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III. ACTIVITIES OF FAO AND WFP (continued)
III. ACTIVITES DE LA FAO ET DU PAM (suite)
III. ACTIVIDADES DE LA FAO Y DEL PMA (continuación)

9. Inter-Agency Relations and Consultations on Questions of Common Interest (continued)
9. Relations et consultations interinstitutions sur les questions d'intérêt commun (suite)
9. Relaciones y consultas con otros organismos sobre asuntos de interés común (continuación)

9.2 Joint Inspection Unit Reports
9.2 Rapports du Corps commun d' inspection
9.2 Informes de la Dependencia Común de Inspección

CHAIRMAN: As you will see from the Order of the Day we start with item 9.2, which is the Joint Inspection Unit Reports. The main document concerned is document CL 75/6. The Programme Committee also commented on it; therefore that document, with the paragraphs, is also shown: (CL 75/4 -paras. 2.171; 3.113-3.114). As you will see, the report is very straightforward. Therefore it is not necessary to call for any introduction. I now open the discussion on the Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on Glossary of Evaluation Terms.

Can we take it that the report is noted by Council and that the comments of the Programme Committee are accepted?

J. GODIN DIAZ (Colombia): Sobre el tema 9.2 - Informes de la Dependencia Común de Inspección, la Delegación de Colombia hará unos breves comentarios acerca del documento CL 75/6.

Como es costumbre cuando discutimos estos Informes, nuestra declaración se referirá particularmente a las observaciones del Director General de la FAO en relación con los problemas que hace la Dependencia Común para que los adopte un glosario de términos de evaluación. Observamos que este trabajo corresponde a una de las recomendaciones que ya había tomado la Dependencia Común de Inspección del Informe que elaboró en 1977 sobre la evaluación en el sistema de las Naciones Unidas.

La delegación de Colombia considera acertada la intervención de la FAO al haber tenido oportunidad de examinar el borrador de este informe y comprobar que muchas de las sugerencias de nuestra Organización se incorporaron en el texto. Por lo tanto, la delegación de Colombia comparte la opinión del Director General en el sentido de que éste es un documento útil y podrá obtener general aceptación sin mayores dificultades.

L. V. BORGES da FONSECA (Brazil): This item does not require concrete measures from the report of this Council. However, my delegation would not like to refrain from expressing its opinion on this kind of work. The elaboration of a Glossary of Evaluation Terms is in the view of my delegation an extremely useful achievement for the work of the whole United Nations System, for the member states and for bilateral and multilateral institutions. This work will help to save the time of all those who make use of it.

Finally, I would like to say that it is with great satisfaction that we see a great many of FAO's suggestions taken into account in the JIC Report as well as a great number of definitions used by our Organization contained in the annex to the report. I would conclude by agreeing with the recommendations contained in paragraphs 43 and 44 of document CL 75/6.

CHAIRMAN: The report is noted and the comments of the Programme Committee and the Director-General are accepted.

V. CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL MATTERS
V. QUESTIONS CONSTITUTIONNELLES ET JURIDIQUES
V. ASUNTOS CONSTITUCIONALES Y JURÍDICOS

14. Report of the Thirty-Seventh Session of the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters (Rome, 7-9 May 1979)
14. Rapport de la trente-septième session du Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques (Rome, 7-9 mai 1979)
14. Informe del 370, período de sesiones del Comité de Asuntos Constitucionales y Jurídicos (Roma, 7-9 mayo 1979)

CHAIRMAN: The main document is CL 75/5. We also have the comments in the report of the Finance Committee,

O.R. BORIN (Président du Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques): Le Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques, à sa trente-septième session, a examiné les questions suivantes: Procédures de création et de suppression des organes statutaires; amendements aux articles XXVI.9. et XXVII.9 du Règlement général de l'Organisation; amendements à l'Accord sur la protection des végétaux dans la région de l'Asie du Sud-Est et du Pacifique; révision de la version française des textes fondamentaux.

