LE PRESIDENT Nous poursuivons nos travaux. Tout d'abord, nous achevons l'examen du Point 15 de l'ordre du jour relatif au Sommaire du Programme de travail et budget 1988-89. A cette occasion, nous aurons l'opportunité d'entendre une communication du Directeur général. Ensuite le Vice-Président, M. Glistrup, présidera la séance du Conseil de ce matin pour examiner le point 10 relatif aux pêches et le point 11 relatif aux questions forestières.
Ce que je voudrais signaler aux délégués, c'est que nous avons plus d'une demi-journée de retard et qu'il reste encore à l'ordre du jour des questions très importantes d'ordre financier. Je propose donc aux délégués que, dans toute la mesure du possible, ils tiennent compte de cette contrainte de temps pour permettre au Rapporteur et au Comité de rédaction de faire leur travail dans les délais requis et de nous présenter leur rapport à la séance de vendredi.
LE DIRECTEUR GENERAL Monsieur le Président, Messieurs les Délégués, Mesdames, Messieurs, mes collègues et moi-même avons suivi très attentivement le débat pendant deux jours, vendredi et lundi. Si vous êtes d'accord, à la suite de mes remarques, mes deux collègues les plus concernés par le Programme de travail et budget-M. Walton et M. Shah-répondront aux questions et apporteront certains éclaircissements. Je vais moi-même essayer également d'éclaircir certains points qui ont été soulevés.
Je crois que c'est rendre justice à ces deux journées de discussion approfondie que de consacrer un peu plus d'une heure à répondre aux questions et à éclaircir certains points. Bien entendu, nous sommes toujours à la disposition des délégués qui, après la réunion et dans les jours suivants, désireraient nous demander des renseignements complémentaires.
Ce fut en effet un débat très intéressant: 54 délégués ont pris la parole-certains à deux reprises-ainsi que plus de 15 observateurs. Ce débat fut très instructif et empreint de tout le sérieux nécessaire. Je remercie donc tous les délégués et observateurs qui ont bien voulu faire part de leur réaction, de leurs recommandations et de leur point de vue.
Soyez assuré, Monsieur le Président, que nous avons pris note de tout ce qui a été dit. Mes collaborateurs et moi-même en tiendrons le plus grand compte lorsque nous entreprendrons la rédaction du Programme de travail et budget, dès la semaine prochaine.
Certaines questions ne trouveront une réponse que plus tard. Je crois que c'est Madame la déléguée des Etats-Unis qui a souhaité que des informations concernant les estimations des recettes accessoires soient soumises au Comité financier en septembre. Nous le ferons.
Niveaux du budget: il y a plusieurs niveaux. Il y a d'abord le niveau de la croissance nette, 0,48%, c'est-à-dire 2 200 000 dollars E.-U. Pour le plus grand donateur, cela fait 500 000 dollars E.-U. Pour la plupart des pays en développement, cela fait 100 dollars par an. Evidemment, ce n'est pas cela qui est important-ce ne sont pas ces 2 200 000 dollars E.-U.-mais l'accroissement du budget total par rapport au budget de 1986-87, qui serait de 55 millions de dollars. La plupart de ce montant nous est imposé. Il y a les 35 millions de dollars dus à la baisse du dollar. Je ne peux rien faire à cela. Le délégué de la Suisse a fait une proposition. Au Comité financier aussi, la possibilité de retenir une autre monnaie a été envisagée: l'ECU, la lire italienne, le Ryal saoudien-pourquoi pas?-etc. Mais le problème demeure: pour ces 35 millions de dollars, je ne peux rien faire. Je suis heureux de vous dire qu'hier le dollar a un peu monté: il était à 1 325 lires. Il faut peut-être prier pour que le dollar monte. Si cela se produit, cette somme de 35 millions de dollars diminuera.
Il y a ensuite presque 18 millions de dollars dus à l'accroissement du coût de certaines activités, c'est-à-dire à l'inflation. On a parlé des billets d'avion; ils augmentent chaque année et, dans n'importe quel pays du monde; en 1988-89, les billets coûteront plus que ce qu'ils coûtaient en 1986-87. Je vous promets d'essayer de réduire ce montant. Je sais qu'il y a une majorité en faveur du niveau que j'ai proposé mais il n'y a pas le consensus. Je ferai donc tout mon possible, avec mes collègues ici présents, pour que la prochaine version révisée du budget ait plus de chances d'être approuvée par consensus. En tout cas, j'ai noté qu'aucune délégation n'a avancé un chiffre à propos
du niveau du budget. On a seulement dit qu'il faudrait "Zero growth". Je remercie donc les délégués qui n'ont pas fixé la barre tout en souhaitant une diminution des contributions. Un certain nombre de délégués l'ont souhaité, les gros contributeurs notamment.
Ne comptez pas sur moi pour proposer un budget à croissance négative. Le Directeur général est chargé de présenter un Programme de travail et budget pour la FAO, l'Organisation mondiale pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture. Il n'est pas possible de diminuer le volume de l'aide fournie par ce programme de travail. Je crois que ce ne serait pas très moral et que l'opinion publique internationale ne serait pas très favorable à une croissance négative du budget de la FAO.
Les circonstances feront peut-être que ce budget baisse en 1989; il a baissé en 1986-87 de 5 pour cent, mais en tout cas ce ne sera pas là ma proposition; ce sera la décision de la Conférence si elle en décidait ainsi.
Il est difficile pour le Directeur général, qui vit intensément les problèmes de sous-développement, les problèmes de la faim dans le monde et qui reçoit une masse de demandes insatisfaites, de réduire le budget; qui n'avance pas recule et le recul dans ce cas est suicidaire, un acte que l'on doit refuser.
Cependant, je propose d'essayer encore une fois de réduire le budget pour rechercher le consensus. D'ailleurs, mes collaborateurs et moi-même avons toujours recherché le consensus. Consensus, cela veut dire qu'il n'y a pas de vote négatif. En ce qui concerne les quatre budgets de 1979, 1981, 1983 et 1985, une seule fois, en 1981, il n'y a pas eu consensus. Je considère que même le budget de 1985 a été approuvé par consensus parce qu'il n'y a pas eu de votes négatifs, il y a eu des abstentions, mais les abstentions ne sont pas des votes contre. De quoi s'agissait-il? D'un accroissement de 1,1 pour cent qui finalement s'est soldé par une diminution de 5 pour cent.
Sans vouloir á ce stade faire des commentaires sur des questions qui n'étaient pas dans le document Programme de travail et budget, telles que par exemple des questions de réforme, je me réserve le droit d'en faire à la fin du Conseil puisque ces questions ou problèmes ont été soulevés à plusieurs reprises.
Revenons au consensus. J'ai voulu d'abord démontrer qu'au cours des quatre budgets précédents le consensus n'a fait défaut qu'une seule fois en 1981, lorsqu'il y eut 5 votes négatifs. Les autres fois, je le répète, c'était des abstentions ou des votes unanimes et j'espère que le prochain budget sera voté par consensus.
On a parlé d'une certaine procédure et je suis intervenu vendredi en disant: "Oui, en tant que Directeur général, je suis au courant du fait que ce sujet a été discuté aux Nations Unies"; dans le document qui vous a été soumis sur les décisions prises aux Nations Unies ayant une incidence pour la FAO, on a même reproduit la résolution des Nations Unies sur le processus concernant l'adoption du budget par consensus. Il y a aussi des discussions à l'OMS; elles ne sont pas terminées; il y en a également au BIT; elles continuent également.
Si votre Conseil décide que ces questions doivent être examinées par la Conférence, je peux vous assurer que le Secrétariat est prêt à fournir toute la documentation à ce sujet. Ceci apparaît dans les discussions de l'Assemblée générale et des autres organes. D'ailleurs, pourquoi ne pas le dire, le Secrétariat travaille depuis vendredi dernier avec certaines délégations sur ce point pour voir comment porter la question à la Conférence.
Je voulais dire par là que le Secrétariat également a l'obligation de faire tout ce qui est possible pour préserver l'unité dans les rangs des membres du Conseil et je fais toujours en sorte d'éviter les divisions. A un certain moment, un doute a plané à ce sujet, mais heureusement avec les interventions d'hier et les explications fournies par Madame la distinguée déléguée des Etats-Unis, l'atmosphère a complètement changé et je suis heureux si nous avons pu contribuer à ce changement.
On a un peu parlé de transparence. Je voudrais simplement rappeler que je suis obligé de défendre mon administration, mes fonctionnaires, c'est tout à fait normal. Mais je suis à l'aise pour en parler et pour le faire de façon directe et sans détours. Déjà, à la Conférence en 1985, quelques délégués avaient soulevé ce problème.
Dans mon discours de clôture j'avais dit alors que j'étais très préoccupé d'apprendre que certains délégués n'étaient pas pleinement satisfaits à ce sujet. J'avais donc immédiatement porté la question devant le Comité du Programme et le Comité financier qui se sont réunis en 1986 après la Conférence.
Ce sont des gens choisis par vous, qui ont votre confiance et qui se réunissent pendant deux semaines, qui ont donc tout le temps de réfléchir. Le Conseil pour sa part se réunit deux semaines mais il a un ordre du jour très chargé. J'ai donc porté à l'attention des membres du Comité financier et du Comité du Programme la question de la transparence en ces termes: "Y a-t-il quelque chose d'opaque? Y a-t-il des zones d'ombre, sombres, des zones grises? Dites-le nous. Quels renseignements supplémentaires souhaitez-vous sous, quelle forme et avec quelle périodicité?".
Les deux comités en ont débatu, le rapport a été fourni et présenté au Conseil au mois de novembre 1986 et je pensais que cette question était dans une certaine mesure réglée puisque le Conseil avait donné lecture du rapport du Comité financier et du Comité du Programme sur la transparence. Il y a ici des membres de ces deux comités et s'il y avait encore d'autres questions à poser, c'était lors de l'examen du rapport, c'est-à-dire à la 57ème session du Comité financier en mai 1986 et à la 50ème session du Comité du Programme.
Pour en terminer, je vais donner lecture de ce que le Comité du programme et le Comité financier ont déclaré et de ce que le Conseil a donc écouté sans y faire opposition.
Je prends des phrases au hasard: "Le Comité du programme a tenu à exprimer à l'unanimité son appréciation de la nature et de l'ampleur des informations qui lui sont communiquées pour lui permettre d'exercer son mandat. En outre, toutes ses demandes d'informations complémentaires ou d'éclaircissements reçoivent une réponse complète et rapide".
On peut lire ensuite au paragraphe 164: "En conséquence, le Comité ne peut souscrire à aucune insinuation concernant un éventuel manque de clarté ou une rétention de l'information nécessaire pour examiner les activités de l'Organisation".
Dans le même sens, on peut lire: "Le Comité financier a félicité le Directeur général de l'excellence de sa gestion, bien illustrée par la qualité de la documentation et les informations soumises. Il a estimé qu'il disposait d'une base très suffisante pour s'acquitter de ses responsabilités. Les renseignements nécessaires à l'accomplissement de son mandat lui ont été communiqués jusqu'ici et continueront à l'être dans l'avenir".
