Alley planted in memory of late FAO Representative in Bishkek

Bishkek – A group of Virginia juniper seedlings now decorates an area outside the United Nations House in Bishkek, near the intersection of Chui and Manas avenues. The trees were planted in memory of the late Adnan Quereshi, the former Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative in Kyrgyzstan.

The commemoration was attended by Antje Grawe, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kyrgyzstan; representatives of United Nations Agencies, the Ministry of Agriculture and Bishkek City Hall; and colleagues and friends of Adnan Quereshi.

Quereshi had passed away a year earlier, on 16 January 2022.

“During his work in Kyrgyzstan, he made a significant contribution to addressing issues of food security, development of the agro-industrial complex and management of natural resources,” Grawe said at the commemoration’s opening ceremony.

Quereshi spent most of his professional life working at FAO, and he was widely respected as a responsible and dedicated employee with a warm, generous and outgoing personality and legendary sense of humour.

During the ceremony, it was noted that Kyrgyzstan remembers him as a professional diplomat and close friend of the country, sincerely interested in helping its development and prosperity.

“Adnan Quereshi fell in love with the nature and people of Kyrgyzstan at first sight and was pleased to serve in this country for the good of the people,” said Dinara Rakhmanova, Assistant FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan. “His leadership, invaluable knowledge and experience, insight and humanity have taken the FAO country team to a new level.”

The initiative to plant the trees was supported by the mayor’s office and Bishkek City Hall. When the trees grow, they will create a favourable microclimate.

Adnan Quereshi was honoured at the ceremony with a minute of silence, during which a violinist played one of the most beautiful folk melodies of Kyrgyzstan: “Esimde,” or “I remember!"