Pour ce qui concerne le premier point, Procédures de création et de suppression des organes statu taires, je voudrais faire les remarques suivantes: à sa soixante-quatorzième session, le Conseil, suivant les recommandations formulées par le Comité du programme à sa trente-cinquième session en no vembre 1978, avait demandé aux Conférences régionales d'examiner soigneusement le fonctionnement des organes régionaux dans leurs régions respectives pour déterminer s'ils rendent des services efficaces aux Etats Membres et de recommander les mesures qui apparaîtront alors nécessaires; et de proposer à la Conférence l'adoption d'une résolution qui donnerait des directives sur la création d'organes en vertu des articles VI, XIV et XV et dont le dispositif pourrait être libellé comme suit: 'Toute pro position de création d'un nouvel organe en vertu des articles VI, XIV et XV de l'Acte constitutif se ra désormais accompagné d'un document préparé par le Directeur général et indiquant en détail les ob jectifs que vise la création de cet organe; la façon dont celui-ci s'acquittera de ses fonctions et les effets que sa création pourrait avoir sur les programmes en cours ou futurs; les incidences fi nancières de cette création pendant l'exercice en cours et les incidences financières prévisibles pen dant les exercices suivants". Le Conseil avait également demandé que le Comité des questions consti- , tutionnelles et juridiques examine aussi bien le libellé du dispositif proposé que la meilleure formule pour l'incorporer aux Textes fondamentaux.

Enfin, il avait invité le CQCJ à examiner si des dispositions permettant de supprimer les organes devenus inactifs ou qui ont cessé d'être utiles pourraient être introduites dans les Textes fondamentaux.

C'est ce que nous avons fait, et nous avons préparé un projet de résolution. L'examen des articles pertinents en la matière est résumé dans les paragraphes 6, 7, 8, 9 et 10 du document CL 75/5 que vous avez sous les yeux. Le projet de résolution que nous avons étudié et préparé à votre intention et votre approbation est contenu dans l'Annexe du document précité.

CHAIRMAN: The subject is now open for discussion, including Appendix A which contains the resolution and needs Council decision.

I. M0SK0VITS (Malta): I would like to congratulate the Council and also the CCLM who examined this problem which is of great importance. The list of other existing bodies is extremely long and many of them are really not performing active work any more. Therefore constant review by the Council to abolish some bodies would be very appropriate, or at least to replace them by ad hoc meetings, because bodies which have been established and do not meet for two or three years are really not useful.

As regards the establishment of new bodies and the continuation of existing bodies, I would like to raise one question. In recent years FAO established several bodies jointly with other organizations. I think this needs very careful examination, more careful than in the case of the establishment of a single body because if it is jointly established with some other organization it is extremely difficult to abolish it because it depends also on the will of the other body which is involved. Now, there are several bodies which have been jointly established with other organizations but which do not take directives from FAO and even do not report to FAO. They are working as quasi completely independent bodies and with very, very little connexion with FAO at all.

CHAIRMAN: Thank you, delegate of Malta. I am sure the CCLM and the Legal Adviser have thought of the points you made. Perhaps if other members do not wish to take the floor, I will take the Chairman of CCLM or the Legal Adviser to respond.

O.R. BORIN (Président du Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques): Nous avons envisagé la question de la suppression des organes inutiles et si vous lisez attentivement le document pertinent, vous pouvez constater, au paragraphe 20, que nous avons examiné ces problèmes très soigneusement et nous avons dit que le Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques a jugé approprié de recommander des procédures permettant de mettre fin à l'expiration de tels accords et de sup- I primer les organes créés en vertu de leurs dispositions lorsque les participants n'ont pas fait le nécessaire pour mettre fin à l'accord, bien que l'organe en question soit devenu inactif ou ait perdu son utilité.

Nous avons envisagé cette possibilité; elle est contenue dans le texte de la résolution que nous avons soumis au Conseil et je pense que le Conseiller juridique pourrait peut-être ajouter quelque chose.

CHAIRMAN: With these comments I take it that Council now approves the Resolutions to be submitted to the Conference.

It was so decided
Il en est ainsi decide
Así se acuerda

CHAIRMAN: Chairman of CCLM, can you go on with the next point?

O.R. BORIN (Président du Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques): Le deuxième point que nous avons examiné concerne les amendements aux articles XXVI»9 et XXVII.9 du Règlement général de l'Organisation, relatifs à la question du remboursement des frais ds voyage supportés par les représentants des membres du Comité du programme et du Comité financier pour participer aux réunions. Le Comité avait noté qu'actuellement, en vertu des articles XXVI.9 et XVII.9 du Règlement général de l'Organisation, lus conjointement avec l'article XXV.6, le remboursement des frais de voyage des représentants des membres de ces comités est limité -comme dans le cas des représentants das membres du Conseil - aux frais de voyage aller et retour entre la capitale de leur pays ou, si les frais sont moins élevés, leur lieu d'affectation et celui de la réunion. Par conséquent, une partie des frais de voyage effectivement supportés pourrait ne pas être remboursée si le lieu d'affectation d'un représentant est plus éloigné du lieu de la réunion que la capitale de son pays.