Un délégué a dit que les documents étaient nombreux et complexes et que le Secrétariat avait toujours une longueur d'avance; je suis satisfait, car si le Secrétariat avait une longueur en retard, c'en serait fini du Secrétariat. Il est normal qu'il en soit ainsi, nous vivons les problèmes de l'intérieur, et je considère donc qu'il s'agissait d'un compliment. Nous sommes disposés à améliorer encore la transparence; je prie simplement ceux qui insistent sur la transparence de nous faire savoir quels sont les documents supplémentaires, les renseignements qu'ils souhaitent avoir, nous sommes prêts à les donner de façon régulière. La balle est dans le camp des délégués, c'est nous qui sommes à leur disposition et devons les satisfaire. Avec notre système très sophistiqué d'informatique dont M. Walton pourra dire quelques mots, je crois qu'à l'avenir vous n'aurez plus qu'à appuyer sur un bouton. Ces développements se font avec l'appui et l'aide technique de très bons experts canadiens et d'équipements américains; c'est une grosse affaire; cela coûte cher mais c'est indispensable.
On a parlé également un peu de gestion et d'administration. Beaucoup de délégués ont félicité le Secrétariat pour les efforts déployés à cet égard; certains ont estimé qu'il fallait faire davantage d'efforts, d'autres ont un peu critiqué, c'est normal. J'accepte le point de vue des uns et des autres avec tout le respect que je dois aux délégués mais je me dois de rappeler qu'en novembre 1985 le Conseil a exprimé également un point de vue sur ce sujet; je ne veux pas dire qu'il y a contradiction, mais je veux simplement rappeler ce que le Conseil a dit. Il s'agit du paragraphe 76 du Rapport du Conseil qui s'est tenu avant la Conférence, du 4 au 7 novembre: "Le Conseil s'est félicité à cet égard des efforts constants déployés par le Directeur général pour réduire les coûts d'administration et de soutien sans compromettre la bonne marche des progrès économiques et techniques". C'est donc le paragraphe 76 du document CL 88/REP de la 88ème session du Conseil de la FAO.
Puis, la Conférence elle-même a déclaré ceci: "La Conférence a apprécié les efforts incessants qui sont déployés pour intensifier la réduction réalisable des frais administratifs et de soutien, pour éliminer systématiquement les activités les moins prioritaires...". Puis, au paragraphe 191, on peut lire: "La Conférence a souligné qu'il y a des limites aux possibilités de réduction de services administratifs et de soutien et qu'au-delà il serait difficile à la FAO d'exécuter efficacement les programmes approuvés et plus généralement de répondre avec efficacité et en temps voulu aux demandes de plus en plus nombreuses de soutien technique". En somme, la Conférence disait "Attention, ne coupez plus dans les frais administratifs", en quelque sorte elle a mis le holà.
Le coût des services administratifs est tombé de 24 pour cent à 16 pour cent en quelque dix ans, c'est un fait; la proportion des postes permanents dans le budget est tombée en dix ans de 77 pour cent à 51 pour cent; c'est également vrai. Je ne dis pas qu'à cause de cela nous allons diminuer le nombre de consultants car pour nous le facteur humain est le plus important. Mais cela coûte beaucoup moins cher aux Etats Membres d'avoir des consultants pour deux ou trois mois que d'avoir des fonctionnaires qui ont un contrat continu, qui ont besoin de personnel de soutien, de bureaux, d'électricité, etc. Mais je suis prêt à soutenir la comparaison entre ces 51 pour cent de la FAO et le pourcentage d'autres organisations du système des Nations Unies en ce qui concerne les fonctionnaires à poste permanent.
Je réponds là à quelques questions qui ont été évoquées mais qui n'ont rien à voir avec la substance du Programme de travail et budget.
On a aussi parlé des réformes, question qui n'était pas dans le document. Je crois vous avoir indiqué que j'ai rencontré le Directeur de l'OMS pour étudier la possibilité d'unir nos efforts dans le domaine de la nutrition et de créer une division mixte, conjointe, FAO-Organisation mondiale de la santé dans ce domaine. Je crois que la FAO s'est beaucoup distinguée par le nombre des divisions conjointes. Nous avons une division conjointe avec la Banque mondiale, c'est le fameux Centre d'investissement, nous en avons une avec l'Agence internationale de l'énergie atomique, à Vienne, nous avons des divisions conjointes avec la Commission économique pour l'Amérique latine, avec la Commission économique pour l'Afrique et également avec l'Europe.
Je dois dire que nous sommes très satisfaits de ces divisions conjointes. Samedi dernier, je me suis rendu à Genève où j'ai été interviewé de façon très informelle par le Président et le Vice-Président du Comité spécial de l'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies chargé d'étudier la réorganisation du secteur économique et social des Nations Unies et parlant de la coordination, je les ai informés de l'existence de cette formule de division conjointe. Cela évite le chevauchement et permet une meilleure coordination et je crois qu'ils ont été très intéressés eux aussi.
C'est la seule fois où, dans ce document, je parle de réforme. Il y a des coupures dans les coûts des activités de soutien administratif et autres et je ferai des commentaires si nécessaire à la fin du Conseil. Je dois aussi rappeler que chaque Directeur général a fait des réformes. Le Dr Sen en a fait d'excellentes. M. Boerma en a fait beaucoup. J'en ai moi-même proposé en 1976. Je voudrais rappeler de quoi il s'agissait. Cette réforme, récemment complétée, a consisté à créer des bureaux de la FAO dans les pays, pour que la FAO travaille avec les gouvernements et qu'elle ne soit plus isolée ici à Rome dans sa tour d'ivoire, donc qu'il y ait une décentralisation au niveau des pays. Il ne s'agissait pas de décentralisation régionale, parce que la Conférence en 1975 avait proposé de renforcer les bureaux régionaux et de faire de petites FAO dans les bureaux régionaux. Mon expérience m'a suggéré qu'il fallait faire différemment: il fallait garder les bureaux régionaux, car il y a des activités régionales très importantes, les maintenir, les renforcer, mais il ne fallait pas leur donner des dimensions telles qu'ils deviennent de petites FAO; il fallait par contre être présent dans les pays étant donné que 80 pour cent de l'économie des pays en voie de développement sont basés sur l'agriculture.
Cette réforme a duré dix ans; nous avons terminé l'année dernière. On a ainsi créé 74 bureaux de la FAO. Quand la décision a été prise nous n'avions pas tout l'argent nécessaire. On a d'abord créé 6 bureaux, et puis chaque année, progressivement, la Conférence m'a autorisé à créer de nouveaux bureaux.
Je fais cette remarque, parce que j'ai proposé la création de 4 bureaux de la FAO pour le prochain biennium. Je pense que c'est utile, et j'ai beaucoup de demandes de la part des pays. Si le délégué de l'Argentine me le permet, je citerai le cas de son pays. L'Argentine, qui est éminemment agricole, et qui est un important contributeur, n'a pas de bureau de la FAO et en a fait la demande. Si donc j'ai proposé ces 4 bureaux, ce n'est pas pour le plaisir d'en augmenter le nombre, mais parce que j'ai des demandes. Je pense que l'Argentine devrait avoir un bureau et d'autres pays également qui le demandent depuis longtemps.
On a également créé le Programme de coopération technique, qui a commencé avec 18 millions de dollars, et qui atteint maintenant 61 millions de dollars. c'est une progression tout à fait normale.
je rappelle que ceci a été fait sans que cela coûte 1 dollar à la fao. toutes les réformes à l'avenir ne doivent pas coûter d'argent supplémentaire, cette réforme de 1976, que le conseil et la conférence ont approuvée, n'a pas coûté très cher, on a supprimé 330 postes. c'est une chose importante de supprimer 330 postes. nous avons également supprimé 94 publications et 155 réunions. c'était vraiment une réforme radicale. avec l'argent dégagé on a créé le programme de coopération technique, on a commencé à installer les bureaux de la fao. c'était une réforme approuvée à l'unanimité, et qui continue. je ne dis pas que les réformes sont terminées. il faut toujours se réformer. mais nous en parlerons à la fin du conseil.
Encore un mot pour en finir sur le programme travail et budget en deux parties: je ne veux pas revenir sur les arguments pour ou contre, mais veux simplement, du point de vue du secrétariat, vous dire quelles sont les difficultés que nous rencontrons pour réaliser ce Programme publié en deux parties.
Monsieur le Président, nous n'avons pas de flexibilité dans la gestion de nos ressources. Quand nous faisons des économies importantes, nous comptons surtout sur les économies réalisées par le gel de postes vacants, parce que la suppression de publications ou de réunions ne représente pas grand chose. Tout est lié aux postes, tout dépend du fonctionnaire. Quand nous avons un fonctionnaire, nous pouvons faire la publication, elle est liée à lui. Quand nous avons le fonctionnaire, nous pouvons recruter le consultant. Donc, je dépends beaucoup de postes vacants. Ceux qui ne le sont pas
ne peuvent être supprimés; les fonctionnaires ont des droits, c'est tout à fait normal. Seuls les départs en retraite peuvent être prévus. La FAO n'est pas une usine dans laquelle vous pouvez arrêter la chaîne de fabrication. Prenez une activité considérée peu importante et qu'il faut mettre dans la catégorie 2: pour la mettre dans la catégorie 2, il faut que le poste puisse être libéré. Or il n'est pas dit que le fonctionnaire qui va quitter son poste, libère un poste de cette catégorie; il appartient peut-être à un domaine prioritaire, comme les pêches par exemple.
J'ai adopté une solution pragmatique. Je ne complique pas les choses. En 1986 on a fait presque tout ce qui était prévu pour 1986 et vers la fin de l'année on a su quels étaient les postes qui allaient être vacants. En novembre 1986, j'ai donc fait des propositions d'ajustement sur le budget de 1987. Je propose donc de surveiller la situation en 1988 et en novembre 1988, au Conseil, et peut-être aussi au Comité du Programme, on pourra faire des propositions à la lumière de la situation financière et des postes vacants. Il est très difficile, voire impossible, de prévoir les postes vacants et savoir s'ils correspondent à des programmes prioritaires ou non. Il faut que les priorités que nous considérons comme moins importantes coincident avec des postes vacants; aux postes sont liées les dépenses en personnel de soutien, les dépenses en consultants, en voyages, les publications, etc.
J'aurai peut-être l'occasion de répondre ou de donner des commentaires sur des questions autres que le programme de travail mais qui appellent des réactions.
Si vous êtes d'accord, je vais demander à mon collègue M. Walton d'éclaircir quelques questions, et M. Shah aura la grande tâche de répondre plus précisément à des questions ponctuelles.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL I would like to answer one specific question that was put forward in the course of the debate about what FAO is doing on information systems. I would also link this to a number of comments that were made about computerization in FAO. The Council is extremely behind in its work and I shall try to curb my personal enthusiasm for this subject and give just a few points in answer to these questions. I would like, however, to underline the tremendous importance of this whole area for FAO if it is true, as we are told practically every day in the newspapers, that the world is moving towards an information society.
First of all, a word on some administrative information systems. The Council has before it from the Finance Committee a report on FINSYS and PERSYS. These are our fully automated financial and personnel data systems. These will be fully operational by the end of next year and they are, as of now, the most advanced systems under development in any organization of the UN system.
I would also like to mention PLANSYS. This is the system for programming, planning and monitoring the programe of FAO, mainly the regular programme, and the results of this can be seen in the Summary Pogramme of Work and Budget. The system will be stretched a little further in producing the full Programme of Work and Budget. The core of PLANSYS is now fully operational and working well. Certain ancillary functions are still to be added on before the system is complete.
