- Audited Accounts
- Comptes vérifiés
- Cuentas comprobadas
M. BEL HADJ AMOR (Président du Comité financier): Les points qui concernent les aspects financiers de l'organisation et qui doivent être abordés ce matin sont respectivement les comptes vérifiés, les questions de personnel, les locaux du Siège et enfin la prévention des pertes des produits alimentaires.
Je sais que nous n!avons pas beaucoup de temps et j'essayerai d'être le plus bref possible quitte à répondre plus tard aux questions des pays au cas où le Conseil l'estimerait nécessaire.
Tout d'abord j'aborde les comptes vérifiés. Dans le rapport il s'agit des paragraphes 3.74 à 3.88. Comme je l'ai dit, je n'ai pas l'intention de faire de longs commentaires et je me limite à deux ou trois remarques. Concernant le programme ordinaire de 1980, le Comité a apprécié la qualité du rapport du Commissaire aux comptes tout en demandant que ses recommandations soient mises en oeuvre compte dûment tenu de leurs répercussions financières. A propos des comptes du PNUD, toujours pour la même année, c'est-à-dire 1980, le Comité, tout en appuyant les recommandations du Commissaire aux comptes, appelle l'attention sur la nécessité d'un contrôle rigoureux de la part de l'Organisation sur la gestion des projets et tous les aspects y relatifs.
Troisième remarque: Il s'agit des comptes vérifiés du PAM. C'est uniquement pour informer le Conseil que le rapport a été transmis au Comité des politiques d'aide alimentaire.
Le Conseil est prié de soumettre à la Conférence le projet de résolution du paragraphe 3.88 concernant ces comptes ainsi que ceux qui lui ont été soumis à sa 78ème session.
CHAIRMAN: This item now is open for discussion. If there are no comments I will ask the Chairman of the Finance Committee to go on to the next sub-item.
- Personnel Matters
- Questions de personnel
- Asuntos relacionados con el personal
M. BEL HADJ AMOR (Président du Comité financier): Là également, je serai très bref. Le Conseil est prié de se référer aux paragraphes 3.94 et 3.100 du Rapport du Comité. Je n'ai aucun commentaire spécifique à ajouter au contenu du rapport notamment en ce qui concerne les ajustements de postes, traitements du personnel des services généraux et ceux des Bureaux régionaux et Bureaux des représentants de la FAO. Je me limite à mentionner l'accord du Comité concernant la position du Directeur général à propos de l'application de certaines recommandations de la Commission de la fonction publique internationale, objet des paragraphes 3.97-3.98.
De même, je voudrais, au nom du Comité bien sûr, attirer l'attention du Conseil sur le fait qu'il est invite à soumettre à la Conference pour approbation une résolution, objet du paragraphe 3.99, alignant les émoluments du Directeur général et ses conditions d'emploi sur ceux des chefs de Secrétariat des autres grandes Organisations des Nations Unies.
CHAIRMAN: This Item is now open for discussion.
G. STREEB (United States of America): This is a somewhat difficult issue for me to deal with personally since my salary in the United States Government has been frozen for many years and there does not appear to be any chance that my salary will be unfrozen for many years. Having to absorb an 11 percent and 12 percent cost of living reduction in my salary every year it is hard for me to be very sanguine about approving an increase for an international civil servant.
My government did oppose the action in the General Assembly regarding the increase in salary levels. However, since that was passed this resolution is nothing more than an attempt to bring the Director-General of FAO up to the same level as other Directors General in the Specialized Agencies and consistent with our position I will therefore simply note a reservation on this but obviously I will not attempt to stand in the way of approval of the resolution by this group.
I have a question with regard to the representation allowance. This seems like a very small sum of money, $4 thousand increase from a period of January 1977 and I have heard and seen indications that part of the justification for this is to bring it up to the same level as that of other Directors General in the System and I would be interested in knowing whether indeed the level of allowances is the same for the other Directors General. Again I would not want to make an awful lot out of this situation. Our position on the representation allowance is a bit stronger than it is on the salary since in one case we are simply trying to catch up with the rest of the System but in the other it is a more agency specific issue as far as I can see and on this point again I would simply like to register the fact that we have abstained on any votes that have to do with the increase in salaries, that we are more opposed to the increase in representation allowance but again I respect that this is probably an individual country view and not shared by most of the group here so once again I will not make any attempt to raise any further objections than those that I have simply noted for the record.
CHAIRMAN: As you rightly pointed out we are really being carried along on this matter by the United Nations System as a whole but of course you are quite right to register your government's views on what the United Nations System is doing. Any more comments? If not, then the Resolution under para 3.100 is to be recommended to the Conference. It will be recommended.
- Headquarters Accommodation
- Locaux du Siège
- Locales de oficina en la Sede
M. BEL HADJ AMOR (Président du Comité financier): Ce point concerne les locaux au Siège. Là, je serai obligé d'être un peu plus long vu l'importance et l'acuité de la question. En effet, tout d'abord j'attire l'attention du Conseil sur les paragraphes 3.101, 3.106 qui traitent de cette question dans le Rapport du Comité des finances. Comme vous le savez désormais cette question est devenue un sujet périodique du Comité des finances et du Conseil. A sa 79ème session, le Comité voudrait le rappeler, le Conseil a fait des recommandations au Directeur général. Le Comité a été informé de l'évolution de la mise en oeuvre de ses recommandations. Force a été à ce Comité de constater que les progrès semblent être très lents. Il semble que les autorités italiennes n'ont accepté qu'une seule des propositions qui lui étaient soumises par le Directeur général. D'ailleurs cette acceptation n'a même pas été signifiée par écrit mais uniquement verbalement.
Je voudrais rappeler au Conseil que ces propositions figurent dans le 47ème Rapport du Comité des finances au paragraphe 3.96. Il est inutile que je vous les relise.
La proposition qui a été acceptée verbalement par les autorités italiennes concerne la construction d'une soixantaine de bureaux sur le toit du bâtiment D. Le Comité des finances estime que cette solution, tout en prenant du temps, s'avérera cependant insuffisante pour libérer le bâtiment F. Le Comité rappelle que le bon fonctionnement de l'Organisation continue à souffrir du manque de locaux adéquats et suffisants, et à faire face à de nombreux problèmes tant pratiques que financiers.
Devant le sérieux de la situation, le Comité des finances estime que des mesures énergiques s'imposeraient de la part des organes directeurs. A cet égard, il recommande que le Conseil porte la question à l'attention de la Conférence en soulignant tous les inconvénients posés à l'Organisation par l'insuffisance des locaux, et en invitant la Conférence à désigner un groupe de travail ou bien une délégation d'Etats Membres choisis sur une base régionale. Je tiens à préciser que cette idée du groupe de travail ou de délégation vient du Comité des finances et elle a été également soumise au Comité du Programme lors d'une session conjointe. Je tiens à préciser qu'elle a été appuyée très fermement. Dans l'esprit du Comité des finances - car je ne veux pas qu'il y ait d'ambiguïté - ce groupe de travail, ou bien cette délégation, ou bien vous trouverez un autre terme - aura une fonction bien définie: (je pèse mes mots) il assistera le Directeur général dans son action avec le Gouvernement italien en vue de l'amener à prendre les décisions à court, moyen et long terme pour fournir les locaux nécessaires au bon fonctionnement de l'Organisation et, pourquoi pas, du Programme alimentaire mondial.
Cela signifie - c'est ce qui est.très important - que ce n'est pas un comité nouveau qui va être créé, qui va causer des dépenses supplémentaires pour son fonctionnement ou autre. De même, ce ne sera pas un comité avec un président, un vice-président, un rapporteur et tout ce qui s'ensuit. Je veux que cela soit très clair. Donc, il s'agit d'un groupe de travail qui assistera le Directeur général dans son action pour résoudre le problème des locaux avec les autorités italiennes.
Pour concrétiser cette idée, le Comité des finances a décidé, d'ailleurs en accord avec le Comité du Programme, de soumettre au Conseil une résolution pour sa transmission à la Conférence. Il s'agit de la résolution qui se trouve au paragraphe 3.106 et j'espère que le Conseil appuiera la suggestion présentée par le Comité des finances. J'ignore, depuis notre réunion de septembre, s'il y a eu une évolution dans cette question et si le Secrétariat a d'autres éléments à fournir.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Chairman of the Finance Committee. I will ask the Secretariat to let us have further explanations.
A.G. GEORGIADIS (Director, Administrative Services Division): There is very little to report by way of latest developments since the Finance Committee reviewed this matter last September. A positive development in connexion with the only interim measure which the Government of Italy was willing to consider -- that is, the construction of sixty rooms on the roof of Building D -- was verbally received to the effect that the Ministry of the Treasury has approved in principle the financing of this construction estimated to cost about 1 billion lire, subject to the Organization providing detailed estimates and designs for final approval by the Government. Such estimates and designs have been elaborated by our Buildings Maintenance Services and have just been submitted to the Government. We therefore now wait for either a deposit of funds so that the Organization may undertake the construction or for the Government to approve the designs and initiate the construction itself. However, I would wish to highlight again that even when the sixty rooms are eventually added to our Headquarters accommodation it will be totally inadequate for the purposes of releasing the rented premises which we occupy in Building F and regrouping the Secretariat and the World Food Programme in one location. Therefore, as has been repeatedly stated, the only permanent solution is the construction of a new building complex.
On this front we have had a further confirmation of the Government's intentions from the President of the Council of Ministers during the World Food Day celebrations on 16 October last, who declared in this very building that the Government intends to construct a new complex in Rome to be known as the World Agricultural Centre. However, there is nothing to report by way of any concrete action regarding any steps taken by the Government so far to promulgate the necessary legislation or allot the necessary funds for the project to get off the ground. That is all that can be reported on the latest developments on this issue.
CHAIRMAN: One proposal, one recommendation, made by the Finance Committee, supported by the Programme Committee, is that this matter be reported to the Conference and an inter-regional group be set up to consider, discuss, etc., which you may wish to discuss and consider.
G. BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Dada la brevedad del tiempo, no vamos a entrar en el fondo de la cuestión. Sólo deseamos proponer una adición en el proyecto de Resolución para la Conferencia, que aparece después del párrafo 3.106. En el párrafo 1, donde dice: "Decide establecer en virtud del Artículo VI.5 de la Constitución, un Grupo de Trabajo integrado por los siguientes Estados Miembros:".
Nosotros proponemos que se diga: "… un Grupo de Trabajo integrado por siete Estados Miembros, siete Estados Miembros pertenecientes a cada una de las regiones de la FAO." Hacemos esta propuesta con el ánimo de que el Consejo cumpla su función natural de ayudar a la Conferencia que toma esa decision, y a la vez preserve la función superior del órgano supremo. Hemos tenido muchos grupos de trabajo en el pasado, y generalmente la Conferencia aprueba esta clase de Proyecto de Resolución y luego delega en el Consejo, inmediatamente después de la Conferencia, la escogencia de los miembros de esos grupos de trabajo. Nuestra propuesta persigue sólo ese principio constructivo.