A sa soixante-quatorzième session, le Conseil a noté que les représentants des membres du Comité du programme se trouvaient dans la même situation que ceux du Comité financier, mais que le Comité du programme n'avait pas examiné la question. Nous avons donc estimé opportun d'examiner la question à la lumière des opinions exprimées par le Comité financier et le Comité du programme, conformément à la décision susmentionnée du Conseil et de soumettre à l'examen de delui-oi les projets d'amendements libellés comme suit: "Les représentante des membres du Comité auront droit au remboursement des frais de voyage aller et retour régulièrement supportés pour se rendre, par la voie la plus directe, de leur lieu d'affectation au lieu où se tient la session du Comité". Ainsi, toute inégalité allait donc disparaître. C'est pour cela que nous recommandons à l'attention du Conseil le libellé que nous avons étudié.

CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Ambassador Borin. The amendment is now before Council for discussion.

It appears that Council accepts the amendment, and therefore, necessary action will be taken to amend the General Rules of the Organization as recommended by CCLM.

It was so decided.
Il en est ainsi décidé.
Así se acuerda.

CHAIRMAN: Chairman of CCLM, can you go on to the next point?

O.R. BORIN (Président du Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques): Amendements à l'Accord sur la protection des végétaux dans la région de l'Asie du Sud-Est et du Pacifique. Les amendements proposés consistent à supprimer les mots "du Sud-Est" dans la dénomination de la "région de l'Asie du Sud-Est et du Pacifique", qui figurent dans le titre de l'Accord et dans son texte et à rebaptiser le Comité "Commission phytosanitaire pour l'Asie et le Pacifique".

Examinant les amendements proposés, le CQCJ a noté qu'il s'agissait d'une question de nomenclature et qu'il n'affectait pas la forme quant au fond. La nouvelle dénomination de la région ne modifie en rien l'Accord tel qu'il est défini et le terme "Commission" qui est proposé est conforme à la désignation des autres organes créés par des conventions et accords conclus en vertu de l'article XIV de l'Acte constitutif.

CHAIRMAN: Are there any comments? If not, then the Resolution which is recommended by the CCLM on this issue, which appears on page 6 of the English version of the text, is approved by Council.

It was so decided
Il en est ainsi décidé
Así se acuerda

O.R. BORIN (Président du Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques): Révision de la version française des Textes fondamentaux. Les experts ayant'examiné le texte des versions française et espagnole des Textes fondamentaux de l'Organisation avaient remarqué certaines imprécisions de langage. Après une étude approfondie faite par le bureau des interprètes et ayant écouté nos collègues de langue française au cours de la session du Comité, nous avons proposé certains amendements qui ne touchent pas à la substance des Règles fondamentales mais qui rendent plus claire la signification de certaines expressions. Nous recommandons vivement à votre approbation ces changements qui n'affectent en rien la substance des Textes fondamentaux.

CHAIRMAN: Are there any comments on the French version of these amendments to the Constitution? If there are no comments, I take it that the recommendation and the Draft Resolution on this matter are approved by Council.

It was so decided
Il en est ainsi décidé
Así se acuerda

O.R. BORIN (Président du Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques): Nous avons terminé notre rapport pour ce qui concerne la comptétence du Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques.

CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Ambassador Borin, for the very efficient work done by your Committee and the Legal Adviser which has led to these very speedy decisions.

We now go on to item 15, which is Other Constitutional and Legal Matters. There is a whole list of matters to be dealt with under this, and I woul4 like to call on Mr. Savary to deal with this item.

15. Other Constitutional and Legal Matters:
15. Autres questions constitutionnelles et juridiques:
15. Otros asuntos constitucionales y jurídicos:

15.1 French and Spanish Versions of the Agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development
15.1 Versions française et espagnole de l'Accord avec le Fonds international de développement agricole
15.1 Versiones española y francesa del Acuerdo con el Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola

P. SAVARY (Directeur, Division des Publications): Il peut paraître étrange que ce soit le Directeur de la Division des publications qui présente la question dfun accord entre la FAO et le FIDA. Mais il ne s'agit pas de problèmes de substance, il s'agit simplement de problèmes de formulation, de problèmes linguistiques.

En effet, à sa soixante-douzième session, le Conseil avait adopté le texte de cet accord. Toutefois, la discussion s'est prolongée jusqu'à la dernière séance du Conseil, et au moment de l'adoption du rapport certaines modifications ont été introduites dans le texte qui avait été soumis au Conseil. Ces modifications ont été proposées pour la plupart en langue anglaise. Les membres du Conseil ont suiviet ont adopté ce texte en se fondant, soit sur le texte anglais, soit sur l'interprétation qu'ils en avaient entendue. Mais il n'y avait pas texte définitif en français ni en espagnol.

