP,FAO,AFESD , International Bank for Establishment and Construction ) .

As well as, I would like to thank the Italian Government for its help in supporting IFAD and all regional and international organizations .

Thank you