There is also a great deal of movement in bibliographic data bases. For instance, the system for diffusing fishery abstracts, abstracts of papers in the field of aquatic sciences and fisheries, is using optical storage methods, which, although they may sound highly sophisticated, are in fact portable, relatively cheap and we believe represent a valid choice for many developing countries as opposed to more sophisticated systems of accessing information. I was interested last year to find in a text book that our fisheries abstract service was noted as one of the first three international information systems to go public with optical storage technology. AGRIS, the information system diffusing knowledge on research and technology, is also just behind in the use of optical technology.
I have spoken so far about our administrative and bibliographic systems, but the main interest is really concentrated on what I would call our mainstream data bases in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and nutrition. These are what are referred to in the Summary Programme of Work and Budget, for instance, where in the sections dealing with priorities in means of action it is written that the first of these priorities in means of action is the improvement of information systems and enhancement of data bases. When we talk about information systems of this kind, I think, we nave to keep in mind three distinct facets or phases of the whole undertaking. The first is the quality of the data collected that goes into the system. The second is the processing of the data in FAO. The third is the communication of information to the users.
Improving the quality of the data which is collected is in many ways, I believe, the most important aspect of this whole exercise although it is not the most glamorous. FAO continues to work to
strengthen the capacity of national governments to collect information in the first place through our assistance to the strengthening of national agricultural statistical services, but also in many other ways. Indeed, we are using new techniques, or refined techniques, which go all the way from household surveys to satellite photography. As I have said, this may be the most important aspect but much more glamorous is, of course, the processing of data. It is glamorous because of the tremendous technological advances in computerization in recent years. The spotlight has tended to be on the development of the computers. However, in this context I would say that more important is the development of software, of technologies, for handling very large amounts of data.
FAO has been accumulating data and information for 20 or 30 years, often in highly specialized fields. The task now is to take advantage of the possibilities offered by these new technologies to link all these existing highly specialized data bases into a single organization-wide integrated system. The data itself takes the form of figures-numerical data-and also text, and but now through the Geographic Information System, which is figuring prominently in the summary Programme of Work and Budget, we are developing the capacity to incorporate information in graphic form, be it maps, photographs or other forms of images.
We have carried out through consultations a long-range survey of the Organization's requirements in automatic data processing up to the year 1991, and this is now being followed up through an internal task force on data management and the development of corporate data bases.
As far as concerns communication with the outside world, the trend more and more is to go on-line to provide immediate access to external users through telephone lines. We hope that the early warning system will be able to go on-line to outside users in a few months' time and over the medium-term certainly FAO's information system as a whole will have to be available on-line if we are to meet the requirements of governments and other users.
Looking at the picture as a whole, I would sum it up by saying that the task before us is to combine new but well tested technology with careful management in order to see that we produce the very best results that are possible in the present state of the art but without taking risks by embarking on experimental or untested systems. Over the longer term I am confident that we shall make of FAO a truly world agricultural information centre at the hub of the future global information society.
V.J. SHAH (Director, Office of Programme, Budget and Evaluation) Amongst the questions which were raised during the debate, one which came up the most frequently, I believe, was on the exchange rate and the effect of currency fluctuations on the next budget. Some delegations may have been surprised, and expressed their surprise, that a figure of the eventual budget at 1300 Lire to the dollar was not mentioned in the summary. This is entirely because the Summary, according to all its previous versions and the guidance we have received from our governing bodies, deals with the focus of the Programme, the changes in the Programme, and as we have said in the full Programme of Work and Budget we give the level of the budget at all the likely varying exchanges. However, there was certainly no secret about this figure. The Director-General himself in his introduction to the item mentioned the figure of 492 million. The same was communicated to the Finance Committee and discussed by them.
In this connexion, questions were asked about specific information on the distribution by currency of the expenditures. I will be happy to give that. Forty percent of our expenditures are in US dollars; 40 percent are in Lire; and the rest in other currencies, 40: 40: 20. This breakdown will not help in arriving at the budget figure of 492 million. One friendly delegation worked it out and came up with a figure of $522 million. Why is our budget not $522 million at 1300 Lire to the dollar? Why is it only $492 million? This is one example of careful calculation and absorption. We should be quite clear that just because an expenditure occurs in Italy that does not mean that that expenditure is entirely currency related. A classic example is that of professional salaries. Professional salaries are made up of two distinct elements: the basic salary which is dollar denominated and which does not change in relation to currency fluctuation; but the post adjustments do. So there is a very specific calculation of the effect of the currency fluctuation on post adjustments and it consists of 6 steps. First, to determine the average change on the post adjustment multiplier resulting from a change by 10 Lire of the Lire/Dollar rate of exchange. Step two, to determine the average dollar cost of one point of the post adjustment multiplier. Step 3, to calculate the dollar cost of the 10 Lire change. Step four, to determine the total man-months to which currency adjustments have to be applied. Step 5, to calculate the currency cost for the biennium at the lapsed rate for every 10 Lire change. Step 6, to calculate the currency costs for the total biennium.
Now I do not expect anyone to follow this closely, but I give this as an example of the steps we go through and the steps which are entirely in accordance with the practices approved by the Finance Committee and examined by them biennium after biennium.
The second point about the currency effect I think also needs to show that we do not even attempt to get the maximum of additional resources by taking maximum advantage of currency exchange rates. Let me give you two examples. The budget of the World Health Organization for 1986/87 was $543
million. The world Health Assembly has approved the budget for 1988-89 incorporating a currency adjustment of $52.9 million compared to our $35 million. In percentage terms it is 9.7 percent of the 1986-87 WHO budget. In our case, the $35 million as a percentage of the 86-87 bubget is 8 percent. In ILO the currency exchange rate effect on the budget still to be approved is $47.4 million. This is my second point on the exchange rate. The same thing can be seen with regard to the absorption of the exchange rate losses during the biennium. In WHO, the adverse currency impact in this biennium was $41 million, and that has been approved to be funded from the casual income facility of the WHO. In ILO, $36 million is to be taken from their working capital fund. What do we have in WHO? The special reserve account, $22 million and the additional $6 million for which we will have to make savings.
The Director-General himself has commented on the question of transparency, but if I may in all humility I will refer to one aspect, because it relates to a number of questions that have been raised. A number of questions have been raised, for example, about the share of established posts in our regular budget. The posing of the question implies that there is inadequate transparency, and the same can be said from the manner in which certain other questions were posed. Let us take the question of posts in the established budget. There is no magic formula, no magic calculation. This is done in a very matter of fact way. We take the established posts which are given in the full Programme of Work and Budget in Annex C. These list the posts by grade, by division, by location. We take the numbers of these posts; we take the lapsed standard costs; and we calculate the man-months, the work years. For 1988-89 there is a net reduction of 17 General Service posts and 6 Professional posts. The calculation for headquarters of General Service and Professional posts is $176.7 million, which as a percentage of the recosted budget of $457 million is 38.66 percent. The calculation for all posts and regional officesl country representatives comes to $58 6 million, which is 12.8 percent. The total comes to 51.4 percent. There will be less posts in 1988-89 than there were in 1984-85. Less. The question about the ratio of posts in the total budget can also be seen by giving you a very specific example. I draw this to your attention because somebody might find it later on and say, "Ah, but we were tricked. This was not transparent enough". In the full Programme of Work and Budget we stated that expenditures in established posts as a proportion of total expenditure would constitute 55.2 percent of the total budget in this biennium. In the Summary Programme of Work and Budget, in the table on page 26 of the English text, we give a figure of 54.5 percent. No, Sir; you have not been tricked. The figure in the full Programme of Work and Budget was at 1 615 lire to the dollar, whereas the figure given in the Summary programme of Work and Budget is that of the approved budget for the biennium at 1 716 lire to the dollar.
A number of questions were raised about the use of consultants. I think that there was again perhaps some misunderstanding, because one distinguished delegate referred to the table of past increases on page 20 of the English text and pointed out that the consultants were listed under goods and services. Ah, is this another trick? Are consultants under goods and services so as not to show them under personnel services? No, Mr Chairman. In all humility and with all respect, consultants are shown separately in the total budget, and you will have them in the full Programme of Work and Budget. But the reason why they are shown in this particular form here is that we are dealing with cost increases. The methods for calculating the cost increases for consultants are different than for those of established posts. For established posts, we take the base salary, we take the post adjustments, the pension fund contributions, other allocations which are related to the salary. For consultants, the consultants provision deals with remuneration. It includes their travel; it includes their per diem. It is a different method of calculation. That is why they are given separately.
We not only give full information on the amount of the provision for consultants in the full budget, we report every two years to the Programme and the Finance Committees on the use of consultants. This report is not only considered by them but is commented upon by them and then features in their report to the Council. This report shows every two years the types of consultants, whether they were individual consultants or they were from institutions. What was the purpose for which they were used? Was it for programme formulation? Was it for backstopping? What was the origin of these consultants? Were they from developed countries? Developing countries? By every country we can give you the details of the numbers, the indivuals utilized from every individual country, the purposes and the names, whatever information that is wanted. The utilization of consultants is also a matter of strict procedures and control. Our Manual is very specific. If consultants are to be utilized as individuals under our Manual Section 316, or whether they are to be utilized to produce a document, Manual Section 706, whether to be utilized under a reimbursable loan agreement from an institution, Manual Section 306 --I won't go into the details of these now because they are all available, but this is to indicate that there is very great care in the utilization of all these provisions.
Some questions were raised also about cost increases. One question was how and to what extent cost increases and nondiscretionary cost increases were being absorbed. I must be very frank, and with the permission of my Director-General, the provision for cost increases has to be made carefully. This is budgetary prudence. If you do not make careful provision for a cost increase, then you have an inadequate budget which will need cutting. So one has to be realistic. At the same time, there should be no surplus provision so that each element of the cost increase has to be examined very, very carefully. Let me give you some examples. For our Liaison Office in Geneva, the United Nations
has demanded that they charge us rent. They have not done so in this biennium. They wanted to do so because of their financial problems. We had to go and negotiate with them. We have problems, too. When no budgetary provisions had been made for cost increases, how could we suddenly find the funds for it? In the next biennium, if the office were to remain at its current level, the cost increase for rent would be $130 thousand. We are not accepting that. We are reducing it because we are going to reduce the size of the office and we are taking the same steps with our Liaison Office in New York.
We have another example, the cost increase relating to the external auditor. The estimated fee under all funds, Regular Programme, Trust Funds, etc., for this biennium was initially given as £675 thousand. Later on in the biennium we were informed that because of the level of work being done this would have to be increased to £725 thousand and then to £745 thousand. The estimate for the next biennium is £845 thousand. These are cost increases. These are not in our control.
A specific reference was made to the amount for travel. The amount given for travel in the table of cost increases, duty travel, with a cost increase of $1,95 million is entirely related to the increase in cost of travel. We have not taken into account there the additional cost due to the currency fluctuations. In arriving at this figure we have consulted the other united Nations agencies based in Geneva, and they have utilized exactly the same amount in their provision of cost increases.
