- STATEMENTS BY HEADS OF DELEGATIONS (continued)
- DECLARATIONS DES CHEFS DE DELEGATION (suite)
- MANIFESTACIONES POR LOS JEFES DE LAS DELEGACIONES (continuación)
EL PRESIDENTE: Estimados delegados, vamos a dar inicio a la Quinta Sesión Plenaria de hoy, en el entendido de que en el día de ayer, domingo, los delegados descansaron lo suficiente; Roma les proporcionó un día de sol, así que habrán reflexionado sobre todos los pormenores para venir hoy lunes, con nuevos bríos a estas reuniones.
Abdul Basit HAQQANI (Pakistan): I should like to begin by extending our heartfelt condolences to the Iraqi Delegation and family of H.E. Mr Khalid Abdul Moneem Rasheed, the honourable Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Iraq. We are all saddened by his untimely and tragic death. May his soul rest in peace.
On behalf of the Pakistan Delegation, the people and Government of Pakistan, I feel honoured in extending our good wishes to this august assembly. I would also like to convey my warm congratulations to you, Mr Chairman, on your unanimous election to preside over this important Session. May I also extend a special welcome to the new Member Nations of this Organization - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. This Organization will certainly be enriched by their presence and we look forward to closely collaborating with our new colleagues.
This Conference is meeting at a crucial time when we are entering the twenty-first century and are faced with new challenges in economic, political, social and other sectors. It is also the time to review our weaknesses and strengths, to take stock of our accomplishments and shortcomings. This Conference also provides an excellent opportunity for an in-depth discussion on various issues confronting us in the food and agriculture sector.
Like other developing countries, we have to face a changing world and respond to emerging international trends. Simultaneously we have to lift ourselves to a higher level. It is as if we have a double competition -one with the world and the other with ourselves. But though we may be in a hurry, we must move carefully if we do not want the solutions of today to become problems of tomorrow. National endeavour is of vital importance but it must be tempered with internationally generated wisdom. That is why we believe that Organizations like FAO are indispensable and our relationship with it is symbiotic. The contribution that we can make to FAO's success will, in future, promote our own progress.
We are faced with daunting challenges. Rapid population growth, increasing indebtedness, growing gaps in balance of payments, high volatility of the international commodity markets and major price distortions have seriously jolted the development process in many countries. In this situation, the role of world bodies, like FAO, cannot be over-emphasized. Most of the agriculture-based economies, including Pakistan, have great potential to develop and transform the agriculture sector into an engine for economic growth. The need is to re-orient our strategy with a view to boosting food production in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Although our growth has been impressive in major areas, there are fears that we may be running out of momentum. No significant increase in total cultivable land or irrigation can be foreseen. Our future growth is, therefore, dependent on increasing productivity. This will require major changes in production systems in addition to institutional and structural reforms. We in Pakistan are not only meeting our own domestic requirements but also the needs of over a million Afghan refugees who are in Pakistan and many more who are inside Afghanistan. Our future goal is to accelerate the rate of growth of the agricultural economy so as to generate additional resources for public welfare.
The most threatening environmental problems in Pakistan are salinity, waterlogging and soil erosion. Natural vegetation has been stripped. Man-made reservoirs are being filled by sedimentation. Forests have been cut. Soil nutrients have been depleted and almost all the soil is low in organic matter and hence needs continuous replenishment through nitrogen and phosphatic fertilizer.
To respond to this environmental degradation, the Government of Pakistan has devised a "National Conservation Strategy" for the conservation of natural resource, sustainable development and improved efficiency in the use and management of resources. The successful implementation of the operational principles of this policy would help in management of water resources, reclamation of forests, range land, and livestock, and in preventing desertification and promoting bio-diversity.
We hope FAO will be able to provide assistance in overcoming such environmental and soil degradation problems. Pakistan exports rice and cotton, while seeds and other materials are imported. Every care is taken that no exotic pests or diseases pass from one country to the other. We have framed Plant Quarantine rules under which strict conditions have to be observed for import and export of plant and plant materials to guard against entry of exotic pests. Despite these precautions, we have faced various bottlenecks from time to time particularly in export of fruits like mango and citrus. It is, therefore, imperative that plant quarantine regulations on a uniform basis are formulated to remove any arbitrary barriers.
Mr Chairman, the integration of women in development is of vital significance for rapid growth of developing countries. Women have to be fully mobilized for their own as well as national development. Despite poverty and lack of resources, Pakistani women contribute very significantly to the economy; particularly in crop production, livestock, cottage industry and household activities. Their role in economic development is recognized and their participation in development efforts is ensured at all levels. We are planning to further improve their access to rural services and encourage their fuller participation in economic activities through greater empowerment.
Mr Chairman, we have noted with great interest the idea of convening a World Food Summit in November 1996. After 50 years of existence, during which Heads of States and governments have never had an opportunity to collectively declare their commitment to banish hunger and malnutrition, we think that the Summit will prove to be a most valuable event in this Organization's history. We are confident that the time and effort being devoted towards preparing for the Summit, will produce results befitting this historic occasion. We once again reiterate our support for the goals and objective of the Summit, and wish the Organization success in this endeavour.
We have also noted that FAO is taking new strides in the important realm of plant genetic resources. We are of the firm belief that FAO is most suitably equipped for the global management of not only plant, but also animal, forestry and fisheries genetic resources. We welcome the broadening of the mandate of the new Commission on Genetic Resources of Food and Agriculture. We would also like to express our appreciation for the efforts of this Organization to complete the monumental task of formulating a Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. Though voluntary in nature, this Code will go a long way in ensuring sustainable use and conservation of fisheries resources.
Mr Chairman, we are also very appreciative of the several initiatives taken by the Director-General after assuming office. We would like to particularly mention the use of experts for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC), the use of experts for Technical Cooperation among Countries in Transition (TCCT), cooperation with academic research institutions and the use of retired national experts and FAO/UN retirees. Similarly, other measures taken to streamline FAO's operations to bring in efficiencies as well as cost savings are commendable. The decentralization of activities and strengthening of field offices is also commended. We are certain that these various initiatives will make FAO an exemplary organization responsive to the needs of its Member Nations.
Mr Chairman, an important responsibility of this Conference is the approval of the Programme of Work and Budget for the years 1996-97. This is the first budget presented by the present Director-General. This is the Programme of Work which will usher in the fifth decade for FAO whose membership has risen to the impressive figure of 175. We therefore consider the proposals for the next biennium as of special significance which need deep reflection and great care. In passing judgement, let us be fully aware of FAO's mission and its onerous tasks, let us not shy away from our responsibility to hundreds of millions of chronically under-nourished and food-insecure people.
We cannot help but lament the fact that, as membership of this Organization expands, as we confront urgent new challenges, the resources available are shrinking. The inverse correlation between needs and resources can only damage the ability of the Organization to fulfil its mandate. It would be unfortunate if our decisions here were to undermine or erode the capacity of FAO to suitably deliver its programmes which are vital to so many of us.
The proposals before us have been presented in the framework of zero-real growth over the level of US$673.1 million as approved at the last Conference. The acceptance of the principle of zero-real growth for many developing countries is a painful concession. But the pain does not end here. Ironically, we are required to defend this no-growth principle against moves to seek negative growth. We cannot support any proposal which would deprive the Organization of the absolute minimum resources required to at least maintain the present level of activity. We commend the Director-General for having demonstrated that working methods can be improved and savings can be effected which can be channelized to strengthen programmes. We would encourage management to continuously search for greater efficiencies and further rationalization of structures and procedures so that we can get maximum value for our resources. We have no doubt that management will strive towards this goal. On our part, it is the responsibility of the membership to ensure that necessary resources are made available. We must accept our responsibilities and live up to our obligations and commitments. We support the budget level and the programme priorities contained in the Director-General's proposals. We would appeal for a consensus decision on this matter so that the entire membership, who are all partners in this Organization, can work in close harmony.
Richard E. ROMINGER (United States of America): Mr Director General, fellow delegates,
Since our last Conference, our new Director-General, Jacques Diouf, has made an excellent start in one of the most difficult posts in the UN system. We already see his imprint on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and will work with him to make next year's Summit on Food Security a success.
I will discuss three topics today: the current world food situation, the impact of the Uruguay Round, and the Proposed FAO Programme of Work and Budget.
I. The World Food Situation
While food supplies are tighter than they have been since the mid-1970's, we do not see a global food crisis looming on the horizon. We are all aware of the three percent decline in world cereal production FAO projects for this year and the drop in end-of-year stocks to roughly 14-15 percent of utilization. Because food demand has continued to expand, stocks have been drawn down markedly. While this tight market has pushed up prices, food supplies are available.
The United States continues to be a reliable supplier of food and agricultural commodities. Looking toward next year, an expansion of crop area and a more "normal" weather year should help replenish stocks. The current tight supply situation has caused some concerns about world food security and I would like to comment on how we in the US see world food security evolving in future years.
During the 1980's and early 1990's, world food security rested primarily on the substantial grain stocks of North America and Western Europe, stocks primarily owned or supported by governments. During the past few years, however, budgetary pressures have forced changes in government policies. Excess production and publicly owned stocks have been greatly reduced. As a result, when demand outstrips production for a year or two, there are no major stocks to make up the difference.
The current tight market demonstrates clearly that food-importing nations need to maintain greater stocks. When food supplies become more abundant next year, importers will certainly consider replenishing their reserves.
For nations that lack the finances to maintain greater stocks we need to work towards an international solution for their food security problems. While the US is willing to bear its fair share of this effort, we see food security as a world problem, which must be solved with the support of all nations.
President Clinton has asked Secretary of Agriculture Glickman to be a forceful advocate for world food security. It is a high personal priority for the President, for the Secretary, and for me to work for programmes and policies that recognize and respond to the food security needs of all nations.