CHAIRMAN: That is a very useful suggestion.
A. CONTE MAROTTA (Italy): I thank the delegate of Colombia for his attention. In the opinion of the Italian Government this working group would not facilitate things. I will try to explain why. Through very frequent contacts between FAO and the representation my government has been informed of the necessities due to the constant growth in the number of the employees. That is why the Italian Government in the past years has approved many measures financially covered by the engagement related to Headquarters Agreement between FAO and Italy.
Noticing a certain scepticism of the Finance Committee towards the timing of the realisation of ad interim measures, I would like to point out that the Italian Government has already given authorisation for the construction of sixty offices on the 8th floor of Building D.
As you have been informed by Mr. Georgiadis this morning, the Italian expenditure would be 1 billion lire, if the indication of costs will be approved. Owing to the fact that such indication of costs, has been submitted by FAO on 4 November we could foresee an Italian green light not later than 20th December, with the possible end of the works in October 1982.
As you know, there is also the problem of the expectations of the United Nations Agencies present in Rome toward a permanent solution.
On many occasions the Italian Government has underlined its political will to resolve the problem.
From 1979 the Italian Government has advanced on two sides financially, detecting the most appropriate type of investment and locally selecting the best solutions of the very difficult problem of the site in Rome.
I may foresee that before the second meeting of the Finance Committee my government will be able to give the final information.
Such a progress in a political initiative which needs also parliamentary support has been confirmed by Prime Minister Spadolini at FAO on the occasion of the World Food Day on 16 October.
This is why I feel quite embarrassed by the proposal to create a multilateral working party. A working party means a pressure group. Pressure groups could be useful to win a political battle. But in this case my governments political will is already assured in advance and confirmed most recently. On the contrary, I am afraid that the contacts between a working party and my authorities would produce only confusion, delays and misunderstandings.
I would like to add the strong appreciation of my government for the very good work done by the Chairman and members of the Finance Committee. At the same time I would like to remember the very good collaboration given to the Italian representative by Mr. Skoufis on behalf of the Director-General and by Mr. Georgiadis.
G. STREEB (United States of America): I would like to support the recommendation by Colombia. I think that we have in each region enough governments which in themselves have coped with the problems of headquarter staffs, that we can find representatives who also had this experience, and I think this is a very useful Resolution.
CHAIRMAN: Any more contributions to the discussion? Now, Colombia has made a suggestion to improve, to clarify the Resolution, and the United States has supported it. Italy has said that this Resolution going to Conference for the setting up of the group will probably not help him very much. You have to decide either to go ahead with the Resolution now or to take the line suggested by Italy.
A. CONTE MAROTTA (Italy): I think that all the Council members who also address an Italian representative have more experience of Italian working lines than foreign people. I appreciate Colombia's thought and that of the United States but I still feel very strongly against this group, because I know all the past work that we have done together with FAO and the representatives, I know the bureaucratic difficulties that we must overcome and I am very free about this working group which could shift from one authority to another and could cause a lot of waste of time and energy.
Anyway, I am here.
CHAIRMAN: Are there any more views?
A.Y. BUKHARI (Saudi Arabia) (original language Arabic): In fact, after having heard the views of the Ambassador of Italy to FAO and having heard what the fears are in case of setting up such groups, remembering that this would be more or less a pressure group on the Italian government and after a discussion of this in the Finance Committee, the members of the Committee never had in mind any sort of pressure on the Italian government. It was not political or financial pressure, far from it, but rather the need of setting out of a situation clearly before the Italian authorities. In putting the question to them, this group would simply be a link between the Italian government and FAO. This group, as I said, is a completely neutral group made up of representatives of seven Member States on a regional or geographical basis. The problem is much greater than that which would involve a sort of pressure. It is a question of the capacities of those who are here and who live here, those who work here or come here and who experience the difficulties of the enormous distances between the buildings and the difficulty in communication, and therefore, setting up this group or delegation would never be a problem of a delicate nature.
This delegation, in my view, would go to the Italian government to discuss the matter, and this is the point of setting it up. I do not think it would lead to negative results either; quite the contrary. It would lead to positive results, much more positive than the correspondence between the Director-General and the Italian government. But we certainly do not believe that this is a negative aspect, and that is why we fully support the setting up of this group or mission, in accordance with the suggestion made by Colombia and which the United States has supported and which, we in our turn, support too.
CHAIRMAN: Now, when this matter was discussed I sat in on the Finance Committee and my own impression was it was to help the Italian authorities to take decisions, etc., and to push the matter rather than to make pressure on them, so Dr. Bukhari's explanation is valid from the point of view of the Finance Committee, because I was there when they discussed it.
M. BEL HADJ AMOR (Président du Comité financier): Monsieur le Président, une partie de ce que je voulais dire a déjà été formulée par le représentant de l'Arabie Saoudite, ainsi que par vous-même, mais j'ai voulu quand même intervenir pour insister auprès du délégué de l'Italie sur le fait que ce Groupe de travail n'a rien à voir ni avec une bataille politique, ni. avec un sentiment de pression. Je tiens à lui préciser que quand nous avions rédigé le premier projet de résolution le mot "pression" avait été mentionné. J'étais présent, et je suis intervenu moi-même pour enlever le mot "pression". Il s'agit donc d'un Groupe de travail destiné à assister le Directeur général dans son action, et il ne s'agit de rien d'autre. Je ne veux pas du tout que cette idée soit mal interprétée. Il ne s'agit ni de groupe de pression, ni de bataille politique, et j'estime que la création de ce Groupe ne constituera ni malentendu, ni confusion.
A propos de l'idée qui a été présentée par l'honorable délégué de Colombie, je voudrais préciser la pensée du Comité des finances à ce propos.
Effectivement, quand on a fait cette proposition, nous avons envisagé que le Groupe pourrait être constitué par un représentant de chaque région. La décision appartient bien sur au Conseil et à la Conférence mais nous estimons qu'il serait bien que les représentants qui sont à Rome fassent partie de ce Groupe pour qu'il n'y ait pas de dépenses. Mais il s'agit simplement d'une suggestion, parce que c'est ainsi que nous envisagions la création de ce Groupe, car autrement cela va créer des dépenses, il faudra appeler les personnes de l'extérieur et cela nous voulons l'éviter. Donc un représentant de chaque région, et dans la mesure du possible un représentant ou un membre de l'Ambassade du pays qui se trouve à Rome.
CHAIRMAN: Now, if the Resolution is adopted, as Colombia said, the matter will come back to the Council to select the people anyhow, so at that point Council can decide on selecting people who are resident in Rome. I do not think we should go into so much detail, as you suggested in the Resolution itself, but we should take what Colombia has said. If that is agreed, this will be incorporated and the Resolution will then be forwarded.
A.Y. BUKHARI (Saudi Arabia): Yes, I think we can submit this Resolution to the Conference, but we have to mention here that the members must be the representatives in Rome.
A. CONTE MAROTTA (Italy): Thank you very much for the attention given by Saudi Arabia and Colombia, but from their words, if I understood well, they think that this working group should be a bureaucratic link between FAO and Italy. Now, in my experience, of the past work which we have done together, I do not think that we need to add another bureaucratic link, because another bureaucratic link you will notice in the future if the Resolution is adopted will only - - in Italy in the Italian mentality, would only add confusion. Here I am. You will see in one year I hope everything will go much better if we have this new, in my opinion, unusual diplomatic link but if you want to go ahead, of course, I will agree.
A.G. GEORGIADIS (Director, Administrative Service Division): First an explanation: As the Chairman of the Finance Committee has said, this is not intended as a presure group, but there is need for a link between the Conference itself, in view of the seriousness of this matter, and the highest Italian authority. Ambassadors and other persons in their post change, and the Honourable Representative of Italy may not be with us after a year; then we have to establish contact with another Ambassador.
The Director-General himself has been trying recently to see the Prime Minister, the President of the Council of Ministers and the Minister of Foreign Affairs with whom to discuss this matter, but he has not been successful so far. In view of the seriousness of the situation for the future, the Conference must be made aware of it and have its own working group to establish this contact at the highest level.
I should also clarify that this working group would not deal with daily matters of plans, designs, location of the centre and similar administrative matters. This is naturally to be left to the Secretariat. In other words, confusion, I am sure, can be avoided.
CHAIRMAN: It would appear no member has supported what the delegate of Italy has said - that this Resolution should not be forwarded, so I would assume that members support the recommendations by the Finance Committee supported by the Programme Committee, that this Resolution be forwarded with the amendments which have been proposed.
Before I sum up, I will give the floor to the Chairman of the Finance Committee.
M. BEL HADJ AMOR (Président du Comité financier): Il s'agit uniquement d'une précision; les membres de ce groupe de travail, ne doivent pas être désignés par le Conseil; c'est la Conférence qui doit les désigner, à moins que la Conférence, après adoption de cette résolution, ne donne pouvoir au Conseil de le faire. C'était juste pour préciser ce point.
CHAIRMAN:, Since the amendment of the addition made by the delegate of Colombia has not been accepted and endorsed by the delegate of the United States, and the recommendation made by yourself has been accepted by the delegate of Saudi Arabia, then in this case the Resolution should be suitably amended and forwarded to Conference. You will advise the Commission, whichever is taking it, on the best procedure to implement it, but the Resolution will go ahead as amended by the various delegations. It is accepted, and we will go on to the next sub-item.
- Prevention of Food Losses
- Prevention des pertes de produits alimentaires
- Prevención de perdidas de alimentos
M. BEL HADJ AMOR (Président du Comité financier): Je serai très rapide. Il s'agit du compte spécial pour a prévention des pertes de produits alimentaires et plus spécifiquement je me réfère aux paragraphes 3.122 à 3.126 du rapport du Comité financier. Je me limiterai à souligner que le Comité des Finances, après avoir pris note de la situation de ce compte spécial, n'a pas manqué d'insister sur l'importance du programme de prévention des pertes de produits alimentaires ainsi que sur la nécessité de nouvelles contributions pour financer les demandes d'urgence déjà parvenues de la part des pays en voie de développement. C'est pourquoi il estime que le Conseil pourrait également lancer un appel spécial aux Etats Membres pour obtenir davantage de contributions et permettre au programme de la prévention des pertes de produits alimentaires à continuer son assistance.
M. TRKULJA (Chairman of the Programme Committee): Fist of all, very briefly to draw attention to the reference to the part dealing with the Food Losses Programme. Our views are at page 17 and 18 in the English text, paragraphs 1.91 - 2.103. Our deliberations were based on the document prepared for the Programme and Finance Committee. In our part of the report we provided background information showing clearly that all resources available were actually committed, if not over-committed, having in mind the number of projects and the amount involved either for projects already approved and awaiting the financing, or the projects received and now under review.
