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LIST OF DECISIONS, DIRECTIVES AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COUNCIL

State of Food and Agriculture 1984

Generally Endorsed the analysis and assessment of the world and regional food and agricultural situation given in the State of Food and Agriculture 1984 (para. 12).

Urged that increased and more dependable support be provided to the multilateral agencies which were placing priority on concessional financing to assist low-income countries in increasing food production (para. 16)

Called upon all countries, especially developed ones, to work for liberalization of trade and to refrain from further protectionist measures especially against export products from developing countries (para. 18).

Urged that the Organization continue to study measures which at international levels could help stabilize commodity prices (para. 19).

Reaffirmed its support for the broadened concept of world food security (para 21).

Agreed that more emphasis needed to be placed on the development of integrated plant nutrient systems and improvement of biomass utilization and conversion in the priorities of FAO (para. 24).

Reconfirmed its view that attention to problems of forest and fisheries resource use and conservation should continue to be a major concern for FAO and Member Nations, not only as sources of food and other basic needs, but also of employment and income for many low-income, landless people (para. 26).

Emphasized needs in developed as well as in developing countries for conservation, reforestation, pollution control and other measures to prevent and overcome damage to natural resources associated with urbanization and industrialization processes (para. 29).

Emphasized that the diverse and ever-changing circumstances of Member Nations in the mid-1980s required that analyses of the state of food and agriculture examine the regional situation and outlook in more detail (para. 30).

Commended the Director-General for his personal commitment and perseverance in issuing timely appeals for additional aid (para.34).

Agreed with the Director-General's proposal to take every possible measure to strengthen the FAO Global Information and Early Warning System further, both during the current biennium and in the next Programme of Work and Budget (para. 35).

Agreed that the Special Joint FAO/WFP Task Force on Africa should continue to issue regular reports on the latest position in the affected countries (para. 36).

Stressed the need for an even greater relief effort in 1985 and for better coordination of food aid deliveries in order to reduce delays (para. 37).

Urged governments to consider action similar to that taken by one government to proposition foodstocks in vulnerable areas to ensure that urgently needed food aid was delivered to the affected population without delay (para. 38).

Agreed with the proposal of the Director-General to refocus some of FAO's regular programme resources during the current biennium up to an amount of US$ 5 million to support the rehabilitation efforts of the affected countries (para. 40)

Adopted Resolution 1/86 on the Food Situation in Africa (para. 47).

Report of the Ninth Session of the Committee on World Food Security (Rome, 11-18 April 1984)

Endorsed the Report of the Ninth Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), including its conclusions and recommendations (para 48)

Urged governments of donor countries, other countries in a position to do so, and international organizations concerned to take all possible steps to increase food aid to meet the rising requirements of developing countries (para. 50).

Underlined the need for the diversification of the commodity composition of food aid in order to take into account the dietary habits of the people in recipient countries. (para. 50).

Urged the timely and adequate replenishment of the resources of the international financial institutions, especially IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) (para. 51).

Agreed that efforts to strengthen regional and sub-regional cooperation in food security among developing countries should complement and not substitute for national efforts (para. 57).

Stressed the need for providing adequate technical and financial assistance to support the efforts of developing countries to promote regional and sub-regional cooperation (para. 57)

Urged all international organizations concerned with food issues to cooperate closely and to coordinate their activities, taking into account their respective mandates, in order to avoid overlap and wastage of resources and to expedite progress towards world food security (para. 62)

Agreed that increased international and financial assistance was required to assist African countries in providing adequate delivery systems for small farmers. FAO's special action programmes were considered a convenient vehicle in providing assistance for the creation of effective delivery systems (para. 63)

Urged that all efforts be made to increase the resources of the Food Security Assistance Scheme (para, 64).

