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XVIII. Resolution 16/97

A. Staff commissary accounts
B. Incentive scheme to encourage the prompt payment of contributions
C. Address by staff representative bodies
D. Appointments and elections

A. Staff commissary accounts

THE CONFERENCE,

Having noted that the accounts of the Commissary have been regularly brought to the attention of, and reviewed by, the Finance Committee without being formally approved by that Committee,

Recognizing that approval by the Conference every two years, while the Commissary Accounts are produced annually as of 31 December, would lead to unacceptable delays in approval:

Decides that, with effect from 1 January 1998, the annual accounts of the Commissary be submitted to and approved by the Finance Committee.

(Adopted on 17 November 1997)

B. Incentive scheme to encourage the prompt payment of contributions

157. The Conference considered the proposals of the Director-General to introduce a further refinement in the calculation of the discount to be applied to Member Nations' contributions under the Incentive Scheme. One Member Nation, speaking on behalf of 15 Members, expressed non-concurrence to the proposal, but indicated that, while maintaining their position, they would join a consensus on this matter. The Conference, consequently, approved the proposed refinement and agreed that it should be applied with effect from 1 January 1998.

C. Address by staff representative bodies

158. The Representative of the Field Staff Association (FSA), on behalf of the three Staff Representative Bodies, addressed the Conference, highlighting the concerns of the staff regarding the continuing budgetary problems of the Organization, and stressed the need for the Organization to be given the necessary resources to adequately meet the challenges and needs of agricultural and rural development in order to address world famine and poverty and meet the targets defined in the World Food Summit.

D. Appointments and elections

Application for membership in the organization
Election of council members
Appointment of the independent chairman of the council

Application for membership in the organization

159. The Conference had before it an application for membership from the Republic of Kazakhstan. This application had been submitted within the time limit prescribed by Rule XIX GRO. It was supplemented by the formal instrument required under Article II of the Constitution, and was thus found to be in order.

160. The Conference proceeded to a secret ballot on the application at its second plenary meeting on Friday, 7 November 1997, in accordance with Article II-2 of the Constitution and Rule XII-9 GRO. The result was as follows:

161. The Conference accordingly admitted the Republic of Kazakhstan to membership of the Organization.

162. The Conference decided that, according to established principles and customs, the contribution due for the last quarter of 1997 and the advance to be made to the Working Capital Fund by the Republic of Kazakhstan were as follows:

Election of council members

163. The Conference after considering the second report of the General Committee agreed that henceforth for Council election purposes:

a) Azerbaijan would be in the Europe Region;
b) Kazakhstan would be in the Asia Region.

164. The Conference also elected Gabon to the Council seat for the Africa Region for the outstanding period November 1997 to 31 December 1998.

165. The Conference then elected the following Member Nations as members of the Council:

Appointment of the independent chairman of the council

166. The Conference had before it five nominations for the office of Independent Chairman of the Council.

167. The Conference, appointed Mr. Sjarifudin Baharsjah to the office of Independent Chairman of the Council and adopted the following Resolution:

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