U.N. agencies made citizens of Rome
April 26, 2013 | 06:19 PM
The three Rome-based UN agencies — the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) — were made honorary citizens of Rome on Sunday.
The mayor of the City of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, presented the award at a ceremony held in the City Hall on the occasion of the 2766th anniversary of Rome's founding. He cited the city’s “appreciation for the three agencies’ consistent commitment to the fight against hunger and poverty, in support of food security and sustainable development and for the improvement of the living conditions of rural populations.”
José Graziano da Silva
FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva,speaking on behalf of the three Rome-based agencies, said the city’s support to them has been crucial.
“Your rich traditions, including the value you place on local food and agriculture, have been an inspiration to us. And also a pleasure,” Graziano da Silva declared.
“I am convinced that one day, FAO, IFAD and WFP will add another footnote to Rome’s great history. One that says that, together, we helped to eliminate chronic hunger, malnutrition and extreme poverty,” he continued.
“Thank you, Rome, for being a friend to us all.”
The mayor of the City of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, presented the award at a ceremony held in the City Hall on the occasion of the 2766th anniversary of Rome's founding. He cited the city’s “appreciation for the three agencies’ consistent commitment to the fight against hunger and poverty, in support of food security and sustainable development and for the improvement of the living conditions of rural populations.”
FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva,speaking on behalf of the three Rome-based agencies, said the city’s support to them has been crucial.
“Your rich traditions, including the value you place on local food and agriculture, have been an inspiration to us. And also a pleasure,” Graziano da Silva declared.
“I am convinced that one day, FAO, IFAD and WFP will add another footnote to Rome’s great history. One that says that, together, we helped to eliminate chronic hunger, malnutrition and extreme poverty,” he continued.
“Thank you, Rome, for being a friend to us all.”