Follow-up on World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development

Considered that the Sixteenth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (April 1985) should review in detail the measures taken or envisaged for the implementation of the Strategy and Programmes of Action and the progress so far achieved in mobilizing extra-budgetary resources for the execution of the Programmes of Action (para. 70)

Commended the Director-General's intention to take into account the results of the World Fisheries Conference when formulating proposals for the Programme of Work and Budget for 1986-87 (para. 71)

Invited prospective donor agencies and financing institutions to participate actively in the implementation of the Programmes of Action (para. 72)

Agreed that FAO should endeavour to strengthen a network of technical support units associated with regional fishery bodies for the delivery of sub-regional, regional and inter-regional development projects (para 74).

Endorsed the steps which had been taken or were proposed to be taken by the Director-General in implementing Resolutions No. 4 to No. 9 adopted by the World Fisheries Conference and agreed with the World Fisheries Conference that the Director-General should be invited to consider adopting, as a theme for World Food Day 1986, Fishermen and Fishing Communities (para. 76)

Agreed that the Report of the FAO World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development, together with a document on the progress achieved in the implementation of the Strategy and the Programmes of Action, should be submitted to the Twenty-third Session of the FAO Conference for consideration (para. 77)

Recommended that the Conference adopt a special resolution endorsing the outcome of the World Fisheries Conference (para. 77)

Report of the Seventh Session of the Committee on Forestry (Rome, 7-11 May 1984)

Endorsed the Report of the Committee on Forestry (COFO) and emphasized the important role of FAO as the lead agency in forestry in heightening the awareness of the world community and in promoting sound policies and practical solutions in particular to combat harmful trends leading to the continued destruction and depletion of the world's forest resources (para. 78).

Supported the recommendations of the Committee on Forestry that multilateral financial agencies and donor countries should increase their assistance to forestry, particularly in tropical and arid zones, through FAO as well as other channels (para. 79)

Requested that forest conservation be a regular agenda item at sessions of the Commitee on Forestry during the present decade (para. 80).

Endorsed the proposal of COFO that a study be made of forestry and food security for presentation to the Committee on World Food Security, the Committee on Agriculture and other FAO fora (para. 81).

Proposal that 1985 be proclaimed the International Year of the Forest

Agreed that 1985 be declared by FAO as the International Year of the Forest and requested the Director-General so to notify Member Nations, including suggestions for appropriate national activities (para. 86).

Adopted Resolution 2/86 on the International Year of the Forest (para. 88).

World Food Programme (WFP):

Ninth Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes of the UN/FAO World Food Programme

Reiterated its conviction that full collaboration between FAO and WFP was absolutely necessary in view of their complementarity (para. 92).

Requested the World Food Programme to consider the best ways and means to appropriately diversify the food basket in order to avoid possible adverse effects on local food habits and local production (para. 95).

Urged the World Food Programme to increase, as far as possible, the purchase of commodities in developing countries and requested that in future reports a more detailed analysis be made of the type of commodities which had been purchased by the Programme, from where and for which destination (para. 96).

Stressed the importance for the Programme having the necessary cash resources to buy the commodities which were required, with participating countries paying not less than one-third of their regular contributions in cash as the CFA had been seeking for many years (para. 96).

Urged that a fair and equitable recruiting system should be ensured for giving adequate opportunities to candidates from developing countries, many of whom possessed the talent and ability, quality and integrity, qualifications and experience, to serve in such international organizations (para. 102).

Election of Five Members of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes

Elected five Member Nations to the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes for a term of office of three years (1 January 1985 to 31 December 1987) (para. 104): Brazil, Congo, Kenya, Netherlands and Thailand.

Recent Developments In the United Nations System of Interest to FAO

Fully supported the high priority given by FAO to economic and technical cooperation among developing countries and the leading role played by the Organization in this respect in the sphere of food and agriculture and endorsed the Director-General's analysis of the ECDC/TCDC issues given in paragraph 14 of document CL 86/12 (para. 108).

Commended the initiatives of the Director-General in making the critical food situation in Africa a focus of world attention (para. 110).