We need to monitor supplies closely this year and perhaps for several years to come. As we look ahead, another area that bears closer attention in meeting world food needs is the whole issue of how we can do a better job of curbing post-harvest losses and the waste of food. The current tight supplies are likely a short-term situation, which has been exacerbated by weather conditions. We should not let it distract us from the long-term structural changes that are needed in world agriculture if we are to achieve lasting food security for all.
II. The Uruguay Round
Some of those structural changes will come as we implement the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture. We anticipate a tremendous boost in the global economy as a result of the Round. The annual increase in gross domestic product for the developing countries alone should be at least US$35 billion and could be as much as US$90 billion.
Recent studies on the impact of the Round on food prices have shown rather minimal effects. The World Bank has summarized these studies and projects changes in food prices caused by the Agriculture Agreement will range from a drop of one percent to an increase of four percent. This amount of change is noticeably smaller than the normal fluctuation in prices we see from season to season. To the extent prices do rise, they are likely to spur added investment in agriculture and this could help some developing countries lessen their food import bills over the long term.
The Uruguay Round is an important part of a nearly global trend to a more market-based system for agricultural production and trade. One aspect of this trend has been a drastic drop in surplus production which, in turn, has reduced the availability of stocks for food aid. Further reductions in food aid - in fact the larger part - stem from cutbacks in donor funding. At the same time, a recent USDA study on projected food aid needs and availability through the year 2005 forecasts a doubling of global food aid needs, with particularly rapid growth in sub-Saharan Africa.
The United States will meet its commitment under the new Food Aid Convention and remain the leading provider of food aid. While our overall food aid budget has been reduced, we have not reduced our programme to respond to humanitarian needs. Our strong support for the World Food Programme and its fine work in emergencies and development will continue. Though I wish we could provide more, rather than less, food aid in the next decade, political and economic realities make that difficult.
We all need to take a realistic look at food aid availability. Countries that cannot produce or buy enough food should not plan on massive food aid shipments as a solution for their food security problems. Instead, we hope that they will invest more in agriculture. This is the time to start. This is the time to plant the seeds for the future, both literally and figuratively. As Secretary Glickman noted at the FAO 50th Anniversary celebration in Quebec, the only sure way the developing world can increase food security is to find the political will to restructure their policies in favour of agriculture.
Developing countries that have taken the tough decisions to reform their economies are beginning to see returns on this investment. A recent World Bank study indicates that agricultural production grew at an annual rate of 3.7 percent in sub-Saharan African countries that adjusted intensively to structural reform. Countries adjusting their economies less intensively make little progress. This is the region where the problem of food security is most serious. The Bank's encouragement of policy reform and a free market approach is an important part of the equation and we hope FAO will support it fully.
III. FAO Programme of Work and Budget
The United States continues to believe that much of what FAO does is extremely valuable:
- facilitating trade, especially through the Codex Alimentarius and International Plant Protection Convention;
- controlling the spread of plant and animal diseases and pests, like the superb work done in North Africa to control the screwworm;
- preserving the plant and animal genetic resources we must rely on for our future food supplies;
- promoting international forestry activities that help us both use and conserve our forest resources;
- supporting responsible fisheries practices through successful completion of the International Code of Conduct; and
- maintaining an Early Warning System that has helped save millions of lives by providing advance
notice of impending food crises.
We are pleased by FAO's recent work to support the implementation of the Uruguay Round's Agreement on Agriculture and we welcome its future role in helping all nations take advantage of the new opportunities the Agreement presents. We are also looking forward to next year's conference in Leipzig on plant genetic resources. It is absolutely crucial that we all work together more successfully to preserve the genetic resources essential for long-term food security.
Despite FAO's contributions to building food security, abject poverty and hunger still plague the lives of hundreds of millions of people, and they are on the rise in much of Africa. For that reason, we support the Director General's initiatives to direct added attention to the poorest food-deficit countries. We believe this can be best accomplished through judicious use of the resources of FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme and extra-budgetary funds.
FAO must reach out even more to the rural poor, whose numbers are constantly growing. In a recent speech to the World Bank, US Treasury Secretary Rubin called on the international financial institutions to promote more joint private sector-development bank cooperation and to be catalysts for private sector activity in developing nations to foster new economic growth. We urge Director-General Diouf to continue to give high priority to the FAO Investment Centre, which is working with the international financial institutions to spur private investment in the rural economy of the developing world. We also applaud the Director General for his increased emphasis on the role of women in agricultural development.
In the United States we have been re-examining the structure of our institutions, public and private. We have been rethinking how we do business. Within the Federal Government we are reorganizing, reducing costs and sharply cutting our budgets in real terms. At the Department of Agriculture we have eliminated 14 agencies and will consolidate or close more than 1 100 field offices. We are struggling to match our budgets and our revenues. We can ask no less from FAO.
It is critical that FAO and the other international organizations plan their budgets in line with realistic revenue projections. We applaud and appreciate the Director-General's positive actions this year, which resulted in significant savings in personnel and other areas.
At the FAO Council and other meetings we have proposed concrete measures to help reduce the FAO budget responsibly. For example, we support a full and expedited merger with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in the Western Hemisphere, which was overwhelmingly endorsed by the hemisphere's ministers of agriculture last month. Also, substantially reducing the number of FAO country representations, depending on programme level, would go a long way toward reducing the proposed budget.
It is essential that FAO have a lower budget. It is also possible to have a consensus budget. The United States is here to work cooperatively and constructively toward both those aims. We want to give highest priority to FAO's core program where the Organization has demonstrated its comparative advantage.
We stand ready to collaborate closely with the Director-General and other Member States so that the Programme of Work and Budget for 1996-97 can be reduced to a level all of us can support, while ensuring that FAO carries on its valuable work.
IV. ConclusionWe have been pleased by the initiative the Director-General has brought to FAO. We are confident that he will work effectively with Member States to lead FAO into a new management era that strengthens the focus on the Organization's core mandate.
Over its 50-year history we have seen FAO move from what was primarily a data collection centre to an active global player in promoting development, technical cooperation, and trade in agriculture. As we prepare for next year's Summit we need to begin to shape the FAO of the future, to articulate clearly our vision for the decades ahead. Perhaps that vision will not be so different from the aspiration that led to the founding of FAO a half-century ago, a world free from want, in which the pain of hunger no longer scars the lives of the poor.
Costas PETRIDES (Cyprus): Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honour for me to represent my country in this 28th Session of the FAO Conference, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization. Fifty years ago, greatly disappointed by the devastating consequences of the Second World War, the world leaders decided to act in a spirit of cooperation and reconciliation so that one of the basic human rights, the right to food, could be secured.
As a result of this decision, the Food and Agriculture Organization was created with the basic mandate to act in such a way that every person on this planet could have physical access to the food they need for a normal and productive life.
For half a century this noble goal remained the major objective of this Organization. Through the provision of technical and investment assistance, the analysis and dissemination of information and the provision of policy and planning assistance, FAO has contributed to the improvement of the world food situation.
Despite the unprecedented population growth in recent decades, access to food by all people has improved in many regions, mainly due to the substantial progress in food production. Available statistics indicate that over the past 30 years world agricultural production has doubled and world agricultural trade has tripled. A further positive indicator is food consumption, which at the global level has increased from 2 300 calories per day per person in the early I960's to about 2 700 calories per person today.
However, this positive development has not led to the elimination of hunger and malnutrition. Even though enough food is produced to feed the entire population of the planet, food is not reaching everyone. As many as 800 million people are still chronically undernourished, of which nearly 200 million children under the age of five suffer from acute or chronic protein and energy deficiencies.
The problem of hunger and malnutrition is not only technical. It is also political and social. It is a problem of distribution and access to food supplies. Above all, it is a problem of political will.
Alleviation of hunger today is a matter not only of augmenting food supplies but mainly of ensuring access to food by the poor through an increase in their purchasing power. Policies that sustain the momentum of growth in production should therefore go hand in hand with greater efforts to raise the incomes of the small and marginal farmers, and to expand employment opportunities for the landless. The problem therefore cannot be solved exclusively within agriculture. Agricultural development and industrialization are complementary and mutually reinforcing. In rural areas, there is great scope for the expansion of agro-industries. But industrialization must not be pursued through policies which depress incentives to farmers and deprive the sector of its input requirements.
Additionally, world trade conditions are very important for agriculture, both in the developed and developing countries. The creation of the World Trade Organization as a result of the Uruguay Round Negotiations and the anticipated liberalization of trade are expected to have positive effects on many developing countries whose major commodities have been negatively affected by the unfavourable conditions on international trade during the recent past.
Likewise, the widely desired conditions of peace and political stability should be considered as prerequisites for sustainable progress towards food for all, having in mind the dramatic conditions of food insecurity, as currently happens in many parts of the world under political instability and war. The problem of food security is a complex issue of national and international dimensions which cannot be effectively faced without the cooperation and the political will of all Member States.
Let me now briefly refer to the agricultural sector of Cyprus. The agricultural sector in my country continues to be one of the important sectors of the national economy, despite the rapid expansion of other sectors such as tourism and services.
This sector has made remarkable progress from 1960 to 1974. Unfortunately, its upward trend was brought to an abrupt end by the known events of 1974, which resulted in the loss of control of 38 percent of the country's territory, the displacement of almost half of the rural population and the loss of about 70 percent of the productive resources. Despite considerable efforts for recovery, which included the adoption and implementation of emergency action plans, the agricultural sector has since lost its leading position in the country's economy. Presently, its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product is around 6 percent.
