The Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bisera Turkovic addressed today at the Mediterranean Ministerial Dialogue, dedicated to the global crisis related to food supply, caused by the war in Ukraine. The meeting was organized by Italy in cooperation with the FAO, and within the G7 initiative.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina strongly welcomes Italy’s initiative towards the countries most affected by the food crisis, due to the war in Ukraine. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has caused far-reaching security, political, social and economic instability throughout the region, especially in terms of addressing security and food shortages, “Turkovic said in an address to participants.
Unfortunately, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as she stated, was significantly affected by the Ukrainian crisis, which was reflected in a large increase in food prices.
At the moment, it is critical that all international actors cooperate and identify concrete measures to help vulnerable countries. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s agricultural resources and potential are still underutilized. A strategic focus is needed on products and sectors that can be most productive and “We are in an uncertain situation in which the consequences of the crisis in Ukraine are seriously and negatively affecting the food sector in our country,” she said.
The spread of the conflict or the protracted war in Ukraine could, she said, further complicate global trade and lead to further increases in energy and food prices in the region and beyond, which is why Bosnia and Herzegovina will have to take measures to alleviate the crisis.
The initiative is called the ‘Ministerial Mediterranean Dialogue on Food Security Crisis’ and is designed to be supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the active participation of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development. (IFAD), support the joint mobilization of all three agencies.
“Germany, as the G7 chairman, has very positively welcomed the Italian initiative and is one of the co-chairs. All countries bordering the Mediterranean are invited to participate in the event with the exception of Syria, including Jordan, Portugal, Lebanon and, as mentioned, Germany Together with Italy and Germany, Turkey also co – chaired the meeting, as a G20 partner that contributed to the approval of last year ‘s G20 Declaration on Food Safety, “the BiH Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
