Foodstuff prices increasing, but Iraq persists to achieve people’s needs, official:

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq‘s Ambassador to the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), Hassan al-Janaby, has stated in Rome on Saturday that the prices of foodstuff were increasing and all reports are pointing out that the world is facing a very embarrasing situation, threatening to unleash a major hunger wave, but he said Iraq was able to satisfy the needs of its citizens. “Food prices are continuously increasing and all reports, especially FAOs statements in Rome and the United Nations in New York, are pointing out that the world is heading towards a very embarrasing situation, threatning to unleash a huge hunger,” Janaby said in a statement, copy of which landed in IraqiNews.com news agency. He said that “he, who follows up such reports, must witness the kind of unrest that took place in Tunisia and Algeria, unleashed due to the rise of foodstuff prices, despite fact that those two countries had achieved a considerable economic progress over the past few decades, along with the wave of anger that reigned through Bolivia due to the rise of the main foodstuff prices.” Janaby said that Iraq “had been importing more than 3 million tons of wheat per annum, and  the crops storage for this year does not draw any anxiety,” pointing out that the practicing of the “Rational List,” for the supply of the main materials, had helped to keep anxiey away.” “Iraq, under the high rise in crude oil prices, will be able to satisfy the needs of its citizens, especially in the same way that took place during the 1990s, depending on its Rational List,” he said. GS (A) / SKH 74