According to our best judgement the minimum account necessary to maintain the momentum in the programme that we felt was really necessary was about $10 million annually, and we recomend to the Council to make an appeal to that effect.
We then considered the problems of the method of assessment, the method of work in general. We are satisfied with the increasing use of national instituions in that context.
We also considered the coverage, having in mind, or not losing sight of, the resources limitations.
Then duration of projects. We stress one point that I need to underline especially, the need for FAO to cooperate as closely as possible with the agencies dealing in this field, and our reasonable satisfaction with the contact already established between FAO and the major agencies.
That is all, in a very brief intervention.
CHAIRMAN: This item is now open for discussion. If there are no speakers, then I take it that the reports of the Finance and Programme Committees are acceptable to Council as presented.
That concludes the discussion on item 14.
CHAIRMAN: You have the various documents listed. This item and the next will of course be discussed in Commission II in great detail. They have also been dealt with by the Programme Committee in detail, therefore there will be no need for us to go into real detail as we can leave it for the longer time that you will have in the Conference. However, I will call on the Chairman of the Programme Committee to introduce item 12.
M. TRKULJA (Chairman of the Programme Committee): In view of the time shortage, I will again be very-brief. I share fully in what you have just said. The Programme Committee first of all expresse its satisfaction with the improvement in both the format and the substance. We felt the support was very candid and contained, in most of the cases, very deep analysis.
We are specially satisfied with the improvement which has been based on our own suggestion, and we have again stressed - especially in part 2 - the in-depth review. We welcomed the expansion of the reviews and their fuller coverage, the time period which was also extended, and then we also especially paid attention to the development of the small-scale fisheries and the information covering analysis and dissemination which were certainly getting across the programme line.
Then the Programme Committee suggested a number of potential lines for a further imporvement in both the format and the content. We suggested an improvement in the coverage in a way which gives less space to some things which are of a competitive nature, by and large, and paid at the same time great attention to such things as progress and achievements of the issues.
There is an issue which we also considered, not necessarily only under this specific agenda item, and this is on the Regional offices in general. You will find our views in paragraph 2.72. In all honesty I would say this paragraph reflects more the minority than the majority view in the Committee, but the Committee had a very long debate on the issues and agreed to suggest that in the future programme reviews greater attention should be paid to the role of the Regional offices, within, of course, the whole framework of FAO activities.
It was felt by at least two members in the Committee that that particular aspect was not clear enough and that it really needed some further analysis.
This is by and large the essence of our view of the matter,
I have to admit that we have not enough time to go deeply into the substance of reviews, including both part 1 and part 2, and quite naturally you can yourself witness, Mr. Chairman, as you have been with us for most of the time, that the pre-conference session of Council has a number of important isśues to be studied, so we decided to make full use of the information before us in the next programme-reviewing cycle which will start next year.
CHAIRMAN: This item is now open for discussion. Are there any comments?' If not, we will pass the report on to Conference and to the Commission that is involved. I am sure the Secretariat, the Programme Committee, the Chairman and members etc., will assist in any details that may be raised at the Conference level.
M. TRKULJA (Chairman of the Programme Committee): As usual, the Review of Field Programmes was debated in the Committee and we have found a document of an improved quality as compared with the already high quality of the previous attempts. May I very briefly refer to the main findings and suggestions of the Committee.
We of course paid attention first of all to the problem of extra-budgetary resources in general and studied this in depth and again we expressed really very serious concern at the possible shortfall that seemed to be the result of the tendencies, especially as far as UNDP was concerned. We stressed the likelihood of the reduction in UNDP resources of 12 percent in real terms in the next cycle, as compared with the existing one. Again, it is nothing new to the Council.
We also were concerned with a declining tendency in the agricultural share in UNDP resources, and as a consequence, the declining share of FAO as a part of the agricultural projects-. We observe, of course, that it fell from 86 percent in 1972 to 95 percent at the end of the decade.
We especially studied the problem of cyclical variations in UNDP resources. It was clear from the additional information provided to the Committee that some sort of, so to speak, regular irregularities occurred during the cycle, with low-level at the start, then a charp increase, and again a very sharp decline this really tends to become one of the major problems besides, of course, the problem of the level of resources. We fully recognize the negative fact of the cyclical variations on both support costs and FAO efficiency in field projects based on UNDP funds in general. We were specially concerned with the low level of allocations of UNDP funds to FAO in 1981 which, according to our best assessment, are not likely to exceed the figure of $110 million. We were satisfied with the intention or decision of the Italian Government to implement a significant technical assistance programme and to use FAO largely for this purpose. We wanted to clarify that in one of the tables, research was included, actually only the basic research and the projects which were entirely intended to support research in the Member countries.
We regard to the assessment of field programmes, Chapter 2 of the Review. I would say that generally we were satisfied with the slight improvements in all basic aspects of the assessment, though again we recognize the difficulties involved in the assessment of the overail impact of technical assitance projects in general, including of course the FAO's part. The rest of our report deals with some aspects which are certainly very important, but I doubt very much that I have to use much of your time. The whole matter will be discussed at the Conference in depth, so I would prefer not to go further than this; of course, I am ready to clarify or answer any questions if asked to do so.
M. BEL HADJ AMOR (President du Comité financier): Je ne tenais pas du tout à intervenir sur le point concernant l'examen du programme ordinaire car il ne contenait pas des aspects financiers saillants. Cependant en ce qui concerne le programme de terrain je souhaite attirer l'attention du Conseil sur les considérations du Comité financier. Il faudra se référer au rapport du Comité du paragraphe 3.113 au paragraphe 3.121. En général le Comité a apprécié la concision et la clarté du document concernant le programme de terrain, et notamment l'utilité des tableaux et des graphiques qui y sont contenus ainsi que l'objectivité qui a prévalu à la mise en relief des problèmes et des obstacles. Le Comité financier s'est penché en particulier sur les aspects financiers des activités de terrain et les fonds extra-budgétaires y relatifs.
A la lumière des chiffres fournis, le Comité a relevé qu'en 1981 les dépenses d'exécution dépassent le montant des nouvelles allocations. De l'avis du Comité, cela entraînerait une baisse du niveau futur des opérations de terrain, non seulement en 1982 mais également dans les années suivantes. Cette situation, de l'avis du Comité, se vérifierait notamment pour les activités FAO/PNUD eu égard aux sombres perspectives des ressources générales du PNUD prévues pour le troisième cycle de programmation, à savoir 1982-1986, et ce avec une baisse en valeur réelle d'environ 12 pour cent par rapport à celle du deuxième cycle de programmation 1977-1981.
Cette situation, de l'avis du Comité, s'avère encore plus grave quand on considère la stagnation au cours des cinq dernières années de la part des ressources du PNUD allouées au secteur agricole et en particulier du pourcentage de ces ressources acheminées par l'intermédiaire de la FAO. En effet, ce pourcentage a subi, comme l'illustrent les paragraphes 1.6 et 1.9 et le graphique 2 du document C 81/4 d'importantes fluctuations, lesquelles n'ont guère favorisé l'efficacité et les économies des opérations exécutées par la FAO.
C'est pourquoi le Comité formule l'espoir de voir la FAO et le PNUD convenir des moyens aptes à régulariser l'apport de fonds destinés aux activités de terrain de l'Organisation.
Par ailleurs, le Comité a relevé avec satisfaction la participation accrue des gouvernements bénéficiaires au processus d'évaluation des programmes de terrain de la FAO ainsi que le rôle efficace des représentants de la FAO à la surveillance et à l'examen des activités de terrain, notamment le Programme de coopération technique, ainsi qu'à la promotion des nouvelles dimensions de la CTPD.
Enfin, le Comité estime que cette étude justifie la validité des méthodes de gestion et d'évaluation internes appliquées à la FAO et il a retenu que ce document pourrait constituer un outil indispensable pour les organes directeurs lors de l'examen des activités extérieures de l'Organisation.
J. de MEREDIEU (Sous-Directeur général, Département du développement): Comme vous l'aurez constaté, le point 12 couvre en fait trois sujets qui, tout en étant étroitement apparentés, sont néanmoins différents. Le premier est l'examen des programmes de terrain proprement dits contenu dans le
document C 81/4. Le second se réfère aux problêmes de l'assistance au développement de la production alimentaire et du développement rural qui fait l'objet du document C 81/28. Le troisième est le problème des frais de soutien qui fait l'objet du document C 81/INF/16.
Je suis ici pour présenter les deux premiers sujets et M. West sera à votre disposition si des questions étaient posées en ce qui concerne le troisième.
Je ne crois pas avoir grand-chose à ajouter en ce qui concerne l'examen des programmes de terrain à la suite de l'excellente présentation qui vient d'être faite par les Présidents des deux Comités. Avec votre permission, je me limiterai, dans une minute, à revenir brièvement sur le problème des ressources du PNUD. Je dois par contre faire des commentaires un peu plus détaillés en ce qui concerne le second document et répète que je me réfère à celui qui est intitulé ''Assistance au développement, production alimentaire et développement rural'', document C 81/28.
Comme vous vous en souviendrez, l'origine de ce document est la résolution 6/79 de la 20ème session de la Conférence. A la suite de cette résolution, un rapport provisoire a été soumis à votre Conseil il y a un an, sous la référence CL 78/21 et le Rapport de la 78ème session du Conseil a fait état de ce problème dans ses paragraphes 95 à 105. Comme indiqué en particulier au paragraphe 95, il avait été convenu que le Secrétariat soumettrait un document mis à jour à la 21ème session de la Conférence, et tel est le document C 81/28 qui est maintenant devant vous.
Comme vous l'aurez constaté, ce document concerne essentiellement deux sujets principaux. Le premier sujet, c'est-à-dire l'étude d'ensemble de l'aide officielle au développement de l'agriculture, est couvert aux paragraphes 5 à 12 et 18 à 23 du document, ainsi qu'aux tableaux 1 et 2. Le deuxième sujet, coopération entre la FAO et le PNUD, est couvert aux paragraphes 13 à 17 ainsi qu'aux paragraphes 24 à 38 et qu'aux tableaux 3 et 4.
Vous ne serez pas surpris si je vous dis que la première partie doit être lue en même temps que le rapport sur la Situation Mondiale de l'Alimentation et de l'Agriculture, et en particulier que son Supplément 1, document C 81/2. De même, la deuxième partie, qui se réfère à la coopération entre la FAO et le PNUD a beaucoup de points en commun avec le chapitre 1 de l'Examen des Programmes de Terrain, dont nous venons de parler.
En ce qui concerne la première partie, c'est-à-dire le flot d'aide officielle d'une part au développement au sens général du terme et, d'autre part, au développement de l'agriculture, le Conseil notera que nous nous sommes efforcés, non seulement de mettre à jour, mais aussi de compléter, les données qui avaient été fournies voici un an. Nous ne sommes pas encore arrivés à réunir tous les éléments que nous aurions désirés, mais le document est néanmoins beaucoup plus complet que voici un an.
