The agriculture ministers of Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria discussed on Sunday removing obstacles to food trade between them at a meeting in Amman, official Jordanian media said.
The meeting was notable for the attendance of Syrian agricultural minister Hasan Qatana. Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon are proponents of regional accommodation with President Bashar Al Assad.
His regime was largely ostracised for its wide use of deadly force against the 2011 revolt against five decades of Assad family rule, and later chemical attacks against civilian areas.
In the last few years, Jordan and other Arab countries have been normalising ties with the government in Damascus.
"Joint co-operation and agricultural integration would help us confront the ongoing global crisis, which could lead to drops in the food supply," Mr Qatana told reporters.
Food prices have soared in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, one of the world's top producers of grain — particularly wheat, and edible oils. Rising fuel costs, also linked to the war, have added to the burden.
Jordanian Agriculture Minister Khaled Al Huneifat outlined issues relating to quarantine procedures as well transport and transit fees and procedures, as having hindered trade.
"Successive crises, wars and unrest have damaged (joint) agricultural activities," Mr Huneifat said.
Jordan has been a main proponent among Middle Eastern countries for accommodation with Damascus, despite the smuggling of Captagon and other drugs from Syria to Jordan.
Over the last several months, Jordanian officials have increasingly blamed the Syrian military and pro-Iranian militias for facilitating the drug flows. The US government also says the Iran-backed Hezbollah has profited from the Captagon trade.
The official Jordanian news agency said that Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi met in New York on Friday with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and discussed "the challenge of drug smuggling."
The agency did not give details. It said the meeting was part of several meetings Mr Al Safadi had with foreign officials on Friday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
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5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Hisham Al Khalediah II, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.
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8pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner: Nayslayer, Bernardo Pinheiro, Jaber Ramadhan
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The%20stats%20and%20facts
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
