Address by Monsignor Renato Volante at FAO Regional Conference
(October 07, 2010) The Holy See, according to its nature and mission, wishes to offer
its contribution and to reflect on the ethical perspective of the data and issues
submitted to the Conference, thus continuing to maintain a particular focus on initiatives
that are being realized at the international level to address and resolve situations
of food shortages and malnutrition, especially in the context of a worsening of the
needs that exist in some areas, said Monsignor Renato Volante, Permanent Observer
of the Holy See at FAO. He was speaking at the 30th FAO Regional Conference for Asia
and the Pacific held from 27th September to the 1st of October
2010, held in the Republic of Korea. He said that the Summit on the Millennium Development
Goals is just concluded and, among other things, States and International Organizations
have confirmed as a priority the engagement to fight hunger and poverty. The programme
for the future emphasises the fundamental right of every person and every community
to be free from hunger. This is a challenge that, as it is evident, and has a direct
connection with the dignity of those most vulnerable and disadvantaged people and
we cannot remain indifferent. As pointed out also by FAO, said Mgr Volante farming
and food production must be linked to focused choices, appropriate policies and guidelines
that are attentive to the technical and operational realities. He told the members
that the commitment of this Conference is to identify and make necessary arrangements
and take precautions to ensure the development of rural areas in the long term, may
give further substance to these objectives.