L'examen des données contenues aux tableaux 1 et 2 conduit à des conclusions incertaines. Le tableau 1, qui concerne le flot d'ensemble d'assistance au développement, montre des résultats positifs. De plus, ces résultats sont encore plus positifs sur la base des données pour l'année 1980, que nous avons reçues trop tard pour pouvoir les incorporer. C'est ainsi que les engagements en 1980 se sont élevés à 40, 6 milliards de dollars, contre 33, 4 en 1979, soit une augmentation de 21, 5 pour cent, tandis que les paiements se sont élevés à 30, 2 milliards en 1980 contre 26 en 1979, soit une augmentation de 16 pour cent. Dans les deux cas, il s'agit d'augmentations qui sont nettement supérieures au taux de l'inflation et il y a donc amélioration nette.
La situation est malheureusement moins satisfaisante en ce qui concerne l'agriculture et le développement rural, et je vous renvoie à cet égard au tableau 2, qui vous montrera qu'il y a eu, au contraire, une stagnation. De plus, les résultats pour 1980 que nous venons de recevoir confirment cette tendance. En 1980, le total qui apparaît à la première ligne du tableau s'élève à 7, 5 milliards, contre 7, 1 en 1979. L'augmentation n'est cette fois-ci que de 5, 8 pour cent, ce qui est clairement inférieur à l'inflation. Dans ce cas particulier, il y a donc décroissance en termes réels.
Il existe toutefois certaines raisons d'espérer que la situation pourrait s'améliorer, en particulier en ce qui concerne les pays les moins avancés. Ceci semble d'ailleurs tout à fait dans la logique d'un certain nombre de réunions récentes, et je me réfère aux sommets d'Otawa et de Cancun, ainsi qu'à la Conférence de Paris sur les pays les moins avancés. On voit mal, en effet, comment on pourrait, d'une part reconnaître une priorité toute particulière au développement de l'agriculture et de la production alimentaire et, d'autre part, continuer en fait à allouer des sommes décroissantes à l'aide publique dans ce domaine.
Le paragraphe 52 du supplément au Rapport sur la situation de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture indique d'ailleurs déjà une légère amélioration, au moins en ce qui concerne les pays les moins avancés dont la part, dans le total de l'aide à l'agriculture, est passée de 16 pour cent en 1979 à environ 19 pour cent en 1980.
Je voudrais finalement vous mettre au courant des derniers développements concernant la situation des programmes FAO/PNUD, dont la gravité a déjà été justement soulignée par les deux Présidents dans leurs introductions.
Cette situation est malheureusement sérieuse, peut-être même très sérieuse et ce de trois points de vue.
Le premier concerne le niveau général des ressources du PNUD. Lors du Conseil d'administration de juin 1981, l'Administrateur, M. Morse, avait indiqué qu'il craignait que des ressources insuffisantes le conduisent à réduire les sommes effectivement consacrées au développement au cours du troisième cycle, qui commence, comme vous le savez, en 1982. C'est ainsi que la somme précédemment prévue de 5 148 millions de dollars pour les opérations effectives aurait été réduite à 3 740 millions de dollars. C'était déjà là une réduction considérable, de l'ordre de 30 pour cent, qui, compte tenu des effets de l'inflation, aurait en fait impliqué un niveau réel d'opérations au cours du troisième cycle d'environ 12 pour cent inférieur en termes réels à celui du deuxième cycle.
Malheureusement, ces prévisions, puisqu'il ne s'agissait alors que de prévisions, viennent d'être non seulement confirmées mais encore aggravées dans un télégramme que M. Morse a adressé au Directeur général le 27 octobre. Dans ce télégramme, M. Morse souligne d'abrod que, tandis que les ressources disponibles en 1981 n'avaient dépassé celles de 1979 que de trois pour cent - ce qui était déjà, bien entendu, inférieur à l'inflation - celles de 1981 se sont révélées inférieures de 7 pour cent à celles de 1980, soit une décroissance de 7 pour cent plus l'inflation, ou encore quelque 20 pour cent en termes réels.
L'Administrateur indique de plus que les prévisions qu'il avait mises en avant pour 1982 au mois de juin dernier, qui s'élevaient alors à 815 millions de dollars, doivent être révisées et que pour l'instant il ne saurait compter sur plus de 637 millions, soit 22 pour cent de moins, et je répète qu'il s'agit là d'une différence qui s'est produite entre juin et octobre 1981. En quelques mois, l'Administrateur a dû réviser son estimation en baisse de 22 pour cent! Il est évident que c'est là une situation très sérieuse et M. Morse dit dans son télégramme qu'il n'y a pas, pour l'instant, de raison d'espérer une amélioration rapide, en tout cas pas avant la fin de 1983.
La deuxième raison pour laquelle nous sommes préoccupés par l'évolution de nos programmes FAO/PNUD est celle qui a déjà été mentionnée par les présidents des deux Comités, à savoir le fait que la part de l'agriculture dans les opérations du PNUD, et la part de la FAO dans ces mêmes opérations, ont décru. Voici quelaues années environ 35 pour cent des ressources du PNUD allaient à l'agriculture au sens large du terme et la FAO était chargée de l'exécution d'environ 85 pour cent de cet ensemble. Ceci veut dire qu'à ce moment-là la FAO était chargée d'exécuter environ 30 pour cent de l'ensemble des opérations du PNUD. Au cours des dernières années, la part allant à l'agriculture a progressivement décru pour atteindre un chiffre de l'ordre de 30 pour cent et, sur ce, la FAO ne se voit plus confier que 75 pour cent. Le résultat de cette double évolution est que la part d'ensemble de la FAO dans l'exécution des projets du PNUD a décru de 30 à 25 pour cent.
Le Directeur général vous a dit hier, au cours de la discussion du Programme de Travail et Budget, que le PNUD était l'un des programmes qui consacraient une part importante de leurs ressources à l'agriculture, et il a cité ce chiffre de 30 pour cent. C'est vrai, on peut dire que 30 pour cent est une proportion importante, mais il est également vrai que la plupart des autres grands programmes, tant internationaux que bilatéraux, consacrent à l'agriculture des chiffres nettement supérieurs, de l'ordre de 40 à 45 pour cent.
Nous persistons donc à espérer que le système des Nations Unies, et plus particulièrement le PNUD, ne restera pas le seul grand programme d'assistance technique à ne consacrer que 30 pour cent à l'agriculture, au moment où la priorité absolue de ce secteur est plus que jamais reconnue.
La troisième raison de nos préoccupations est liée aux irrégularités cycliques dans l'allocation des ressources du PNUD qui est décrite aux paragraphes 1.6 à 1.9 du document C 81/4 "Examen des programmes de terrain'' et en particulier au graphique 2. L'examen de ce graphique vous montrera qu'il semble y avoir une variation cyclique, avec une fréquence de 5 ans correspondant au cycle quinquennal du PNUD, assortie d'une concentration des approbations au cours des premières années et d'une décroissance brutale au cours des dernières. Bien entendu, ceci est reflété par nos opérations qui se trouvent ainsi varier de plus ou moins 25 pour cent suivant les périodes. Il est certain qu'à un moment où, très justement, nos pays membres nous demandent d'opérer de la façon la plus efficace et la plus économique possible, ce n'est pas en nous contraignant successivement à licencier de nombreux experts puis, deux ans plus tard, à les recruter à nouveau, que l'on nous aide à améliorer notre efficacité et à faire des économies.
Mis ensemble, ces trois facteurs risquent d'avoir des conséquences très sévères sur le niveau de nos opérations au cours des années 1982-83. C'est ainsi, par exemple; que les nouvelles approbations du PNUD, qui se sont élevées à plus de 160 millions en 1980, sont tombées à moins de 110 en 1981. Ceci se reflétera sur le niveau de nos opérations en 1982-83. Nous sommes d'ores et déjà informés que nos divisions opérationnelles risquent, de ce fait, d'etre amenées à licencier 300 à 400 experts hautement qualifiés au début de l'année prochaine, ce qui n'exclut pas que, dans 2 ans, elles seront peut-être obligées de se précipiter sur le marché pour les recruter à nouveau. Nous sommes, bien entendu, en correspondance avec le PNUD à ce sujet, mais j'avoue que la situation générale ne nous donne guère de raison d'etre optimistes, au moins à court terme.
Ceci souligne encore plus la très grande importance qu'il faut attacher au Programme de fonds fiduciaire de notre Organisation et à notre programme de coopération technique qui, par bonheur, se portent beaucoup mieux pour l'instant. Les chiffres que vous trouverez dans l'Examen des Programmes de Terrain vous montreront tout au contraire qu'il existe là une croissance raisonnable, qui nous permet de mieux augurer de l'avenir.
Monsieur le Président, je m'excuse d'avoir été un peu long, mais, après tout, nos programmes de terrain représentent un montant qui est presque le double de celui du programme régulier, et j'ai donc pensé que votre Conseil souhaiterait recevoir ces informations, en particulier les dernières nouvelles que nous venons de recevoir de l'Administrateur du PNUD.
Je vous remercie, Monsieur le Président.
CHAIRMAN: Of course the Council is very interested in this matter because this is the crux of the issue. The document which has been introduced by Mr. de Mèredieu is C 81/28. It is a Conference document. It will be submitted to Conference so you will have an opportunity to discuss it, especially the UNDP/IFAD issues which have representatives of these organizations who will also be there. They normally address the Commission and take part or give explanation of their activities.
Now this item is open for discussion.
G. STREEB (United States of America): First let me say that we find the documentation, the Review of Field Programmes and the other documentation very well done and appreciate the quality of its work. We will, of course, reserve our comments to go into details on all aspects of the document in the Conference but as a preliminary to that I would be interested in some observations from the Secretariat regarding the trends.
I appreciate that the data can be very weak and therefore perhaps not be good enough to draw very solid conclusions. But the trend that has been cited in the reduction in UNDP resources going to agriculture, if we assume that that is a real trend, that there are not other activities in the agricultural sector but which have not been classified as agriculture per se or in the previous statistics - let me put the question another way. Is this not a matter of country decision, are not the countries themselves deciding how their IPFs are to be allocated? In other words, is this the responsibility basically for the recipients in this decline and is it therefore a matter of leaving this to the attention of recipient countries and asking them to take a new look at the role of agriculture in their overall UNDP programmes?
As to the share implemented by the FAO, are there explanations for this? Is it that perhaps - and I am just speculating - UNDP is doing more in terms of technical training and the like and therefore using other forms of expertise than FAO or does it have to do with the aspect of programme delivery?
