A delegation of the World Food Programme (WFP) is due in Ljubljana on Tuesday for a two-day working visit aimed at boosting cooperation between Slovenia and this UN agency.
The delegation, headed by WFP Deputy Executive Director John Powell, is to meet Agriculture Minister Marija Lukacic and visit the National Assembly to present WFP activities and discuss ways for Slovenia's cooperation in its humanitarian programmes.
Also on Tuesday, the delegation will take part in a round-table debate at the Chamber of Commerce that will discuss the WFP mission and options for companies and institutions to cooperate with the agency in a bid to help it to attain its humanitarian and development targets.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, the latest visit comes as part of activities aimed at deepening cooperation between Slovenia and the WFP, which was agreed upon at a meeting of all new entrants to the EU and WFP in Rome in January 2005. The WFP delegation plans to visit all EU newcomers.
By joining the group of donor countries, Slovenia has begun to assume its part of international obligations in providing humanitarian and developemnt aid. By boosting its cooperation with the UN agency, Slovenia is implementing the EU's policy on development and humanitarian organisations. The ministry also believes that closer cooperation with WFP would enable Slovenia to be more efficient in implementing its strategic development goals through the engagement of companies in development projects.
Slovenia has contributed a total of almost 500,000 euros to WFP since 1996. Upon EU entry, the country made a commitment to increase this aid. Under a recent proposal by the European Commission, new members would have to contribute 0.17% of their gross national product for humanitarian and development aid, according to WFP.
The agency says that it is aware that many of the new members do not have much funds to spare, so it wants to consult Slovenian officials how the country could help hungry people across the world with food and experiences.
One of the world's largest humanitarian organisations, WFP is in charge of collecting, transport and distribution of food in situations of natural and man-made disasters. It annually provides food to an average of some 90 million people, among them 56 million children, in more than 80 countries.
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