Russian AgMin wants to establish agricultural attaches in another 22 countries
MOSCOW. March 6 (Interfax) - The Russian Agriculture Ministry wants to establish an agricultural attache presence in another 22 countries, Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fyodorov said at the Federation Council's 'Government Hour' on Wednesday.
"Agricultural attaches currently work in ten countries. We've submitted proposals for another 22 countries," Fyodorov said.
The question has not been decided yet and is currently being reviewed by the Foreign Ministry, he said.
"Several of my colleagues, together with ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary, have the argument that these [agricultural] representatives are not especially needed in several countries, even in Ukraine and Kazakhstan," Fyodorov said. "But that seems absolutely wrong to me. These countries are strong agrarian powers, and we should know what is going on there and work together," he said.
Expansion in the attache staff is included in plans to adapt the Russian agricultural sector to World Trade Organization (WTO) conditions.
"Representatives of the government and Agriculture Ministry should analyze the situation in the host country together with their colleagues from other structures and know which forms of support - implicit or explicit - there are in various countries, which obstacles or discriminatory conditions they mend - sophisticated or skewed - and create them for our farmers who are willing to export their product. This should all be a topic of government analysis," Fyodorov said.
Federation Council Chairman Valentina Matviyenko agreed on the importance of the agricultural attache issue.
"But no less important is that these positions do not turn into an honorable stay abroad. We need to analyze the effectiveness and return from this institution, then its benefits will be greater," she said.