Thirdly although I note that the statistics on ODA are cited as being particularly suspect, do we have any idea of how much of the overall ODA, other than UNDP, is being directed towards agriculture? Is the same trend evident in Overall Development Assistance as is evident in the UNDP programme?
CHAIRMAN: Perhaps Mr. de Meredieu could answer these questions and that may forestall other similar questions members may raise.
J. de MEREDIEU (Assistant Director-General, Development Department): Is the decrease of UNDP allocations to the broad field of agriculture a clear trend? The answer is Yes. It is not only over one or two years that it has been noted; there has been a constant decrease over the last ten years. So this is absolutely clear. The overall share has gone down from 35 to 30 and FAO's share has gone down steadily from 30 to 25 over the last ten years.
Is this not the primary responsibility of the recipient governments? Yes, it is. Two years ago the Conference, in Resolution 6.79, has stressed that point and the Director-General has, of course, conveyed the preoccupations of the Conference to the Governments concerned. But I also think that we should not overlook the fact that the UNDP country programming is carried out by governments in close consultation with the UNDP representatives, who have no doubt a very marked influence in this process.
How to apportion influences which affect the final decisions which are taken in this regard, this I cannot do. But I would think that the UNDP representatives, sometimes, could also call the attention of the governments to the fact that the programmes proposed may not reflect sufficiently the extreme priority of food and agriculture.
Are there explanations why the share of FAO has gone down? Yes, there are, two in particular, which were also mentioned two years ago. One is that UNDP, against the repeated advice of participating agencies, has considerably developed its own Office of Project Execution, OPE, which has been the fastest growing executing agency in the UN system during recent years, has now become the third largest one, and is operating almost nine percent of the total UNDP programmes. A good part of this concerns projects in the field of agricultural research, which, otherwise, should have been assigned to FAO.
Similarly, it is rather surprising to note that most UNDP projects in the field of rural development, a field for which a leading role has been recognized to FAO, have been assigned for execution, not to FAO but to UN-DTCD, which normally deals with subjects such as general planning, mining, public works and transportation. This, again, is something which we have some difficulties to understand and which was pointed out by the Conference two years ago.
Concerning trends in development assistance I have already given certain figures. For instance, I have said that, while the overall ODA to development has increased over the last year by 21.5 percent, the particular share of ODA intended for agriculture has increased by only 5.8 percent. The first has increased by a figure which is more than inflation, there has been a net increase. The second has increased by a figure which is less than inflation, there has been a net decrease. Therefore the answer is Yes, unfortunately there has recently been a trend towards a smaller share of ODA going to agriculture, which seems suprising when so many summit and other high level meetings have assigned first priority to that sector. Detailed figures, as I indicated, are to be found in Tables 1 and 2 of document C 81/28.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you Mr. de Meredieu. I think these answers are satisfactory to the United States delegate. If any more negotiations are needed we will come back to it. Are there any more points?
W.A.F. GRABISCH (Germany, Federal Republic of): In order to be brief, and following the order given by Mr. de Meredieu, I would like to limit myself to the following points.
First, Review of Field Programmes. We consider the document C 81/4 generally to be a good document and we will give our comments at the forthcoming Conference.
Second, regarding my country's assistance for development I gave you some figures yesterday under Item 10. We will take up this point again at the forthcoming Conference.
Third, with regard to Support Costs my government's position is unchanged from the view that we expressed at the Seventy-Eighth Session of the Council. My delegation therefore wishes to state that our Organization should accept the decision taken by the UNDP Governing Council.
Finally, I was surprised by the statement of Mr. de Meredieu that the UNDP was only involved in the country programming. We had so far the feeling that the agricultural experts - that is, the FAO country representatives - would also take part in this country programming and in that way help to see that agriculture gets the priority it deserves.
CHAIRMAN: I will again call on Mr. de Meredieu to answer the last question.
J. de MEREDIEU (Assistant Director-General, Development Department): I have only one comment. Yes indeed, FAO representatives and our experts are actively engaged in the country programming process. But the only individuals who have authority for approving projects under the IPF are the Resident Representatives up to a certain amount, and UNDP Headquarters for higher amounts, on the recommendation of the Resident representative. When an individual has authority for approving funds, I think it is clear that he has great influence in the process concerned. The FAO representatives, unfortunately, have no authority for approving UNDP funds.
CHAIRMAN: Are there any more comments on Item 13? Then we conclude this discussion of this Item which is going forward for more detailed consideration in the Conference.
- Invitations to Non-Member Nations to Attend FAO Sessions
- Invitation d'Etats non membres à des réunions de la FAO
- Invitación a Estados no miembros a asistir a reuniones de la FAO
- Invitations to International Non-Governmental Organizations which do not have Status with FAO
- Invitation d'organisations internationales non gouvernmentales n'ayant pas de statut officiel auprès de la FAO
- Invitaciones a organizaciones internacionales no gubernamentales que no mantienen relaciones oficiales con la FAO
CHAIRMAN: We come now to Item 16, which is divided into sub-items. On sub-item 1, which is Invitations to Non-Member Nations to Attend FAO Sessions, I am informed that there is nothing to report.
We go on to the next item, which is Invitations to International Non-Governmental Organizations which do not have Status with FAO, document CL 80/2. I will call on Mr. Régnier to report on this item.
A. REGNIER (Director, Office for Inter-Agency Affairs): As you know, FAO has established formal relations with as many as 160 international non-governmental organizations and they are regularly invited to FAO Technical meetings according to provisions formulated in Part P of the FAO Basic Texts. There is however a need for the Organization because of the highly specialised nature of some aspects of its work, to invite from time to time on an ad hoc basis some non-governmental organizations which do not have official relations with FAO to attend specific Technical meetings on particular subjects. Experience has shown that FAO can thus obtain expert advice and information on particular questions from organizations of recognised standing in their field of specialised competence-
The Forty-ninth Session of the Council in 1967 requested the Director-General to inform the Council in advance whenever possible of the names of those non-governmental organizations not having status with FAO which they intended to invite to Technical meetings and to report ex post facto to the Council when prior notification was impracticable. The names of these organizations and the meetings to which they have been invited are given in document CL 80/2. This matter is intended for the information of the Council and no decision is required.
CHAIRMAN: Are there any comments or questions on this item? If not, it is noted.
- Changes in Representation of Member Nations on the Programme and Finance Committees
- Modification de la representation des nations membres au Comité du programme et au Comité financier
- Cambios en la representación de los Estados Miembros en los Comités del Programa y de Finanzas
CHAIRMAN: This is an item for information only. In both the case of the Programme and Finance Committee, changes have been made by a Member Government each in the representation in the Committees, and the names and the curricula vitae are given for your information, and this is an item only for information.
Shall we note the information and proceed? Yes.
- Memorandum of Understanding between FAO and the Asian Development Bank
- Mémoire d'entente entre la FAO et la Banque asiatique de développement
- Memorando de entendimiento entre la FAO y el Banco Asiático de Desarrollo
C. FERNANDO (Director, Investment Centre): The document related to this item is CL 80/11, and as you will see from it, the original agreement for cooperation between FAO and the Asian Bank entered into force in 1968, only one year after the Asian Bank had been established and indeed only a few years after the FAO Investment Centre had also been established.
Under the agreement, the Investment Centre assists Member Countries in the region to identify and prepare projects by the Asian Bank, and this work has been going on for several years. Recently the work has expanded, and the Asian Bank is turning increasingly to the Investment Centre for help in carrying out its lending programme.
You may recall, Mr. Chairman, that the Council in June 1979 endorsed the Director-General's policy of harmonizing to the extent possible FAO's arrangements with financial institutions, particularly as far as cost-sharing arrangements are concerned.
As background, in the case of the Asian Bank the old agreement provided for an equal sharing of costs for loans for both project identification and preparation. Under the policy of the Director-General, it was felt that while FAO should always bear some costs of project formulation, its share should decrease as the project is incorporated in the lending programme of the financing institution. It was felt, therefore, that for project identification, which is the first stage of the project cycle, the costs should be shared equally between FAO and the financing institution, in other words, fifty-fifty, but that when we go to the next stage of the cycle, which is the preparation of the full feasibility study, the financing institution should pay 70 percent and FAO should pay 30 percent. This standard formula for cost-sharing has been incorporated in FAO's agreements with IFAD, several Arab financing institutions and more recently with the African Development Bank, and it is this cost-sharing formula, which of course is favourable to FAO, which is the main new feature of the revised agreement with the Asian Bank.
As you know, the 1968 agreement was approved by the Council and the Conference. Before the Director-General can enter into a new agreement, it was thought necessary to seek approval of the Council for the termination of the old agreement. A similar procedure was followed as far as the African Bank was concerned, so we are therefore asking the Council, as recommended by the Programme and Finance Committees sessions in September, to agree to the termination of the old agreement by mutual consent, after which the Director-General will be in a position to sign the new memorandum of understanding.
Finally, you will be pleased to know that on 22 September, the Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank agreed to terminate the old agreement and authorized the President of the Asian Bank to sign the new memorandum of understanding with FAO.
CHAIRMAN: Is there any discussion on this? The point is that the old agreement is to be rescinded and a new memorandum of understanding to be signed. The Bank itself has agreed to it, and it is now up to us to agree and to recommend it for Conference endorsement for the Director-General to sign the new memorandum of understanding.
If there are no comments, I take it that this recommendation is approved and the matter will be put to the Conference.
This then concludes the discussion on item 16 and we will go on to item 17.
17 - Any Other Business (Cont'd):
17 - Autres questions (suite):
17 - Otros asuntos (continuación):
- Second Report on Unscheduled Sessions in the 1980-81 Biennium
- Deuxi rapport sur les reunions hors programme pendant l'exercice 1980-81
- Segundo informe sobre las reuniones no previstas en el bienio 1980-81
- Site of the Ninth World Forestry Congress. 1984
- Lieu du neuvième Congrès forestier mondial. 1984
- Lugar del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial de 1984
M. A. FLORES RODAS (Subdirector General, Departamento de Montes): El documento del Consejo CL 80/10 contiene información sobre los lugares de los anteriores Congresos Forestales Mundiales, la función de la FAO con relación a los mismos y los medios disponibles en los países que han ofrecido hospedaje al noveno Congreso. Los Congresos Forestales Mundiales han venido celebrándose desde 1926, fecha en que el Instituto Internacional de Agricultura decidió organizar el primero aquí, en Roma, en la primavera de aquel año; a partir de 1945 la responsabilidad de seleccionar el país hospedante recayó sobre la FAO al absorber ésta las funciones del Instituto Internacional de Agricultura.
Con el pasar de los años los países hospedantes han asumido mayor responsabilidad con respecto a estos Congresos y la función de la FAO se ha limitado a la selección del país hospedante, función que lleva a cabo el Consejo de la FAO.
Por lo tanto, en esta coyuntura deseo enfatizar que los Congresos Forestales Mundiales no son reuniones de la FAO y que tales Congresos no tienen que dar cuenta o informar a los órganos rectores de la FAO.