I should, however, point out that we continue to ascribe a great deal of importance to agriculture, not only because it continues to be one of the important sectors of our economy, but also because we believe in its major role in other aspects of our life such as the social development of our people, the preservation of our cultural identity and civilization, the conservation and improvement of our natural environment and many others.
At this point I wish to express our deep appreciation of the really very useful assistance we received from FAO on policy advice for agricultural development projects and training.
Our agricultural sector can best be described as depending on small-scale farming, carried out by part-time farmers, producing predominantly for the market. The sector accounts for as much as 30-35 percent of total domestic exports, of which 75 percent are destined for the European Community markets.
Given the importance of these markets for the agricultural economy of Cyprus, an Association Agreement between Cyprus and the European Community was put into effect in 1973. In 1987 a protocol was signed between Cyprus and the European Community leading to a Customs Union Agreement which will be fully realized by the year 2000. In July 1990 Cyprus submitted an application for full membership to the European Union.
In the process of fulfilling this goal Cypriot agriculture needs to undergo a substantial process of modernization and alignment with that of the European Union. Our development policy therefore aims at restructuring and upgrading the agricultural sector for further development and exploitation of the opportunities created by the EU orientation.
Before concluding I wish once again to thank all distinguished delegates for the honour they did to my country and myself in electing me to chair the present session of the Conference. I wish once again to assure all of you that I will do my utmost to help us achieve a successful outcome to the Conference.
This Organization has a fine record of achievement during the fifty years of its existence. Let us all try to help the Food and Agriculture Organization to achieve an even more productive performance in the years to come.
Sjarifudin BAHARSJAH (Indonesia): Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, my delegation wishes to join the previous speakers in congratulating you, and in expressing our appreciation to the Director-General and the Secretariat for preparing excellent and comprehensive documents, which no doubt will make our deliberations effective and fruitful.
It is very sad indeed that during the past fifty years, which were marked by incredible advances in science and technology, including biotechnology, mankind has yet to solve its premier problem, namely, to enable all persons at all times to have access to safe and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. This problem of food insecurity, while particularly grave in the developing world where it impinges upon the lives of millions of people, is global in nature. As such, to solve it requires global understanding and involvement. Each and every government in the developing world has a prime responsibility to protect and promote the food security of its people; nevertheless such efforts on the part of the low-income food-deficit countries should have the support of the international community as a whole.
Food security is an urgent humanitarian issue which requires immediate action on the part of the international community lest it affects the plight of even more millions of human beings. Therefore, Indonesia supports the Director-General's initiative to convene a World Food Summit as a means of reflecting the collective global political will needed to solve this problem with resolutions which will not be in the form of ineffective short-term relief measures and/or piecemeal measures.
One year ago, in October 1994, agriculture ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) issued the Bali Declaration on Food Security of the non-aligned and other developing countries. Indonesia is very encouraged to observe that the spirit of the Bali Declaration is indeed present in the elements for possible inclusion in the draft policy document and plan of action that will be submitted to the World Leaders in the Summit. However, my delegation sees the need to underline some very important elements of the Bali Declaration with the view that these will also be submitted to and acted upon by the world leaders at the Summit.
On the plight of the Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDC's) the Bali Declaration states that while the LIFDC's should accord food security first priority in their national development programmes, to enable them to do so an increase in development assistance to the level of the accepted United Nations target of 0.7 percent of developed countries GNP as reiterated at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development is required. Creditor countries should take substantive measures to reduce all types of external debt burden in order to contribute to the food security situation in the LIFDC's.
On the post-Uruguay Round trade environment, the Bali Declaration calls for an in-depth analysis by WTO, FAO and UNCTAD on the impact of the Uruguay Round Agreement on the food supply and food security in developing countries, particularly the LIFDC's. Compensatory measures would continue to be needed to protect adversely affected developing countries and vulnerable groups in these countries.
On international cooperation, the Bali Declaration underlines that cooperation among countries should be based on strengthened partnership, mutual interest and shared responsibility for economic and social development, including the formulation and implementation of appropriate national policies relating to food security and a favourable international economic environment. In this regard, a determined effort to intensify south-south cooperation is imperative. Increased economic and technical cooperation among developed and developing countries is essential to reduce existing disparities in the use of food resources.
Allow me to mention one more item which may seem to be quite technical but which in fact has serious implications on the ability of developing countries to increase food production. I am referring to the access of developing countries, including the LIFDC's, to advanced biotechnological innovations excessively protected by intellectual property right. FAO has a long-standing effort on the matter and a Commission of the current Conference will again intensively deliberate on this. My delegation is of the opinion that the spirit of strengthened partnership between developed and developing countries should also be extended to find ways and means to guarantee access by developing countries to these very strategic biotechnical innovations.
In conclusion, my delegation would like to reiterate Indonesia's continuing support to FAO in its efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty.
We are entering the second fifty years of FAO, and it behoves us to embark on the Programme of Work and Budget as proposed by FAO for 1996-97 in order to enable us to work with a programme which will provide an adequate momentum to achieve the goals we set ourselves fifty years ago.
Jochen BORCHERT (Germany): This year FAO is celebrating a special anniversary and I am pleased that, on this anniversary, five countries are joining FAO as new members. I would like to welcome: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
The largest specialized organization of the United Nations is now 50 years old. This means 50 years of fighting world hunger and poverty. Much has been achieved in this half-century. FAO has contributed to achieving significantly higher food production in the world and better nutrition for more people. On behalf of my Government I wish to express our thanks and appreciation to FAO, and our best wishes. There is still much to be done, however. We shall only be able to make the age-old dream of a world without hunger and poverty come true if we jointly summon up more strength than before and jointly give FAO the necessary financial resources. In order to solve the pressing agricultural and food policy tasks in the world, FAO needs all the assistance it can get.
In many sectors of the global economy we see continuous growth. This is the right path. For increasing income also means additional demand, creating more favourable conditions for the further development of agriculture all over the world. Continued development and growth in all parts of the world must be preceded by active trade. The GATT Agreement has created a solid basis for more trade, for the reduction of distortions of competition, and thus for further growth. This is especially valid for the agriculture sector. It has also created the foundations for a fair trade exchange between developing countries and industrialized countries. My Government therefore especially welcomes the fact that other developing countries wish to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).
With the intensification of worldwide trade relations between industrialized and developing countries, we will also achieve improvements in the world food situation. This situation is presently characterized by inadequate cereal stocks and the resulting increases in prices. This has led the European Union to take the step of reducing the set-aside rate in order to produce more cereals and improve global supply.
A primary goal of the development policy of the Federal Republic of Germany is therefore food security through self-reliance. We want to support developing countries in such a way that, if possible, the population can live from its own production. We therefore support projects which serve the aims of a site-adequate form of farming and sustainable increases in production.
The conditions for the success of such promotional measures are, amongst other things, a market and price policy which creates incentives to increase agricultural production, secure land ownership conditions and long-term land-use rights for farmers and the creation of purchasing power through extensive economic development.
Help for self-help - this is our goal. It is not, however, doing away with food aid. In our view food aid should be combined with other measures to develop rural areas in order to produce sustainable effects; but in future it should also be provided quickly and in a non-bureaucratic way, in places which are stricken by natural disasters which cause misery and hardship such as droughts or floods.
In recent times food aid has also been necessary in places where hunger and misery have been caused by war and violence. In 1994 Germany had to use more than half of its food aid for such immediate refugee and emergency aid measures. It is unfortunately the case that where people are shooting at each other they do not have time to harvest. Those who live in peace in their home countries can have enough to eat and drink; they do not need to flee or to resort to violence themselves. The fight against hunger and poverty in the world is to a great degree a policy of peace and it has peace-making effects. Nutrition, agriculture and rural development are considered so important that 40 percent of German development aid is spent on those areas alone.
We must not look at the food problems of the Third World merely from an agricultural point of view. We have to tackle them in terms of the overall economic and social development. In our opinion, this aspect must play a pivotal role at the World Food Summit in 1996. Under-development manifests itself not only in insufficient food supply but also in other, unsatisfied basic needs such as deficiencies in health care, poor living conditions, a lack of education and training and unfavourable institutional and political conditions overall. The complexity of these problems forces us to think and act in a manner which extends beyond individual sectors.
Each country must find the solutions which suit its own situation. Since its unification five years ago, Germany has had its own experience of large-scale transformation. We can see that we were right to transform the economy and agriculture directly to a free market economy structure. Those who implemented these changes have achieved an enormous feat. Out of 4 500 state agricultural centres of production we have today, following restructuring, about 28 000 private agricultural enterprises. The privatization of former state-owned agricultural areas and forests is now under way. In the first phase, agricultural areas were leased on a long-term basis. In the second phase, tenants are to be enabled to acquire the ownership of the land themselves. We are also using our experiences in our aid to Central and Eastern European countries to the benefit of the newly independent states of the former USSR.
The German programme is embedded within parallel measures of the European Union, the OECD and international financial institutions. The goal of these measures in agriculture is the continued privatization and modernization of the agro-food sector. Prior conditions for this are the improvement of legal and institutional conditions through the establishment of an agricultural administration, the setting up of an effective system of trading, cooperatives and a comprehensive reform of agricultural law.
In the 50 years that FAO has been in existence, the global economy has undergone profound changes. This process has left its mark on the United Nations and also on FAO. The most important prerequisite for FAO to be able to fulfil its task in the future is a healthy financial basis. FAO must be realistic and have a feasible budget. Germany is willing to play a constructive role in solving the difficult budgetary problems FAO faces. In this context we have already submitted concrete proposals during the negotiations of the 109th FAO Council. International organizations will only accomplish new tasks and successfully overcome times of diminishing financial resources if they are more streamlined, more goal-oriented and more economical than in the past. We welcome the Director-General's efforts in this respect, and expect and look forward to further concrete proposals.
