International Coffee Organization welcomes U.S. return

The International Coffee Organization, concluding a four-day meeting in London Friday, welcomed an announcement by the United States that it was ready to rejoin the organization after an absence of 11 years.

"This is a very important development for the organization and for the global coffee community as a whole," said Enzo Barattini, representing the European Community at the conference. "We would like to thank the U.S. administration for having taken this important decision after a long absence from the ICO."

Brazil, Colombia and other coffee producing nations also issued statements welcomed the return of the United States to the ICO, which was created under the aegis of the United Nations in 1963 and brings 73 coffee producing and consuming nations together.

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