S. Korea pledges increased support for food security at G8

By Byun Duk-kun
L'AQUILA, Italy, July 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak
promised Friday to increase his country's support for developing countries to
help improve their food security, noting the issue is not just about being better
off, but is a matter of life or death for those suffering.

The pledge came at a working session of the G8 extended summit in this central
Italian city. The South Korean president arrived here Wednesday for the annual
summit of developed countries and emerging economies.
"We are gathered here today to discuss the issue of food security, but I believe
we must first think about what the fundamental issue of the problem is if we are
to have a more meaningful discussion," the South Korean president was quoted as
saying by his spokeswoman, Kim Eun-hye.
"I think the issue of food security must be about solving the issue of hunger to
help satisfy the people's most basic need to eat, rather than to help them be
better off," he added.
Lee said his government will continue to increase its food assistance to
countries facing the problem, but said it will also work to help solve their
fundamental problems through support for the development of their agricultural
sectors, according to the spokeswoman.
"Many heads of state here have expressed concerns over the situation faced by
Africa, but I believe it is more important to provide them (African states) with
the right technology they need than the latest agricultural technologies," the
South Korean president said in the meeting.
Improving recipient countries' governance is another major issue that needs to be
addressed to solve food shortage problems, he said.
Friday's meeting was attended by 27 countries and various international
organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization and the U.N. World
Food Program.
The South Korean president will wrap up his visit here Saturday to head to
Sweden. He is currently on a three-nation trip that earlier took him to Poland.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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