Towards a global partnership for food security? (April 22, 2008)
FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf was in Paris and saw Mr Bernard Kouchner on April 21 and President Sarkozy on April 22, 2008.
On April 8 at his press briefing, the minister called attention to the seriousness of the global food crisis driven by the steady rise in prices of foodstuffs. At the time he wanted to see a strong, swift reaction and international mobilization. On his initiative and with Michel Barnier, an interministerial working group was set up to consider the solutions we might propose.
We certainly believe it’s essential to act and to react as a matter of urgency, and that it’s primarily a food crisis, but also a long-term one.
In the short term, President Sarkozy announced a twofold increase in our food aid. The minister discussed the possibility of mid- and long-term actions at his meeting with Mr. Diouf. He emphasized in particular the importance of a European debate and possibly a European initiative to advance the idea of a global partnership for food security. He also stressed the need to think about innovative methods of financing.
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