CHAIRMAN: You all have the documentation referred to in the Order of the Day. I suggest that we take these two items together. They have been gone into in great detail by both the Programme Committee and the Finance Committee, so I will give the floor first to Professor Trkulja, Chairman of the Programme Committee, and then to Mr. Abeyagoonasekera, Chairman of the Finance Committee. They will introduce these two papers and then we will have a joint discussion. I now give the floor to Professor Trkulja, Chairman of the Programme Committee, to which Madame Fenwick has rightly paid high tribute this morning.
M. TRKULJA (Chairman, Programme Committee): It was nice music for our ears but I think a number of Council members, and especially Madame Fenwick, rather exaggerated our roles, and particularly my own.
I could not help but recall the words of the late Sir Winston Churchill when the Tory Party lost the first elections after the war. His close associates suggested that the Tories should oppose constructively in the Parliament. After listening for a while he said, "Nonsense, the business of the Opposition is to oppose and to oppose as strongly as possible". The very nature of our business in the Programme Committee is to put on very heavy glasses and try to see defects, even small defects, in the documents prepared by FAO, especially those which are related to the future work. You have to blame the Director-General and his close colleagues for giving us too little to satisfy our very natural instincts. But here again I have only words of praise to use on behalf of the Programme Committee with regard to the Review of the Regular Programme. We consider that the document was one of the pillar components of the whole process of monitoring, as fully approved by the Conference four years ago. It is the view of the Committee that this represents a treasury of information and analysis that should be fully used by member governments and in particular by the Programme Committee, not necessarily only in connexion with the Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium but in future biennia as well. The Programme Committee stresses that it should make full use of the document in the next biennium and especially in reviewing that exercise.
We value the output and impact and the issues and outlook parts of the Regular Programme Review. In all frankness we felt that the document represented a very appreciable improvement as compared with the last one. Indeed it fully follows the suggestions made by the governing bodies. We felt that a proper balance was already reached between general systematic review, which now occupies only one-third in quantitative terms and that, as we strongly urge FAO, two-thirds are now devoted to the in-depth review evaluation of the level of subprogrammes and even below that level. We have been using the phrase 'programme elements'. It is not that strictly speaking, but anyhow it is below the subprogramme level. We recommend to the Council that this balance between systematic and in-depth reviews should be maintained in the future. We especially complimented Mr. Shah and his colleagues for being able to shorten appreciably the general part of the systematic review without visible loss in content.
Needless to say, the Programme Committee particularly welcomed in-depth reviews of subprogrammes and, as especially emphasized, below subprogramme levels. I am referring here to four activities which were analyzed in depth below subprogramme level.
With regard to the future content of the Review of the Regular Programme, we suggested that the research activities across the board might be a suitable topic for examination in the future. We found - and this is the last point on the format and presentation - the summary attached at the end of the document very useful but we felt it could perhaps be a bit extended and placed at the beginning of the document. We emphasized a number of detailed review activities. I will not go into details because there will be much more time next week in the Conference to discuss details.
Lastly, on the Review of the Regular Programme we welcome very much the review of selected regional office activities, support from the Regional Offices. However, we felt that in the future such reviews should be much more specific and describe in detail the role of the Regional Offices in supporting first of all the regional activities of FAO. In our view it must be done in much more concrete terms showing quite clearly interrelationships between regional, headquarters' and country level support.
Coming to the Review of Field Programmes, we again felt that to say the least the already high standard of quality was maintained. The programme of extrabudgetary resources will be discussed on all occasions and in particular with the Programme of Work and Budget document itself. But the Programme Committee felt that the Review of Field Programmes was the best possibility to go into details with regard to the extra-budgetary resources and in particular the problem of UNDP funded activities. I do not need to be very specific at this juncture because I think the UNDP resources is quite well known to Council members. Instead of the increase as agreed in the governing council of 40 percent annually we have been faced for quite some time now with a quite substantial decrease in UNDP resources, even in monetary terms.
In that regard we also stressed the role of TCP, in particular the role of TCP in compensating some negative impacts that would have been otherwise inevitable with regard to the sharp downward turn in UNDP resources.
The members of the Committee commend very much the objectivity and frankness of the chapter on field project assessments and in particular we stressed the essential role that the FAO Representatives should play in that process. We also give a word of caution with regard to the potential future impact of the FAO Representatives' role in assessing as objectively as possible field projects.
The Committee very much emphasized the need for greater flexibility in both design and implementation of projects.
On Food Security I will not go into any detail because that is a topic that will be discussed by the Conference and was already discussed at the CFS and the Council.
Finally, in the last past of the Review, the one that dealt with new dimensions or new frontiers as some might prefer to say, we are fully aware that FAO has been traditionally in the forefront in the UN system in applying agreed basic policy guidelines, and indeed the members of the Committee expressed their satisfaction with the progress already made and urged the Director-General to pursue the same line in the future.
Training was particularly emphasized and the need to involve as closely as possible national institutions of developing countries.
It has been a traditional point in the Programme Committee to urge FAO to increase all possible assistance to TCDC and ECDC activities and we regard it as a very important catalytic role in that regard.
D.H.J. ABEYAGOONASEKERA (Chairman, Finance Committee): In the Committee's assessment of FAO's Review of the Regular Programme and Review of Field Programmes for 1982-83 it was noted that both presentations besides being informative and analytical contained several improvements in their documentation. It noted with appreciation the in-depth analysis of topics, particularly the programmes which are being implemented by the Regional Offices. The Committee noted that the full impact of the field programmes depended on the availability of extra-budgetary resources. Concern was expressed in regard to the declining resources of the UNDP, which is a major source of extra-budgetary funding for the Programme of the FAO. As against this decline the Committee will count the increase that had taken place in Trust Fund activities. The Committee repeated its support for the Technical Cooperation Programme of the FAO, the special workload currently being handled by the Investment Centre, and felt that more use could be made of the Investment Centre by funding agencies in future.
The Committee also emphasized the key role played by FAO Representatives in their assessment of field projects and generally felt that they had a major role to play.
For the Committees' comments on both reports, I would refer your attention to paragraphs 3.89, 3.90 and paras 3.91 to 3.96.
CHAIRMAN: Now, both these items are open for discussion. I would like to take down the names of members of the Council who would like to make contributions. No volunteers? We have time, so if there is anyone - Lesotho has the floor.
S.J. KAO (Lesotho): Once more thank you, Mr. Chairman. I only want to make a brief comment on this item of the agenda. My delegation once more wishes to reiterate its support of the Director-General's proposal to set up the Food Security Action Programme within FAO with the proposed terms of reference as described in para. 3.18 on page 63 of document C 83/4.
There is no doubt that FAO activities therein are doing good work, but to consolidate and coordinate their efforts will be so much better. Food security will be achieved only by the efforts of the peasant farming community of a given nation. National and international efforts can only be supportive. To this end the assistance "in formulation of national Food Security Programmes" is seen as the first most positive step that can be taken by an outside body in this regard. The second is assistance in implementing that programme in the strategy commensurate with the capacity of the farming community of the specific country. To this end, financial support today to a food security action programme is called for.
CHAIRMAN: Any other comments or intervention? Otherwise we thank the Chairmen and members of the Programme and Finance Committees for going into the documents in detail.
G. BULA HOYOS (Colombia): En primer lugar, sobre el tema 10, la delegación de Colombia considera que este tercer examen que se nos presenta ahora, refleja muy bien las necesidades y las prioridades que hemos venido definiendo a través de los órganos rectores, los representantes de los gobiernos y que, como lo ha dicho el Sr. Trkulja, Presidente del Comité del Programa, la mejora que se ha introducido en la estructura del examen es muy bien recibida.
En el párrafo 2.167 del informe del Comité del Programa, encontramos muy adecuada la referencia a algunos aspectos sobresalientes e importantes, pero desafortunadamente, al igual que lo afirmaran los Presidentes del Comité de Finanzas, el Comité del Programa, pone de presente que es necesario reconocer con preocupación que esas y otras actividades dependerán de los recursos extrapresupues-tarios a cuya disminución vamos a referirnos en el tema 11 siguiente.
En relación con el examen del Programa Ordinario, queremos referirnos al capítulo 10, a las actividades seleccionadas en las Oficinas Regionales Creemos que es muy acertada esa participación de las Oficinas Regionales en los programas con el apoyo técnico de la Sede porque esa acción conjunta conforma la integración entre el Programa Ordinario y el Programa de Campo, integración que hemos venido propugnando siempre.
Sin embargo, nos llama un poco la atención el párrafo 2.169 en relación con la afirmación de que el Comité estimó que en el futuro deberían indicarse más explícitamente las contribuciones específicas de las Oficinas Regionales; afirmación ésta que fue reiterada por el Sr. Trkulja. No sabemos si se trata de una crítica a esa acción conjunta de las Oficinas Regionales, porque suponemos que ya en el Comité del Programa, los funcionarios de la Organización debieron dar las explicaciones necesarias sobre esta forma más explícita cómo participan las Oficinas Regionales en la planificación y ejecución de esos programas. Ojalá el Sr. Trkulja nos ampliara, si es posible, el alcance de esa afirmación del Comité del Programa que, si fuese negativa, nosotros lo lamentaríamos porque consideramos importante que continúe esa acción integrada de las Oficinas Regionales y la Sede, y que las Oficinas Regionales sigan apoyando a los representantes de la FAO en los países.
