Introduction

The Expert Consultation on Sunn Pest in the Near East was held from 16 to 20 May 1993 at the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) premises in Aleppo, the Syrian Arab Republic. The consultation was organized jointly by the FAO Regional Office for the Near East (RNEA), the Plant Protection Service (AGPP) of FAO and ICARDA. The objectives of the consultation were to assess the sunn pest problem in affected countries and to develop strategies for an effective, durable, economic and environmentally friendly cooperative sunn pest management programme. Technical officials from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, the Syrian Arab Republic and Turkey participated in the consultation. Invited speakers from Canada, France, Romania and the Syrian Arab Republic also took part in the meeting. Observers from the International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), the United Kingdom, the University of Aleppo and the United States attended the consultation. Participants are listed in Annex II.