In June next year the Fourth International Technical Conference of FAO on Plant Genetic Resources will take place in Leipzig. As a representative of the host country, I take this opportunity to invite all member countries to Leipzig.
FAO is what we are ourselves - its members. To achieve a strong and effective Organization we must show solidarity and a constructive spirit. Let us combine that vision, solidarity, responsibility and a constructive approach in order to achieve a reasonable and realistic partnership. "Hope is a pillar of the world" is a South African saying. Fifty years ago such a pillar was created with the foundation of FAO. Together let us do everything we can to keep that pillar an attractive, credible and efficient one.
Oscar Manuel GUTIERREZ (El Salvador): Señor Presidente, señores distinguidos delegados, señoras y señores, es para mí motivo de particular satisfacción poder participar con ustedes en el 28° período de sesiones de la Conferencia de la FAO. He venido aquí con el gusto de quien asiste a una reunión de amigos con los que se comparten grandes sueños y también grandes preocupaciones. Unimos nuestra voz a los que han dado su más cordial bienvenida a esta Organización a los nuevos Estados que han entrado a formar parte de ella, su presencia seguramente reforzará aún más la importante labor que la FAO desarrolla.
Después de doce años de graves conflictos internos y habiendo firmado los acuerdos de paz, El Salvador, un país ubicado en el centro visual de las Américas, actualmente crece positivamente en términos del producto interno bruto con un 6,5 por ciento anual y una tasa de inflación de un dígito.
No obstante lo anterior, todavía tenemos un índice socioeconómico insatisfactorio, siendo la motivación fundamental de nuestro Gobierno la lucha frontal contra la pobreza y el hambre.
De cada diez salvadoreños, 2,6 personas, principalmente del área suburbana y rural sufren hambre. A pesar de los permanentes esfuerzos de mi Gobierno, de las fuerzas políticas nacionales y de la laboriosidad de nuestro pueblo, el hambre todavía continúa en la mesa de los salvadoreños.
Desde el nacimiento de la FAO, acta de la cual mi país fue su suscriptor, hemos escuchado numerosas respuestas que han logrado, no con el éxito esperado, que un menor número de seres humanos sufran de hambre.
Esto no debe minar la voluntad inquebrantable de esta Organización y de nuestros países de continuar en la lucha por erradicar el hambre en el mundo.
Señor Presidente, señores delegados, el conflicto armado que vivimos en El Salvador nos ha dejado lecciones fundamentales. Para nosotros la injusticia, el hambre, la miseria, las condiciones infrahumanas de vida que ofenden a la dignidad humana y que degradan a la misma civilización, son el nuevo nombre de la guerra, de la inestabilidad y del conflicto permanente, como se destaca en la declaración de El Salvador durante la 23° Conferencia Regional de la FAO que se celebró en mi país en agosto recién pasado.
Los países en vía de desarrollo debemos dejar a un lado las diferencias ideológicas para pensar en términos de los grandes objetivos de nación, sobre los cuales existe consenso. Los principios de libertad, justicia y equidad necesarios para la paz se encuentran directamente relacionados con la seguridad alimentaria.
Basados en la convicción de que la seguridad alimentaria de un pueblo tiene que ser prioritaria para los gobiernos, debemos desarrollar instrumentos y metodologías adecuadas que registren diagnósticos actuales y predecibles de el estado de nuestras existencias de alimentos en sus diferentes niveles de producción y productividad para la toma de acertadas decisiones. Es fundamental recalcar la importancia que tiene el poder contar con diagnósticos adecuados pues de ellos dependerá la formulación, elaboración y puesta en marcha de políticas que respondan a las verdaderas necesidades de la población, del agro y del medio ambiente.
Así también, debemos garantizar mecanismos de orden financiero para que en épocas de escasez de alimentos el sector privado, en forma ágil y oportuna, pueda proveer los alimentos que demanda la población.
Finalmente deberá hacerse reingeniería en cuanto a las capacidades de almacenamiento, manejo post-cosecha y transporte, dejando estas actividades en manos de los mismos agricultores. Debemos empeñarnos en que cada uno de nuestros pequeños agricultores pueda almacenar el fruto de su trabajo para que disponga de él a su entera voluntad y mejor racionalidad.
Todo esto en el contexto de una verdadera modernización agrícola, que nos obliga a una decidida inversión en la sociedad rural y en la agricultura, condiciones esenciales para aspirar a estilos de vida sostenibles basados en justos balances macroeconómicos, en una auténtica y transparente equidad social, en la democracia política, en el equilibrio y sostenibilidad ambiental y en objetivos claros de nación que den prioridad a la seguridad alimentaria e involucren activamente a todas las fuerzas.
Creemos que los Ministerios de Agricultura deben fortalecer el diálogo y las alianzas con las gremiales productoras para promover que sus intereses sean considerados en toda su dimensión dentro de las políticas económicas.
Este diálogo tiene que ser responsable y con visión al futuro, enmarcando al Estado dentro de su rol orientador y facilitador de la actividad agrícola, fomentando la rentabilidad de los cultivos y la competitividad dentro del comercio internacional.
En este camino en el que estamos empeñados, la asistencia de la FAO ha sido y deberá continuar siendo vital para la consecución de nuestros objetivos.
Permítame, señor Presidente, referirme brevemente a algunos de los temas principales que serán afrontados en la presente Conferencia. Hace un momento he indicado que para El Salvador la FAO ha representado un apoyo importante en el quehacer de la actividad agropecuaria. Para que esta Organización pueda continuar desarrollando esta función, es fundamental que cuente con las herramientas necesarias para su labor.
El proceso de reestructuración iniciado por el Director General cuenta con el respaldo del Gobierno de El Salvador. Esta Organización debe de mantenerse al día con los cambios que estamos viviendo, incrementando su versatilidad y capacidad de respuesta a las más urgentes necesidades de los países en desarrollo.
Dentro de ese proceso de reestructuración reviste particular importancia la creación de nuevas oficinas subregionales. En diferentes oportunidades mi país ha manifestado su interés en que la FAO establezca una oficina subregional para Centroamérica.
En El Salvador estamos dando cada vez más importancia al sector pesquero por el impacto que tiene su consumo en los niveles nutricionales de la población, por su alta capacidad para generar divisas y por constituir una importante fuente de empleo. Por ello, damos nuestro respaldo a las actividades programadas por la FAO en el sector pesquero apoyando particularmente el Código de Conducta para la Pesca Responsable.
Respaldamos el Programa especial sobre producción de alimentos en apoyo de la seguridad y libertad de los países de bajos ingresos y con déficit alimentario. Expresamos nuestro deseo de que a corto plazo este Programa pueda ser ampliado a otros países de la Región de América Latina y el Caribe.
Mi país manifiesta la esperanza de que esta Conferencia apruebe el Programa de trabajo para la organización que le permita responder de forma oportuna a nuestras ingentes necesidades.
El Salvador comparte el principio fundamental de que todos los países miembros de esta Organización deben honrar sus obligaciones financieras de forma plena, en tiempo y sin condiciones.
Mi Gobierno da su decidido apoyo a la dirección que el señor Jacques Diouf está dando a la FAO, razón por la cual podemos confirmar la presencia de nuestro Presidente en la Cumbre de Presidentes sobre la Alimentación, a realizarse en esta histórica ciudad el próximo año.
Concluiré, señor Presidente, afirmando que la solidaridad debe ser nuestra fortaleza. Muchas gracias.
Salah HAMDI (Tunisie): Merci Monsieur le Président. J'ai le privilège de vous soumettre l'intervention de la Tunisie au nom de son Excellence, Monsieur le Ministre de l'agriculture qui, pour des empêchements de dernière minute, n'a pu le faire lui-même. Etant donné le peu de temps qui nous est imparti, je me propose de résumer cette intervention et je prie le Secrétariat de faire figurer le texte intégralement dans le compte rendu de séance.
Monsieur le Président, permettez-moi tout d'abord de vous féliciter pour votre élection à la présidence de cette session de la Conférence générale; mes félicitations s'adressent également à mes collègues du Bureau; et je remercie tous ceux qui nous ont fait confiance pour nous élire au Bureau de la Conférence.
Cette Conférence se tient juste après la célébration du Cinquantenaire de notre Organisation qui s'est attelée à contribuer énergiquement dans les domaines du développement agricole et de la lutte contre la faim et la malnutrition. Elle a oeuvré ainsi pour la cause de la paix, d'autant plus qu'il ne pourrait y avoir de paix et de stabilité dans le monde sans un développement et sans une sécurité alimentaire pour toute l'humanité. Il nous est permis, en tant que communauté internationale, d'être fiers des efforts fournis par la FAO pour venir en aide aux pays pauvres afin qu'ils réalisent leur objectif de développement garantissant la sécurité alimentaire et jetant les bases d'une coopération internationale et d'un développement agricole et rural, ce qui est de nature à dynamiser davantage la FAO et qui l'appelle à poursuivre ses efforts nobles dans un environnement international marqué par des mutations successives au niveau économique, dans le but d'atteindre l'objectif de sécurité alimentaire globale et durable à travers l'augmentation de l'offre d'aliments qui restera le plus grand défi que la communauté internationale aura à relever à la veille du XXIe siècle.
La Déclaration de Québec, qui a insisté sur le rôle de la FAO dans la réalisation de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, cadre parfaitement avec les propositions et les orientations que le Président tunisien, Son Excellence Zine El Abidine BEN ALI, a formulées à plusieurs occasions dans le cadre de son appel à la mise en place d'un pacte mondial pour l'éradication définitive de la faim, et pour la conclusion d'un Accord de paix et de coopération internationale basé sur le partenariat et la solidariété. Ces orientations et ces propositions ont eu leur impact dans les considérations qui ont poussé à l'organisation d'un sommet mondial sur l'alimentation au cours du mois de nomvembre de l'année prochaine à l'initiative de Monsieur Jacques Diouf, Directeur général de la FAO.