Sobre el tema 11, queremos apoyar las recomendaciones que hacen ambos Comités, Comité del Programa y Comité de Finanzas, sobre la necesidad y conveniencia de que se haga cada vez más, mayor uso del personal nacional en los proyectos, e inclusive, que se designe a nacionales de los países directores de proyectos. Creemos que esto es importante y que tiene significación en la preparación y en la capacitación del personal nacional de los países en desarrollo.
Sobre el tema 11, queremos limitar nuestras observaciones ahora a los recursos del PNUD, a la disminución de los recursos del PNUD. Esto lo señala el Comité del Programa en el párrafo 2.171, y también lo reitera el Comité de Finanzas en el párrafo 3.92, con la aclaración adecuada del Comité de Finanzas de que no sólo están disminuyendo en su totalidad los recursos del PNUD, sino que igualmente están decreciendo las asignaciones a cargo de la FAO como principal agencia de ejecución del PNUD.
Creemos que, sin duda, esto hace parte de lo que habíamos dicho ayer acerca de la tendencia que existe en la comunidad internacional en contra de la asistencia multilateral. Creemos que, como lo dijo el Sr. Trkulja, existe esa tendencia que es desafortunada, como la llamó el Sr. Trkulja. Nosotros creemos que esa tendencia es indiscutible, que es notoria, que es lamentable y que es creciente. Pensamos que este Consejo, que es el organismo eminentemente político de la FAO, ante la existencia de esa tendencia que es incontrovertida, tiene la obligación de expresar en su informe, y así lo proponemos formalmente, la preocupación que nos causa esa tendencia contra la asistencia multilateral que la desplaza en favor de la asistencia bilateral, a través de la cual se pueden escoger los países beneficiarios con criterios discriminatorios, y por lo tanto, produce dividendos políticos. Creemos que corresponde a nosotros señalar la seria preocupación porque esa situación no puede seguir de manera incontrolada.
W. MAJOR (Canada): I think perhaps this Council would be derelict in its duty if it did not recognize specifically that these are informative, analytical and constructive Reports. The reviews have become progressively more results-oriented, and documented evidence of progress and success is always welcome. This can only have a positive effect on the formulation of objectives of future programmes. The Director-General refers in his introduction to the importance of a continuous process of assessment leading to the progressive improvement of the Organization's work.
Finally, we have also taken good note of the comments of the Chairman of the Programme Committee on the room for improvement in reporting for the Regional Offices.
CHAIRMAN: I am sure Council members will fully endorse what you said about the quality of the documentation and its utility. I am glad you pointed it out.
M. TRKULJA (Chairman, Programme Committee): Mr. Chairman, you certainly recall that years ago after very extensive debate the Council fully agreed to ask the Secretariat to insert the next Review of the Field Programme apart which would then go into detail explaining the role of the Regional Offices in selected activities of FAO. We did not ask for a systematic review. It would not be possible in a document of even double the size of this one, but we encouraged the Secretariat to go into detail and show clearly in one sample of programmes and sub-programmes what support was provided through Regional Offices and how it was interrelated with the overall attempts and efforts of FAO, I mean first of all from headquarters, and indeed here you see four and in fact five activities of the Regional Offices, and the description is very, very comprehensive and very good in general, but you can find really very little reference to the Regional Offices and their role and their support and their inputs provided by the Regional Offices in that regard. So that is the only reason.
Of course, in our debate, the Committee really gave us a lot of information, so we realize that in all these five activities, the Regional Offices played quite a role and that the distribution of efforts between regions and headquarters was a very pertinent one, but still, we encourage FAO to be much more specific in the future and give us many more details with regard to the role of the Regional Offices especially as far as regional activities are concerned. That is what we actually recommended the Council tö pay attention to.
D.H.J. ABEYAGOONASEKERA (Chairman, Finance Committee): I would wish to recall the attention of the Council to the procedure we followed in the last Council where the Chairman was expected to give a brief review on all items connected with the Financial Report, and if you do not mind I will touch on Item 12, sub-items 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4 and 12.5 so that all aspects will be covered in the introduction I will be making.
Mr Chairman, under Financial Matters, particularly regarding the position of the Organization relating to financial matters, your attention is drawn to paragraphs 3.16 to 3.20 in our Report and to the LIM document CL 84/LIM/1 which has been circulated today which gives the latest financial position of the Organization. Since we last met there have been a few national payments so that the Secretariat would, I think, update the information over and above what has been given in the LIM document. However, you will note from paragraph 4 of the LIM document that 75.15 percent of the assessments for 1983 had been received by October this year. The situation, although it is better than the situation prevailing during the same month for the years 1980 and 1981, is still below the level achieved in 1980.
Now as to the position of respective Member Nations on the payment of their contributions, your attention is drawn to paragraph 5 of the LIM document. Any improvements regarding payments, partial payments, as I mentioned earlier, would be reported to by the Secretariat when this item is taken up for discussion again.
The situation regarding the payment of contributions is also tied up with the voting rights problem. Regarding voting rights problems, the situation as reported to the Council at the June session this year, remains unchanged with nine Member Nations facing the possibility of losing voting rights at the Conference. The Committee has repeated its recommendations to the Council that it appeals to all Member Nations with outstanding arrears to make every effort to pay their overdue instalments without delay. In this connection, Mr. Chairman, your attention is drawn to paragraphs 3.21 to 3.24 of the Committee's Report.
Under Item 12.2 we discussed the question of Headquarters accommodation.Here I wish to just stress three aspects of the Headquarters accommodation problem. Firstly, there has been some progress which has been made regarding the construction of the 70 rooms on top of Building D, and the Committee has suggested ways of expediting work to enable completion of the work by 1985. The second aspect is that no progress at all has been recorded regarding the new wing to be constructed adjacent to Building C. Thirdly, no meeting has taken place as yet between the President of the Council of Ministers of the Government of Italy, the host country, and the Working Party which had been appointed by the Conference. We have once again stressed the need for the Director-General to intensify his efforts to make this meeting a reality. If there had been any further progress beyond what I have reported now, I think the Secretariat would report the current position.
Now as regards Item 12.3, an important item which was discussed by the Committee under Financial Matters again, relates to the Compensation Plan Reserve Fund. This has been referred to under "Actuarial Review of Compensation Plan Reserve Fund" under Item 12.3. The Committee was informed of the recommendations made by the Actuary who examined the situation of the Fund as at 31st December 1982. The fund had shown a deficit in funds resulting from a higher draw-off of payments. Taking into consideration the views of the Actuary, the Director-General has recommended to the Committee a proposal for an increase in the funding rate on an interim basis in respect of the payroll for field staff and Headquarters staff. The Committee agreed with the proposals and recommends to the Council its proposal.
The Committee also recommends to Council that an actuarial review in full be carried out every two years instead of four years as at present. For the Committee's views on this aspect your attention is drawn to paragraphs 3.43 to 3.49 in our Report.
Under Item 12.4, the item listed here is "Allowances for the Chairman of the Appeals Committee". The documents which are listed are given here under brackets. Here of course there are two aspects really, and I would like to draw your attention to paragraphs 3.53 to 3.65 where the Council's approval is sought for the following: (a) to amend FAO's staff regulations in order to accommodate the change in the Education Grant recommended by the International Civil Service Commission which is expected to be approved by the United Nations General Assembly. The Council's approval to implement these recommendations is necessary; (b) to increase the yearly allowance of the Chairman of the Appeals Committee in addition to the payment of travel costs, which are paid once per year.
Going on to Item 12.5 in our Agenda, the Council's attention is drawn to paragraphs 3.97 to 3.99 in our Report concerning proposals made by the panel of External Auditors of the United Nations and specialized agencies when they reviewed the Additional Terms of Reference at its meetings held in 1981 and 1982. The panel considered that the present External Audit Certificates should be amended to reflect modern auditing standards and harmonize practices within the UN system. Accordingly it proposed certain amendments to the Additional Terms of Reference governing External Audit which is annexed to the Financial Regulations. The Finance Committee reviewed these proposals and was able to endorse them. Your attention is drawn to the document, particularly to Appendix C, where the changes are given for your information.
Since our meeting in September I have been informed that these proposals were discussed in the Fifth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. That Committee could also support the proposals. However, it felt that two additional sentences should be inserted in paragraph 5 to reflect the scope of the Audit. They also considered that as the intention of paragraph 5 was to allow auditors to cover either some or all of the four subjects in individual opinions, this would be more clearly reflected by the insertion of, and I quote within brackets "(as appropriate)" in the third line of paragraph 5. These proposals were discussed with the External Auditor of FAO who agrees that they are an improvement.
