Rome /Information Office/ 10 June 2015/ The General Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has elected the State of Qatar a member in the FAO General Council representing the Near East and North Africa (NENA) group for a period of two year starting 2016. The State of Qatar was elected for the FAO General Council membership for the second time since 2001 during the 39th session of the FAO Conference, currently underway in Rome. The FAO General Council has 49 member states distributed according to geographical regions. The member states elect an independent chairman for the Council to participate and supervise the work of the technical committees in the Organization. The Council plays an essential and active role in identifying the FAO development programs and projects as well as the adoption of the general budget and monitoring its programs and performance.