Mauritania, Israel for closer agricultural cooperation

Mauritania's minister of agriculture has asserted that his country is concerned with establishing full cooperation with Israel.

Israel Radio said the statement made by the Mauritanian minister came following his meeting with Israeli Minister of Agriculture Haim Oron in Rome, on the sidelines of the FAO conference currently being held in Italy.

The statement made by the Mauritania minister came amid statements of denunciation and condemnation and demonstrations held in and outside Mauritania against the attempts made by Mauritania to normalize relations with Israel, which occupies Arab territories.

Oron and the minister of agriculture in Mauritania agreed to form a joint committee to cooperate in the areas of agriculture and desalinization of sea waters.

During his meeting for the second time in Rome with the Israeli minister of agriculture on Tuesday morning, on the sideline of the FAO's conference, the Mauritanian minister expressed his country's desire to get aid from Israel in the areas of agriculture.

Israel Radio added that the joint committee which had been agreed upon will provide aid to Mauritania.