A cette occasion, je voudrais exprimer le soutien du Gouvernement tunisien à l'initiative de Monsieur le Directeur général, ainsi que la détermination de la Tunisie de participer activement aux travaux préparatoires et au succès de ce sommet, surtout que mon pays a déjà organisé la Conférence sur la sécurité alimentaire et le développement agricole en Afrique au cours du mois d'avril de cette année, et se prépare actuellement à abriter le Conseil des ministres de l'agriculture des pays arabes au début de l'année 1996. C'est d'autant plus nécessaire que la sécurité alimentaire constitue un des principaux objectifs stratégiques de la Tunisie sur la base desquels est conçue la stratégie du développement agricole et rural durable dans le cadre du plan global de ce développement.
Il ne fait pas de doute que le sommet de Rome, au même titre que les sommets de Rio et de Copenhague, permettra, à travers le dialogue et la solidarité, de trouver les solutions au problème de la sécurité alimentaire et du développement agricole et rural tout en tenant compte des résultats positifs des efforts déployés au cours des dernières décennies visant à l'identification des politiques et des stratégies qui permettent de résoudre les problèmes de la faim et de la malnutrition, et visant à la mise en place d'un plan d'action clair; d'autant plus que l'étude sur l'agriculture à l'horizon 2010 a permis de bien poser la problématique du développement agricole et d'identifier les contraintes entravant la réalisation de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale sur la base des résultats des programmes d'ajustement économique et des mutations enregistrées au niveau des relations économiques internationales. Cette étude a dégagé, par ailleurs, la possibilité de résoudre radicalement cette problématique, particulièrement grâce aux changements enregistrés au niveau de plusieurs indicateurs comme la croissance démographique ainsi que les perspectives de la production et de la demande alimentaire. Toutefois, ces perspectives ne doivent pas occulter la nécessité de considérer le problème actuel de la sécurité alimentaire qui caractérise certaines régions du monde, surtout en Afrique subsaharienne et en Asie du Sud qui regroupent la plupart des pays à faible revenu et à déficit vivrier dans le monde, et aussi de focaliser l'attention sur certains autres problèmes importants tels que les répercussions de l'accord sur le commerce mondial et l'élimination des subventions sur les exportations alimentaires, ainsi que les traitements de faveur et la limitation des programmes d'aide alimentaire.
Ceci confirme la nécessité d'accorder plus d'attention qu'auparavant à la priorité absolue du développement de la production agricole et alimentaire dans les stratégies des pays en développement, et de mobiliser tous les efforts nationaux ainsi que la coopération internationale, sous toutes ses formes et avec toutes ses ressources, vers le développement économique et agricole à travers des politiques agricoles permettant la réalisation de la sécurité alimentaire durable.
Monsieur le Président, nous avons suivi avec intérêt les réformes engagées par le Directeur général visant à une meilleure restructuration de l'organisation, à une rationalisation de son action et à une consolidation de sa décentralisation, notamment par la création de bureaux sous- régionaux et le développement des actions de terrain. Nous saisissons cette occasion pour exprimer notre confiance et notre soutien au Directeur général pour qu'il poursuive cette orientation dans le but de consolider le rayonnement de l'Organisation et se rapproche davantage de l'objectif d'éradication de la sous-alimentation et celui de la sécurité alimentaire conformément aux recommandations de la dernière déclaration de Québec et au Plan d'action qui résultera du Sommet mondial de l'alimentation.
D'un autre côté, et en tant qu'Etat Membre, nous sommes appelés à faire en sorte que l'Organisation dispose des moyens nécessaires pour sa bonne marche, surtout qu'elle est appelée à moderniser ses méthodes de travail, outre ses activités normales, et à répondre aux exigences des pays membres, dont le nombre s'accroît, en matière de coopération technique, particulièrement dans le domaine du développement agricole et rural, de la rationalisation de l'exploitation des ressources naturelles et de la promotion des ressources humaines.
C'est pourquoi, Monsieur le Président, la délégation tunisienne, tout en se félicitant des efforts réalisés pour la réduction des coûts et pour la maîtrise des dépenses, plaide avec détermination en faveur d'un programme de travail et de budget proposé par le Directeur général, projet longuement discuté par les organes directeurs et, particulièrement, lors des cent huitième et cent neuvième sessions du Conseil. Ce projet de programme de travail et de budget représente un minimum garantissant la crédibilité de l'Organisation en la mettant à même de poursuivre ses activités au bénéfice des Etats Membres et ce, conformément à la Constitution et à la volonté politique de ses membres réaffirmée par la Déclaration de Québec, unanimement adoptée. C'est la raison pour laquelle, Monsieur le Président, alors que nous nous sommes mis d'accord sur la problématique et l'objectif, la logique voudrait que nous nous mettions d'accord sur les voies et les moyens pour les atteindre.
Monsieur le Président, depuis le changement du 7 novembre 1987, la Tunisie s'est sérieusement occupée de sa sécurité alimentaire à travers les multiples ajustements visant au développement économique et la stabilité sociale en partant du principe de compter essentiellement sur ses propres moyens, et en adoptant des politiques de promotion de l'investissement et de mobilisation de tous les facteurs de production pour contribuer au processus de développement agricole et rural, avec une répartition claire des rôles entre le secteur privé, qui a la responsabilité de la production, de la transformation et de la commercialisation, et le secteur public qui doit fournir le cadre réglementaire adéquat, l'infrastructure et les incitations nécessaires pour la création d'un environnement propice à l'initiative et à l'effort des opérateurs privés.
Sous l'impulsion du Président Ben Ali, plusieurs réformes ont été entreprises dans le secteur agricole dont je cite la restructuration du secteur, l'organisation de la profession, la réforme foncière, la consolidation de l'infrastructure, la mobilisation et la conservation des ressources naturelles, la restructuration des circuits de commercialisations et la réforme de la politique des prix à la production. Par ailleurs, plusieurs mesures ont été prises en faveur du secteur privé et concernant notamment l'incitation à l'investissement dans l'agriculture, tout en favorisant les opérations de partenariat avec les pays frères et amis, ainsi que l'adoption d'une politique pilote en matière de financement des petits et moyens agriculteurs et la promotion du rôle de la femme, qu'elle soit exploitant ou employée agricole. Partant de la nouvelle distribution des rôles entre l'Etat et les producteurs, l'attention a été portée sur l'équilibre qui garantit l'augmentation et l'amélioration de la productivité pour répondre, d'une part, aux besoins croissants en quantité et en qualité et, d'autre part, à la garantie d'une gestion rationnelle et d'une exploitation équilibrée des ressources naturelles et génétiques.
Pour atteindre ces objectifs, nous avons mis l'accent, dans nos programmes et projets, sur des stratégies de conservation des eaux et du sol, de lutte contre la désertification, sur le développement de la forêt et des parcours. Nous avons fait en sorte que ces stratégies comprennent des actions préventives et des actions curatives, tout en respectant le principe de la protection des ressources dans le processus de développement. Notre conviction de l'importance des ressources naturelles nous a poussé à consolider nos programmes de recherche appliquée, à installer des réseaux d'information et de suivi, et à élargir les possibilités de contribution des agriculteurs et des habitants des zones agricoles dans la gestion et la conservation de ces ressources naturelles.
Tous les indicateurs montrent la pertinence des choix et de l'orientation prise par la Tunisie. La production agricole s'est développée de manière significative, surtout au niveau des produits de base, et les investissements dans l'agriculture se sont diversifiés et ont concerné également les domaines de la transformation des produits agricoles et des services. Ces résultats ont été acquis grâce aux compétences nationales à travers la contribution de centaines d'ingénieurs et de techniciens spécialistes dans le domaine de la production agricole afin de consolider le rôle du secteur privé et coopératif et de rajeunir et moderniser l'agriculture.
Monsieur le Président, parallèlement à nos préoccupations au niveau national et à l'autodépendance, la Tunisie croit en la nécessité d'instaurer une ère de coopération et de solidarité mutuelle sur la base de l'équité dans le but de contribuer à la réalisation de la sécurité alimentaire dans la région du Maghreb arabe, en encourageant les opérations d'échange des produits agricoles entre les pays de la région afin de concrétiser le marché agricole maghrébin et de consolider la coopération entre les pays membres, dans le but de préparer le terrain à la mise en place de politiques agricoles harmonisées et complémentaires. D'un autre côté, la Tunisie s'est préparée à entrer dans une nouvelle phase de coopération avec l'Union européenne sur la base d'un parternariat à travers la conclusion d'un nouvel accord visant l'instauration d'une zone de libre-échange entre les deux parties. Ceci constitue un défi qu'il va falloir gagner par la consolidation des efforts de mise à niveau de l'agriculture tunisienne afin d'améliorer la qualité de ses produits et d'améliorer sa compétitivité dans le cadre d'un programme global de réformes visant la mise à niveau de l'appareil de production et l'assistance des producteurs à acquérir l'expérience nécessaire pour s'adapter aux exigences nouvelles de la zone de libre-échange. La réalisation de ce programme nécessite une importante assistance technique et financière pour soutenir l'effort national et les ressources propres de la Tunisie.