C'est pourquoi le Conseil a demandé au secrétariat de la FAO de consulter le secrétariat du FIDA afin I de s'entendre sur des textes qui soient mutuellement acceptables pour les deux secrétariats et conformes à la version anglaise qui avait servi aux négociations. Les deux secrétariats ont procédé à ces consultations et ont abouti au texte qui figure maintenant dans le document CL 75/15.

CHAIRMAN: This item is already explained. It is really a matter of language. If the Spanish and French versions which are now before us are accepted as corresponding to the English version which Council discussed and decided on earlier, then that is all that is required of us.

A. ECHEVERRIA ZUNO (México); Nuestra intervención tiene razón jurídica. Como está previsto en los documentos constitutivos tanto de la FAO como del FIDA, ambas instituciones deben hacer sus mejores esfuerzos para entenderse, para cooperar con aquellas de diversa naturaleza y ámbito en que resulte conveniente. Por tal circunstancia, como nos lo han explicado recientemente y lo hemos vivido ya por una larga temporada, en los respectivos órganos de gobierno de las dos instituciones se preparó | por los funcionarios adecuados el proyecto de acuerdo entre el FIDA y la FAO.

Como también todos recordamos, el texto en español fue aprobado en la Junta Ejecutiva del FIDA durante el primer período de sesiones que se realizó en diciembre de 1977, y por otra parte, durante el 72° período de sesiones del Consejo se sometió a consideración. Recordamos que en el documento EB/77/E2 de fecha 22 de noviembre de 1977, la Junta Ejecutiva aprobó el Acuerdo, documento que también se circuló y se consideró en todos los idiomas oficiales reconocidos en el PIDA, y por virtud de la necesidad de realizar algunas afinaciones, el Consejo en su 72° período le pidió a la Secretaría de la FAO que realizara las consultas del caso para adaptarlo y buscar aquellas expresiones y contenido mutuamente aceptables. Queremos agradecer a ambas Secretarías por un permanente contacto, por un diálogo muy constructivo que ha permitido ir adelante y que en tal oportunidad se nos pueda presentar el documento CL 75/LIM/3, que entre las Secretarías de ambas Organizaciones han acordado. Subrayamos nuestro agradecimiento, pero al ser miembros muy interesados y fundadores de la FAO y del FIDA y gozando del honor de formar parte de la Junta Ejecutiva de la primera y del Consejo, queremos expresar alguna preocupación y por su conduoto, señor Presidente, pedirle a la Secretaría de la FAO que nos diera algunos argumentos, algunos elementos, particularmente me refiero a la versión en español.

Sabemos que el texto del documento que se prefirió para ser firmado por el Director General de la FAO, así como por el Presidente del FIDA, fue el del inglés y que es el mismo texto, es decir, no hay entre ellos un sólo elemento que permita insinuar que son distintos, mientras que en el caso del espanol

el texto aprobado en la Junta Ejecutiva y el texto que tenemos ahora preparado por los trabajos que hemos mencionado, práoticamente no hay página en que no haya modificaciones; es decir, jurídicamente no hemos encontrado ni precedentes ni argumentos para que en el marco de la igualdad idiomàtica en que nos desenvolvemos, y que es pilar de las Naciones Unidas, para un idioma que es el que le interesa a mi delegación, los textos de un sólo convenio no sean idénticos. Esto quiere decir, además, que el texto en inglés fue traducido por vías distintas al español, lo que administrativamente y financieramente tiene otras consideraciones que en esta ocasión no quiero tratar.

Sabemos que entre las Secretarías de ambas Instituciones han hecho un esfuerzo y lo han mejorado; pero la Junta Ejecutiva del PIDA aprobó el texto original y no el que ahora se presenta al Consejo. No son idénticos los textos, aunque es cierto que algunas son mejoras lingüísticas; es cierto que hay un trabajo de carácter jurídico muy serio, es cierto que la segunda revisión la hizo un profesional en estos campos, pero esto no invalida nuestra observación de que no hay razón jurídica para que los textos no sean idénticos.

