The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, participated in the open debate on “Conflict and Food Security ” in the UN Security Council,

Minister Xhaçka said that the conflict remains the main driver leading to food insecurity, while underlining that Russian aggression against Ukraine is further aggravating this situation.

“Severe disruption of production, trade and rising global food fuel and fertilizer and energy prices as a consequence of the war are aggravating existing inequalities in affected regions, endangering food security, worsening existing humanitarian crises and pushing more people into poverty” said Minister Xhaçka in her speech.

According to the Albanian chief diplomat, the treatment of food insecurity worldwide requires urgent and coordinated multilateral action, while emphasizing that the resolution of the Security Council which calls for action serves very well in this regard.

“We need to address the causes of food and nutrition crises, the humanitarian, development the long-standing structural problems that make food systems vulnerable and enhance the sustainability. There must be a coordinated multi-sectoral development, humanitarian and peace initiatives response in order to reduce the risk of future conflict. Actions through the UN system and the international financial institutions should lead to investments in sustainable food systems and gender equality”, declared Minister Xhaçka.

The open debate, which was chaired by Secretary of State Blinken, reflects the special importance that the United States continues to attach to the issue of food security, especially in the wake of Russian aggression in Ukraine. Even last year, the US staged an open debate on the same topic.