If the Council agrees, the proposed amendments at the beginning of paragraph 5 of the Additional . Terms of Reference governing the External Audit as outlined in Appendix C of document CL 84/4 would read as follows - "The External Auditor shall express and sign an opinion on the financial statements in the following terms:("I have examined the following appended financial statements, numbered to----, properly identified, and relevant schedules of the Organization for the financial period ended 31 December 19…. My examination included a general review of the accounting procedures and such tests of the accounting records and other supporting evidence as I considered necessary in the circumstances") and which states, as appropriate, ….." The draft resolution for submission to the Conference along these lines will be included in the Council Report.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, I wish to refer to a discussion and a division which took place in the joint session of the Programme Committee and the Finance Committee which relates to the biennial award made by this Organization under the A.H. Boerma and B.R. Sen Awards. The latter, the B.R. Sen Award, in recognition of the high quality work done by the FAO staff in research and extension, and the former, that is the A.H. Boerma Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in the form of publication, documentary films by individuals and organizations on subject matters "likely to increase public interest in and support for measures leading to solutions of the world food problem".
Since the members of the Selection Board who have approved these Awards, including you, Mr. Chairman, and the two Chairmen of the Committees, felt that there was a big disparity in the amount allocated to the two Awards, in order to narrow the gap they recommended the level of the B.R. Sen Award be increased to $ 5000 from its present level of $3000. The Committee was able to give its unanimous agreement to this proposal which was also endorsed by the Programme and Finance Committees as reported in the Joint Session Report. Now this touches on the aspects of the items which have been listed under Item 12.
Before I conclude, Mr. Chairman, I would wish to convey to you our deep appreciation of the assistance and cooperation extended to the Committee by the Director-General and the Secretariat during the four sessions held during the biennium. This enabled us to examine, review and understand to a great extent the intricacies of the many issues facing fhe financial, administrative and management problems of this institution. In the perfomance of our task we hope sincerely Mr. Chairman, that we have been able to fulfil our mandate to the satisfaction of the distinguished members of this Council.
D.K. CROWTHER (Assistant Director-General, Administration and Finance Department): First let me say with regard to the contributions that it is the responsibility of each Member Nation to make payments of their contributions within 30 days after receipt of the communication from the Director-General which usually occurs in January of each year. In the LIM document that you have before you, as you will have already observed, the status of contributions at the 31st October 1983 was
significantly improved against the same date of 1982. However, 1982 was the worst record for receipt of contributions in the history of the Organization so that it is not that good a comparison. On the other hand as at the 31st October more than $51 million remained outstanding from some 73 Member Nations. This figure represents almost one-third of the budgeted contribution income for 1983.
I would also like to point out, Mr. Chairman, that the overall position of Member Nation payments as at the end of October is detailed in paragraph 5 of the LIM document and it has deteriorated as compared with the same date in 1981, the previous Conference year. 39 Member Nations had made no payment against their 1983 assessment, while only 79 had paid their 1983 assesments in full. The Member Nations with arrears outstanding has doubled over the last two years from 22 to 44. We have been receiving a number of payments during the last few days and we would like to update the information provided to you in the LIM document. I have been informed that the third largest contributor, the Federal Republic of Germany, has remitted payment in full of its 1983 assessment. An amount of $182 063 has also been received from the Government of Israel to be applied against its outstanding arrears for 1982.
In addition $1 260 904 has been received from India representing payment in full of the balance of its 1983 contribution.
Bulgaria has remitted $170 010.50 representing payment in full of the balance of contribution for 1983; and in addition $124 989.50 has been paid by Nigeria, representing partial payment of its 1983 assessment.
Libya has paid $388 532 against its outstanding arrears. Despite our efforts to collect outstanding contributions from the nine member nations in danger of losing their voting rights at this session of the Conference, as noted in paragraph 6 of the LIM document, no amounts have been received from those nine member nations to date.
Finally, I would take the opportunity to draw your attention to appendix A of the LIM document which sets out the contribution positions of all Member Nations at 31 October 1983.
I would also like to update the information that is shown there by saying that on the 1983 line, instead of 79 Member Nations having paid in full, there are now 82 Member Nations that have paid in full. In addition, there are only 33 that have part payment assessments and there are now only 37 that have made no payment, for a total of 152 Member Nations. Also it reduces the number in arrears from 44 to 43, based on the payments that I have just listed, so the payments we have received in the last few days have certainly assisted greatly. And that is the latest information we have.
CHAI?vMAN: I hope this trend will continue in the next week or so, so that we will have a better picture to give when the Conference meets. We will take up all these points for discussion together and I give the floor to the Ambassador of Italy on the headquarters accommodation.
M. FRANCISCI di BASCHI (Italie): Je vous remercie M. le Président de m'voir donné la parole sur ce thème traditionnel pour la délégation italienne. J'ai lu le rapport, le document CL 84/4, précisément les paragraphes de 369 à 375. La situation qui est décrite ici est exacte. A mon avis elle est un peu plus positive, dans le sens que nous pouvons considérer que toutes les procédures pour la construction du huitième étage ont été expédiées avec succès, et que nous sommes maintenant à la phase de l'offre pour l'exécution des travaux. J'estime donc qu'on pourrait être aussi un peu plus optimiste sur la date d'achèvement de ces travaux et je pense que si tout va bien, comme je l'espère, le huitième étage pourrait être terminé vers la moitié de 1985.
Quant à la nouvelle aile qui doit être construite auprès des autres bâtiments principaux de la FAO, je pense qu'il y a également eu des progrès dans le sens qu'on a été à même de trouver le financement pour le développement des fouilles. Elles se sont effectivement développées d'une façon, à mon avis, impressionnante, puisqu'on a fait des fouilles jusqu'à 8 mètres. Je ne suis pas à même de vous donner le résultat de ces fouilles, mais je pense qu'avant la fin de l'année la Direction de l'archéologie de la ville de Rome sera à même de nous donner un premier avis sur la possibilité de construire cette nouvelle aile.
Je peux donner deux autres nouvelles au Conseil, dans le sens que la délégation italienne a adressé au Directeur général, M. Saouma, une lettre contenant la composition de la délégation italienne qui devrait négocier l'interprétation et l'application de l'accord de siège. Nous sommes donc prêts à commencer les négociations, même à partir d'aujourd'hui, et nous sommes dans l'attente d'une réponse du Directeur général sur la nomination de la part de l'Organisation d'une délégation pour faire démarrer les négociations.
D'autre part, je pense également important de mentionner que le Directeur général a eu une rencontre avec notre Ministre des Affaires étrangères le 13 octobre, et que tous les arguments décrits dans ce rapport ont été traités par M. Saouma et M. Andreotti. Je pense que s'ils le veulent bien il appartient à M. Saouma et à M. West de parler des résultats et des perspectives de cette rencontre. Ce serait plus correct
J'ajouterai une proposition. Considérant que ces négociations pour l'interprétation et l'application de l'accord relatif au siège sont appelées à commencer dans un avenir très proche, je me demande si cet argument relatif au problème logistique du siège ne pourrait pas être transféré à la compétence du Comité juridique qui s'occupe déjà du problème des immunités. Je laisse au Conseil le soin de considérer cette proposition qui me semble logique et fonctionnelle.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: I thank the distinguished delegate of the host country for his statement. I do not think it would be proper for me to give you an account of the interview which the Director-General and I had with the Minister of Foreign Affairs; I think the Director-General might prefer to do that himself. I would only stress that the Director-General did raise with Sig. Andreotti various problems and in particular the fact that the Committee appointed by the Conference has not yet been given the opportunity to meet with the Foreign Minister or Prime Minister about the accommodation problem. I could not go further than say that Sig. Andreotti indicated sympathetic interest.
The Director-General made one positive proposal to which the Minister seemed to agree, for monitoring the results of the meetings which we hope will soon begin to take place with the delegation mentioned by the distinguished delegate, and we shall see if and how that happens, and report to you in due course. But the basic problems remain, as reported by the Chairman of the Finance Committee, so I think it is right that the Council should take note of that situation.
As regards the suggestion just made, the word in English 'logistics' does not seem to be far away from legalistics but I do not think it is within the terms of reference of the CCLM to consider logist ics. I think it is more within the mandate of the Committee where it is being dealt with at the moment, the Finance Committee which, although it is called the Finance Committee, in fact does review all the administrative problems of FAO.
So I will try to convince the Italian Ambassador of this outside the room; I do not think it need figure in our discussions here.
A.G. GEORGIADIS (Director, Administrative Services Division): Just to supplement this information on the latest developments regarding headquarters accommodation only, not the headquarters agreement, as we see it from our side, from the FAO side. But before I give any information on these latest developments, may I take this opportunity to highlight, for the benefit of the Council, some aspects of the problem which we repeated here before, but it is advantageous, we think.
As the Director-General announced in the past this is a major crisis afflicting the Organization, one which requires persistent efforts with a view to arriving at a permanent solution; and that permanent solution can only be the bringing together of all headquarters units in one location.
