International Coffee Agreement

Accession to the 2001 International Coffee Agreement

Secretary Condoleezza Rice Ankara, Turkey February 5, 2005

I am pleased to announce that the United States has acceded to the 2001 International Coffee Agreement, and has become a member of the International Coffee Organization effective February 3, 2005. We announced our intention to rejoin in September 2004 and completed the process when we deposited our instrument of accession with the Secretary General of the United Nations.

The International Coffee Organization has undertaken impressive reforms in recent years to strengthen its market orientation, build programs to help coffee farmers improve quality, efficiency and access to markets, and streamline the global coffee trade. It is a valuable forum in which to address the full range of issues affecting coffee production, trade and consumption. We look forward to working closely with our trading partners in the Organization to enhance development efforts and open markets.

2005/124 Released on February 5, 2005