Esta es una preocupación, señor Presidente y por ello quisiéramos recibir alguna explicación. Nosotros no sabemos si este Consejo le va a pedir a la Junta Ejecutiva del FIDA, de la que soy miembro, que corrija su edición de diciembre y tampoco sabemos si este Consejo puede posponer su decisión para el caso del español, ni tampoco si pudieran quitarse algunos párrafos y se resolviera esto que es un asunto serio y que la Conferencia a fin de ano tomara la decisión por parte de la ?A0 sobre un texto idéntico como en el caso del inglés.

A.Y. BUKHARI (Saudi Arabia) (Interpretation from Arabic): As a matter of fact what has been said by the delegate of Mexico applies to the Arabic texts as well. I believe that the Arabic text is one of the texts that should be recognized and approved by all Arab speaking delegations. Like texts in other languages this text has not been circulated and, like texts in other languages, even if there were no amendments, this text should have been circulated so that it could be studied and examined and so that we could give our remarks or make amendments, if any.

The Arab text is before me now, I was able to obtain it upon enquiring yesterday. I was told that this document was included in the Report of the Council' s Seventy Second Session of 1977. This Report is before me now. There are some amendments in this Report. There are some phrases that are underlined and there are other phrases that have been deleted. This means that there have been amendments, that Arab speaking delegations should discuss and approve this text. As I have said before, this text should have been circulated so that it might be studied.

May I be allowed to give an example from this document which is before me: I did not understand some of its items; for example, the second item in this document, Item 2. If you will allow me, Mr. Chairman, I will read this Item slowly in order to understand what is behind this: "The Organization shall assist on the request of the Fund or the Government concerned, developing countries in the preparation of projects to be submitted to the Fund." This is excellent: "upon the request of the Fund the Organization will assist" and "in the preparation of a project to be submitted to the Fund, the Organization will prepare it upon the agreement of the Fund." I do not know whether what I have now said has been literally translated into the other languages. Let me read it once more "The Organization shall assist upon the request of the Fund" - this is number one - "developing countries in the preparation of projects to be submitted to the Fund and in case of a project to be prepared specifically for submission to the Fund." What is meant by 'specifically'? Does it mean finally, or in a final form, for submission to the Fund? "Preparation shall be initiated by FAO". How can the FAO initiate with the agreement? "Preparation shall be initiated by FAO". How can this be done since this project has already been prepared? I do not understand what is meant exactly here. "The Fund may actively participate" etc. When can the Fund participate in such preparation? This is not clear at all in Arabic. The Arabic formulation is not clear at all: "should undertake preparation of the project". Is it the Organization or the Fund?

In the case of preparation, what is meant by "specifically for submitting"? What is the meaning of this phrase? This is one example before me, and I am speaking about the Arabic text, not about any other text.

I associate myself with what has been said by the delegate of Mexico because I do not accept the Arabic text before me, nor do I accept the agreement in Arabic until it is finally prepared. It should be submitted to my Government in order to be approved.

J. PILANE (Botswana): I just want to intervene on a point of order because we were on the point raised by the delegate of Mexico, and what has been raised by the delegate of Saudi Arabia, we don't have the document and we could not follow what he was talking about. Therefore, this procedure seemed to me somewhat unusual.

CHAIRMAN: The point is this, that the Council has received and considered the English version of the Agreement and agreed that it should be synchronized with the French and the Spanish version. What the delegate of Saudi Arabia is saying is that the Arabic version also needs the same exercise. Therefore the point you made really is not a point of order as such, because the Arabic text too has to be approved by Members of the Council who are Arabic speaking.

A.M. FASLA (Algérie): Je viens d'écouter ce qu'ont dit mes collègues du Mexique et de l'Arabie Saoudite. J'avoue que je /?/ pas encore lu la version française du,rapport; il y a peut-être également des modifications qui ont été apportées par rapport au texte adopté par le Conseil d'administration du FIDA. Mais je voudrais faire une suggestion pour faire avancer nos travaux.

Je propose que les deux Conseillers juridiques des deux institutions puissent comparer les textes dans toutes les versions: anglaise, française, espagnole et arabe, de manière à éviter aux délégations qui sont membres du Conseil et qui viendront également à la Conférence, ainsi qu'aux délégations qui font partie du Conseil d'administration ainsi que du Conseil des gouverneurs du FIDA, d'avoir à subir les difficultés qui pourraient découler de différences entre la lettre et l'esprit de l'accord passé entre le FIDA et la FAO. Cela faciliterait notre tâche, car il serait absurde de voir qu'au niveau du Conseil nous approuvons un texte qui n'est pas le même que celui qui a été approuvé par le FIDA, alors que nous sommes membres de l'une et l'autre organisation.