Despite a practically zero growth in headquarters staff in recent bienna and again in the next biennium, total office space is not adequate and it will almost certainly be necessary to rent additional space when major repairs will have to be undertaken in the prefabricated Building E. In addition we were obliged to request the World Food Council which is occupying more than 20 rooms in this building to vacate that space because of the current needs of the Organization.
The construction of 70 rooms on the 8th floor of Building D would provide some relief and this would be very welcome but it cannot constitute a permanent solution to the problem, since these rooms would represent a space required for less than 1 percent of the total staff. Therefore the only permanent solution consists in the construction of a new wing adjacent to the main buildings. The host government has kindly arranged for the first step in this direction and that is requesting the clearance of the Department of Archeology. To obtain that clearance, archeological excavations had been initiated in the area in September of last year, 1982, initially at the expense of the Organization and later continued under the financing of the Department of Archeology itself. Excavation progressed even more than what the delegate of Italy announced: they went down to 10 metres depth but that had just been suspended, only on 31 October, and there is uncertainty therefore as to what the Department's opinion will be and whether that opinion will be given by the end of December next, as originally announced. We shall keep you informed.
Regarding the latest developments on the construction of the 70 rooms on Building D, the Director-General's request for the adoption of the urgency procedure in the process of awarding the contracts is currently under consideration, as the Ambassador has kindly said, and a decision is expected sometime this month.
Finally, to give some additional information on this working party appointed by the Conference, it will be recalled that on the recommendation of the Council at its 80th Session in November 1981, a working party was appointed by the Conference in that same year, made up of seven Member Nations representing all FAO regions, with a view to meeting with the Italian authorities at the highest level and requesting the adoption of measures leading to a permanent solution to the accommodation problem. The relevant Conference Resolution requests that the working party should report to the Council and Conference, but the working party has not yet been able to meet with the President of the Council of Ministers. As Mr West has said, the Director-General has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on this subject and submitted to him an aidemémoire. In addition he drew the attention of the Minister, when this was discussed at the last meeting he had with him a few weeks ago.
These are the latest developments which the Director-General would like to report.
J. TCHICAYA (Congo): La delegation de mon pays voudrait féliciter le président du Comité financier pour la présentation brillante qu'il nous a faite des points soumis à l'ordre du jour.
Nous n'avons pas grand-chose à dire en ce qui concerne le point 12.1, étant entendu que le Congo figure parmi les pays qui se sont complètement acquittés de leurs obligations, et notre voeu est de voir les autres pays en faire autant, surtout ceux qui en ont les moyens.
Pour en venir au point 2, je voudrais rappeler que le Congo figure parmi les sept pays membres de notre Organisation qui avaient été désignés par la Conférence pour faire partie du groupe chargé de régler avec le gouvernement hôte les problèmes liés aux locaux de notre Organisation. Pendant deux ans nous avons vainement attendu la rencontre prévue dans le cadre de la résolution de la Conférence. Nous avons noté dans ce rapport les efforts faits jusqu'ici par le Directeur général pour tenter d'amener le gouvernement hôte à recevoir la délégation telle qu'elle avait été composée par notre Conférence, mais nous sommes un peu déçus de constater que, de l'autre côté, aucun signe apparent ne nous indique que le gouvernement hôte est disposé à recevoir cette délégation. Comme vous le savez, les sept pays qui avaient été désignés pendant la Conférence appartiennent pour la plupart aux différentes régions, et nous avons, à ce niveau, des comptes à rendre à nos régions respectives. Sur cette affaire que nous ne suivons pas personnellement nous avons été informés d'une lettre que le Directeur général avait écrite pour demander justement cette rencontre avec le Président du Conseil italien, ensuite nous n'avons pas eu de documents concernant l'évolution de cette affaire; nous sommes informés comme tout le monde au niveau du Conseil de son évolution. Nous pensons pour notre part que les membres de ce comité devraient être tenus au courant avant même que le Conseil soit saisi de l'évolution de l'affaire, et nous déplorons que les informations n'aient pas circulé correctement entre le Directeur général et nous-mêmes.
Nous savons, à travers le document qui nous est présenté, que le Directeur général a fait tous les efforts pour obtenir cette rencontre. Mais je pense que le Conseil qui a tous pouvoirs en l'absence de la Conférence pendant l'intersession, devra réitérer. La Conférence se tient dans quelques jours. Si aujourd'hui aucune note ne nous indique que le Président du Conseil italien va nous recevoir, nous sommes certains d'aller devant la Conférence avec un résultat négatif.
Nous pensons que le Conseil doit pouvoir dégager toutes les responsabilités et les attribuer entièrement au Gouvernement italien. Nous voulons aller devant la Conférence avec la certitude d'avoir tenté d'accomplir la mission qui nous a été confiée, mais on ne nous a pas mis dans les conditions de pouvoir l'accomplir correctement.
G. BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Al igual que el Congo, Colombia es uno de los paises elegidos por la Conferencia pasada como miembro del grupo de trabajo que debía entrevistarse con las altas autoridades italianas. Por ello, creemos compartir plenamente lo que ha dicho nuestro distinguido colega, amigo y vecino del Congo. En realidad, en esta ocasión, el Congo ya no es nuestro vecino; ha sido una influencia del subconsciente; siempre éramos vecinos en las pasadas reuniones del Consejo.
En el párrafo 3.72, el Comité de Finanzas dice que observo que ese Grupo no había podido reunirse con las autoridades italianas. Nos habría gustado más que el Comité de Finanzas no se hubiera limitado a observar, sino que hubiera lamentado que esa reunión no se haya producido.
Luego, en el párrafo 3.74, creemos con todo respeto por el distinguido Presidente del Comité de Finanzas y los miembros de ese importante organismo, que hay bastante optimismo al pensar que todavía se puede alentar al Director General a que se produzca esa reunión, cuando hoy es 2 de noviembre y quedan solamente los dos días de mañana y pasado antes de que se inicie el proximo 5 la Conferencia, ante la cual, como ha dicho el Embajador del Congo, nosotros debemos rendir cuentas del mandato que se nos confió.
Creemos que, no obstante la buena voluntad y la gran simpatía de nuestro colega el Embajador di FRANCISCI de Italia, no va a ser posible que estos dos días logremos ver nosotros al distinguido Sr. Primer Ministro. Nos conformamos con mucha complacencia de haber visto aquí, en la FAO, con motivo del Día Mundial de la Alimentación, al Sr. Andreotti, Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores; pero haste allí, ha llegado nuestra posibilidad de realizar el encargo que nos confió la Conferencia. Creemos que el Consejo debe entender la difícil situación en que nos encontramos los representantes de gobiernos que recibimos ese encargo de parte del máximo organismo de la FAO; y por lo tanto, pedimos que en el informe del Consejo se consigne el hecho de que se lamenta que ese grupo de trabajo no haya tenido ocasión de encontrarse con las altas autoridades italianas, no obstante que los representantes de los gobiernos integrantes de este grupo, manifestaron aquí reiteradamente, la plena disposición en que se encontraban para cumplir el mandato de la Conferencia.
Creemos que es oportuno que se deje esa declaración en nuestro informe, porque entendemos que virtualmente el mandato que recibimos, concluye ahora en la Conferencia que se inicia el sábado próximo. Hemos escuchado con atención la propuesta que hizo el distinguido Embajador de Italia sobre transferir al Comité de Asuntos Constitucionales y Jurídicos las cuestiones legales en relación con el acuerdo de Sede. Nosotros pensamos que será conveniente y necesario de todas maneras, que en estas reuniones del Consejo, como está previsto, estudiemos el tema 15; al estudiar el tema 15, emergerán -así lo esperamos- asuntos administrativos y financieros que, como lo ha dicho el Sr. WEST, podrán ser encomendados al Comité de Finanzas y los aspectos legales al CACJ, porque el CACJ no puede ocuparse del fondo de los asuntos sino de la forma. De manera que creo que, de todas maneras, el tema 15 debe discutirse, y naturalmente consideramos constructiva la propuesta del Embajador de Italia, pero a la luz de esas consideraciones fundamentales.
Hemos intervenido en este punto con algunas limitaciones y con cierta timidez que nos causan los nexos afectivos y de amistad que tenemos y que sentimos vivamente hacia el país hospedante, pero consideramos que corresponde a nuestra posición de representantes de gobiernos miembros de ese grupo de trabajo, expresar nuestra posición.
M.D. METELITS (United States of America): I have a question that I would like to address to the Chairman of the Finance Committee, if I may. And that is as follows, the representative of Italy has raised a thought that perhaps the Finance Committee, which does, of course, deal with administrative and financial matters, may on questions of some headquarters accommodation issues and immunity from legal process issues, or the Director-General, may wish to refer these issues to the CCLM. My question is this, was there any discussion during the meeting of the Finance Committee as to whether some of these issues were more or less appropriate to the Finance Committee itself?