A question was asked about collaboration with the Interamerican Development Bank, and there was some surprise that this was not specifically mentioned in the document. Indeed, our collaboration with the Interamerican Development Bank continues. It is at a relatively low level, I must admit, if compared to the other regional development banks, but that is the nature of arrangements of the service desired by each regional development bank. With the IDB, on average one project every two years has been formulated with FAO's assistance and has been approved in the recent past, especially in the area of fisheries. The IDB tends to use more local institutions and consultants in the region, and this is a fact. We still collaborate with them, and there are welcome signs that the IDB may make greater use of our expertise in the future since the bank is realizing that it needs to expand its pipeline of viable investment projects in agriculture. The Investment Centre is currently preparing a sub-sector study in agriculture in the Dominican Republic at the request of the IDB, and more such requests are expected.
A question was raised about the use of contingencies. Our provision for contingencies has remained at $600 thousand for quite a number of years; since 1981, in fact. We have always made it a point of honour to admit that just because a provision is there, we do not automatically use it. In 1978-79, the provision was 400 000; we used 162 000. In 1981, the budgetary provision was 600 000; we used 94 000. In 1982-83, the provision was 600 000; we used the entire amount. Why? Because of a specific additional request, in that case from the regional conference for Africa, to do the manpower study on Africa. In 1984-85, we did not use it at all. In 1986-87, we were authorized by you to use 400 000 for the aid-in-kind study.
Now Mr Chairman, if we use the entire amount and said we need to increase it or to retain it, the Council Member Nations could well say that this is indiscriminate use of contingencies. We are careful, and we report to you, and we follow your instructions on issues. And one final point on the contingencies: currently there are discussions under way in the United Nations on the provision for the contingency fund as a proportion of the total UN budget. The figure which was proposed by the Secretariat was some 0.75 percent, some twelve and half million dollars. If we took the FAO budget and the UN budget in relation to each other, according to that request our contingency fund should be of some 3 million dollars. There is no proposal, as you know, to increase it.
Miscellaneous income forecast, as the Director-General said, we will certainly submit to the next session of the Finance Committee. It is going to be a very difficult forecast to prepare as you can imagine, because it will all depend on what provision we make for income contributions, income receipt in the next biennium.
The penultimate point, the Technical Cooperation Programme. A question was asked as to the carry-forward of the TCP appropriation. Is it high, is it low? In recent biennia-in fact i have the figures from 1976-77-the proportion of the TCP appropriation carried forward has been about 45 percent. It was higher for 1984-85 because of the additional 15 million for the African rehabilitation programme which was approved later during the biennium and ear-marked for projects late during the biennium.
What is of significance is that after appropriation for the Technical Cooperation programme of any biennium, the total amount, or virtually the total amount, is ear-marked for projects approved, for projects signed between FAO and governments recipient of TCP assistance. They are signed projects. For 1982-83-let us go back just a few years-in that biennium the appropriation was 47.4 million dollars. At the end of December 1983 the funds ear-marked for projects approved were 46.2 million. So what happened? You got back 377 000 dollars in the cash surplus. It went to miscellaneous income. In 1984-85 the total appropriation, including the 15 million, came to 72 470 000. The total
ear-markings for the projects at the end of December 1985 were 72 290 000. For this biennium the total appropriation is 61 421 000. At the end of December 1986-I am sorry I have the figure as of now Mr Chairman-as of now, end of May, 43 641 000. By the end of this biennium the full appropriation will be ear-marked for projects approved.
What is the carry-over? The carry-over, as the Council very well recognizes and in accordance with the Financial Regulations, is to permit expenditures to be met beyond this biennium for projects which have been approved.
The last point to which I would make brief reference is that of programme delivery costs as at least two or three distinguished delegates have referred to the subject. Here again this is a matter which you will perhaps discuss further when you consider the report of the Finance Committee under item 17. I will be happy to give many more clarifications at this stage if needed, but I think for the moment the Council may just be pleased to note the reaction of the Finance Committee when it considered the subject.
In brief, the Finance Committee found that it agreed that the overhead of 18.8 percent for regular programme delivery, given the characteristics of the Organization, seems to be commendable. The Committee noted that this analysis supported the positive assessment of FAO management practice which it had seen commended in various reports stemming, for instance, from the JIU.
Mr Chairman, so as not to prejudge any further debate on this particular subject, I will, of course subject to your wishes, be at your disposal to provide further information. I hope that in my attempt to give comprehensive replies I have not tried the patience of the Council. I realize that there are some individual questions that I have not even attempted to respond to in view of the time constraints, but as the Director-General said, with other colleagues I am always available to provide further clarification. Thank you Mr Chairman.
LE PRESIDENT Je remercie M. Shah pour sa contribution.
Honorables délégués, Monsieur le Directeur général, nous voici arrivés à la fin de l'examen d'un des points les plus importants de notre ordre du jour, à savoir l'analyse du Sommaire du Programme de travail et budget 1988/89. Je voudrais d'abord exprimer mes remerciements les plus vifs à tous les délégués et observateurs qui ont bien voulu intervenir dans ce débat et en enrichir la discussion par leur contribution pertinente, fouillée et précieuse. J'ai noté à cet égard que le nombre d'interventions a atteint le chiffre de 69 et que Messieurs les délégués et observateurs ont eu l'occasion, au cours de ce débat au fond du point 15, de s'exprimer sans aucune limitation et sans acucune exclusive sur tous les thèmes qui ont été soulevés.
Je voudrais remercier en votre nom les Présidents du Comité du Programme et du Comité financier dont les analyses claires ont grandement facilité la tâche du Conseil et ont constitué une contribution utile et précieuse à ses travaux.
Les remerciements du Conseil vont également au Directeur général et à ses collaborateurs pour leur participation active et significative à nos discussions.
Pour ma part, j'ai noté la volonté farouche du Directeur général d'aboutir au moment de la Conférence à un consensus dans la version intégrale du Programme de travail et budget et je suis persuadé que le Directeur général fera le maximum d'efforts, tant sur le plan des structures que sur le plan du contenu technique, pour aboutir à ce consensus que nous appelons de tous nos voeux.
Nous avons noté avec intérêt en particulier que le Secrétariat de la FAO compte élaborer des documents qui permettront au prochain Conseil et à la Conférence d'examiner des questions de réformes dont l'importance pour la FAO est patente.
Il faut souligner la volonté et l'engagement de transparence exprimés par le Directeur général et qui sont de nature à faciliter la tâche de tous les Etats Membres.
Enfin, j'ai pris note du souci d'économie dont a parlé longuement Monsieur le Directeur général, qui se traduit par une volonté constante, de tous les jours, de faire des économies et de rester dans la limite des allocations qui ont été décidées par la Conférence.
Sans vouloir alourdir cette séance déjà très importante, je voulais simplement dire que j'ai observé que le Conseil, par la voix de nombreux délégués, avait souligné avec satisfaction les améliorations nouvelles apportées au contenu du Sommaire du Programme de travail et budget et qui se sont traduites par des détails et des précisions plus fournis que par le passé sur le transfert des ressources et les ajustements de programme qui ont fait apparaître de manière claire la hiérarchisation des priorités qui sous-tendent l'élaboration de ce programme. Certains délégués ont suggéré d'autres améliorations, je ne doute pas que ces suggestions seront examinées et prises en considération dans l'avenir par le Secrétariat. Je pense qu'il n'est pas possible d'énumérer les suggestions présentées individuellement en ce qui concerne les ajustements de programme et transfert de ressources et je pense que le Secrétariat prendra toutes les dispositions utiles pour en tenir compte dans la rédaction de la version intégrale du Programme de travail et budget.
Je voulais simplement ajouter un mot en ce qui concerne le budget. Nous avons entendu des réactions différentes au Conseil sur le niveau de budget éventuel. D'aucuns ont suggéré qu'il y ait un budget à deux niveaux, un budget inconditionnel et un budget conditionnel, d'autres ont considéré qu'il était insuffisant ou trop élevé. En ce qui concerne l'accroissement et le programme, quelques membres ont rappelé leur position relative à la croissance zéro et ont demandé à la Direction générale de faire en sorte d'atteindre les objectifs dans le budget final. Plusieurs membres auraient souhaité un accroissement net plus élevé étant donné le besoin considérable d'assistance pour le développement agricole, forestier, des pèches et autres activités.
En tout état de cause, à propos du niveau total du budget, certains membres ont dit qu'ils ne pourraient pas l'approuver ou qu'ils réservaient leur position jusqu'à la Conférence.
D'autres membres ont indiqué que bien qu'en plein accord avec la substance des propositions, les problèmes financiers et économiques auxquels leur gouvernement devait faire face rendaient leur approbation d'un accroissement de leur contribution très difficile.
Cependant, je crois avoir noté que la majorité du Conseil a exprimé son soutien au niveau du budget éventuel comme la conséquence directe et logique de son soutien au programme proposé.
En dépit de cette divergence de vue sur le niveau du budget, j'espère que le Conseil ne verra pas d'objection à formuler l'espoir que tous les Etats Membres finiront par approuver le Programme de travail et budget de manière unanime comme il a été souhaité par le Directeur général et ceci lors de la version intégrale du Programme de travail et budget.
En conclusion, je dirais que le Conseil a recommandé que le Directeur général s'attache à mettre en oeuvre les différentes propositions dans le Programme de travail et budget définitif sur la base du sommaire, mais en tenant compte des réactions du Conseil à l'égard de ce même sommaire.
Voici ce que je voulais soumettre à votre réflexion et sauf objection de votre part nous pourrions passer au point suivant de l'ordre du jour, le point 10 et avec votre autorisation je voudrais lever la séance un instant en priant le Vice-Président, M. Glistrup, de bien vouloir assurer la présidence du Conseil pour les points suivants, à savoir les points 10 et 11.
The meeting was suspended from 10.55 to 11.05 hours
La seance est suspendue de 10 h 55 à 11 h 05
Se suspende la sesisn de las 10.55 a las 11.05 horas
John Glistrup, Vice-Chairman of the Council, took the chair
John Glistrup, Vice-Président du Conseil, assume la présidence
Ocupa la presidencia John Glistrup, Vicepresidente del Consejo
A. H. LINDQUIST (Assistant Director-General, a.i., Fisheries Department): The Seventeenth Session of the Committee on Fisheries was held from the 18th to the 22nd May 1987, and was attended by 85 members of the Committee, by observers from four other FAO member nations, and by observers from the USSR and the Holy See. Also present were representatives from UNDP, IOC, GATT, IFAD, World Bank, World Food Programme and the EEC, and 15 other international organizations. Nine countries were represented by ministers and deputy or vice-ministers. Four ministers and one deputy minister made statements at the opening session stressing priority areas for fisheries management and development. Their statements have confirmed that the focus of the FAO programme on fisheries is placed in the right direction.
The Committee elected Mr Hassen Akrout of Tunisia as Chairman and Captain Ryszard Pospieszynski of the Polish Ministry of Maritime Economy as Vice-Chairman. Belgium, Canada, Malaysia and Senegal were elected as the four other Vice-Chairmen.
The Committee appreciated the opportunity to review the world fishery situation and the outlook for the future. Whilst noting the world fish catch recorded its ninth consecutive year of growth in 1986, approaching a record of 90 million tons, the Committee was aware that a large part of the recent increases in production came from catches of small pelagic species well known for their fluctuations in abundance, and in large measure used for conversion to fishmeal rather than for direct human consumption. By the year 2000 an additional amount of 20 million tons of food fish over the present level of production will be required. The Committee agreed, therefore, that major efforts on the part of FAO and Member countries should be concentrated firstly on the improvement of fisheries management; secondly on the development of aquaculture, and thirdly on the better utilization of fish including the reduction of post-harvest losses in order to meet future demand.