Como puede verse en el citado documento CL 80/10, tres países, México, India y Filipinas han hecho su ofrecimiento como contestación a la carta circular del señor Director General enviada en febrero de 1981 a todos los países miembros de la FAO, de las Naciones Unidas, de las agencias especializadas y de la Agencia Internacional para la Energía Atómica.
Los Apéndices C, D y E del documento dan un breve bosquejo de la situación forestal en estos países.
Durante el cuarto Congreso celebrado en India en 1954 se estableció un Comité sobre principios y procedimientos para la consideración y sugerencias de los principios concernientes a la finalidad del Congreso Forestal Mundial y las reglas generales de organización y procedimiento. Las propuestas de este Comité examinadas por la segunda sesión del Comité Forestal en mayo de 1974 y subsecuentemente aprobadas por el Consejo de la FAO en su sesión número 64, estos principios y medidas aparecen detalladamente en el Apéndice B del mencionado documento CL 80/10.
El octavo Congreso Forestal Mundial celebrado en Yakarta, Indonesia, en 1978 fue organizado de acuerdo con estos principios y medidas, los cuales serán transmitidos al país hospedante del noveno Congreso, una vez que el mismo haya sido seleccionado.
Además, señor Presidente, desde el punto de vista técnico forestal siempre se ha considerado importante que los colegas delegados tengan la oportunidad de analizar y opinar sobre los progresos y problemas de diversas áreas del mundo y la forma en que la profesión forestal participa en el desarrollo rural de tales áreas. Por lo tanto, ha sido costumbre considerar importante la rotación geográfica entre los diversos congresos y la capacidad del país hospedante de ofrecer la oportunidad de exponer a los delegados las múltiples zonas ecológicas con suficiente variabilidad.
A pesar de que la organización del Congreso Forestal Mundial es de responsabilidad única del país hospedante, nosotros, naturalmente, estamos a disposición de dicho país una vez seleccionado si así lo solicitara.
A. J.-M.ISSA (México): Nuestra delegación desea reiterar el ofrecimiento que hiciera el jefe de la delegación de México durante el octavo Congreso Forestal Mundial celebrado en Indonesia para que México sea la sede del noveno Congreso.
Como lo señala el documento de la Secretaría del Consejo, el 70 por ciento de nuestro territorio, es decir 137 millones de hectáreas corresponden a terreno forestal; de ellas 44 millones son bosques templados, fríos y tropicales. Esta característica de México le obliga como un país forestal, donde
actualmente hacemos importantes esfuerzos para estimular este sector productivo a través de un plan a largo plazo. Se han instrumentado así importantes programas de mejoramiento de la silvicultura que está aumentando y diversificando la producción, al mismo tiempo que permite a los campesinos dedicados a esta actividad acceder a mejores condiciones de vida.
Especial atención hemos dado al aprovechamiento de la selva tropical donde por primera vez se lleva a cabo un inventario de manejos que nos permitirá racionalizar la utilización de estos bosques considerándolos parte del complejo suelo, cubierta vegetal, fauna y aguas. Se ha intensificado también los programas encaminados a lograr un uso más adecuado de los recursos forestales de las zonas áridas. Todos estos programas están en el marco de una política forestal que estimula el uso de recursos forestales no como algo aislado, sino como factor prioritario del desarrollo de las comunidades rurales.
De acuerdo a los lineamientos establecidos por la Conferencia sobre Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural, la participación campesina en todos estos programas es fundamental. México, consciente de que la actividad forestal afecta a la realidad económica de más de 1 500 millones de habitantes, el 35 por ciento de la población mundial, ha solicitado que la FAO incremente la importancia y participación de esta fundamental actividad dentro de la propia Organización.
En la pasada Conferencia de FAO, México reiteró su pleno apoyo al contenido de la Declaración Yakarta aprobada en el octavo Congreso Forestal de octubre de 1978 en razón a su calidad y alto contenido positivo donde se señalan recomendaciones para coadyuvar al mejoramiento de la actividad forestal, vinculada especialmente al desarrollo de las comunidades rurales.
Señor Presidente, por estas razones anteriormente señaladas y porque consideramos que debe prevalecer el principio de la alternatividad y de la rotación, México reitera su ofrecimiento. Tal como lo señala el documento CL 80/10, nuestro país está en la mejor disposición para facilitar todos los recursos necesarios para el desarrollo exitoso del noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial a celebrarse, si así lo deciden, en México.
Asimismo, quiero reiterar tres ofrecimientos que México ha hecho desde el Octavo Congreso Forestal Mundial y que se refieren a las facilidades por un lado financieras, y por otro lado físicas para la realización de este Congreso. Por otra parte a las facilidades financieras y de asistencia técnica para que los participantes en el Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial puedan realizar viajes de estudio al interior del país, donde podemos ofrecer una vasta realidad forestal en cuanto climas, suelos y grados de explotación; y por otro lado, quisiera reiterar también el ofrecimiento del Gobierno de México para facilitar recursos financieros a estudiantes y profesionales interesados en la materia y que puedan asistir, con esta asistencia, a dicho Congreso.
H.L. CHAWLA (India): Thank you Mr. Chairman for giving me this opportunity to express the views of my country on this item. A brief idea of India's vast forest resources has been given in the document.
Our country has to cope with a rapidly rising requirement, of timber, fuelwood and various other forestry products. A very high priority is therefore being given to the forestry sector. In the current five-year Plan, the country has provided nearly 6.9 billion rupees or around $ 770 million to promote forestry development. A very special programme in this context relates to social forestry which is intended to provide timber, fuelwood, fodder and wherever possible fruit for the benefit of hundreds of millions of the rural poor.
For economic, social and ecological reasons, the government is giving special attention to forestry development. In this background, India has expressed a strong interest in the holding of the 9th World Forestry Congress, 1984, in India. Now we have noted that Mexico has come forward with a proposal for holding this Congress. Similarly the Philippines has also shown interest in hosting the Congress. We thus find that two other friendly developing countries are also keen in this regard. Our view is that this subject should not be made controversial.
In this context, I would like to make a suggestion for the consideration of our fellow delegates and this Council. The suggestion is that shortly in connection with the FAO Conference, Ministers of our three countries are expected to be in Rome. In my view, it would be better to ensure a consensus on the basis of mutual consultation at the above level of representation.
Since the World Forestry Congress is to meet in 1984, a decision can perhaps be taken at the next meeting of the FAO Council. Therefore, I submit this suggestion for the consideration of this august House.
A. CAPAY (Observer for Philippines): The Philippine Government wishes to reiterate its offer to host the 9th World Forestry Congress in 1984. The Philippine Government affirms its readiness and availability to provide everything necessary to maintain the high standards set at previous congresses. This includes special experts and students from developing countries to attend the congress, and the full costs of any assistance necessary from FAO for the preparation and conduct of the congress, including any assistance after the congress in order to finalize the proceedings.
The Philippine Government offers the premises and facilities of the internationally renowned Philippine international convention centre in Manila, as well as hotel accommodation and facilities for congress participants and guests. The Philippine Government offers gladly to share its forestry development concerns and experience with FAO memeber countries, especially the developing countries.
The Philippines is a demonstration site for various regional, sub-regional, and bilateral support forestry projects. The Philippines has the FAO SIDA regional project on the Centre for Forestry Education; research and development for Asia and the Pacific region; the ASEAN-New Zealand Reafforestation and Soil Erosion Control Training Centre, among others.
Mr. Chairman, we have taken up an intensive national reafforestation programme, supplemented by the habilitation of sixteen cultivators, agro-forestry programmes, multiple-use forestry, watershed management, fuel woodlands, tree planting drives, and widespread forestry extension activities.
These programmes and the forestry situation are mostly similar to those of the developing countries, so this could provide valuable information and experience to the delegates of the 9th World Forestry Congress.
With the above-mentioned facilities and forestry development demonstration project the Philippine Government reaffirms its offer to host the Congress.
In conclusion, we agree with the proposal of the delegate from India in order to have a harmonious relationship.
CHAIRMAN: This subject is now open for discussion.
A. CONTE MAROTTA (Italy): Italy notes that three friendly countries wish to host the very important congress, but Italy thinks also that the principle of rotation should be respected.
CHAIRMAN: The delegate of Italy is suggesting the principle of rotation. The proposal is also made by India that the decision should be delayed or postponed.
V. ISARANKURA (Thailand): My delegation would like to support the proposal made by the Indian delegate.
Mrs. SAODAH SYAHROEDDIN (Indonesia): After studying carefully the document CL 80/10 and listening attentively to the explanations presented by the delegates of Mexico and India as well as the Philippines, I wish to express my delegation's views as follows: with reference to the World Forestry Congress, the Indonesian delegation would like to record its gratitude for the support given by FAO in the success of the 8th World Forestry Congress held in Indonesia The experience of the Indonesian Government in handling the 8th Congress will enable us to handle the necessary requirements for organizing a congress in the future.
In this regard the Indonesian delegation endorses the offer of the Philippine Government to host the 9th World Forestry Congress to be held in 1984. We are also concerned with the arrangements made to set up field trips which could reflect the actual state of integrated forestry management efforts at the present time, and it is in line with this technical requirement that we consider the Philippines to be the best suitable site for the coming Forestry Congress.
Furthermore, accommodation and complementary activities for the Congress are readily available in Manila and so are other facilities as contained in document CL 80/10. My delegation therefore believes that the objectives of the 9th World Forestry Congress can be successfully achieved if it is held in Manila.
H. MENDS (Ghana): Looking at the document before us, my delegation would be tempted to vote --if it came to that -- for the Philippines. However, in view of the problem posed by three friendly countries wishing at the same time to host this all important Congress, and in view of the fact that the Congress is not to take place util 1984, I would go along with the others who have suggested that we give ourselves some time to consider this a little further and take a decision later on.
O. AWOYEMI (Nigeria): I, too, wish to support the suggestion made by the delegate of India that the three ministers of the countries concerned get together in the Conference and consult, and possibly come up with one of the countries to host the Conference. If they fail to agree, perhaps the matter should be re-tabled for the next Council session.
T.C. RAJAONA (Madagascar): L'organisation d'un tel Congrès depend du ressort du pays hôte. Ma délégation estime devoir appuyer la proposition tendant à ce qu'un consensus intervienne entre les responsables des trois pays candidats.
C. BATAULT (France): Je voudrais simplement dire que la délégation Française, comme l'a dit le délégué de l'Italie, estime qu'il serait peut-être préférable d'avoir dans ce domaine une certaine rotation.
Ceci dit, je me rallie entièrement à la proposition du délégué de l'Inde qui propose une réunion de ces trois ministres de l'agriculture pour qu'ils s'entendent entre eux et leur décision sera naturellement la bonne.