Appealed to all concerned to take the necessary steps with utmost expedition to bring the negotiations for the replenishment of IFAD to a satisfactory conclusion (para. 118).

Urged that the ongoing negotiations for mobilizing the requisite resources for the United Nations Financing System for Science and Technology for Development should be brought to a satisfactory conclusion at an early date (para. 119).

Progress Report on World Food Day Activities

Urged that measures taken by governments to widen NGO's involvement in World Food Day be continued in the future (para. 126).

Recommended that detailed information concerning the orientation for World Food Day 1985 be communicated to Member Nations as soon as possible and reiterated the appeal made by the Conference to Member Nations for the early initiation of planning for an expanded programme of activities to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Organization (para. 128).

Reports of the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Sessions of the Programme Committee and Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth Sessions of the Finance Committee

AGRIS Data Base Utilization Policy

Agreed with the Programme Committee that the flexible arrangements under which cooperation in the AGRIS system had proceeded up to now should be consolidated and a policy defined to clarify the modalities of cooperation and the rights and obligations of the participating centres and FAO (para. 131).

Agreed with the recommendation of the Programme Committee and endorsed the text of the AGUIS Data Base Utilization Policy as given in Appendix E to this report (para. 133).

Review of Programmes

Supported the continued reorientation of FAO activities to take more thorough account of nutritional considerations, especially in field projects (para138).

Endorsed the schedule of programme reviews by the Programme Committee for the period 1986–88 (para. 140).

Use of Consultants 1982-83

Supported the continuing efforts of the Director-General to afford the Organization with a pool of qualified outside expertise by maintaining a judicious balance between several conflicting requirements (para. 142).

JIU Reports

Urged that the agreed consultation procedures between UNDP and specialized agencies such as FAO, prescribing prior consultation on projects executed by the Office for Projects Execution (OPE) in the areas of competence of the specialized agencies, be consistently followed (para. 144)

Annual Report of Budgetary Performance

Appreciated the attention paid to enhancing both economy and efficiency and commended the Director-General for his prudent management of the Budgetary resources at his disposal (para. 145).

Financial Matters

Financial Position of the Organization: Contribution Matters

(b)Current Assessments

Endorsed the view of the Finance Committee that those Governments which were late in remitting contributions because of the dates of their fiscal years, should initiate action to adjust appropriation requests to an earlier fiscal year, to permit payment within the time provided by the Financial Regulations (para. 151).

(c)Contributions in Arrears

Endorsed the intention of the Finance Committee to review possible solutions to the long-term problem of late payments of contributions and arrears (para. 153).

Audited Accounts

Endorsed the recommendations contained in the External Auditor's report as regards the Regular Programme (para. 155).

Endorsed the External Auditor's proposal to carry out a review of the monitoring and evaluation systems applying to Regular Programme activities during the 1984-85 biennium (para. 155).

Endorsed the recommendations of the External Auditor as regards the accounts of the United Nations Development Programme, in particular the suggestions for improvements in project formulation, execution, monitoring and evaluation and was satisfied with the action being taken by the Secretariat (para. 156).

Recommend a draft Resolution entitled "Audited Accounts" for adoption by the Conference (para. 157).

Personnel Matters

Changes in Salary Scales and Allowances

Professional and Higher Categories

Endorsed the decisions taken by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) at its Twentieth Session (July 1984) in respect of cost-of-living surveys, the resulting overstatement of the post adjustment for Rome by 1.7 percent as of March 1983 and the measures to be applied to absorb this difference (para. 158).