D.H.J. ABEYAGOONASEKERA (Chairman, Finance Committee): I am glad that the delegate from the United States of America raised this question. I think in our deliberations during the last Session, as well as the previous Session and even the one before, when this issue came up our entire interest in this question is to assess to what extent these problems were a financial constraint on the FAO. For instance, if by being asked to vacate Building F, if it has been given legal sanction that FAO has to vacate, then a whole load of questions as to whether the FAO can accommodate staff, whether an additional building is needed, which means additional funds are needed. So any matters relating to the Headquarters accommodation in relation to the legal process that is taking place, all those matters have financial bearing on the Organization and therefore the Committee discussed them but they were relevant to that question only.
M.D. METELITS (United States of America): One final question, again to the Chairman of the Finance Committee, and the question is: To date has any of these issues had actual financial implication?
D.H.J. ABEYAGOONASEKERA (Chairman, Finance Committee): Yes. For instance, the excavations in the land adjoining Building C, which were mentioned to you at the last meeting; $40, 000 were spent from the budget. But that is a financial constraint.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: I think the question should also be addressed to the Director-General because there seems to be a feeling by one member of the CCLM that he has been deprived of a voice in this matter. We had been to the CCLM when we were discussing the legal aspects of the problem.
Since then we have reported to the Finance Committee on developments which have a financial impact on the Organization where judgements have been rendered in involving possible expenditures by the Organization. We have not paid anything yet to the landlords of Building F, but we might have to, or the Italian Government might have to - I do not know. But we have not reopened any legal issues with anybody. If there were any legal issues to reopen we would consult the CCLM. But I repeat, I do not see what the subject of archaeological excavations has to do with the CCLM.
A. PINOARGOTE (Ecuador): Este asunto es delicado porque hemos escuchado a un delegado miembro de la Comisión quejarse incluso de falta de información respecto a lo que se está haciendo, y nos ha dicho aquí el delegado del Congo que se entera por los informes que se nos presentan a nosotros. Entonces yo, con toda sinceridad, debo decir que es un asunto lamentable porque se inicia la Conferencia y va a ocurrir que, efectivamente, la Comisión no ha hecho nada. Entonces, de alguna manera, queda flotando al interior, por lo menos mío, de que si bien es cierto por un lado, hay una parte que no se quiere entender en el problema o no quiere recibir a la Comisión; y de otra parte, hay una Comisión que, según uno de sus miembros, no ha hecho nada porque de alguna manera no se le informa con oportunidad. Y es que, a lo mejor, entonces hay una responsabilidad de todos en este sentido, incluso responsabilidad nuestra en el Consejo porque estamos oyendo esta noticia y prácticamente ninguno dice nada ni opone nada, y nos vamos a contentar con dejar esto para que la Conferencia lo resuelva, y seguirá siempre igual. Es decir, que todos somos responsables dentro de esta historia que es ya un poco larga.
A veces observo que se hacen ciertas bromas respecto a esto de las excavaciones. Entonces, yo he escuchado hace un momento al Sr. Director de los Servicios Administrativos decir que las excavaciones no fueron de nueve metros, sino de diez metros, y que se han suspendido el 31 de octubre, hace 48 horas. Esto es un asunto que puede parecer un dato pequeño e insignificante, pero dada la seriedad como se deben llevar las cosas en el Consejo, quisiera preguntar si esta suspensión de trabajos es definitiva; si se conoce a ciencia cierta a qué se debe; si hay una comunicación oficial de cuánto tiempo se han suspendido. Porque informarnos de la fecha se puede interpretar de muchas maneras; porque el primero de noviembre no se trabaja en Italia, por lo que no sabemos si se reanudaron hoy, si será después de una semana o después de un mes. Yo rogaría que en este asunto, se tenga más cuidado, porque todos tenemos una responsabilidad en esto, y estamos ante la Conferencia presentando una información de que, en definitiva, no hemos conseguido nada.
A. BOTHNER (Norway): I apologize for coming in at such a late stage of the deliberations on this issue, of which frankly I know very little. I would however like to make one point. In my view this is essentially an administrative matter and ought therefore as such to be left within the hands of the very competent Director-General and his very able officials, and therefore the governing bodies of FAO should not be involved in this issue.
W.A.F. GRABISCH (Germany, Federal Republic of): I had no intention of intervening on the subject before us - it is just one point. I was rather surprised to hear from Mr. Georgiadis that the World Food Council had been asked to vacate the building.
My question is, has there been any assessment of the possible consequences of such a measure? The reason for asking that is that if my recollection is correct, when the World Food Conference proposed the setting up of the World Food Council I think it was explicitly spelled out also that this World Food Council small secretariat should base its work on what is being done in FAO and this of course would mean a completely new setting, a completely new situation, also for another organ. So perhaps we could get some information on that.
A.G. GEORGIADIS (Director, Administrative Services Division): First to answer the question raised by the delegate of Ecuador, the suspension of the excavations the other day is we hope temporary. We were told that it is for lack of funds. Presumably additional funds have been requested and excavations will be resumed. The Department of Archaelogy told us that they expect to give us a report by the end of December. We still hope that they will be able to maintain that date and this is what they are saying. I have only said before that there is some uncertainty because of this suspension. Work might be resumed within the next few days. There are still two months to go before the end of the year. There is just this uncertainty.
On the financial aspects of the whole problem I would like to bring to the attention of the Council that in its last report of the June session this year, the financial aspects of the problem were given in the form of cost of duplicating certain services because we are split in two locations, the high cost of renting accommodation in the other location and the cost of staff time spent travelling between the two buildings. A rough estimate put this at about $200, 000 a month. So this is why it is perhaps a more appropriate subject to be dealt with by the Finance Committee.
Regarding the question raised by the delegate of the Federal Republic of Germany, the implications of the World Food Council having to leave its present location are not such as to affect our cooperation with the Council. It is hoped this will continue as before because we do not expect them to leave Rome. They will probably be a few kilometers away in their new accommodation, the same as the other departments are. I do not think there are any serious consequences regarding the cooperation and the work they will be doing in contradiction to the resolution by the World Food Conference when it established the Council.
A. FRANCISCI di BASCHI (Italie): Je regrette d'intervenir encore une fois mais je voudrais apporter deux arguments.
Tout d'abord la déception du groupe de travail de sept pays membres. Il ne s'agit pas d'une exclusion. Il s'agit d'un cas de force majeure pour lequel le Président du Conseil responsable à l'époque n'a pas pu recevoir le Groupe. Dans la rencontre entre M. Saouma et M. Andreotti, j'ai eu la conviction que M. Andreotti s'engageait à réaliser cette rencontre. Naturellement, il est exclu que cette rencontre puisse avoir lieu dans les deux jours qui viennent, mais je pense que le Groupe pourrait être reconfirmé par la prochaine Conférence et que cette rencontre pourrait avoir lieu dans un avenir très proche.
Je dis cela parce que j'ai eu plus que l'impression que M. Andreotti s'est engagé dans cette voie de la nécessité d'avoir des rencontres périodiques à haut niveau avec le sommet du Secrétariat général. Pour cela il s'est déclaré d'accord. Donc, je pense que la situation est positive.
A propos des fouilles, il faut accepter le fait qu'il s'agit de fouilles archéologiques qui sont de la compétence du Département d'archéologie de Rome, qui doit mener ces fouilles avec toute la circonspection nécessaire. Je n'accepte pas que l'on fasse de l'ironie sur ces fouilles. Nous nous sommes engagés à donner l'avis du Département d'archéologie avant la fin de l'année, et c'est tout.
CHAIRMAN: I think the Council has expressed in the past and I think we are far more concerned about the slow pace of progress, but with the assurance given by the Ambassador and also what Mr. West said, the Director-General is pursuing it at the highest level. We endorse what the delegate of Norway said, that we leave it in the very competent hands of the Director-General to pursue the matter with the host country. We hope that before long the working party will have the opportunity to meet with the highest officials and get the problem solved. I thank you very much for your contribution.
D.F.R. BOMMER (Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department): As you know, the 21st Session of the FAO Conference adopted Resolution 6/81 on plant genetic resources, which requested the Director-General to examine and prepare the elements of a draft international convention and prepare a study on the establishment of an international bank on plant genetic resources under the auspices of FAO. The Conference further requested the Director-General to present proposals based on the studies to the Seventh Session of the Committee on Agriculture which was to report to the Council. The Committee on Agriculture discussed this matter in March 1983 on the basis of document COAG 83/10, which document is studies carried out in response to the Conference resolution.
In the course of an intensive debate it emerged that many members wished to have more detailed information. Furthermore, divergent opinions were expressed as to the necessity for an international convention to guarantee the free exchange of plant genetic resources and the establishment of an international genebank.
Taking into consideration the various views expressed the Committee concluded that the Director-General should be assisted by a working party of Member Nations in the preparation of this report to the 84th Session of the Council so that the latter could elaborate on the proposals to be submitted to the 22nd Session of the FAO Conference.
The Director-General convened this working party composed of representatives of thirteen selected Member Nations, which met in June and July and provided very valuable advice for the formulation, scope and content of the Director-General's report.