Many countries stressed the need for FAO to provide assistance in the field of monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing operations in their exclusive economic zones so they may derive increased benefits from the resources in those zones. Several countries mentioned the heavy burden of their external debt as a factor impeding their fisheries development. The Committee agreed that the outlook for the future of world fisheries should be placed regularly on its agenda, preferably at four-yearly intervals, while the review of the fishery commodity situation and the review of aquaculture development should be updated for the next, the eighteenth session of the Committee.
The Committee considered the preliminary progress report on the strategy for fisheries management and development prepared by the Director-General and in response to the World Fisheries Conference recommendation as instructed, with information reflecting and complementing the information available on the trends in world fisheries. It was suggested that future reports should be submitted to the Committee at four-yearly intervals. The report should contain an evaluation of the usefulness and relevance of the strategy which might be made jointly, with overviews of the trends and prospects for world fisheries.
The Committee expressed satisfaction with the overall progress on implementation of the programmes of action. It noted, however, the imbalances in the support received for the various programmes of action both at the level of financing and world geographical regions. It stressed the importance of training as a means of technology transfer in achieving self-reliance in developing countries in management and development of their fisheries. It agreed there was a need to continue the programmes beyond 1989.
The Committee suggested that FAO regional bodies should make proposals as regards the priority areas they wish to see implemented in the region in the future. The Committee agreed with the format of the future progress report, but suggested more information should be provided on the status of the implementation of the programmes of action outside the framework of FAO. The progress report will be submitted to the next session of COFI.
The Committee was informed of the actions taken by FAO in implementing the six resolutions of the World Fisheries Conference concerning specific aspects of fisheries management and development. It noted with satisfaction in particular the successful implementation of World Food Day 1986, which had as its theme fishermen and fishing communities.
As regards the resolution concerning the prevention of pollution affecting fishery resources, the Committee recommended FAO should pay increased attention to pollution in inland waters, in particular the great lakes in Africa bordered by several countries.
The Committee commended the fruitful work carried out by its sub-committee on fish trade, and endorsed the report of the first session of that sub-committee and their recommendations. It endorsed the future activities of the sub-committee which included the strengthening of the technical advisory functions of the regional fish marketing services in order to facilitate and accelerate the transfer of technology and removal of trade impediments. It also endorsed the proposal for a technical assistance programme for fisheries commodities and marketing development. The Committee decided that the next meeting of the sub-committee would depend on the progress of its work, taking into account the meeting of the Codex Committee on fish and fishery products and the Eighteenth Session of the Committee on Fisheries.
As regards its view on the marking and identification of vessels, the Committee expressed support for the uniform system of marking. In view of the several systems currently in use, it considered the draft marking specifications which have been prepared to be a good basis for the implementation of such a system. It was generally felt the proposal should be carefully reviewed by the governments concerned, and that the matter should be considered further by both the Committee on Fisheries and the Council.
Regarding the protection of living resources from entanglement in fishing nets and debris, the Committee was of the opinion that this issue should be pursued on a global basis and that IMO could take a leading role in the monitoring of entanglement in marine debris.
As regards the aspect of incidental capture, it was felt that the issue could be an element within the framework of fishery resources management and should be brought to the attention of FAO regional fishery bodies.
Several delegations felt that in the light of other pressing needs for fisheries development these matters should presently have lower priority in the work of FAO and in the Committee on Fisheries.
The Committee welcomed the opportunity to review the issue concerning the structure and functions of the FAO regional fishery bodies. It requested that the item again be placed on the agenda of the Eighteenth Session. To assist in preparing this item the Committee suggested that the different FAO regional fishery bodies undertake an in-depth evaluation of their work.
The Committee reviewed the proposed Summary Programme of Work and Budget in fisheries for 1988-89 and expressed its support for the conclusions of the Programme Committee at its Fifty-second Session in May 1987 that the fisheries programme responded to the needs of Member countries and that it provided a satisfactory basis for the formulation of the full Programme of Work and Budget in fisheries for 1988-89.
The information obtained from the delegations attending the Committee on Fisheries will be of great value in the strengthening of our programme of work in order to better FAO's services to its Member countries.
Sra. Margarita LTZARRAGA (México) Mi delegación se siente muy complacida de verlo presidir esta sesión del Consejo. Asimismo, nos complace la presentación del tema que acaba de hacer el Dr. Lindquist.
Nuestro país da una gran importancia al sector pesquero y participa siempre muy activamente y al más alto nivel en los foros de la pesca de nuestra Organización, por lo cual da toda su aprobación y apoyo al informe del recién pasado COFI, presentado a este Consejo.
Seré muy breve y me limitaré a subrayar algunos de los aspectos a los que nuestra delegación confiere particular importancia.
En primer término, consideramos que el seguimiento de los resultados de la Conferencia Mundial de Pesca son el elemento angular a los cuales el Comité de Pesca debe dar particular relevancia, para lo cual la preparación y discusión de los informes nacionales es fundamental y en ello el apoyo del Departamento de Pesca es básico como basico es también el prestar la asistencia técnica para que los países, particularmente los países en vías de desarrollo, podamos poner en practica los logros derivados de la Conferencia Mundial.
Para lograr esto es evidente la necesidad de que el Departamento de Pesca complete la adecuación organizativa planteada al término de ese evento y, desde luego, que la propuesta revisada del presupuesto que nos ha sido presentada sea refrendada por este Consejo y para lo cual nuestra delegación ha dado ya todo su apoyo al discutirse el tema correspondiente.
Nos congratulamos de la entusiasta ratificación que el Comité de Pesca dio al Subcomité de Comercio de Productos Pesqueros cuyo primer informe fue allí analizado y para el cual se aprobó un programa de acción y una agenda para su próxima reunión, que contiene una serie de importantes temas para la próxima reunión, que, seguramente, contribuirán a apoyar a nuestros países en la búsqueda de fórmulas que mejoren la problemática del comercio pesquero.
Asimismo, ratificamos nuestras prioridades relativas al apoyo que la FAO debe dar en su asistencia técnica a los países en desarrollo como son la planificación, la acuicultura, el comercio y transformación, incluyendo el evitar la pérdida de post-cosechas y, desde luego, el programa relativo al papel del pescado para aliviar la subnutrición.
Esperamos que la comunidad de donantes dé su apoyo a este importante programa de acción, y traten de corregir asimismo el desequilibrio en el apoyo tanto a los diversos programas como a la distribución regional.
Finalmente, permítaseme recordar que, al participar en el debate relativo al tema de los órganos regionales de la FAO sobre la materia, nuestro secretario de pesca enfatizó la importancia de los enfoques de la cooperación, la coordinación regional, a las cuales nuestro país concede fundamental importancia y en la que está empeñado activamente a través de OLDEPESCA, COPESCAL Y COPACO.
Aprovechando la ocasión, ya que preside esta ultima Comisión y que México es la sede de su próximo período de sesiones que se celebraré del 27 al 30 de julio próximo, instó a los países miembros para asistir al importante evento.
Amin. ABDEL-MALEK (Liban) (langue originale arabe) Je voudrais remercier le Sous-Directeur général du secteur des pêches pour l'excellent rapport qu'il vient de nous présenter. La délégation de la République du Liban, après avoir pris connaissance du rapport de la 17ème session du Comité des pêches, exprime sa vive satisfaction devant le résultat de cette réunion. La réussite de cette session se mesure aussi bien sur le plan quantitatif que qualitatif, parce que 90 Etats Membres ont été représentés, certains ayant été représentés au niveau des ministres, ce qui témoigne de l'intérêt croissant des Etats Membres pour le secteur des pêches.
Nous réaffirmons le rôle essentiel qu'a joué la Conférence mondiale des pêches qu'a organisée la FAO il y a trois ans, dont les conséquences et les résultats continuent d'apporter leurs bienfaits à tous les niveaux. Les activités qu'offre le secteur des pêches sont particulièrement encourageantes et la quantité de poissons péchés continue de s'accroître. Nous sommes satisfaits que les Etats en développement aient grandement amélioré leur contribution à la production des pêches en 1986. Nous savons que cette production ne peut s'accroître de manière indéfinie.
C'est pourquoi la délégation du Liban appuie les propositions soumises par le Comité des pêches, propositions relatives à une meilleure gestion de ce secteur, à un développement efficace de l'aquaculture, à une amélioration de l'utilisation du produit des pêches, y compris la lutte contre les déperditions enregistrées après la capture. Nous remercions les Etats contributeurs qui ont apporté leur soutien à ce programme, et nous remercions particulièrement le Secrétariat pour son action.
Quant aux discussions du Comité des pêches sur les organes régionaux de la FAO, ce sujet a attiré particulièrement notre attention et nous prions l'Organisation de donner la priorité à l'appui technique et administratif à ces organes régionaux.
En ce qui concerne la stratégie du développement du secteur des pêches, la délégation libanaise a pris acte de ce qui figure dans le premier rapport sur le développement enregistré dans ce secteur, rapport qui a été présenté par le Directeur général de l'Organisation, qui se fonde sur les rapports nationaux que les Etats Membres ont soumis et que le Comité des pêches a étudiés et a considérés comme une contribution particulièrement utile, de même que l'évaluation qui a été faite des derniers développements de ce secteur.
La stratégie adoptée par la Conférence mondiale des pêches constitue à nos yeux un excellent outil qui peut être utilisé par les Etats Membres et par les organisations internationales. C'est pourquoi nous prions le Secrétariat de poursuivre l'évaluation de tout développement dans ce secteur, et de préparer et distribuer des rapports sur ces développements.
Quant au budget 1988-89 et au Sommaire de programme, en ce qui concerne le budget de ce secteur, nous saisissons l'occasion pour enregistrer notre satisfaction devant l'augmentation proposée pour les grands projets en faveur des pêches, augmentation de 1,9 pour cent, alors que la croissance du budget en général ne dépasse pas 0,5 pour cent. Ceci témoigne de l'importance et de l'intérêt que l'Organisation accorde à ce secteur.
En conclusion, le Liban appuie les conclusions de la cinquante-deuxième session du Comité du programme en mai 1987, Comité auquel j'ai l'honneur de participer, puisque le Comité a considéré que les propositions émanant des Etats Membres étaient particulièrement utiles dans ce secteur.
Mrs, Marasel. SURAKUL (Thailand) I would like first of all to thank the Secretariat for the presentation of this well-prepared document CL 91/7. My delegation was particularly interested in the joint FAO/Norway evaluation exercise of the Umbrella International Programme in planning the utilization of the living resources and strongly feels that such activities should be further encouraged.
My delegation wishes to register our request for the Secretariat to include in the Programme of Action such activities as the joint FAO/Norway evaluation exercise, which in my delegation's view may help to clarify the misunderstanding or misinterpretations regarding the management of the living resources in the exclusive economic zone. My delegation also endorses this document.
Igor. ΚΙΡΜAΝ (Brazil) Allow me for starters, Mr Chairman, to express, on behalf of my delegation, my satisfaction to see you chairing our debates on this agenda item.
I would also like to thank Mr Lindquist for his clear and comprehensive introduction of the report of the XVII Session of COFI.
The Brazilian delegation attended the Seventeenth Session of the Committee on Fisheries and took active part in its debates. We are pleased, therefore, to welcome the report of that session and convey our support for its contents. There are, however, a few points to bring to the attention of the Council, which we shall do in a very brief manner.