Sra. M. IVANKOVICH DE AROSEMENA (Panama): Se nos ha presentado el documento 80/10 con relación al Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial a celebrarse en 1984. Se nos dice en el documento que el Consejo examinará el tema y que determinará el país hospedante. Mi delegación desea expresar su apoyo a la aspiración del Gobierno de México de hospedar el Congreso Forestal Mundial, y lo hacemos ratificando una decisión tomada por el Grupo Latinoamericano, de apoyar la candidatura de México. Por otra parte, consideramos que México tiene condiciones ecológicas muy importantes y consideramos también, que estos eventos se deben realizar en diferentes zonas geográficas basadas en el principio de la rotación.
WANG SHOU RU (China) (Original language Chinese): Three friendly countries have now made their offer to host the 9th World Forestry Conference. We think this problem would be better solved through friendly consultations and that is why we support the suggestion made by the Indian delegation.
M. GHASSI (Syria) (Original language Arabic): My delegation supports the proposal made by India for consultations to take place to choose the place where the Forestry Congress is to be held.
G. BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Como ya lo han dicho otros colegas, se trata de una decisión difícil. Estamos plenamente de acuerdo en que no es conveniente una confrontación. En ocasiones pasadas, el Consejo tomaba esta decisión a través de un diálogo como el que estaraos celebrando. Consideramos constructivas las propuestas de la delegación de la India, pero creemos conveniente que se tenga en cuenta un hecho fundamental. Si el Consejo, en todas las ocasiones anteriores, ha procedido a seleccionar el país hospedante del Congreso Forestal Mundial con toda anticipación, esto se debe al tiempo que requiere este país hospedante para adelantar todos los preparativos que puedan garantizar el buen éxito del Congreso. Por eso se hace esta selección con toda anticipación. Si dejáramos esto para el próximo Consejo, esa reunión sería en noviembre o diciembre de 1982, a fin del 82; quiere decir esto
que el país escogido solo dispondría prácticamente de un solo año, el 83, lo cual posiblemente no sería suficiente. Por estas razones, y por cumplir instrucciones precisas de nuestro Gobierno, apoyamos la candidatura de México.
G. STREEB (United States of America): Obviously, each of those countries offers a particular experience in forestry and each of them has the facilities to host such a conference, so it does make the choice somewhat difficult. It seems to me that, as several delegates have suggested, the easiest way out of this is to stick with the principle of rotation. I think that this is a good principle for a practical reason which is that in the case of Mexico, we do have a somewhat different situation in forestry and forests as compared to South East Asia where, if we were to hold another conference back-to-back, we would in essence be dealing with a region having very similar problems; while in this case, we would be going to a region with somewhat different problems.
Having said that, it is also true that Mexico, of course, offers a wide diversity from north to south in terms of the different kinds of forests it has and I think it is useful from the standpoint of the kind of discussions that go on and the kind of field trips and so forth that take place around such a conference, to provide this kind of diversity every six years. I would hope that we can decide this issue here. I am not particularly in favour of postponing the decision. I of course have no problem with the idea that the ministers from these countries get together and as long as they pick Mexico, I will no object. What else they will do I do not know, but I am a little bit afraid that if they meet and do not resolve this, then we will be postponing the decision to a time that will make it much more difficult to plan, as the delegate of Colombia has just said.
I would like to have some assurance that we will decide this issue in one way or another, perhaps on the day following the Conference when the Council again meets, and that we will not postpone the decision until next year, because if indeed the three ministers cannot agree amongst themselves, the problem will not go away and we will be confronted with exactly the same choice later. I therefore hope that if we do not take a decision today, we will have some assurance that we will take it in the one-day session following the Conference.
F. PETRELLA (Argentina): Después de oír las distintas propuestas que se han hecho aquí, la delegación de Argentina desea respaldar calurosamente la candidatura de México para sede del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial dé 1984. Deseamos subrayar, sin perjuicio de reconocer los méritos de los otros postulantes, que por el desarrollo que ha tenido esta temática en México, el interés y la responsabilidad con que se encara la organización de este importante evento y por el criterio, además, de rotación, pensamos que pocos países serían más indicados que México para sede de este Congreso Forestal.
C.N. LINYAMA (Zambia): I wish to support the Indian delegation's suggestion but I would add that the ministers, when they meet, should give us an answer by the end of this Conference so that at the next Council meeting which we shall have at the end of this Conference we can decide on this question.
S. DE MARE (Sweden): My delegation wishes to support the candidature of Mexico to host the next Forestry Congress. The reason for our decision is not only that we feel that the principle of rotation should be respected, but also because of the interesting characteristics of Mexican forestry, its great potentials and the important role forestry seems to play in community development in that country. Of course, my delegation could go along with the proposal of India, if that is the wish of the three countries concerned; but until now we have just heard the Indian view.
J.M. SCOULAR (united Kingdom): The delegates of the United States and of Zambia have said what I was going to say, that is, let the ministers meet and discuss, but report back to us at the short Council at the end of the Conference, no later than that.
M. TRKULJA (Yugoslavia): First, procedurally, I think it will be very interesting and helpful to know the position of the Mexican Delegation vis-a-vis the Indian suggestion. If they also feel that there is a reasonable chance of success to resolve the problem by ministers then I could not see any harm if we postpone the final decision of the Council until the end of the Conference. It will be the best possible way out and I am suggesting this procedural matter also in view of the very short time indeed.
M.J. RICKETTS-BARBARIE (Canada): At the Fifth Session of the Committee on Forestry in May 1980 Canada voiced its support in favour of accepting the kind offer of Mexico to act as host for the Ninth World Forestry Congress. If I am not mistaken Mexico was at that time the only FAO member country offering to act as host. Whereas we believe that all the countries that are now interested in this offer have fully adequate facilities and can each make a good case for being selected by the Council, we would like to see them find agreement amongst themselves, taking into account all the factors, of course, including the principle of fair regional rotation. If the delegate of Mexico agrees we have no objection to the matter being resolved during the Conference.
P. MORALES CARBALLO (Cuba): En primer lugar, deseamos agradecer al Sr. Flores Rodas su interesante presentación de tan importante evento. Indudablemente se trata de tres candidaturas, de tres países muy amigos; nuestra delegación, sin embargo, al igual que las delegaciones de Italia, de Francia y de otras, apoya el principio de la rotación y consideramos que es un principio que incluso en este caso, desde el punto de vista técnico, tiene un peso muy importante.
Consideramos que México es un país con características forestales muy diversas a través de sus distintas regiones geográficas, lo que brindará una experiencia muy rica en materia forestal a todos los países asistentes. Por estas razones: la razón de la rotación, la razón específica de las condiciones ambientales y geográficas de México, nuestro Gobierno desea expresar el apoyo a la candidatura de México para sede del Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial.
DATO SERI RADIN SOENARNO (Malaysia): My delegation supports the suggestion made by the delegation of India, as modified by the delegation from Zambia that there should be a discussion between the three friendly countries concerned to resolve the choice of the host country.
H.H. CARABANO (Venezuela): Mi delegación desea comenzar por agradecer a los tres países el ofrecimiento que han hecho para hospedar este importante Congreso. No nos cabe la menor duda de que cualquiera de ellos podría hacerlo logrando grandes éxitos; por lo tanto, expresar cierta preferencia no significa subestimar a los demás. Por las razones que han sido expuestas, mi país apoya calurosamente la sede para México y sería un honor para toda América Latina el que este importante evento pudiera realizarse en un país que, como aquí se ha dicho, tiene condiciones ecológicas en las cuales estarían representadas no solamente todos los países de latinoamérica y el Caribe, sino todos los países del mundo.
Por todo esto, nos pronunciamos por México, pero sin dejar de reconocer la importancia de la consulta de los Ministros para diferir decisiones hasta la reunión del Congreso, inmediatamente después de la Conferencia, tal como lo ha propuesto la delegación de Estados Unidos y por las razones que fueron tan claramente expuestas por Colombia.
A.F.M. de FREITAS (Brazil): My delegation has all the respects for the different candidates presented this morning to hold this Conference on Forestry. Two different orders of reason have been presented in favour of Mexico; ecological conditions which particularly present good opportunity for forestry experts to study different kinds of forestry resources; and the facilities that Mexico could also offer, like the other candidates. So with due respect to all the different candidates my delegation would like to express its support for the candidature of Mexico for this Ninth World Forestry Congress and personally I would like to see this decision, as far as possible, taken from this Council. If this is not possible I subscribe to the idea that discussions could be held during the Conference for decision at the earliest possible opportunity during the next Council at the end of the Conference.
M. MUKOLWE (Kenya): My delegation notes the friendliness that exists between the three countries that have offered themselves to host this important forestry Conference. I would, however, go along with the other members, particularly as suggested by India because there are laid down requirements and other things to be looked at. So I would suggest that this particular assignment be given to the three friendly ministers who are coming in, for discussion during their stay here and if this fails we should then, as a Council, step in after the Conference so that a decision could be made.
P. KANGA (Angola): Les trois pays qui ont présenté leur candidature, présentent des conditions adéquates. Ma délégation se rallie à la proposition de la délégation de l'Inde de procéder à des consultations amicales entre les trois ministres. Si nous n'arrivons pas à une entente, je me rallierai à la proposition de la délégation zambienne pour que la décision soit prise à la fin de la Conférence, lors du Conseil.
A. EL KADIRI (Maroc): Ma délégation se rallie à la proposition de l'Inde, telle qu'elle a été amendée par la Zambie.
J.E. MENDES FERRAO (Portugal): Ma délégation voudrait ajouter sa voix à celles des autres délégations qui sont d'avis que la décision sur cette question doit être reportée à la session du prochain Conseil, ce qui donnerait l'occasion aux ministres présents à la Conférence de se consulter et de nous suggérer un consensus.
CHAIRMAN: I think unless the other three members insist on speaking the trend is quite clear, that there should be a meeting between the ministers to reach a consensus and then report to the next Council which is in three week time at which a decision will be taken. So Mexico, I do not know what Mexico's own views are.
A.J.-M. ISSA (México): Como bien lo dijo la distinguida delegada de Canadá, México fue el primer país que presento la petición formal para ser sede de este Congreso, petición que sigue sosteniendo y sigue manteniendo sus relaciones amistosas con todos los países que solicitan ahora también la sede.
Nos adherimos al consenso que usted acaba de manifestar, en el sentido de que nuestros Ministros se reúnan durante algunas fechas de la próxima Conferencia de la FAO y en el Consejo inmediatamente posterior a la Conferencia se conozca la recomendación de los tres Ministros y se seleccione el país anfitrión y organizador de este Noveno Congreso Forestal Mundial.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mexico for this. This would mean that the Secretariat will arrange some sort of dialogue between the three ministers and report back for Council to take a decision on the matter at its next meeting.