La Tunisie n'a épargné aucun effort pour soutenir la coopération Sud-Sud dans le cadre de ce que lui permettent ses ressources, que ce soit à travers la formation des hommes ou la fourniture d'assistances techniques, ou encore par des projets de partenariat avec plusieurs pays arabes et africains. Afin de consolider les liens de coopération avec la FAO, la Tunisie a conclu avec cette Organisation un accord portant sur la fourniture, par la Tunisie, de services d'assistance technique au profit des autres pays en développement garantissant le transfert de technologie dans les domaines de l'agriculture, des forêts et de la pêche, ce qui lui permet aussi de profiter de l'expérience des autres pays.
Mon pays vient également de signer un accord sur l'utilisation d'experts à la retraite et souhaite contribuer à l'utilisation de jeunes techniciens professionnels. Tout en considérant avec grande satisfaction l'assistance qu'elle a retenue de la part de la FAO dans le cadre du Programme de coopération technique, à plusieurs niveaux, la Tunisie insiste à nouveau sur la nécessité de consolider les activités de l'organisation et de fournir l'assistance à tous les pays et, surtout, à mon pays qui souhaite bénéficier d'une aide accrue de la FAO dans les domaines de la conservation de l'eau et des sols, des ressources halieutiques et du développement agricole et durable, ainsi que dans les domaines à portée technologique telles que les ressources génétiques, animales et végétales et la recherche scientifique appliquée. D'un autre côté, la FAO devrait s'appliquer à suivre l'évolution et les changements structurels découlant des accords de l'Uruguay Round et de l'Organisation mondiale du commerce à travers la fourniture de l'assistance technique nécessaire aux pays membres, particulièrement les pays en développement pour qu'ils ajustent leurs politiques agricoles aux nouvelles exigences internationales, et pour que leurs produits répondent aux normes sanitaires et de qualité exigées. Cette assistance devrait aussi couvrir les aspects relatifs au développement durable, à l'environnement et à la gestion des ressources naturelles. Dans ce cadre, ma délégation voudrait exprimer sa reconnaissance à l'effort fourni pour la préparation du Code de conduite pour une pêche responsable, espérant qu'il soit un instrument efficace pour aider à préserver les ressources halieutiques à travers la mise en place et la consolidation des outils adéquats pour rationaliser l'effort de pêche, aussi bien dans les eaux territoriales que dans les eaux internationales.
D.M. JAYARATNE (Sri Lanka): Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Let me, Mr Chairman, at the outset, congratulate you on your election for this important meeting and I am confident that you will steer the discussions to reach definite conclusions on the issues being debated.
I must also convey to the Government of Iraq my delegation's sympathies at the loss of the Hon. Minister of Agriculture.
I first bring to you the very good wishes of my President - Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and her Government, which has a commitment to the welfare of the large rural population that dominates the electorate.
We are meeting at a historic period having celebrated FAO's 50th Anniversary, where we recommitted ourselves to the welfare of the millions of poor rural farmers and to provide food for the increasing population in the world. In this context, Sri Lanka is doing its utmost to contribute to global food security by meeting as far as possible our food requirements.
It is our intention to concentrate on certain very specific areas such as the following:
The pivotal role in Sri Lanka's agriculture will in future depend primarily on the organization of farmers. It is my pleasure to inform this assembly that, to date, a total of 14 000 farmer organizations have been formed with a "Govi Sevana" or "Farmer's House" being provided to each organization comprising about 300 to 350 farm families. The "Govi Sevana" will function as an educational Centre and marketing.
In Sri Lanka there are a number of banking facilities. However ordinary farmers are unable to obtain credit facilities due to long procedures, lack of sophisticated educational background and adequate collateral, forcing them to obtain credit from expensive and unscrupulous moneylenders who exploit them. This needs to be corrected.
With this in mind my government will establish a financial institution owned by individual groups of farmers who will provide the capital by purchasing shares in the bank and manage it by disbursing the loans and guarantee its repayment. This institution will be referred to as the Farmers Bank.
Sri Lanka has a problem of landless farmers and my Government has decided to provide 1 134 000 families with land titles.
Sri Lanka is placing an even greater emphasis on the horticulture sector, particularly in ensuring year-round availability of fruits and vegetables for the people. In addition it is our intention to further expand the potential export of these fruits and vegetables.
Due to the limitations on the availability of land for food production there has been the indiscriminate clearing of the forest cover for food crop production. This in turn has had its negative effects and imbalance on the environment, soils and the watershed. In order to arrest this deteriorating situation, my Government has a target of 130 000 acres for reforestation. In this programme agro forestry principles will play a large part.
Rice, which is the staple crop of the people of Sri Lanka, is facing the dilemma of stagnating and plateauing of yields leading to decreased incomes to rice farmers. This in turn has led to the abandoning of these lands and into marshy areas that need new uses to be found for them. FAO could help us in this.
Resorting to prudent degrees of mechanization and the greatest and efficient use of machines has to be looked into in greater depth and in this area too we would like to have FAO's assistance.
In order to break through the problems facing the small-holder farmers, we need to use improved technologies as well as greater quantities of inputs.
In order to obtain the maximum use of the large quantities of inputs and to obtain greater benefits both from the point of view of productivity and increased incomes, my government encourages the subsidizing of these inputs, at least in the short to medium term, so that some relief is given to the farmers.
Other areas of emphasis of the Government are the rehabilitation of minor irrigation schemes to ensure the availability of irrigation water to farmers and the development of farm to market roads to guarantee a more efficient transport and marketing system.
Improvements in both the parastatal and private marketing institutions is another area that will be given high priority. The lack of adequate storage and marketing facilities has resulted in large post-harvest losses, a subject much discussed with inadequate attention being given to correct the problem.
Recognizing the need for a future income after active farming, a Farmer Pension and Insurance scheme has been developed and this covers all forms of agriculture.
Sri Lanka is providing greater attention to fisheries. At present technologies are being developed to grow fish in the paddy fields, a technique widely used in a number of countries in Asia.
Further, the Indian Ocean accounts for around 20 percent of the total tuna landings in the world and has been in the forefront of regional cooperation in tuna management for a decade. At the Law of the Sea Convention in 1981, Sri Lanka proposed the established of a regulatory body to manage the exploitation of tuna in the Indian Ocean which was accepted by FAO, who initiated the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission under the umbrella of the Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission with the Indo-Pacific Tuna Programme being established as a nucleus to IOTC in Sri Lanka in 1982.
Most countries in the Third World have had to face difficulties with a number of financial commitments made to the international lending institutions over the last two decades. I appeal to the international community to reconsider this situation and devise ways and means to ease the difficulties faced by developing nations.
We are also meeting at a time when there have been significant changes in international trade agreements, particularly with the Uruguay agreement and the establishment of the World Trade Organization. The direct impacts of this to developing countries are significant. Sri Lanka, in its attempt to ensure that we do not resort to import our basic foods, has provided certain concessionary measures to the farming community to encourage them to produce more food. The effects of the GATT agreement will have significant negative effects to producers in terms of increased costs and to consumers in terms of increased consumer prices. Greater attention needs to be given to the impact of these new agreements and to also avoid the pitfalls of allowing the dumping of excess production from the developed to developing countries.
There is much that farmers can learn by interacting among themselves, even across countries. Sri Lanka has limited success in this area, where we have taken farmers to other countries and exposed them to innovative practices and experiences being undertaken by farmers in a different cultural, economic and agro-ecological environment. I encourage FAO to look at this programme and facilitate this exchange.
Let me finally raise an issue that is common to all of us. In a number of countries a large amount of resources are diverted to the purchase of arms for various conflicts which cause untold misery to millions of people. If on the other hand these resources can be diverted to food production, the problem of hunger and food deficiency could be easily solved.
In conclusion, I sincerely hope that the path and the direction that is set out during the deliberations of this Conference will develop a more comprehensive and sympathetic understanding of the complexities of agrarian problems of the countries in the region and that FAO would reorder its priorities and refashion its approaches to the extent possible, and thereby obtain the maximum benefit to be realized.
Simeon NYACHAE (Kenya): Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of my delegation and myself, I warmly congratulate you on your unanimous election as Chairman of the 28th Session of the FAO Conference and other members of the Conference Bureau for their election, to their respective offices. I am confident that under your able guidance, the Conference will take decisions that will enable the organization to fulfil its mandate.
I feel honoured to address the 28th Session of FAO Conference which coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Organization, which we commemorated at its birth place, the beautiful city of Quebec a few days ago. My delegation looks forward with hope and confidence that as we move into the 21st century, we will review the organization's past policies, priorities and strategies with a view to enhancing its capacity to fight against poverty, hunger and malnutrition.
Let me also express the gratitude of my delegation to the Member Governments for their invaluable support to the organization during the last 50 years. Their commitment to the ideals of FAO has enabled the organization to work towards achieving its mandate. In this regard I would like to reiterate Kenya's total commitment to the ideals of the organization.
Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya's economy. The country has traditionally produced enough to met its national needs and even realized surplus for export. However, the last five years have been difficult ones. Kenya realized decline in food production particularly of maize, the main staple food of the population. Production fell below national consumption, regrettably the period coincided with a huge influx of refugges from some neighbouring counties putting pressure on the available food resources. Kenya is grateful to the international community who came to its assistance. I am happy to note that the country quickly recovered from this situation. Following favourable weather in 1994 we realised over-production of maize and milk and increased output of other products.
The state of agriculture in Kenya cannot be adequately addressed without reference to the level of land available for agricultural utilization. Only about 20 percent of the land is arable while the rest is arid and semi-arid. The situation has tended to limit agricultural production to mainly intensive use of the arable and marginal areas.
To support a population of 25 million with an annual growth rate of 3.5 percent, food production must increase at a rate to match population growth rate. Otherwise current high population growth rate and limited arable land create imbalance between national food supply and demand as our efforts in dealing with the population problem is not an exercise which can bring about the required positive results in the short run.