Je voudrais donc que notre approche soit d'encourager les deux institutions qui se trouvent Rome à comparer les textes. La première étape serait d'avoir les textes dans toutes les langues et de voir s'ils sont identiques, ensuite il faudrait essayer de rapprocher les points de vue s'il y a des divergences, notamment si les réactions des gouvernements sont différentes au niveau de la FAO et au niveau du Conseil d'administration du FIDA quant à l'esprit. Nous devons présenter une formulation précise et définitive de l'accord que nous examinerons au cours de notre prochain Conseil. C'est la seule voie à suivre, sinon, nous allons nous éterniser en contestations et en difficultés. Je crois que ce premier travail incombe au Secrétariat.

C. BATAULT (France): Je voudrais simplement dire que je me rallie entièrement à la proposition faite par le délégué de l'Algérie.

CHAIRMAN: In order to save time and not to engage in unnecessary debates, I suggest that Council adopts the proposal of the delegate of Algeria supported by France - and also I am sure by Mexico and Saudi Arabia - that we defer this matter and allow the two legal experts in the Secretariat to meet, and then we will have the item back at our next meeting or at some other convenient time.

P. SAVARY (Directeur de la Division des Publications): En réponse au problème soulevé par le représentant de l'Arabie Saoudite, il se trouve que la Résolution 3/72 du Conseil n'avait pas, semble-t-il, prévu le cas de la version arabe et le Conseil a demandé au Secrétariat de la FAO et du FIDA de s'entendre sur ces deux versions, française et espagnole, mais n'a pas prévu le cas de la version arabe.

C'est une chose qui pourrait être entreprise.

LEGAL COUNSEL: I believe that a very brief explanation apart from the one already given by my neighbour, the Director of Publications Division, may be indicated.

First of all, as the distinguished delegate from Mexico pointed out, the Agreement was negotiated in English and signed in English. The Agreement itself does not contain any clause defining the question of the authentic or authoritative version. The presumption in principle therefore is that the version in which the Agreement has been negotiated and signed would be considered as the authentic version. Nevertheless, since inter-agency agreements are normally subject to approval by the governing bodies of the organization that are parties to the agreement, it is clear that the various language versions should be circulated, and it is equally clear that there should be conformity between the various language versions.

I should like to point out that after the Council had approved the text and authorized the Director-General to sign the Agreement, the Agreement has been signed incorporating the amendments that were inserted by the Council. It has therefore come into force.

However, pursuant to Rule XXIV, paragraph 4(c) of the General Rules of the Organization agreements between FAO and other inter-governmental organizations are also subject to confirmation by the Conference. Therefore, this Agreement was put before the Conference at its last session.

The two versions on which the two Secretariats have agreed involved mainly a language operation. In fact, the Legal Offices of the two organizations have not been directly involved, since, according to what we have learned, no legal questions arose in the course of translation. The French and Spanish versions have now been submitted to you as requested at the Seventy-second Session of the Council. However, I believe that two other language versions which have not been so submitted, namely the Arabic, if appropriate, and the Chinese, could be submitted at a later stage.

I believe that since our translation services, those of IFAD and FAO, have found that the two texts now submitted to you are in conformity with the English text, we would find it somewhat difficult to start the job on these two versions afresh unless we receive specific suggestions or observations from members who do not find that these agreements are in conformity with the original English text.

If these are to be reviewed and resubmitted then we would welcome any observation or comment from members who find there is a discrepancy between the English and the French or Spanish versions.

As far as the IFAD constitutional procedures are concerned, I would suggest it would be improper for the Legal Counsel of FAO to make any pronouncement, The approval procedure according to the basic texts of IFAD is a responsibility of the IFAD Secretariat in consultation with the governing bodies of IFAD.

CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Legal Counsel. I think the points are quite clear. As the Legal Counsel said, perhaps it would help the two Secretariats very much if any comments on the Spanish and French versions which do not seem satisfactory to Council members could be sent in by the language experts. Also the Arabic and perhaps the Chinese versions can be dealt with accordingly. If the Arabic and Chinese versions have not been circulated, then they should be sent out so that all interested in the language group can look at them and submit what comments they feel should be incorporated in the text before resubmission.

A.Y. BUKHARI (Saudi Arabia) (interpretation from Arabic): You have now given a reply to the question I wanted to ask, and that is that we should have the text before us so that we can study it. There would also be a legal aspect to this question, I believe.

The Agreement was signed on the basis of the English text. Now is the English version the only original authentic version which is our basis of reference for this Agreement? The problem does not concern only food aid or fertilizers. This is a very important matter which certainly calls for the interest of all governments, especially mine.