Full support was conveyed for the basic priorities of the Organization and, at the same time, my delegation regretted that the implementation of shorter-term priorities are still affected by the scarcity of resources. We expressed our confidence that sound proposals are being presented and that training, TCDC activities and technical programmes should continue to receive adequate attention.
My delegation also repeatedly stressed during the Seventeenth Session of the COFI our concern that a better balanced allocation of resources amongst the various regions be achieved in the next biennium.
Finally, Mr Chairman, we would like to reiterate that our delegation strongly regrets the late access given to the report of the meeting of experts dealing with marking and identification of fishery vessels, which prevented our delegation, among others, from expressing its views on the subject, since it had to be dealt with previously by the authorities in our capital.
Giulio Cesare GARAGOSO (Italie) Monsieur le Président, je tiens à vous présenter mes félicitations ainsi qu'à M. Lindquist pour l'excellente présentation qu'il a faite au Conseil.
L'Italie est déjà intervenue au sein du Comité des pêches et, à cette occasion, elle a illustré les mesures adoptées pour la réalisation des stratégies issues de la Conférence mondiale sur les pêches.
Je serai donc très bref et me bornerai ici à aborder deux sujets évoqués dans le document que nous sommes en train d'examiner.
Le premier concerne l'importance de la pêche artisanale et, dans ce domaine spécifique, l'importance des initiatives de formation et de celles qui concernent en particulier les mouvements coopératifs. Nous sommes tout à fait d'accord avec ce qui est affirmé dans le document à ce sujet.
Le deuxième concerne l'importance des programmes relatifs à l'aquaculture. L'Italie suit avec une attention toute particulière les activités de la FAO dans le secteur de l'aquaculture étant donné, en particulier, les perspectives qu'elles dégagent pour contribuer efficacement à la solution de problèmes économiques et sociaux du développement; et cela tout en étant consciente du fait qu'il faudra de toute façon avoir recours à des mises au point ultérieures de méthodologie et d'exécution dans le but de maximiser le rendement des ressources utilisées.
On sait que, dans le cadre de la FAO, l'engagement de l'Italie à l'égard de ce secteur se concrétise par le financement de deux programmes régionaux: un en Amérique latine et l'autre dans le bassin méditerranéen, pour un chiffre global de plus de 7,3 millions de dollars.
Dans le cadre du dernier programme-le MEDRAP-qui est déjà dans sa phase finale, la participation italienne s'est adressée au secteur de la formation et à la réalisation de trois initiatives-pilotes: au Maroc, en Tunisie et en Egypte. Il y a à présent en cours une évaluation conjointe FAO-Italie dans le but, d'une part, d'examiner les résultats obtenus grâce à l'apport italien et, de l'autre, de donner des indications sur la base de l'expérience acquise en matière de stratégies et de modalités appropriées pour une continuation de l'intervention italienne même au-delà de la phase actuelle.
Joachim WINKEL (Germany, Federal Republic of) We welcome the presentation of the Report of the Seventeenth Session of the Committee on Fisheries, and especially the lucid introduction by Mr Lindquist. The Report shows that progress could be made in the strategies, programmes and specific resolutions as a follow-up to the World Fisheries Conference in 1984.
With your permission, Mr Chairman, I would like to inform the Council that the World Food Day in 1986 was used by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as that of the State of Schleswig-Holstein, to inform the public of the world food situation and the means for improvement given by fisheries and fisheries communities. The Director-General, in response to our demands, had made it possible that members of the Secretariat could participate in these public events in such an active and competent manner that we by the echo we received can mark this World Food Day as a great success.
My government would like to thank the Director-General and the members of the staff and the Secretariat for the efficient support we received once again on this important matter. However, the report before us shows that great efforts are still necessary to meet the increasing demand for fish
and fish products. The Programme of Work for FAO for the next few years seems suitable to us to promote necessary developments. The Federal Republic of Germany will contribute to it at both international and national levels.
Hasim OGUT (Turkey) Let me first express our pleasure at seeing you in the Chair, Mr Chairman, and then thank Mr Lindquist for his clear presentation of the report.
Turkey actively participated in the work of the Seventeenth Session of the COFI and had opportunities to express views relating to various items on its agenda. We therefore feel that we can limit our statement this time to one point which in our opinion deserves further emphasis by the Council.
We note with satisfaction that COFI gave proper recognition to the useful role of the Regional Fisheries Bodies of FAO and endorsed the recommendation that administrative and technical support to these bodies be given a high priority in FAO's Programme. Turkey participates in the work of the General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean which is the regional fisheries body bringing together both developed and developing countries situated in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region. Our opinion regarding the past activities of this regional body is that it has greatly facilitated the exchange of information and knowledge among the countries in this region and promoted cooperation especially in the recent years on fisheries management and development. We believe the past success of this body is attributable to various factors. In this connexion, we would like in particular to underline the contribution of its Secretary who is unfortunately leaving this full time position-he may already have left-to take retirement. My delegation in view of the need for the continuation of the GFCM's work in this region hopes that this post will be kept as a full-time one in the future.
With these brief remarks, I would like to state that my delegation fully endorses the report of the Seventeenth Session of COFI.
George Henry MUSGROVE (Canada) In light of the time and the many speakers waiting for the floor, we shall be very very brief. We would like to commend Mr Lindquist for his introduction and to say-along with others-how pleased we are that the Fisheries Department realized a modest but somewhat larger increase in funding in the proposals for the 1988-89 biennium.
The recent COFI meeting, amongst other things, discussed once again the fisheries vessel marking and identification issue. It was to our regret that the Committee on Fisheries itself was not able to recommend to, the Council at this stage the adoption of the standards for marking that had been developed by this Organization some months ago.
As delegates will be aware, one of the major challenges facing the world is the effective management of fisheries. Indeed, it is the subject of a large part of the action programmes that are on-going in the fisheries sector. An essential element of fisheries management in many cases is the effective surveillance and control of the exclusive economic zones which lie in the coastal regions of many of our Member Countries. At present, I understand there are over 40 different systems of fishery vessel identification, making it extremely difficult for those Member Countries with exclusive economic zones to effect proper surveillance and control of their fishery resource.
It was thought desirable to develop a common standard, a common system, for such identification. The FAO has done extremely good word in coming up with a draft standard for such marking. It is for Member Countries to adopt that standard in due course. We hope we can leave on the record and commend to our fellow delegates that countries will in the interim begin to apply this standard which has found a wide degree of acceptance amongst international organizations and a good many of our countries.
Esaw S.S. NEBWE (Zambia) Let me preface my remarks by congratulating FAO on preparing such a comprehensive and informative paper. Secondly, I would like to congratulate Dr Lindquist for making an excellent but brief presentation of the paper.
My delegation would like to endorse the contents of the paper. Although my delegation has no controversial issues to raise, nonetheless Zambia would like to make a few pertinent comments on it. Although Zambia is a landlocked country it happens to be endowed with a number of lakes, rivers and streams with a tremendous scope for fresh water fisheries development. Although some great strides have been made in the development of fisheries in my country, most of this has been restricted to harvesting what is available with the exception of one major project whereby Zambia transplanted sardines from Lake Tanganyika into Lake Kariba. Fish provides the main source of protein and income in rural areas. Consequently, the rate at which fish is being harvested is such that unless urgent steps are taken to augment natural fish production in our lakes and rivers our natural fish stock could be depleted in the not too distant future.
I must hasten to say that although Zambia has taken necessary legal and administrative measures to control indiscriminate fishing, this alone cannot arrest the situation. It is in this regard that my delegation warmly welcomes the measures FAO is taking in order to encourage aquaculture, particularly in developing countries.
I need not over emphasize the fact that aquaculture is a relatively new phenomenon in the developing countries such as Zambia. It would therefore be appreciated if both developed and developing countries with sufficient experience in this field could extend technical assistance to less experienced developing countries. As regards the international community at large, my delegation would like to appeal for material and financial assistance in order to assist those countries in need to accelerate the development of aquaculture. My delegation is convinced that if the development of aquaculture is tackled along the lines of paragraph 16 of document number CL 91/7, a potential does exist to double, if not treble, fish production, even in landlocked developing countries like Zambia.
Experience has shown that quite a sizeable amount of fish is lost due to inadequate facilities for preserving and marketing this resource. It is therefore important that any assistance to be extended to developing countries under this programme should include an element of mitigating post-harvest losses. In other words, such assistance should include suitable refrigeration and transportation facilities.
In the Zambia context, my delegation would like to propose that aquacultural development be integrated with other rural development projects. This approach would enable rural communities not only to grow basic staples, but also to grow their own fish for home consumption and for sale. The Ζambian delegation would therefore like to specifically propose that a special aquaculture programme be formulated and given the necessary financial backup in line with the programme of action endorsed by the World Conference on Fisheries in 1984. In this regard, my delegation would like to commend FAO for the action taken so far on the implementation of the programme of action adopted at that conference. My country is happy to note that FAO managed to mobilize resources from donors to the tune of $15 million, which is the minimum indicative target for the programme. My delegation would like to take this opportunity to appeal to other donors who have not yet contributed to the programme to do so generously.
Let me briefly refer to the question of training for the development of the fish industry in Zambia. Whereas Zambia appreciated the technical and financial assistance that it has received for manpower training and development in various fields of agricultural development, a very limited extent of assistance specifically directed to the development of fisheries has been received over the years. Because of Zambia's limited resources to spearhead a training programme for this sub-sector of agriculture, it has lagged behind in the development of the fish industry compared to other sub-sectors. It is in this vein that an earnest appeal is being made to the international community and to FAO in particular to assist in this matter.
In conclusion, my delegation would like to unreservedly support the fisheries programme of work which FAO has proposed to undertake in the 1988-89 biennium.
Waliur RAHMAN (Bangladesh) I wish to record my sincerest appreciation for the good work done by the Chairman and the members of the Committee on Fisheries. I would also like to thank Mr Lindquist for the excellent introduction he has just given to us in introducing this item onto the agenda.
In the Committee of Fisheries, the delegation of my country was led by the Minister for Fisheries. This indicates the very great importance we attach to the FAO programmes in this particular sector. In the Committee on Fisheries, the Minister for Fisheries of my Government made certain very relevant points which I think worthy of repetition. Very briefly, these are a) FAO should pay better attention to the development of inland fisheries than hitherto done; b) Development of the small-scale culture and capture fisheries, particularly in the inland sector, should be integrated with the overall rural development of the countries; c) The Sub-Committee of Fish Trade has a useful role to play in identifying the problems of trade in fish and fish products, and it should undertake a specific study on tariff and non-tariff barriers in the trade.
I would like to express our appreciation to the Director-General for an enhanced provision of over $500 000 for fisheries development in the work programme for 1988-89. This enhanced importance accords the recommendations that the Minister for Fisheries had forwarded in his intervention in the Committee on Fisheries meeting. I would also like to point out in this connection that in the light of discussions that the Council had on the Programme and Budget, we understand there will be certain adjustments in the Budget and Programme in certain areas. My delegation in this connection would strongly urge that the enhanced provision for fisheries may be protected.