In the interim the 83rd Session of the Council provided additional advice when discussing the report of the 7th Session of the Committee on Agriculture. After very careful consideration of all the various views, information and comments rendered to him in the course of these deliberations, the Director-General formulated his report on plant genetic resources, which is before you as document C 83/25. This document attempts to provide in six main chapters a comprehensive review of Plant Genetic Resources and of the need for their exploration, collection, conservation and evaluation.
It offers solutions to ensure the free availability of Plant Genetic Resources for plant breeding for all countries and proposes measures to strenghthen plant breeding capabilities in developing countries.
In chapter 2 the document outlines the principles and objectives relevant to Plant Genetic Resources generally, and in chapter 3, the purpose, form and content of a possible International Agreement.
In considering various options for such an Agreement, account has been taken of the need for a wide acceptability by all nations, of minimizing bureaucratic procedures and of rapid entry into effect of its principles.
Chapter 4 reviews the existing arrangements in the field of Plant Genetic Resources, and chapter 5 outlines measures that could be adopted in the light of the basic principles, objectives and requirements.
The concluding chapter summarizes the results of the review and outlines the Director-General's proposals. His proposals for an International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources is outlined in Appendix A following the request of Conference Resolution 6/81, as elaborated by the Council and discussed by the working party.
At the heart of the International Undertaking is the concept of the International Gene Bank in the form of an internationally coordinated network of national, regional and international centres which have assumed the responsibility to hold base collections of Plant Genetic Resources developing in accordance with the scientific advice of the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources. Governments and institutions responsible for such base collections and which agreed to participate in the network would notify the Director-General of their wish to form part of the International Gene Bank under the auspices of FAO.
Furthermore, it is proposed to establish an Intergovernmental Committee as a subsidiary body to the FAO Committee on Agriculture in order to keep the International Gene Bank and Plant Genetic Resources activities in general under regular intergovernmental review. The proposals are worded in such a way as to try to ensure on the one hand the continuation and strengthening of ongoing efforts in the field of Plant Genetic Resources, and on the other, to provide for commitments and involvements of governments in safeguarding and reviewing the basic material of Plant Genetic Resources and their free availability.
The Director-General, being aware of the great importance and complexity of the subject, has formulated proposals with a view to achieving a consensus and the widest possible participation of Member Nations. He trusts that the Council will support and commends the Report accordingly to the Conference.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for this clear explanation of the problem.
Council members, this is a very important issue and so we will welcome all your comments and additions.
J.R. LOPEZ PORTILLO ROMANO (México): A nombre del Grupo Latinoamericano y del Caribe y de la propia delegación de Mexico agradecemos al Sr. Bommer su presentación y felicitamos al Sr. Director General por el Informe sobre Recursos Fitogenéticos que presenta a este Consejo. Indudablemente es un Informe que nos acerca a una situación más justa y equilibrada en esta materia, por lo que lo apoyamos en lo general y sin duda será considerado con mayor detenimiento en la Conferencia.
Es necesario, Sr. Presidente, ratificar en este Consejo nuestro apego a los principios fundamentales que dieron origen a la Resolución 6/81; a saber: que los recursos fitogenéticos son un patrimonio de la humanidad y que en consecuencia deberá haber en todo momento y lugar libre disponibilidad del fitogermoplasma para fines de investigación. El reconocimiento de estos principios lleva al Director General en su Informe al establecimiento de un sistema internacional que permita asegurar la operación de estos principios. Es éste hoy un importante aspecto que debe recibir el apoyo de todo nuestro Consejo.
Coincidimos con el Informe cuando señala claramente la indudable ventaja que reportaría al sistema en su conjunto la adopción de las medidas propuestas. Destacamos: primero, la aceptación de un compromiso internacional que establezca la actividad y tratamiento de las diversas categorías de recursos fitogenéticos existentes para asegurar su uso con sentido de justicia y utilidad para toda la humanidad. Segundo, el establecimiento de una red de colección base de recursos fitogenéticos bajo la administración de la FAO complementado por un sistema de información. Tercero, el fortalecimiento de la capacidad nacional del mejoramiento fitogenético de los países en desarrollo. Cuarto, la propuesta de incorporar plena y efectivamente a los países en la total decisión y establecimiento de prioridades en materia de recursos fitogenéticos y podría pensarse seriamente en incluir a países que no siendo miembros de la FAO podrían hacer importantes aportaciones.
El Grupo Latinoamericano y del Caribe considera que el Director General debe recibir apoyo a estas propuestas.
A.A. MALEK (Liban) (langue originale arabe): Je ne voudrais pas entrer dans les aspects techniques de la question et je n'aborderai pas la question de la mise en oeuvre d'une banque de gènes qui figure dans le rapport du Directeur général. En effet, nous aborderons cette question lors de la Conférence générale au niveau du Comité mais, dans le cadre de ma délégation, je voudrais qu'on note notre reconnaissance à l'égard du Directeur général pour les progrès réalisés depuis la dernière session du Comité de l'agriculture et depuis la dernière session du Conseil.
En effet, le Directeur général a réussi à concilier les opinions divergentes sur ce point et il nous présente des solutions qui vont dans la bonne voie grâce à une approche intégrée. Nous avons ainsi davantage de possibilités de collaboration entre les pays et les institutions spécialisées pour ce qui est de la mise en oeuvre d'une banque de gènes internationale sans qu'il y ait distorsion dans le cadre de ces associations.
Ce rapport est une excellente base et sera un excellent ouvrage de référence pour la Conférence générale quand il s'agira de discuter de la mise sur pied d'une banque de gènes internationale sans extrémisme quel qu'il soit. Le sujet est en effet très important et il en est de même pour les perspectives. La délégation de mon pays a souligné qu'il n'est pas besoin d'entreprendre des études complémentaires puisqu'en fait la question a été examinée de façon fouillée et elle peut maintenant être présentée à la Conférence générale.
Suite aux discussions que nous aurons à la Conférence générale, il y aura davantage de possibilités de collaboration entre tous les intéressés dans ce domaine. Ma délégation apporte son plein soutien aux propositions du Directeur général qui sont contenues dans son rapport.
R.C. SERSALE di CERISANO (Argentina): En primer lugar, quisiéramos expresar nuestra satisfacción por la eficacia, celeridad y amplitud con que el Director General ha preparado su informe; el mismo es un verdadero avance en la búsqueda de soluciones, máxime si tenemos en cuenta la difícil situación de equilibrio a la que se había llegado en el ultimo Comité de Agricultura.
Mi delegación quiere ratificar su apoyo a los principios fundamentales que han dado origen a la Resolución 6/81, esto es, que los recursos fitogenéticos son patrimonio común de la humanidad y que debe existir la libre disponibilidad e intercambio de estos recursos para fines de investigación.
Es en este contexto que entendemos que las tareas indicadas en el documento C 83/25, en los párrafos 190 a 195, y en particular en el 195, son acordes con estos principios y, por lo tanto, cuentan con todo nuestro apoyo.
Nos preocupan los problemas enunciados en los párrafos 108 a 113. Es cierto que ellos existen y que expresan un límite, pero lo que queremos es que de estos debates, en particular de los de la
Conferencia, salgan soluciones y que estos factores no sean, finalmente, utilizados para marginarnos a nosotros, a los países en desarrollo en la utilización de estos recursos.
J.M. BOLIVAR SALCEDO (España): Agradecemos al doctor Bommer su precisa documentación y deseamos sumarnos a la felicitación al Director General por el excelente informe que nos presenta sobre recursos fitogenéticos que España, como miembro del grupo de trabajo, cree que recoge de forma muy completa las diferentes opiniones que en él se manifestaron.
Apoyamos el informe en sus principios fundamentales y manifestamos el gran interés de España porque estos recursos sean considerados de un modo efectivo patrimonio de la humanidad.
Si bien consideramos que será en la Conferencia donde deberemos entrar en profundidad en el análisis del tema, éste, como vemos en el documento, presenta aspectos distintos aunque interrelacionados que pensamos convendría deslindar para facilitar los debates.
A.M. QURESHI (Pakistan): The Pakistan delegation would first of all like to pay warm and sincere tribute to the Director-General for his most comprehensive, constructive and soundly prepared report contained in the document C 83/25. We would also like to commend Dr. Bonner for introducing this excellent report. We have read the report with great interest. We endorse the views expressed by Mexico, Lebanon, Argentina and Spain. The report takes full account of the achievements so far made in international cooperation and highlights the major tasks that lie ahead in order to ensure the exploration, collection, conservation, documentation, evaluation, availability and utilization of Plant Genetic Resources. Chapter 4 of the report identifies major constraints which are being faced in the context of present international arrangements.
Mr Chairman, we appreciate the most constructive role played by the Director-General in raising the awareness of the world community to the pressing need for collection and conservation of Crop Genetic Resources, and the equally imperative need for setting up an International Genebank in collaboration with IBPGR and national gene pools.