Since 1993 Kenya has undertaken broad liberalization of its economy including abolition of import and price controls for agricultural inputs. This has led to short term higher prices of inputs to farmers, decline in veterinary services and depressed prices for farm produce especially cereals and livestock products.
In 1994, we produced the latest sessional paper on national food policy. Its major objective is to attain food sufficiency and security. We reviewed our past programmes in the agricultural sector, our successes and failures, our constraints and our strategies. In our policy analysis we look at the potentials for increasing production, food marketing and storage policies, food security at the household and national level. Research and extension, food trade, nutrition, resource development and employment policies are clearly defined in the paper.
Allow me to make some specific comments on a few areas that would promote food and agricultural development. Firstly, and in the context of farming in Africa and other developing countries, we should incorporate the positive elements in the existing traditional farming systems in our extension packages in order to give meaningful guidance in our actions for improving agricultural production. The farmers should be enabled to choose among alternative opportunities that are of social and economic benefit to them.
Secondly, land use policies should be developed and plans formulated which involve the rural people in the management of land resources.
Extension services should be tailored towards the needs of the nation and of local communities. The recent introduction of the concept of cost sharing in extension services should be applied discriminately. The concept might work well where there is profit motivation. However, when addressing the needs of farmers in subsistence food production or those of the underprivileged poor, extension approaches should be relevant to the circumstances of those they are meant to benefit. Meanwhile, systems of technology transfer should be flexible and adaptable to accommodate the prevailing local conditions.
The problem of food production in Africa is largely a problem of limited access to high-yielding seed varieties. Inputs, rural infrastructure and services, credit and unpredictable weather conditions, lack of these facilities, items and services have inhibited rapid food production.
There is need therefore to strengthen our seed production and supply. We should address the problem of unreliable and high cost of fertilizers. Farmer credit schemes that respond to the needs of the farmers should be developed. Along with these, effective credit recovery methods should be developed.
Africa more than any other region, has the highest average population growth and the lowest and least stable growth of food production. It is also sad to observe that in the 1960s the annual rate of growth in Africa's fertilizer use was 11.5 percent but dropped to six percent in the 1970s and further to 4.3 percent in the 1980s. Africa represents only 2.25 percent of the developing world's fertilizer consumption.
A critical look at the situation would show that Africa is not entirely to blame. We are all aware that 30 years ago when the Green Revolution was formulated and effected, Africa was completely left out. Kenya is convinced that had Africa been included in the Green Revolution package the state of food and agriculture in the continent today would be different. To recover from its present state the continent requires increased investment of resources in agriculture. It is not too late to design a similar plan for Africa to create sustainable food production and enhanced productivity in the continent as opposed to the current piece-meal support Africa is being given. Support for realization of such a plan requires political will on the part of the international community.
Kenya duly recognizes women for the many and diverse important roles they play particularly in rural development especially in sub-Saharan Africa where they constitute the major producers of food for the household nutrition, food security and health. Despite these important roles they play in development, they have been marginalized in terms of access to productive resources such as land, financial credit, education and involvement in decision-making process for economic progress. In this regard my Government fully endorses the provision in the Director-General's budget for 1996-1997 for support to women in development activities. Given the limited financial resources of FAO to implement such important programmes, we appeal for international donor support for the extrabudgetary support in order to enhance the programme implementation. The support would enhance the role of women as key to the attainment of food security.
The role of forestry in food security needs to be emphasized. The problem of deforestation and land degradation needs to be diagnosed to determine the causes so that definite actions are taken as regards land-use policies and plans to combat environmental effects of deforestation and land degradation. In this connection there is also need for close monitoring of other factors that affect food security such as genetic erosion, global warming, ozone layer depletion and desertification. As regards fisheries, we wish to emphasize conservation and management of fisheries for sustainable development. In this connection, interregional cooperation is necessary in fisheries resource management.
In conclusion, Mr Chairman, my delegation commends the Director-General for his initiative to organize the World Food Summit next year. We believe that mobilization of political support for the efforts to achieve food security at the highest political level is timely. With the necessary political will at the Heads of State and Government level, an enabling environment could be created to accelerate action towards attainment of food security at both national and global level.
Rudolf HORBER (Suisse): Lors de cette vingt-huitième session de la Conférence de la FAO, j'aimerais tout d'abord féliciter le Président ainsi que les Vice-présidents de leur élection et remercier le Directeur général et tout le Secrétariat des travaux préparatifs à cette conférence. En cette année du cinquantième anniversaire de la FAO, je tiens à affirmer toute l'importance de notre organisation dans le développement agricole et la lutte contre la faim dans le monde. Les défis à l'aube du XXI siècle nécessitent une solidarité et une coopération universelles. "Libérer l'humanité de la faim" est un objectif qui relève de la responsabilité de nous tous. Cet objectif fait appel à un engagement moral, politique, financier et à une solidarité de tous les membres de la FAO.
La FAO vient de passer son cinquantième anniversaire. Un tel anniversaire est l'occasion pour tirer un bilan. Des progrès importants ont été accomplis, à la fois dans la lutte contre la pauvreté et dans l'augmentation substantielle de la production agricole, souvent grâce à une "révolution verte". Des techniques de production toujours plus performantes ont permis de développer le secteur agricole dans de nombreuses régions. Le rapport de la FAO "L'agriculture mondiale: Horizon 2010" indique qu'il reste encore un potentiel limité des terres non cultivées, qu'il est possible d'exploiter. Dans 40 ans, le monde comptera quelque 3,5 milliards de personnes en plus. Il paraît que l'équilibre alimentation/population peut être résolu, qu'il est possible d'augmenter encore l'offre de la production agricole tout en respectant la nature. Ceci à condition toutefois d'accorder partout une haute priorité à l'agriculture et de mener de bonnes politiques agricoles. Afin de promouvoir le développement de l'agriculture tout en maintenant le patrimoine des ressources naturelles pour les générations futures, la FAO doit aider les pays concernés à lutter contre la désertification, l'érosion et la surexploitation des sols et les pousser à des méthodes d'exploitation respectueuses de l'environnement. Les enjeux sont de taille si l'on connaît les risques de dégradation de l'environnement liés à certaines politiques de développement agricole et rural mal maîtrisées.
Malheureusement les progrès du côté de l'offre à eux seuls ne suffiront pas à éliminer la faim. Il reste encore un certain niveau de sous-alimentation chronique. Ce problème se situe du côté de la demande, il est causé par la pauvreté et s'exprime souvent par un pouvoir d'achat insuffisant.
La difficulté croissante des tâches de la FAO face à ces enjeux, appelle trois réflexions de notre part.
Premièrement. L'expérience montre que le développement de la production et de la productivité agricole est un élément clé de tout développement; les pays qui ont négligé le secteur agricole n'ont en général pas bien réussi. La FAO place au centre de son action le postulat du développement agricole et rural durable comme élément primordial de lutte contre la pauvreté et de promotion de la sécurité alimentaire. La Suisse approuve cette approche. La FAO doit aider les pays dans la formulation et mise en oeuvre de meilleures politiques agricoles et rurales, afin de développer leurs zones rurales et de freiner l'exode rural.
Deuxièmement. La surproduction agricole dans beaucoup de pays riches coexiste avec la malnutrition dans les pays les plus pauvres. Il est indéniable que les politiques agricoles menées par certains pays industrialisés ont freiné la croissance du secteur primaire dans les pays en développement, en poussant d'une part les prix agricoles mondiaux à la baisse, et en réduisant d'autre part les possibilités d'exportation de ces pays. Ceci m'amène à souligner l'importance de l'accord sur l'agriculture signé en 1994 à Marrakech. Le cycle Uruguay a eu le mérite d'aborder, quasiment pour la première fois, la question d'une libéralisation progressive du commerce agricole sous un angle multilatéral. Même si les pas franchis sont souvent jugés plutôt petits, je pense que cet accord devrait constituer une chance pour les pays exportateurs du tiers monde. L'adhésion de la Suisse à cet accord le 1er juillet 1995 traduit la volonté de notre pays d'insérer progressivement son secteur agricole dans un contexte et des règles multilatérales. Tant pour des raisons externes qu'internes, la Suisse a ainsi mis en oeuvre une réforme en profondeur de sa politique agricole qui va même au-delà des dispositions de l'accord agricole de l'Organisation Mondiale du Commerce. Par une déréglementation partielle et des incitations financières à une production écologique, notre réforme vise à soumettre le secteur agricole davantage aux règles du marché et à nous rapprocher encore plus des principes d'une production respectueuse de l'environnement. Les nouvelles propositions de politique agricole de mon pays seront mises en consultation publique prochainement, et le Parlement en discutera l'année prochaine.
Troisièmement. J'aimerais insister sur le fait que dans le secteur primaire, une libéralisation totale, qui irait d'ailleurs à l'encontre des intérêts des pays en développement à déficit vivrier et de leur sécurité alimentaire, est irréaliste. Les diverses prestations de l'agriculture ne peuvent pas toutes être rémunérées par le marché. Le mandat de l'agriculture est non seulement de procurer des produits agricoles pour le marché, mais aussi de fournir des prestations d'intérêt général, tels l'entretien du paysage et le maintien à long terme des bases vitales. Nous pensons que la FAO est appelée à promouvoir un développement agricole durable dans le monde. Il faut trouver dans le domaine agricole un équilibre entre libre-échange et protection. Les efforts entrepris par les pays en développement pour garantir leur sécurité alimentaire et développer leur production agricole ne devraient pas être contrecarrés par des prix mondiaux décourageant leur production interne. Nous sommes confirmés dans cette opinion par les conclusions du Symposium de Québec, qui disent entre autres "qu'il y a des exceptions à la capacité du marché à régler les problèmes de sécurité alimentaire; le protectionnisme devrait être permis pour les pays pauvres".