Now this concludes our morning agenda but there is a suggestion from the Secretariat that in order to facilitate our work and perhaps to avoid a night session the items which we have discussed this morning have not been very controversial at all and it. is suggested that the report should come straight here instead of going through the Drafting Committee. Now, if this is agreed it will facilitate the work but if you insist it would be routed through the Drafting Committee and that will take a long time. Is it agreed that the report comes straight here, the one for this morning? Yes, I see everybody nodding.
Now I will vacate the Chair and call on one of the Vice Chairmen, Ambassador Morales Carballo of Cuba to take this seat.
P. Morales Carballo, Vice-Chairman of the Council, took the chair
P. Morales Carballo, Vice-Président du Conseil, assume la présidence
Ocupa la presidencia P. Morales Carballo, Vicepresidente del Consejo
Unveiling of the portrait of the Independent Chairman of the Council
Inauguration du portrait du Président indépendant du Conseil
Descubrimiento del retrato del Presidente independiente del Consejo
EL PRESIDENTE: Distinguidos delegados: al presidir este Consejo tengo el honor de anunciarles que dentro de breves momentos celebraremos la ceremonia para develar el retrato de nuestro querido Presidente independiente, Sr. Bukar Shaib; por lo tanto, se trata de un acto tan sencillo como sincero mediante el cual no sólo será una oportunidad para expresar nuestro reconocimiento por el extraordinario trabajo
realizado por el Sr. Bukar Shaib como Presidente del Consejo, sino que será también una manera hermosa de recordarle siempre haciéndole formar parte de la histórica galería que está a nuestra derecha.
Sin más preámbulos, doy la palabra al Director General de la FAO.
DIRECTOR-GENERAL: Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In a few moments, Dr. Bukar Shaib, I will have the honour to commemorate the unveiling of your portrait.
It will join those of your illustrious predecessors who have held the high function of Independent Chairman of the FAO Council.
This ceremony is particularly moving for all of us.
We are living the history of our Organization.
You, Sir, are the Ninth Independent Chairman of the FAO Council and the first from Africa.
A distinguished son of the great continent of Africa, you brought to FAO a wealth of experience and a broad knowledge of almost all the fields which this Organization embraces.
Having achieved the highest academic honours in the field of veterinary medicine, you brought to us your experience from a succession of increasingly responsible posts dealing with livestock management and disease control in your country.
Your outstanding capabilities found ready recognition and you soon became responsible for all aspects of agriculture, livestock forestry and fisheries administration, as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Nigeria, and later as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
Your association with FAO stretches over almost 20 years, from the time you first attended an FAO Regional Conference for Africa in 1962.
In that time you not only distinguished yourself as a meritorious delegate, but rapidly assumed a number of important functions for this Council.
You joined the Programme Committee in 1971, becoming its Vice-Chairman in 1973.
You were the first Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.
I do not even attempt to enumerate all the responsibilities which you concurrently exercise outside the framework of FAO, from which you have constantly brought a wider vision and a more enriched experience for our benefit.
As Independent Chairman of the FAO Council over the last four years, your wisdom, tact, discretion and competence are well-known.
You have visibly earned the respect of all delegations.
My colleagues and I have valued your counsel and ready collaboration.
For me personally, our association is without compare.
Our respective functions call for the closest association.
It is a reflection of the perfect blending of our association that the last four years have represented: for me a period of the most complete mutual respect and a sense of mutual confidence.
I have indeed been fortunate.
I wish to pay tribute, Sir, to your many qualities, which all of us have learned to appreciate and of which I am particularly aware.
I wish on behalf of the Organization, my colleagues and myself, to record our gratitude for the eminent services that you have rendered to the Organization.
We trust that you will always consider yourself a son of FAO, from whose continued achievements and excellence FAO may further benefit.
Applause
Applaudissements
Aplausos
EI PRESIDENTE: Agradecemos mucho al Director General estas hermosas palabras que todos compartimos.
Señoras. y señores: como es la tradición en ceremonias como ésta, ruego encarecidamente a los miembros del Consejo que se mantengan en sus respectivos asientos y los que deseen hacer uso de la palabra en nomenaje al señor Bukar Shaib lo hagan durante la Conferencia que comenzará dentro de muy pocos días y en ocasión de la toma de posesión del nuevo Presidente independiente del Consejo.
Quiero ahora, en nombre de los miembros del Consejo, dirigir unas breves palabras al señor Presidente.
Señor Presidente independiente del Consejo de la FAO, querido hermano Bukar: sabemos que su hoja de servicios trabajando por el avance de la ganadería, de la agricultura y del desarrollo de su país se inició al principio de los años 50 trabajando como veterinario y luchando contra enfermedades epizoóticas en rebaños nómadas. Una historia de servicios que comienza en la propia base, sobre el terreno, en el campo, donde surgen las más ricas y valiosas experiencias, diríamos, que es una escuela que vale para siempre, y así lo prueba la historia posterior de su carrera como Administrador de una de las zonas ganaderas más importantes de Nigeria.
Esas experiencias obtenidas sobre el terreno seguramente fueron firme punto de apoyo para las tareas que ya a escala nacional le encomendó el Ministerio Federal de Agricultura y Recursos Naturales de su país; es decir, que se trata de un profundo conocedor de la problemática del campo nigeriano a cuyo desarrollo técnico, económico y social ha contribuido mucho.
Sus aportes en el desarrollo de la ciencia veterinaria en su país, y en particular en lo referente a la investigación agrícola, son dignos de destacar, incluyendo sus trabajos en la universidad de Ahmadu Bello.
En la esfera internacional, ya con su vasta experiencia nacional, ha contribuido en congresos mundiales de veterinaria, en varias conferencias regionales para Africa y en las conferencias bienales de la FAO.
En la sede de esta Organización su experiencia también ha sido valiosa; sus contribuciones en este Consejo y en el Comité del Programa como representante de Nigeria alcanzan su punto más alto con sus éxitos como Presidente independiente del Consejo.
Todo ello es un hermoso ejemplo de lo que ha sido capaz un genuino hijo del pueblo nigeriano y africano en su afán por lograr los objetivos de la FAO.
Señor Presidente, usted ha sabido ser imparcial y firme en cada ocasión, eso no lo duda nadie, pero también ha sabido ser decidido cuando se trata de alcanzar los objetivos por acabar con el hambre y la miseria de la faz de la tierra.
Para todos los miembros del Consejo, y en particular para el Grupo de los Setenta y Siete, es motivo de orgullo y satisfacción haber tenido durante cuatro años un Presidente que con tanta sabiduría, paciencia, facultad de escuchar a todos ha sabido dirigir con tanto acierto nuestro trabajo. Su dedicación, su entrega a esta tarea son un ejemplo para todos nosotros. Sabemos que los frutos de su trabajo fortalecen su profundo ideal por alcanzar un mundo más justo, sin miseria, sin hambre, con paz para todos, por lograr el nuevo orden económico internacional.
Les deseamos muchos éxitos futuros y le agradecemos muy sinceramente todos sus esfuerzos y trabajos como Presidente independiente del Consejo. Muchas gracias.
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DIRECTOR-GENERAL (original language Arabic): I would like to invite Dr. Bukar Shaib, the Independant Chairman of the Council, to accompany me, so that together we may unveil his portrait.
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EL PRESIDENTE: Señores delegados: tengo el honor de pasar la palabra al Sr. Presidente, Bukar Shaib.
B. SHAIB (Independent Chairman of the Council): Mr. Chairman, Director-General, Colleagues: I would like to thank all of you this morning for the great honour done to me. This I think is the proudest moment of my career in FAO when the Organization, through the person of the Director-General, has done me the honour of having my portrait in the gallery.
Now, I was expecting the Director-General to do what Dr. Boerma did once, at which there was a lot of laughter. Dr. Boerma, who was then the Director-General, when he was going to unveil the portrait of Professor Cépède said to him: "Now, Professor Cépède, let's go and see you hanging". My portrait is hanging there, and I am very grateful that it will be here for future members as well as yourselves to see.
My association with this Council really started in 1969 when I first came to represent Nigeria as a delegate. At that time I met many delegates, and I was struck, most impressed by three people whom I thought one day would become either Chairmen of Council or something for which they will be greatly remembered. These are Dr. Ralph Phillips, who was then representing the United States. He impressed me with his very calm, methodical way in his debates. He never gets ruffled or excited, and he gave us in the Council then some sort of stability, a reference point that we could always look up to. That impressed me very much, and I decided I would probably try and do the same thing.
The second person is Mr. Edward West. He was then representing the United Kingdom as a delegate. Mr. West, when the situation is tense -- in those days they were tense more than now -- always had a good sense of humour and he always told us stories which made everybody laugh and relax. That too I thought was a very wonderful quality which impressed me very much, and I thought I would try and emulate.
The third person is Mr. Gonzalo Bula-Hoyos. He was then a firebrand speaker, standard bearer of the oppressed developing countries, and at that time I also decided to join him. so I had three people from whom I tried to copy something. Now I must hurry up to say that Councils, with age and responsibility, have mellowed him very much, so the old fiery speeches are no longer so fiery.
There are many others who deserve to have their protraits up there. I am lucky.
Now I would like to thank my own country, Nigeria. I am very proud for my country for giving me the opportunity to come here to serve the Council. Then when the time came for Africa to provide a candidate for Independent Chairman of the Council, the African group, the African region chose me, and I am most grateful to the African region for giving me the opportunity to serve Africa, and I am very proud that I have done what I could to uphold the tradition of Africa, which is peace, conciliation, dialogue and never violence.
Then I would like to thank the whole of the FAO membership, because when it came to the time of electing me, I think there were only one or two votes against, which was very democratic, and so I have been able to serve you for the past four years. I have interacted with many people, with the Chairmen of our main committees, with the Secretariat; above all I have the greatest cooperation, respect, mutual understanding with the Director-General, who has made my own work much easier because there are times we disagree on certain issues on which he strongly feels, and then he will say, "All right, you are the Independent Chairman, do it your own way". This is something which made my own work easier, because there is no antagonism and the Director-General cooperated with me and assisted me in what I am doing. If I knew something was wrong, I told him and he accepted it, and you in Council have been very patient with me because I did the same thing to you. If I thought that a Member or Members are not doing the
right thing, I said so and they accepted it, and for that I am very grateful. I have no doubt that the Director-General will continue to lead this Organization, to lead his colleagues in the Secretariat and also to work with this Council in the years to come in the way he did with me.
As for me, I have finished my work in FAO. I have other things to do. But whenever the occasion arises, I will be very, very glad indeed to serve this Organization in any capacity.
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EL PRESIDENTE: Una vez mas, pero ahora desde lo alto, decimos, muchas gracias, Señor Presidente.
De esta manera concluye esta hermosa e inolvidable ceremonia.
The meeting rose at 13.20 hours
La séance est levée a 13 h 20
Se levanta la sesión a las 13.20 horas
