Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Jerko Ivanković-Lijanović met with the FAO Director General, Mr. Graziano Da Silva following the 28^th FAO Conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 20, 2012.

Minister pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina had yet to work to achieve self-sufficiency in majority of agricultural products, which now stands at 20%, and to fully utilize its potentials for food security. He also stated that FAO support would be very much welcome in overcoming the issues concerning the export and transit of animal-origin products through the EU countries in view of Croatia's upcoming accession to the EU and loss of access to third country markets since Bosnia and Herzegovina was surrounded by the EU. Minister also stressed the importance of tackling the issue of land fragmentation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and asked for FAO's assistance in land consolidation which would help solve the problem of food security in a more efficient way.

Mr. Graziano Da Silva expressed his appreciation for Bosnia's decision to increase food production, which was also a major item at the FAO conference, and promised FAO's assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in this respect.