PRESIDENT MEETS FAO HEAD

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia /MONTSAME/ The President Ts.Elbegdorj attaches an importance to the visit of the FAO Head. The State Head expressed it on Thursday at a meeting with the FAO Head Mr Jose Graziano da Silva. He paid an official visit to Mongolia on October 4-5. The leader of Mongolia said he had discussed some issues with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Mongolia's supplying wheat to some countries in frames of the UN's humanitarian assistance and the purchase action. "This was appreciated by Mr Ban Ki-moon," he added. Mongolia with its about three million population, 1.5 million square kilometers' area and 50 million heads of livestock exports high quality foods to some regions of the neighbour countries, Mr Elbegdorj mentioned and underlining an importance of signing a five-year cooperation memorandum between the FAO and the government. In response, Mr da Silva thanked the President for the audience and congratulated Mongolia on becoming a food exporter country. He said Mongolia has big resources and expressed satisfaction with achievements of Mongolia and with collaborating with it. He said the FAO is ready to give technical assistance to Mongolia's agricultural sector and to support the Mongolian farmers. "Mongolia cherishes peace and friendship with any countries, we have decided to give our food assistance to the North Korea that urgently needs assistance," the President said. Mr da Silva awarded the Mongolian President the FAO's Gold Medal for gaining big achievements in food supply within the agricultural sector. B.Khuder