While I have the floor, I would like to report to the Council on some of our responses to the World Conference on Fisheries. The fisheries sector contributes in my country about 6 percent of our GDP. It contributes almost 16 percent of our annual export earnings. We depend on this sector for over 80 percent of our protein supply. Because of the promise this sector holds out for our economy, a very high priority has been given to this in our current five year plan, the third five year plan. In addition, a 20 year prospective plan for fisheries development has been prepared and profiles for nearly 31 projects have been developed. We wish to record our sincerest thanks to the FAO and UNDP for the timely assistance and cooperation extended to us in preparing these plans. Fisheries in Bangladesh are predominantly small-scale sized. The only exceptions are, of course, the deepsea trawling fishery. The development of fisheries in Bangladesh is in substance the development of the small-scale industries through fisheries. We thus introduced a new management system for public fisheries. In the past, these fisheries were auctioned for exploitation for short periods of time to the highest bidder. As a result, rich middlemen used to get the benefit. Under the new system of management, the middlemen have almost been eliminated, and the rights of small fishermen have been recognized. We are also cooperating with the Bay of Bengal Development Project for Small-scale Shrimp Culture in the Coastal Areas. In aquaculture, Bangladesh has taken a massive development programme. It includes two multimillion dollar projects, one financed by IDA and UNDP, and the other by the Asian Development Bank. The former relates to coastal aquaculture, and the other relates to freshwater fish culture including a scheme for development of floodplain fisheries. We have also established a fisheries research institute. It has been linked to the network of aquaculture centres in Asia as our national centre, and we are playing an active role and thus contributing to the activities of NSCA. In recent years the annual export of frozen fish and shrimp has been of the order of 30 percent. Indications are that this rate of growth will be maintained for the rest of this century. In order to ensure proper quality of exports, we have established two quality control laboratories at the two seaports in Bangladesh. A legal framework for quality control also exists. Efforts have been made to strengthen these laboratories and to improve the control regulations further. We recognize the importance of fish in improved nutrition of the people also. The nutritional objective can be achieved by rapid increase in production. Due to the age-old negligence in this sector, it may take some time to achieve an optimum level, but efforts are going on. Particularly, the prioritizations that we are giving to this sector of our national economy and with the support from international agencies such as FAO, we hope to establish this sector of the economy on a proper footing which will contribute significantly to our overall efforts in improving our national economy.
Boniface N. NDIMANDE (Zimbabwe) My comments will be pretty few and short. My delegation comes from a landlocked country with no natural facility of the ocean or sea from which to harvest fish. However, we have grown to appreciate that we could go a long way to improve the nutrition of our people if only we utilized our inland water resources properly. We welcome the observation by the committee that there is a need to integrate small-scale fisheries development in the overall rural development. Fish are a source of food, and their important role cannot be over emphasized, particularly as a source of protein. We agree with the Committee's conclusion that there exist three specific possibilities to increase fish supplies as spelt out in page 3, paragraph 16 of CL 91/7.
These possibilities are fisheries management, effective development of acquaculture and improved utilization of fish. It is regrettable to say that all these are badly lacking in my country, particularly among the peasant community. My country has a need for technical support on fish management in general. We therefore look forward to getting assistance from FAO and other organizations that are in a position to give assistance, particularly in training.
Unlimited net fishing is threatening the existence of fish in many of our rivers and lakes, and certainly something will have to be done soon in order to reduce this wrong way of fish management. In Zimbabwe fishing is in fact put under the Ministry of Tourism, and they regard it more as a form of sport where the interest of angling clubs is paramount. What we need to do is to make fish a source of protein food for our people who suffer from malnutrition.
We would like to commend this document that has been produced, which we think has relevance to many countries regardless of where they are.
Edgard FONSECA (Nicaragua) Como las delegaciones que me han precedido en el uso de la palabra, queremos felicitarle a usted, Señor Presidente, por verle presidir esta mañana este Consejo. Asimismo agradecemos al Señor Lindquist por su excelente y clara presentación.
Señor Presidente, Nicaragua es país miembro del Comité de Pesca y participó activamente en los trabajos del 17 Período de Sesiones, adoptando el Informe que ahora tenemos ante nosotros como documento CL 91/7. Nuestra delegación entonces aprueba nuevamente el informe del 17 período de sesiones del Comité de Pesca.
Fue particularmente satisfactorio haber tenido la oportunidad de examinar las tendencias y perspectivas de la pesca mundial, que tienen ahora mayor importancia como resultado de la Conferencia Mundial de la Pesca de 1986.
Estamos de acuerdo en que el aumento de la oferta de pescado se puede lograr a través de la mejor ordenación pesquera, del desarrollo eficaz de la acuicultura, y a través de un mayor aprovechamiento del pescado, incluyendo la reducción de las pérdidas posteriores a las capturas. Como menciona el párrafo 17, reconocemos la función de la FAO de proporcionar información pertinente y oportuna a los países ribereños para lograr una mayor ordenación de sus recursos pesqueros.
Fue también satisfactorio para mi delegación conocer los progresos realizados en la aplicación de la estrategia para la ordenación y desarrollo de la pesca y concordamos en que es esencial la capacitación, la transferencia de tecnología y de recursos financieros para promover la autosuficiencia de los países en desarrollo, en la planificación y ejecución de los programas de ordenación y desarrollo pesquero.
Por otro lado, en los progresos realizados en la ejecución de los programas de acción, si bien es cierto que el Comité expresó su satisfacción general, puesto que se alcanzó el objetivo mínimo anual de 15 millones de dólares, estos fueron asignados de tal manera que se han producido desequilibrios, tanto en cada uno de los cinco programas de acción, como desequilibrio en las asignaciones por región, según consta en los párrafos 37 y 38. Apoyamos el llamado que hizo el Comité a los donantes para subsanar esta deficiencia. Además, apoyamos el párrafo 43 para que los órganos regionales de pesca, de la FAO hagan propuestas sobre las prioridades y reajustes futuros de los programas, para que estos sigan siendo ejecutados después de 1989, año en que termina el período inicial de cinco años previstos para la ejecución de los programas de acción.
Acogemos con satisfacción la estrecha cooperación existente entre la FAO y el PNUD en el sector de la pesca, habiendo el PNUD proporcionado hasta la fecha, aproximadamente el 40 por ciento del financiamiento anual destinado a los programas de acción de la FAO.
En relación a los progresos realizados en la aplicación de las seis resoluciones sobre determinados aspectos de la ordenación y el desarrollo pesquero, nos complacen particularmente las medidas que la FAO ha adoptado en respuesta a la resolución que se refiere al desarrollo de programas especiales de pesca para los países sin litoral, y nos satisface que los países sin litoral del Sahel y del Africa Centro-Oriental se beneficien de una mayor asistencia del Programa Ordinario de la FAO.
Es igualmente importante la promoción de la CEPD y la CTPD, y reconocemos el apoyo del Programa Ordinario de la FAO a la resolución que precisamente se refiere a la cooperación económica y técnica entre los países en desarrollo.
Los órganos regionales de pesca de la FAO Cumplen una función significativa en la promoción de la CEPD y la CTPD para lograr un mayor reconocimiento y una mayor cooperación regional en el sector pesquero.
Por ultimo, Sr. Presidente, sobre el informe de la primera reunión del Subcomité del COFI sobre Comercio Pesquero, contenido en los párrafos 66 y 75, concordamos con lo expresado por el Presidente del Subcomité, el Sr. Fernando Castro y Castro, Subsecretario de Pesca de México, en el sentido que el Subcomité constituye un marco apropiado para celebrar consultas sobre cuestiones relacionadas con el comercio pesquero, como se había previsto en la Conferencia Mundial de la Pesca.
Concordamos también con la opinión del Comité de Pesca cuando confimó que la labor de la FAO es complementaria a la de organizaciones como el GATT, la OCDE, el PMA y el Centro de Comercio Internacional UNCTAD/GATT, y nos satisface que las actividades de la FAO, en apoyo del Subcomité, continúen realizándose en estrecha colaboración con las organizaciones antes mencionadas.
Para finalizar Señor Presidente, queremos dejar constancia de nuestro agradecimiento al Gobierno de Noruega por su generosa y valiosa asistencia al sector pesquero de Nicaragua.
Adel Beimi EL SARKY (Egypt) (original language Arabic) Thank you. In the name of Allah the compassionate and the Merciful, after having listened to the presentation of Mr Lindquist for this document my delegation wishes to welcome all the information contained therein, and we should also like to express our satisfaction with this document mainly after reviewing paragraphs 14 to 16. This document has provided us with ample data about the present world fisheries situation and the outlook for the future. This would be very helpful to the developing countries in their quest to prepare plans for fisheries management and development. For all these reasons we wish to welcome the document under discussion.
The strategies emanating from the World Conference of Fisheries Management did provide us with illuminating ideas about the best ways of promoting national aquaculture programs. Furthermore we wish to stress the importance of technical and economic cooperation among developing countries, and with international organizations in the field of fisheries.
We wish also to express our appreciation of the FAO's regional bodies and their various activities within the framework of fisheries, mainly as they represent a basic clearing house for the exchange of information relating to the management of fishery resources.
We wish also to stress the vital role played by these Bodies in helping the transfer of technology and training of experts with a view to preparing cadres able to foster this important sector and promote and implement modern and up-to-date aquaculture techniques.
My delegation has already studied paragraphs 60 and 61 of this document under discussion, and we wish to stress our satisfaction with the cooperation of FAO with the rest of the UN agencies, mainly in their attempt to mitigate the effects of pollution and contamination of the seas and their impact on the fishing stocks, as referred to in paragraph 60.
As paragraph 61, the World Food Day celebration in 1986 coincided with my country's initiative of giving awards to the national fishermen who contributed to the increase in fish catches, modernizing fishing vessels in addition to the preparation of information programs about the nutrition value of fish. Furthermore, programmes were devised and implemented with a view to promoting women's role in developing aquaculture and fish processing.
As for paragraph 71 of this document, it contains a proposal whereby a study would be undertaken on the fish trade situation between developing countries in addition to the supply of statistics on fish catches. In principle we wish to support this and we hope to receive further information about the broad framework of this study.
As for the summary programme of work and budget for 1988-89 and particularly the sub-programme dealing with fisheries we wish to seize this opportunity to welcome the increase in the resources allocated to this subprogramme. This is a clear evidence of the FAO's interest in this vital sector.
Mr Chairman, in conclusion I wish to congratulate you on your chairing this session, and I wish also to thank all the friendly countries and the FAO that assisted us in our endeavours to promote the fisheries sector hoping that further assistance would be channelled in order to ensure the full use of fishing resources available in one country.
Frederick SUMAYE (Tanzania) Mr Chairman, the Tanzanian delegation wishes to congratulate you for occupying that important chair at this session. We also wish to congratulate the COFI for the excellent report CL 91/7 and the Assistant Director-General, Mr Lindquist, for his presentation of the paper. The fisheries section has been well covered and given an increase of US$ 506 000 in 1988-89 biennium budget. This is a positive indication that the programme is given the due weight it deserves. We are not, however, saying that these funds are enough, but we also do appreciate the lack of funds to cover everything that we would like covered during the coming budget biennium.
In the developing countries the problem of malnutrition is very critical as we all know. In most of these areas there will be enough to eat to fill the stomach at least at some periods. The quality of the foods eaten has no nutritional balances. The children in such cases will suffer from malnutrition irrespective of whether the stomach is full or not. Such children, and even adults, are very prone to diseases, and such areas usually have a very high child mortality rate.