The main task of Plant Genetic Resources is to ensure the exploration, collection, conservation, documentation and evaluation of cultivated varieties, of obsolete cultivars, primitive cultivars, variegated seed species and special genetic stock. There is presently no international agreement for ensuring the conservation, maintenance and free exchange of genetic resources of agricultural interest contained in existing gene plasm banks.
We are in full agreement with the measures proposed in this report to improve the situation which includes the adoption of an international undertaking on plant genetic resources, establishment of a network of base collections of plant genetic resources, encouragement of governmental participation at regional, sub-regional and national levels with the means of strengthening financial security, and establishment of a global information system under the auspices of FAO/IBPGR.
It is indeed important that the capabilities of developing countries are strengthened where appropriate on a sub-regional basis with respect to plant genetic resource activities including plant breeding, seed multiplication, distribution and plant exploration. This measure we are confident will enable all countries to make full use of plant genetic resources for the benefit of their agricultural development.
Our delegation fervently hopes that the member countries will proceed to unanimously adopt the international undertaking on plant genetic resources at the forthcoming session of the Conference so that the plant genetic resources which are the common heritage of mankind are freely available to all countries.
Z. GROCHOWSKI (Poland): Mr Chairman in the past several years considerable progress was made in the expansion of the network and capacity of the collections in gene banks in many countries in the regions. That was possible owing to a better understanding for the importers of the banks for plant breeding, for the establishment of new research stations which can carry on those works, and also owing to a wider cooperation of governments as well as the initiative and assistance of international organizations, FAO, COAG and others. This progress, however, gave rise to many problems, difficulties and needs which have to be solved, for example lack of uniform systems of collection, functioning, rules for evaluation of material and documentation, conditions for the exchange of resources, etc. Analysis of this state is well presented in the report prepared by the Secretariat and offers a proper basis for the system of improving plant genetic resources. We are evaluating favourably those suggestions and we are declaring ourselves for their acceptance.
We support the unification of the rules of operation for plant collections and genebanks. Secondly, in our opinion FAO should coordinate those works. Thirdly, we are in favour of the agreement between countries, not necessarily in the forms of the Convention which is more difficult to be approved by many countries in view of their procedures and limitation of independence of national collections. Fourthly, rules of financial contributions should be agreed on separately. Fifthly, we believe that breeding strains cannot be a subject for exchange before they are registered as varieties.
Mr Chairman, we highly appreciate the Enwell Report of the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources. However, with regret we have to point out that the maps included in the above report are not updated. The borders of some European countries, including Poland, are not correctly indicated and even one European state is missing on these maps. We note there is a reservation made on behalf of FAO that maps included in the report do not imply the expression of an opinion on the part of FAO, but nevertheless FAO is indicated as co-author of the publication. We hope that FAO will undertake the necessary steps in order to avoid such performance in the future since the borders of states in Europe were already established almost forty years ago.
F.G. POULIDES (Cyprus): Document C 83/25 describes the national significance of plant genetic resources and stresses the need for their collection, conservation and evaluation, and especially their free and unconditional availability as a heritage of mankind. It further explains the precepts underlying resolution 6/81 as the activities relating to plant genetic resources but we are struck by the two distinct positions, namely the developing countries wish to have guarantees that plant genetic resources, PGR, are freely available, and they are pressing for the establishment of an international genebank. On the other side the developed countries with plant breeders' rights argue that such guarantees would not be competitive with existing national legislation and, as I understand, they resist any change in establishment. In the middle of the road, FAO considers that the proposed international undertaking and form of genebank meets the interest of both groups and would be acceptable as an immediate solution. Considering therefore the various differences and their practical position, we consider that the only viable solution would be by concession. We support therefore the proposals made by the Director-General as set out in 195, sections (a) to (f) of document C 83/25 of course by concensus.
P. ELMANOWSKI (France): Tout d'abord, après avoir remercié M. Bommer pour son intervention et les précisions qu'il nous a apportées, et également témoigné de l'intérêt que nous avons porté au rapport du Directeur général sur les ressources phytogénétiques, ma délégation tient à préciser qu'en intervenant maintenant elle n'entend pas prendre une position définitive sur les suggestions qui nous sont formulées. En effet, de nombreux points doivent être examinés et présentés par des techniciens. C'est d'ailleurs dans ce sens que nous avons demandé à l'un de nos experts de venir à la Conférence au moment où cette question sera discutée. Donc, ici, au Conseil c'est une attitude d'expectative et de prudence, et nous aimerions qu'elle soit partagée par les uns et les autres. Toutefois, il y a deux ou trois remarques que je voudrais faire et qui, en quelque sorte, préoccupent notre délégation.
Tout d'abord, peut-être est-ce une mauvaise lecture de notre part, mais il ne semble pas qu'on ait mentionné dans le corps du rapport l'existence d'une convention internationale sur les créations variétales et en particulier elle devrait être rappelée dans l'engagement international en parallèle avec la convention sur la protection des végétaux.
Il y a aussi une chose importante - et vous comprendrez que c'est peut-être pour nous une raison supplémentaire d'attendre - c'est que, en ce moment même, dans les jours qui viennent, se réunit à Washington le GCRAI et son conseil technique, qui discutent également de cette question. Leur avis sera évidemment très important pour prendre une position, et il nous semble donc prudent d'attendre, avant de formuler immédiatement une remarque.
Et, troisième point, et là peut-être nous donnera-t-on des explications complémentaires, il nous semble que dans le projet de convention qui nous est soumis, la tutelle qui serait, et je suis modeste en utilisant le mot "tutelle", exercée par l'EOA sur le Conseil international de ressources phytogénétiques plus facilement connu sous le nom de CIRPG, serait extrême, et il nous semble qu'il faut tout de même ne pas vouloir "empiéter" (je ne trouve pas un mot moins méchant), mais enfin ne pas vouloir faire prévaloir son point de vue sur des instances qui sont plus particulièrement qualifiées.
Alors, M. le Président, après ces brèves remarques qui seront certainement approfondies par notre représentant à la Conférence, je souhaiterais que le Conseil dès à présent ne prenne pas une position définitive.
R.C. GUPTA (India): We had the privilege of keenly following this subject in the last meeting of the Committee on Agriculture and thereafter had the opportunity of participating in the two sessions of the working party which the Director-General had convened to advise on this subject. We are happy to note that the document presented to the Council is a balanced document which gives the history of this concept and the work which is being done by the existing network under the aegis of the CGIAR. We are very happy about this document and about the excellent and concise presentation by Dr. Bommer. It perhaps does not need any emphasis that plant genetic resources are a heritage of mankind and must be preserved and be freely available for use, for scientific use as well as for breeding. We realize that the land resources are in serious danger of extinction on account of increasing pressure on land in developing countries and of the extension of agricultural frontiers and grazing and so forth; and it is time that the international community take far-reaching measures to ensure that this heritage will not be lost to us.
I must hasten to acknowledge the excellent work done by the CGIAR system and by the IBPGR for exploration, for documentation, for reservation of plant genetic resources. However, as the Council is aware, the existing arrangements are no less informal. The CGIAR is at most an informal association of countries, international organization and private breeders. It has no legal status, it has no long-term security of its funds and it is for consideration whether we could leave such an important subject in the hands of such a kind of arrangement which is not permanent. We do not have any long-term commitment of funds.
Another consideration which would weigh with my delegation is that most of these resources or basic materials have been found in the developing countries, and again the developing countries have the least capabilities of exploration of plants, of documentation and of making effective use of this material.
A very attractive feature of the proposal which has been put across to the Council is that the proposed set-up would avoid duplication, would build up on the existing network, would try to extend it and to strengthen the capability of developing countries to take care of these resources to the extent possible by themselves, and thereby to preserve them. We therefore feel that the proposed draft resolution on page 32 of this document and the draft on plant genetic resources may be commended to the Conference for careful consideration and acceptance.
Mrs. J. WALLACE (United States of America): The United States strongly supports the concept of free exchange of germplasm for scientific and development work and the importance of improved seeds for increased production in developing countries. The United States actively participated in the discussions on the subject during the Committee on Agriculture and in the ad hoc working party that was convened last July, but there was no consensus on the Secretariat's draft proposals submitted then. We appreciate the great deal of work that the FAO Secretariat has put in its report on plant genetic resources and its proposal for a new international undertaking in this area under the FAO auspices. The understanding proposed has many wide-ranging implications involving consideration of an economic, operational and juridical nature. These raise many questions which need to be considered with care.
The United States is a major contributor to the CGIAR network of international research centres and the associated international plant germplasm system. We believe that they are doing valuable work FAO's help, as a Secretariat. However, we do not see what benefits there would be to superimpose another authority for this work. Moreover, some of the provisions of the Secretariat's proposal may be in conflict with some plant variety and patent laws in the United States and other Member Governments of the FAO.
The subject deserves far more attention and study than is possible here in the Council and we hope to discuss this further at the Conference. We have also asked our experts to attend for discussion and we hope there will be time to get answers to the questions troubling us and to study them before even a tentative decision is made on whether or not to proceed with such an undertaking.