General Service Salaries

Decided that (a) a revised salary scale for General Service staff appointed for one year or more in Rome, as given in Appendix G to this report, be introduced with effect from 1 March 1984 and that an additional biennial increment for each grade be established with effect from 1 January 1985; (b) the Interim Adjustment Procedure for revising the salary scale until the next salary survey was due, be based on the periodic movement of either the composite salary index, as currently applied, or the average of the composite salary index and the consumer price index for Rome, whichever index moved faster, using as a base for each index the value of 100 as of March 1984; (c) the Separation Payment Scheme should continue to operate according to the modalities established by the Council at its Seventieth Session; (d) studies of the Structure of the Scale should be carried out jointly with the ICSC Secretariat for the possible implementation of a salary scale based on biennial steps (para. 160).

Agreed that the comments and recommendations of the Finance Committee on General Service Salaries should be duly considered at the time of the next salary survey in Rome (para. 163).

Appointment of Representatives of Member Governments to the Staff Pension Committee

Decided that the unexpired term of the two Alternate Members of the Committee who had departed from Rome should be completed by Hamid Reza Nikkar Isfahani (Iran) and the replacement for A. Martosuwiryo (para. 166).

Amendment to Staff Regulation 301.136

Approved a modification to Staff Regulation 301.136 concerning terms and conditions of employment of Associate Professional Officers (para. 169).

Revised Calendar of 1984-85 Sessions of the Council and of those Bodies which report to the Council

Approved the revised calendar of sessions for 1984-85 or the Council and of those Bodies which report to the Council as given in Appendix I to this report (para. 172).

Reports of the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Sessions of the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters (CCLM)

Review of the Rules Governing Voting Procedures of Council and Conference

Agreed with the CCLM's conclusion that the present provisions were adequate to protect the interests of Member Nations, and that no amendment to Rule XII.9(a) was necessary and noted that the question whether or not Rule XII.9(a) should be amended involved a policy decision that would have to be taken by the Conference (para. 179).

Endorsed the proposals of the CCLM regarding the amendments that would be needed to XII.9(a) if the Conference should decide that an amendment was desirable (para.179).

Endorsed the CCLM's recommendations that the Spanish text of Rule XII.9(a) and Rule XII.17 of the General Rules of the Organization be amended by the Conference (para. 180).

Questions arising out of relations with the Host Government

Headquarters Accommodation

Unanimously adopted Resolution 3/86 on Headquarters Accommodation (para. 185).

FAQ's Immunity from Legal Process in Italy

FAQ's Immunity fron Measures of Execution in Italy

Endorsed the recommendations of the CCLM and Finance Committee and requested the Director-General to make such preparations as might be necessary to enable the Conference, if it so decided, to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the interpretation of sections 16 and 17 of the Headquarters Agreement, unless legislative action had been taken to safeguard FAO's immunity from legal process that would render an advisory opinion unnecessary (para. 196).

Negotiations regarding the interpretation and application of the Headquarters Agreement

Requested that the Host Government and the Organization should conclude the negotiations regarding the interpretation and application of the Headquarters Agreement as soon as possible (para. 199).

Opposed any reduction to non-Italian staff of those privileges which had been granted ever since the Organization was transferred to Rome in 1951 (para. 202).

Urged the Host Government to take into consideration the financial and other implications which any reduction of privileges would have on the budget of the Organization and the considerable benefits to the Italian economy deriving from the presence of the Organization in Italy (para. 202).

Delay in Issuance of Import Licences for Official Purposes

Unanimously adopted Resolution 4/86 on Relations with the Host Government (para. 206).

Other Constitutional and Legal Matters

Application for Membership of the Organization

Authorized the Director-General to invite the Solomon Islands to participate, in an observer capacity, at appropriate Council meetings as well as regional and technical meetings of the Organization of interest to it (para. 209).

Abolition of the Regional Commission on Farm Management for Asia and the Far East

Agreed to defer any decision regarding the abolition of the Commission on Farm Management until it had received a report from the Eighteenth Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific on the performance of the Commission in the intervening period (para. 215).

Date and Place of the Eighty-seventh Session of the Council

Decided that its Eighty-seventh Session should be convened in Rome from 17 to 28 June 1985 (para. 216).

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