The question does not concern an ad hoc meeting, this is after all a brief agreement between the Fund and our Organization, and we are particularly interested in all that concerns IFAD. It is of the greatest interest to us, as is FAO.

So my question is, is the English version the only authentic text because it is the one which has been signed? Secondly, why have all the language versions been distributed except for the Arabic one? If only the English text is the authentic one then it would have been better not to have distributed this in the other language versions. If it is the only reference point then all member countries would have to accept it as such. If this was the case we would agree.

We would be ready to accept only the English text as the authentic version, and we would have no problem in referring to this English text. I think the other members of our delegation would not have any problem, or members of our Government, who could certainly refer to an English text if it is the only authentic one recognized by the Council and not the other language versions.

I do not know whether the English version meets with the approval of all English speaking countries, but with regard to the other question, are we going to refer to a text which is not clear?

With regard to Article II, I would like to know the opinion of the United Kingdom and the United States with regard to this particular example of it. How should we read this Article II, how should it be stated clearly? We must refer to the English version unless we have a literal translation from this English text, even though linguistically this may not be very beautiful.

However, it should be absolutely corresponding to the English text.

Q.H. HAQUE (Bangladesh): I heard the Legal Counsel say that in the Agreement it is not said whether the English version will be the authentic version. It is by inference he is saying that the English version will be the authentic version since it was signed in English.

My reading of it, that other languages like French, Spanish and Arabic are also official languages of this Organization and also of the Fund so that may be the reason it is not said in the Agreement that English will be the authentic version and my presumption will be that if, in this Organization and in the Fund other languages are also official languages all texts should be considered as authentic texts and it should be seen in that light, and the translations, which will not be only a language exercise, the translations should be done carefully, seen and examined by the Legal Sections of both the Organization and the Fund as suggested by the delegate of Algeria, shown to the members of this Council in various languages and so then it should come back to the Council for approval. My reading would be that since French, Spanish and Arabic are also official languages of this Organization and the Fund, the Agreement in all languages should be considered as the authentic versions.

C. BATAULT (France): Mon collègue et ami, le délégué du Bangladesh, m'a enlevé les paroles de la bouche; il a dit ce que je voulais dire mais je voudrais, toutefois, ajouter que je suis entièrement d'accord avec ce qu'il vient de dire et que je suis d'avis qu'en ce qui concerne le texte français, la traduction me paraît correcte. Je ne vois pas la divergence qu'il peut exister en le français et l'anglais.

LEGAL COUNCIL: Perhaps I have not made myself absolutely clear, and I shall try again although I would not like to repeat myself. What the distinguished delegate of Bangladesh said is correct. Due to the fact that the Agreement was negotiated and signed in the English language this is the text on which one will generally rely in case of interpretation. I also said, however, that in view of the fact that other languages are also equally official languages of the Organizations concerned and the texts are approved in these languages, the various language versions should in any event be consistent with each other, irrespective of the question whether there is one or whether there are several authentic texts. It is for this reason that when differences were noted between English on the one hand and the French and Spanish versions on the other, the Council itself, at the 72nd Session, asked that these versions be reviewed so as to bring them into line with the English text. This the two Secretariats have attempted to do and the result is before you.

As regards the Arabic version, I am not entirely certain of the version the distinguished delegate of Saudi Arabia is quoting from. Unfortunately I cannot read Arabic, but in Appendix H to the Report of the 72nd Session the text of the agreement as approved by the Council has been reproduced and in the English version of that text I cannot find any underlining or square brackets of the type that the delegate of Saudi Arabia was referring to. It may well be that even the text which was attached to the Arabic version of the Report of the 72nd Session of the Council is defective in one way or another. May I then repeat the suggestion I made before; if it is found to be defective by any Arabic speaking delegation the Secretariat would certainly welcome the possibility of examining in full, jointly with the delegations concerned, whatever provisions may be found to be wanting and a new version would then be issued. Of course, it would have to be done in consultation with IFAD, because, as was rightly pointed out by the delegate of Mexico, the governing bodies of the two organizations should approve exactly the same texts because it is one Agreement.

CHAIRMAN: I have just seen the Arabic text from which the Saudi Arabian delegate quoted and there are underlinings and square brackets, so I do not think we should pursue that any further, but the important thing is that there are still doubts and dissatisfaction with some of the other versions and the proposal which was made by Algeria still stands. If Council agrees we will put this back to the Secretariat to consult with the language groups, to consult with IFAD, both legally and linguistically, and put to us at our next meeting or when convenient a text which is acceptable to the various language groups. If this is agreed we will close this matter like that. Saudi Arabia, yes, no? He agrees. In that case we close the matter as I summed up and we move on to the next matter on the agenda.