Avant de conclure, quelques brèves remarques en ce qui concerne le programme de travail et budget 1996/97. Nous avons des difficultés à soutenir un niveau budgétaire dont nous savons d'avance que son financement n'est pas assuré. Seul 1/3 des pays membres ont entièrement réglé leurs contributions, presqu'un quart des membres sont menacés de sanctions et le plus grand contributeur a déjà annoncé qu'il ne pourra pas assurer sa pleine part de contribution. Si nous voulons éviter des risques graves pour notre organisation, nous devons faire preuve de réalisme budgétaire. Le défi pour nous tous est d'adopter un budget réaliste et d'améliorer parallèlement la discipline de contribution. La Suisse reste convaincue que notre organisation peut remplir ses diverses fonctions avec un budget inférieur à celui proposé, sans toutefois rejoindre la position du plus grand contributeur. Mon pays qui est membre actif de la FAO depuis 1946, a toujours versé ses contributions avec ponctualité. Le soutien de la Suisse pour la FAO s'exprime aussi par le fait, qu'en plus de sa contribution ordinaire, elle contribue avec des montants plus élevés encore, et ceci de manière volontaire, au financement des activités de terrain de la FAO.
Lutter contre la faim et la malnutrition dans le monde, contribuer au développement d'une agriculture soucieuse de l'environnement et allant dans le sens d'un développement durable, voilà les tâches principales de la FAO. La Suisse veut continuer à y contribuer, comme elle l'a fait dans le passé. D'ores et déjà, la FAO est assurée de l'engagement actif de la Suisse pour la préparation et la tenue du Sommet mondial de l'alimentation prévu pour novembre 1996.
Mettre fin à la faim, n'est-ce pas là le défi majeur à relever par l'humanité? 800 millions de personnes souffrent de la faim, ce qui est insupportable. La FAO doit jouer un rôle de premier plan dans cette bataille "contre la faim" et la Suisse l'assure de son soutien sans failles!
The meeting rose at 11.00 hours.
La séance est levée à 11 heures.
Se levanta la sesión a las 11.00 horas.
23 October 1995
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Twenty-eighth Session • Vingt-huitième session • 28° período de sesiones |
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FIFTH PLENARY MEETING
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23 October 1995 |
SUPPLEMENT
Address by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, on the Occasion of the Twenty-eighth Session of the Conference
Allocution de Sa Sainteté le Pape Jean-Paul U en l'honneur du Cinquantième Anniversaire de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture, à l'occasion de la vingt-huitième
session de la Conférence
Discurso de Su Santidad el Papa Juan Pablo II en el Cincuentenario de la fundación de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación, con ocasión de la celebración del 28° período de sesiones de la Conferencia
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I gladly welcome the distinguished participants in the Twenty-eighth Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, making your now traditional visit to the See of Peter. Because this year marks the Fiftieth Anniversary of FAO, I am especially pleased that, despite your busy schedule, you did not wish to miss this occasion - a custom which has been honoured at meetings of the Conference since FAO settled in Rome in 1951.
Through you, Mr Chairman, I offer warm good wishes to the delegates and representatives of the Member States, and extend a special welcome to the new members of your Organization which more than ever reflects a world which, in spite of often painful divisions, has an increasing need to imite around common objectives.
I thank you, Mr Director-General, and renew my esteem for your generous commitment during the first phase of your mandate, which also involves the difficult but necessary task of restructuring the Organization.
It is not by chance that the beginning of FAO coincided with the formation of that broader organization, the United Nations, whose ideals inspired FAO and with whose activity it is associated. The establishment of FAO was thus intended to emphasize the complementarity of the principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations: true peace and effective international security are achieved not only by preventing wars and conflicts, but also by promoting development and creating conditions which ensure that basic human rights are fully guaranteed.
The Fiftieth Anniversary celebration of FAO offers a suitable occasion to reflect on the international community's commitment to a fundamental good and duty: the freeing of human beings from malnutrition and the threat of starvation. As you have pointed out in the recent Quebec Declaration, it cannot be forgotten that at the origins of FAO there was not only a desire to strengthen effective cooperation among states in a primary sector such as agriculture, but also the intention to find ways to guarantee sufficient food for the whole world through sharing the fruits of the earth in a rational way. By setting up FAO on 16 October 1945, the world community hoped to eradicate the scourge of famine and starvation. The enormous difficulties still involved in this task must not be allowed to diminish the firmness of your commitment.
Even today tragic situations are unfolding before our eyes: people are dying of starvation because peace and security have not been guaranteed. The social and economic situation of the contemporary world makes us all aware of the extent to which the hunger and malnutrition of millions of people are the result of evil mechanisms within economic structures, or are the consequence of unjust criteria in the distribution of resources and production, policies formulated in order to safeguard special interest groups, or different forms of protectionism. Furthermore, the precarious situation in which whole peoples find themselves has led to a mobility of such alarming dimensions that it cannot be dealt with by traditional humanitarian assistance alone. The question of refugees and displaced persons gives rise to dramatic consequences at the level of agricultural production and of food security, affecting the nutrition of millions of people. FAO's action in recent years has shown that the provision of emergency help for refugees is not enough; this kind of assistance does not bring a satisfactory solution as long as conditions of extreme poverty are allowed to continue and become even more acute, conditions which lead to increased deaths due to malnutrition and hunger. The underlying causes of such situations have to be addressed.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fiftieth Anniversary celebrations furnish us with the opportunity to ask why international action, despite the existence of FAO, has been unable to alter this state of affairs. At the world-wide level sufficient food can be produced to satisfy everyone's needs. Why then are so many people threatened by starvation?
As you are well aware, there are many reasons for this paradoxical situation in which abundance coexists with scarcity, widespread corruption in public life, and massive investment in sophisticated weapons systems to the detriment of people's primary needs. These and other reasons contribute to the creation of what you call "structures of famine". Here we are speaking of the mechanisms of international business by which the less favoured countries, those most in need of food, are excluded in one way or another from the market, thus preventing a just and effective distribution of agricultural products. Yet another reason is that certain forms of assistance for development are made conditional on the implementation by poorer countries of policies of structural adjustment, policies which drastically limit those countries' ability to acquire needed foodstuffs. Nor can a serious analysis of the underlying causes of hunger overlook that attitude found in the more developed countries, where a consumerist culture tends to exalt artificial needs over real ones. This has direct consequences for the structure of the world economy, and for agriculture and food production in particular.
These many reasons have their source not only in a false sense of the values which should sustain international relations, but also in a widespread attitude which emphasizes having over being. The result is a real inabililty on the part of many to appreciate the needs of the poor and the starving; indeed, to appreciate the poor themselves in their inalienable human dignity. An effective campaign against hunger thus calls for more than merely indicating the proper functioning of market mechanisms or attaining higher levels of food production. It is necessary, first and foremost, to recover a sense of the human person. In my address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on 5 October last, I pointed to the need to build relationships between peoples on the basis of a constant "exchange of gifts", a real "culture of giving" which should make every country prepared to meet the needs of the less fortunate.
In this perspective, FAO and other bodies have an essential role to play in fostering a new sense of international cooperation. During the last fifty years it has been the merit of FAO to promote people's access to land, thus favouring agricultural workers and fostering their rights as a condition for raising production levels. Food assistance, often exploited as a way of exerting political pressure, has been modified by means of a new concept: food security, which considers the availability of food not only in relation to the needs of a country's population, but also in relation to the productive capacity of neighbouring areas, precisely with a view to the rapid transfer or exchange of foodstuffs.
In addition, the concern which the international community shows for environmental issues is reflected in FAO's involvement in activities aimed at limiting damage to the ecosystem and safeguarding food production from phenomena such as desertification and erosion. The promotion of effective social justice in relations between peoples entails the awareness that the economic life of the world community should be oriented to sharing those goods, their use and their benefits.
Today it is more necessary than ever for the international community to recommit itself to fulfilling the primary purpose for which FAO was established. Daily bread for every person on earth - that "Fiat Panis" which FAO refers to in its motto - is an essential condition of the world's peace and security. Courageous choices must be made, choices made in the light of a correct ethical vision of political and economic activity. Modifications and reforms of the international system, and of FAO in particular, need to be rooted in an ethic of solidarity and a culture of sharing. To direct the labours of this Conference to this end can be a most fruitful way of preparing for the important meeting of the World Summit on Nutrition which FAO has scheduled for November 1996.
In all these efforts the Catholic Church is close to you, as attested to by the attention with which the Holy See has followed the activity of FAO since 1948. In celebrating this Fiftieth Anniversary with you, the Holy See wishes to demonstrate its continuing support for your endeavours. A symbolic sign of this support and encouragement will be the bell to be placed in the FAO Headquarters as a remembrance of the establishment, fifty years ago, of the family of the United Nations. Bells symbolize joy; they announce an event. But bells also ring out a call to action. On this occasion, and in the context of FAO's activity, this bell is meant to call everyone - countries, different international organizations, all men and women of good will - to even greater efforts to free the world from famine and malnutrition.
The words inscribed on the base of the bell evoke the very purpose of the United Nations system: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isa 2:4). These are the words of the Prophet Isaiah, who proclaimed the dawn of universal peace. But, according to the Prophet, this peace will come about - and this has great meaning for FAO - only when "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks" (ibid.). For only when people consider the struggle against hunger as a priority, and are committed to providing everyone with the means of gaining their daily bread instead of amassing weapons, will conflicts and wars come to an end and humanity be able to set forth on a lasting journey of peace.
This is the sublime task to which you, the representatives of the nations and the leaders of FAO, are called.
Upon your work and upon FAO, I invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God, ever rich in mercy.
