CP/RES. 909 (1567/06)

PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE HEMISPHERE

(Approved at the meeting of October 25, 2006)


THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES,
 

CONSIDERING:

That the Summits of the Americas process has recognized the vital importance of agriculture as a way of life for millions of rural families in the Hemisphere and the role it plays, as a strategic socioeconomic sector, in creating prosperity;

That the Declaration of Quebec City notes the importance of developing the potential of agriculture in a manner that is compatible with sustainable development and allows for proper attention to the rural sector;

That in the Declaration of Nuevo León our Heads of State and Government committed to a sustained effort to improve living standards for rural populations;

That at the Fourth Summit of the Americas, held in Mar del Plata, the states pledged to build a comprehensive framework for rural and agricultural development, to promote investment, job creation, and rural prosperity, and requested the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to continue its efforts; and

That IICA, as a specialized organization of the inter-American system, has the aims of stimulating, promoting, and supporting efforts by its member states to bring about agricultural development and rural well-being; and

NOTING WITH SATISFACTION the holding of a special meeting by the Permanent Council, on September 20, 2006, on the topic "Promotion of agriculture and rural development in the Hemisphere," in coordination with IICA, and that several delegations expressed their pleasure over the holding of such meetings,

RESOLVES:

1. To convene, in accordance with the funds allocated in the program-budgt of the Organization, two joint meetings of the Permanent Council and the Permanent Executive Committee of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CEPCIDI), one of which must be held during the last four months of the year, to foster discussion of the topic “Promotion of the sustainable development of agriculture and rural development in the Hemisphere” and publicize the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in that regard.

2. To instruct the General Secretariat, in coordination with IICA, to organize that annual meeting.