15.2 Change of Title of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Far East, and of the Regional Conference for Asia and the Far East
15.2 Modification du nom du Bureau regional de la FAO pour l'Asie et l'Extreme-Orient et de la Conference regionale de la FAO pour l'Asie et l'Extrême-Orient
15.2 Cambio del nombre de la Oficina Regional de la FAO para Asia y el Lejano Oriente y de la Conferencia Regional para Asia y el Lejano Oriente

J. F. YRIART (Assistant Director-General, Development Department): Really this item needs no introduction. I think that the paper is clear. It is a question of the Council agreeing to a request by the Regional Conference and inviting our next Conference also to agree.

Though the paper needs no introduction, I would like to introduce the article. It has caught my attention by those who speak English that we should have said in the paper FAO Regional Conference For Asia and 'the' Pacific and FAO Regional Office for Asia and 'the' Pacific. So if you could consult, apart from the substance of the paper, whether you could agree to this grammatical amendment.

CHAIRMAN: This matter is open for discussion.

KONG CAN-DONG (China) (Interpretation from Chinese): As early as the Regional Conference held in Manila in August 1976 quite a few participating countries suggested that the Asia and Far East Region should be renamed the Asia and Pacific Region. After repeated deliberations and consultations the issue is now placed on the agenda on the current session of the Council.

The Chinese delegation believe that the new name of Asia and the Pacific Region not only faces the geographical characteristics of our Region but also ties in with the corresponding regional name of the other organs of the United Nations system. It is therefore an appropriate recommendation which we think should be submitted to the Twentieth Session of the General Conference for approval.

E. SUZUKI (Japan): Japan's delegation fully supports the changes of title of FAO Regional Conference and the Regional Office from for Asia and the Far East, to for Asia and the Pacific, knowing that the countries in the Pacific Region are already members of the Regional Conference, and it is natural for us to have, the title which reflects the real situation.

P. LAOWHAPHAN (Thailand): My delegation would like to reiterate our support as we stressed at the Regional Conference held in Manila in August 1976, that the formal use of this Regional Organization should be changed to the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Regional Conference for Asia and the Far East should be changed to Asia and the Pacific accordingly.

T. J. KELLY (Australia): This is the proposal which was initiated by our friends and colleagues in Papua New Guinea, which has the warm support of IFAD and the support of Australia and New Zealand and I warmly commend the proposal to the Council.

Mrs. S. SYAHRUDDIN: The Indonesian delegation fully endorses what has been said by our colleagues from Thailand.

CHAIRMAN: Then this proposal has the full support of Council. I would suggest that Council approves the proposed changes of title and allows the Legal Adviser and his staff to make the proper changes in the various constitution papers rather than now fix to say "the Pacific" etc. I am sure the Legal people will understand what to do. If that is agreed, then the necessary action will be taken.

15.3 Changes in Representation of Member Countries on the Programme Committee
15.3 Modification de la representation des Etats Membres au Comité du programme
15.3 Cambios en la representación de los Estados Miembros en el Comité del Programa

CHAIRMAN: The next item on this agenda, item 15.3, does not appear on our main agenda at all, but it is necessary for the Secretariat to inform the Council of changes in the Programme Committee. As you will see from document CL 75/INF/7, certain changes have been made, and these have been reported to Council. This is just for information and I hope that members will not object to the fact that it is not our main agenda. If this is accepted, then Council has taken note of this information.

VI. OTHER MATTERS (continued)
VI. AUTRES QUESTIONS (suite)
VI. OTROS ASUNTOS (continuación)

17. Date and Place of the Seventy-Sixth Session of the Council
17. Date et lieu de la soixante-seizième session du Conseil
17. Fecha y lugar del 76° período de sesiones del Consejo

CHAIRMAN: We now come to the next item, which is item 17, the date and place of the Seventy-Sixth Session of the Council - document CL 75/13. Are there any comments or any changes that you want? You will find the date outlined at the back of the document. If there are no comments, then, the suggested date and place in the document will stand.

This brings to an end our morning meeting. As we agreed yesterday, this afternoon will be left free for consultations concerning other items which need such consultations. We will meet tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.

The meeting rose at 11.30 hours
La seance est levée à 11 h 30
Se levanta la sesión a las 11.30 horas

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