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FAO endorses FSM membership

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): December 9, 2003 - The Federated States of Micronesia has been officially admitted as a full member of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Vice President Redley Killion, heading the FSM delegation to the 32^nd Session of the FAO in Rome, thanked the Organization for the endorsement of FSM's application for membership. He reaffirmed FSM's commitment to the objectives of the Organization to ensure a peaceful world, sufficient with food.

The Organization notes its specific priority is, "encouraging sustainable agriculture and rural development, a long-term strategy for increasing food production and food security while conserving and managing natural resources."

The FAO provides practical help to developing countries through wide ranges of technical assistance projects. The Organization encourages an integrated approach, with environmental, social and economic considerations included in the formulation of development projects.

Founded in 1945, the FAO has a mandate to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, to improve agricultural productivity, and to better the condition of rural populations. Today, the FAO is one of the largest specialized agencies in the United Nations system. It is the lead agency for agriculture, forestry and rural development. The FAO is an intergovernmental organization with over 180 member countries, which now includes the FSM.

Also admitted along with the FSM, are the States of: Timor Leste, Tuvalu and the Ukraine.

Headed by Vice President Killion, the FSM delegation to the 32^nd Session of the FAO in Rome included: Masao Nakayama - FSM Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations, Ishmael Lebehn - from the Department of Economic Affairs, Bernard Thoulag - from the National Oceanic Resource Management Agency and Jeem Lippwe - from the FSM's Permanent Mission to the United Nations.