Poor communities usually can hardly afford to buy other sources of protein, especially meat which is very expensive in the developing countries due to the high costs of keeping these animals. Generally animal products, if available, will be very expensive for the poor families to afford. In some of the areas, even to keep the animals is not feasible due to factors beyond the control of these peasants.
Fish is a good source of protein which can easily be cultured in most areas of developing countries. Where there are fishing communities the health of children, and even adults, usually is very upgraded. This of course leads to reduced child mortality rates.
We feel that if a deliberate move is made in helping countries establish fishing communities and establishing fish processing facilities so that this fish can reach other areas where fish dams cannot be established, this will alleviate the problem of malnutrition a great deal.
We also feel that FAO should help countries establish family fish ponds. These family fish ponds are very effective in supplying fish to the families in the village homes. Larger scale ponds at village level is also advised to give enough fish for the village people.
My delegation would like to stress the importance of fish production and protection of inland fishery resources from any kind of pollution.
We suggest that before the introduction of new types of fish is made into inland water resources, a thorough study should be undertaken into the characteristics and behaviour of the type of fish being introduced. This is important so that the existing biological balance is not upset.
To give a living example of this point, a large type of fish called the Nile perch was introduced into Lake Victoria more than ten years ago. Lake Victoria had a lot of high quality tilapia but now has very little fish of this kind. A lot of studies are being done to establish what happened. Whatever the outcome, these studies will give us a post mortem result.
We would also like to stress the importance of fisheries research development and training. We feel that in the long run this will enable individual countries to be self-supporting in this sector in terms of personnel and facilities.
My delegation wholeheartedly endorses this paper, especially bearing in mind the importance attached to inland fisheries and aquaculture, fish utilization and marketing. However we wish more resources were allocated to the fish production sub-programme.
A. Daniel WEYGANDT (United States of America) May I begin by saying, Mr Chairman, how very pleased my delegation is to see you chairing this meeting. We feel your work will make a major contribution to our quick deliberations on this subject. May I also say we very much appreciated the introduction by Mr Lindquist, which was very comprehensive.
I would like to commend the businesslike and cooperative atmosphere which prevailed at the Seventeenth Session of COFI. It was one of the better meetings in recent memory.
May I start my other remarks by saying that my delegation supports the increased budget appropriation for fisheries within the Summary Programme of Work and Budget. Having had the honour to serve on the Programme Committee in its recent deliberations, I should add that the full range of the programmes in the Summary Proramme of Work and Budget for fisheries were gone into in great detail, and there was a wide consensus that the programmes deserve our full support.
As a government we attach great importance to the role of FAO in the fisheries area, and feel this is work which cannot be replaced by any other element in the international system. We are encouraged, too, that for this reason COFI cooperation with other elements of the international system was emphasized. For example, we welcome the fact that COFI reaffirmed the work of FAO on fish trade issues, that these be complementary to work of other bodies such as GATT and ITC, and that it does not overlap with any other activities.
We are pleased to hear that the scheduling of the second session of the Trade Committee will take into account progress on the Codex Committee on fish. We see no need for the trade sub-commmittee to be reconvened before 1989.
We welcome the full discussion on fishing vessel marking and look forward to reviewing that discussion in the eighteenth session. Implementation of any marking must attend the outcome of that session and its recommendations.
We welcome cooperation and the process of increasing that cooperation between FAO and the UNEP. We reaffirm our resolution to continue to support the efforts of COFI, FAO and elsewhere to reduce living marine entanglement in fishnets.
Ismael DIAZ YUBERO (España) Nos complace verle presidir nuestra sesión y queremos agradecer a la Secretaría la elaboración del informe y al Sr. Lindquist por la calidad de la presentación.
Vamos a intentar también ser breves y cortar un poco el discurso que teníamos preparado.
La delegación española quiere poner de manifiesto la gran labor llevada a cabo por la FAO en el sector pesquero.
En el discurso de inauguración de la Conferencia Mundial sobre Ordenación y Desarrollo Pesquero Su Majestad el Rey de España hizo hincapié en la necesidad de salvaguardar una de las fuentes principales de la humanidad no sólo de riquezas, sino, incluso, de vida. Asimismo, recomendó la búsqueda de fórmulas adecuadas y de cooperación internacional para ayudar eficazmente a las poblaciones mas desasistidas del mundo.
En cumplimiento de estos deseos de Su Majestad el Rey de España, queremos destacar que el 17° período de sesiones del COFI ha resultado muy positivo por su acierto en recoger en su programa puntos tan importantes como la situación pesquera mundial, con los últimos datos obtenidos desde la celebración de la Conferencia, incluyendo la acuicultura como alternativa para paliar las necesidades alimenticias de pescado en el futuro.
Mí país ha señalado el importante futuro de esta actividad y el apoyo que prestamos a la misma. Ayer mismo, durante la discusión del Programa de Labores y Presupuesto, hacía constar el interés que tendría para nosotros la separación de la acuicultura del Subprograma de Recursos Continentales. Por otra parte, la celebración de una Conferencia Internacional sobre acuicultura solicitada por varias delegaciones durante el COFI tendrá por nuestra parte el máximo apoyo.
Queremos hacer constar también que los estudios sobre los progresos realizados en la aplicación de la estrategia y en la ejecución de los programas de acción, así como los problemas actuales del comercio internacional que fueron considerados durante el COFI, fueron tratados con mucho interés por todos los asistentes y los resultados creemos que están en buen camino.
Por todo ello, y por la calidad de los documentos presentados a estudio en este Comité, queremos reiterar nuestro agradecimiento a la FAO e instarle a continuar en esta línea de actuaciones.
Dató Seri Mhd. Khalid HUSSEIN (Malaysia) Mr Chairman, my delegation is very happy to see you in the Chair. We are also pleased with the excellent presentation of the report given by the Assistant Director-General and wish to endorse our full agreement with the report and its proposals.
We would like to draw attention to paragraph 15 of the report which states "...that much of the recent growth had been in the catches of small pelagic species which were generally of lower value..."
This would no doubt constrain the present intense rate of exploitation in the inshore waters of most of the coastal states. Therefore, we strongly support the call for better management of existing stocks. To avoid over-fishing of the sea by states who have full jurisdiction over their coastal zones, it is essential that the coastal states of developing countries be assisted to build up their capacity to effectively manage these fisheries. Of course, by better management we also imply the necessity for effective monitoring, control and surveillance against the ever-present threat of illegal fishing by foreign vessels. We are satisfied that these needs are well reflected in the report and wish to reiterate our support for this activity.
However, emphasis on the better utilization of under-utilized species, especially of the smaller pelagics, is of paramount importance. It is ironic to note that a large portion of the small pelagics caught are converted into animal feed while a large part of the world's population is hungry and is still fed on a pro.tein-deficient diet. Of course, we agree that the problem is due to the low price of the smaller pelagics, but it should be viewed as a positive factor that the species are used to aid the malnourished. Intensive work on the prevention of post-harvest losses is still necessary since, with a little additional investment and expert effort, these are avoidable.
We fully subscribe to the need for stronger support for aquaculture development which holds promise of increased earnings among fishermen as well as for food for the masses.
With regard to fishing vessel markings, since the full recommendations of the expert consultation were received late in the COFI meeting, consensus was not reached. We think that the next Council should deal with this issue, which we feel is of particular importance, to enable a more uniform and orderly system to be implemented for foreign vessels fishing in the waters of coastal states.
V.K. SIBAL (India) Mr Chairman, we were very happy to see you presiding over this session, and would like to express our appreciation of the presentation of the document under discussion by Mr Lindquist.
Global reviews, if they are to be meaningful, must be able to monitor significant trends and changes which by definition would need to be studied over a reasonable time if they are not to become repetitive and to that extent have less value. In this context, we fully support the suggestion that a review of the world fishery situation and outlook should be held at four-yearly intervals. Fishing is a valuable resource to be handled without prodigality or extravagance; indeed, it should be handled with careful husbandry and management, considering the likely gap between supply and demand at the end of the century.
Major and well-considered programmes therefore will have to be set in place and implemented by FAO and the other Member countries in the area of improved fishery management, the development of aquaculture and improved utilization of fish. We are pleased to note the progress made in the implementation of the World Fisheries Conference strategy for fishery management and development, and look forward to similar reports at four-yearly intervals, which we consider reasonable.
We note with satisfaction the progress made in the implementation of the programme of action. However, the little donor support to the action programme for fisheries and the alleviation of malnutrition is an imbalance which we would like to see rectified in view of the crucial human dimensions of this programme of action.
The protection of inland water fishery resources from pollution needs to be tackled with some priority. At the same time, integrated development programmes for the improvement of the economic conditions of the rural small-scale fishermen need to be strengthened, keeping in mind the weakness and vulnerability of this section of the population and the low place they occupy in the economic and social scales. Proposals for a technical assistance programme for fishery commodities and market
development are welcome and need to be translated into concrete plans of action. FAO has a key role to play in disseminating information on the better management of fishery resources. In order to enable FAO to play that role effectively, it is necessary that the Organization should be able to get statistical data of acceptable quality from Member countries. We need to ensure this where such data are not forthcoming.
The costs incurred by countries in controlling fishing in the exclusive economic zones are very high and they require assistance in the development of appropriate cost-effective monitoring, control and surveillance systems.
We support the funding proposals for the fisheries sector in the Summary Programme of Work and Budget. Like the united States delegate, I had the privilege of being on the Committee where these programmes were discussed in great detail, and we feel that the funds provided are fully justified.
The Indian delegation supports the conclusions and recommendations of the Seventeenth Session of the Committee on Fisheries.
Philippe PIOTKT (France) Monsieur le President, je voudrais tout d'abord vous adresser toutes les félicitations de la délégation française. Je voudrais également remercier M. Lindquist pour son exposé introductif et dire que les conclusions du Comité des pêches reçoivent l'accord total de la délégation française.
Mon intervention sera brève. Je me limiterai à souligner deux points qui nous semblent importants. Tout d'abord, en ce qui concerne les travaux du Sous-comité des produits de la pêche, mon pays suit avec attention les activités de ce sous-comité et considère que la commercialisation des produits de la pêche est un domaine important dont il convient d'encourager le développement. Mais nous pensons aussi qu'il est nécessaire de veiller à éviter les doubles emplois avec les travaux menés dans d'autres instances internationales telles que le GATT, qui est lui-même directement compétent pour traiter de ces problèmes commerciaux. Il nous semble donc que la FAO devrait concentrer ses activités dans ce domaine sur quelques points prioritaires tels que l'information des Etats Membres sur le commerce des produits de la pêche, en particulier dans le cadre du COFI.
Le second point sur lequel je souhaitais attirer l'attention du Conseil concerne la très utile coopération entre l'ONUDI et la FAO dans le cadre de la Première Consultation mondiale sur l'industrialisation de la pêche, qui s'est tenue à Gdansk, en Pologne, au début de ce mois du juin.
Nous pensons qu'il y a là un très bon exemple de coopération entre les organisations spécialisées du système des Nations Unies. Ces travaux ont abouti à des conclusions et des recommandations précises et concrètes, et mon pays est persuadé que la FAO tout comme l'ONUDI sauront en tirer le plus grand compte dans leurs programmes de travail respectifs.
The meeting rose at 12.30 hours
La séance est levée à 12 h 30
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.30 horas
