INTRODUCTION
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the University of Vermont (USA) in collaboration with the Arab Society for Plant Protection are organizing the 2nd International Conference on Sunn Pest to be held at ICARDA headquarters in Aleppo, Syria, July 19-22, 2004. In view of the importance of this pest, as it accounts for annual grain losses of 20-30% in barley, and 50-90% in wheat in Central and West Asia and Eastern Europe, this conference is planned to review the progress and recent advances in Sunn Pest management, and to develop international collegiality among Sunn Pest researchers and managers. All interested workers are invited to attend this event to contribute through presentations, posters and/or participation in discussion.
ICARDA management and concerned staff members will provide as much assistance as possible to the participants to make their meetings fruitful and their stay in Aleppo a pleasant and satisfying experience. This announcement provides pre-travel information to participants on their travel and stay in Syria, an outline of the conference program and full information on registration, submission of abstracts and other important issues.

LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Dr. Safaa Kumari, Chair (email)
Dr. Mustafa El-Bouhssini (email)
Mr. Bill Reid (email)
Dr. Samir Ahmed (email)
Mr. Fadel Afandi (email)
Mr. Ahmed Shahbandar

CONFERENCE COORDINATORS
Dr. Mustafa El-Bouhssini, ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria
Dr. Bruce Parker, University of Vermont, USA (email)
Dr. Margaret Skinner, University of Vermont, USA (email)

CONFERENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Dr. Ghulam Abbas Abdollahi, PPDRI, Iran
Dr. Aden Aw-Hassan, ICARDA, Syria
Dr. Lukas Brader, ICARDA, Syria
Dr. Ramazan Canhilal, PPRI Ankara, Turkey
Dr. David Hall, NRI, UK
Dr. Peter Kenmore, FAO, Italy
Dr. David Moore, CABI, UK

CONGRESS SECRETARIAT
Dr. Safaa Kumari and Mr. Bill Reid
Second International conference on Sunn Pest
Sunn Pest Conference email
web site: http://www.icarda.cgiar.org/sunnpest/Spconference.htm
Fax No. (+963-21) 2225105/2213490
Tel: (+963-21) 2213433/2213477/2225112