A. BOTHNER (Norway): On this occasion, I have the pleasure to speak on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway. Our delegations welcome the Director-General's report on plant genetic resources which has been prepared on the basis of Conference Resolution 6/81 and the discussions in the last COAG meeting. At that meeting the Director-General presented a proposal for the establishment of an international genebank and the preparation of a draft convention for plant genetic resources. However, the Committee was not able to reach a consensus on this proposal.
In the light of these discussions it was suggested, as we know, that the Director-General should be assisted by a working party of Member Nations to advise him on the preparation of a new report to this Council for submission to the Twenty-second Conference. Our delegations feel that the
present report as contained in document C 83/25 gives a comprehensive and valuable survey of the issues and problems relevant to the question of plant genetic resources. We support the general principles in the report regarding free exchange and conservation of plant genetic resources.
With regard to measures that could be adopted in the light of the basis principles, objectives and requirements as presented in the report, our delegations would like to revert to these matters in more detail when discussed in depth at the Conference.
However, we should like to state already at this point that we have difficulties in approving some of the provisions in the proposed international undertaking on plant genetic resources. Our delegations look forward to having fruitful and constructive deliberations at the Conference on this subject to which we attach great importance.
W.A.F. GRABISCH (Germany, Federal Republic of): The delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany wishes to commend the Secretariat on Document C 83/25. This document shows the full complex of questions in connexion with the preservation of plant genetic resources and provides a useful basis for discussion. The document describes in particular possibilities for solving various problems to which my delegation has already drawn attention at the session of the Committee on Agriculture last March. I welcome the fact that the working party which was established has been dealing so intensively with these problems and I also wish to thank on this occasion the members of the working party for their commitment.
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has for long attached great importance to the collection and preservation of plant genetic resources. Since its existence, the Federal Republic of Germany has been protecting quite a number of sites with plant species threatened with extinction. For more than 10 years my country has worked on the establishment of a genebank with which it takes an active part in the work of the International Board on Plant Genetic Resources. It also cooperates in the European Cooperative Programme for the Conservation and Exchange of Crop Genetic Resources. The Federal Government is prepared, as in the past, to exchange the material stored in the national genebank on the basis of reciprocity or on the basis of a reflux of evaluation data obtained.
As we are looking forward to a thorough discussion on the issue before us at the forthcoming Conference, I merely wish to take up some points. Several speakers today mentioned again the setting up of an international genebank. Our understanding of the proposed undertaking is that the proposal before us aims at improving and, whenever necessary, complementing the work of the already existing network of national genebanks. I hope that this is our common understanding.
Now, with regard to the draft resolution before us, we feel that some further discussion is necessary, as well as some further clarification. In our view the text would need some amendments on which my delegation will voice its position at the forthcoming Conference. One example is Article 2.1 (a) (v) where it says that the free exchange would have to include also "elite and current breeders' lines and mutants". This would be in contradiction to the work of plant breeders and reference has already been made to that point by several speakers before me.
With regard to possible financial and administrative implications, we assume that if such an undertaking were to be launched, the possible expenses during the forthcoming biennium would be covered by the budget as already proposed.
As regards the setting up of a subsidiary of COAG, my delegation feels that it would be rather premature to give a recommendation on such a proposal here and now. Perhaps we ought to wait and see whether or not COAG itself can deal and cope with that work also in future, as it has done in the past.
W. MAJOR (Canada): There are a number of issues which delegations to the Conference may wish to take up in more detail than is possible here. Although the working party was unable to reach a consensus we would wish to thank them for their work. The present document describes the IBPGR conservation network comprising national and regional institutions and IARC base collections, its work in promotion of coordination and its assistance to individual collections to improve their implementation systems, including computerization.
Much is made in the reference document of the lack of institutionalization of the CGIAR but in fact the success of the research centre system over the two decades is one of the bright spots in the world food equation. The document does acknowledge in paragraphs 134 and 135 that the financing of IBPGR seems reasonably well assured. My country is happy to have been an active participant and supporter.
We have not yet been convinced of the need to adopt a new and apparently costlier system when the existing system is working well and when alleged hindrances to access remain unsubstantiated. In short we still have some concerns about the present formulation about the proposal and these are its attractiveness to potential adherents, especially those with the most significant collection, its universality is alluded to in paragraph 174, and finally its relative efficiency compared to arrangements that had evolved to date.
S. GOTO (Japan): I would like to thank the Director-General for the informative and analytical report on the plant genetic resources. In the light of the importance of this issue this report is now under careful and serious study by my Government with the participation of the experts of the relevant research institutions involved. Therefore my delegation would like to reserve its position on this issue at this Council.
A. W. JALIL (Malaysia): The report before us is comprehensive in its treatment of how best plant genetic resources of agricultural impress could be preserved and used for the benefit of human beings now and for the future without restrictive practices that limit their availability. The Director-General has taken into consideration every aspect of the present situation and the present weakness in the activities of various institutes and governments of plant genetic resources. He had proposed various measures for which it is hoped an expanded conceptual framework for the preservation of plant genetic resources could be achieved. My delegation is satisfied with the report and would like to commend the Director-General in his efforts in the search for a satisfactory resolution to this work in the field of agricultural development. The report indicates that the search for a comprehensive global system of plant genetic resources needs to take into account a wide range of activities demanding substantial inputs, including human, physical, financial and research. It requires full international cooperation and genuine commitment on the part of national governments and relevant institutions. There is need to establish a global mechanism and other global framework through which activities in plant genetic resources could be coordinated.
For developing countries to fully benefit from any form of arrangement on the activities of plant genetic resources the need to concentrate on strengthening the national capabilities in this field cannot be overemphasized for without such capabilities any such arrangement would be ineffective.
While expressing my delegation's general agreement on the measures and proposals put forward by the Director-General we might want to consider it as an initial step towards ensuring long term benefit and effectiveness of the measures taken in the field of plant genetic resources.
J. BELGRAVE (New Zealand): As has been said by other delegates, the New Zealand delegations would like to record that the document in front of us does focus very well on all the issues surrounding this very important subject of genetic resources and we would like to record our appreciation for the work of the Director-General and indeed for the efforts put in by the working party in recent date. New Zealand indeed does provide freely germplasm to many overseas countries and some of the measures suggested do have our general agreement, but again like other delegations mentioned today we do have some problems with one or two of the elements of the proposed international undertaking on plant genetic resources. For example, the position of plant breeders" rights legislation in the context of the proposed undertaking is one element which we think needs to be examined in more detail along with others. Therefore the New Zealand delegations would look forward to a full discussion at the Conference on the implications of this important issue and the document we have provides, I think, a very good base for such a discussion in the Conference next week and the weeks that follow and we also will have with our delegation people who are expert in this field and hopefully we will be able to contribute to the deliberations on the matter generally and it may be that coming out of the Conference will be a resolution on a number of the issues that have been raised this afternoon. So we appreciate what has been done very much, a lot of what is said we are in support of but we do have some problems with some of the elements of the undertaking on the plant genetic resources in particular.
L. MOHAPELOA (Lesotho): We do not intend to make any substantial comments on the issue at this point as we will be taking the floor during the Conference. However, my delegation has two brief points to make. Firstly we wish at this stage to urge that the matter be brought up in the Conference in the manner as suggested by the Latin American and Caribbean countries. Certainly we wish to express a hope that we will be particularly openminded in our approach to the issue to enable us to find a common ground and to come out with a framework for the fulfilment of the basic principle to give all countries access to the genetic resources which we should agree are the common heritage of all mankind.
J. GAZZO F.D. (Observador de Peru): Aunque ya el Presidente del GRALUC habló por nosotros, yo me veo obligado a reforzar, un poco digamos, la posición nuestra a este respecto. Tengo que felicitar muy sinceramente al Director General y al grupo que ha realizado este documento porque no ha tenido el infeliz destino que tuvo en mi biblioteca el documento anterior, que no era un documento justo ni un documento balanceado como éste.
Tengo entendido que no hay documento mal escrito, sino mal entendido. Algunos de los oradores parece, o que no han leído el documento en su profundidad, o quizás lo han leído un poco superficialmente y encuentran en él ciertas acciones de duplicación que en ningún momento se van a hacer. Tengo entendido que el problema de los recursos fitogenéticos tiene dos aspectos. El aspecto técnico y el aspecto político del uso de los recursos fitogenéticos que no lo puede manejar una entidad que no tiene carácter, digamos, mundial, sino solamente están representados algunos países y no todos.
Y esto no es una lucha de grupos, porque también tenemos muchos países en vías de desarrollo que hemos negado nuestro material a países desarrollados, sencillamente porque no hay reglas de juego muy claras. Tenemos casos en café, en pimienta negra, en piretro, y así hay una serie de países en vías de desarrollo que no van a entregar su material precioso para que tome una nacionalidad equis y se pierda la identidad universal. De manera que esto no es una lucha de los países en desarrollo contra los países desarrollados; no; es una cuestión de sentido común.
Yo creo que en esta reunión los superexpertos no van a tener mucho que ver, ya que es una reunión de política de manejo de los recursos fitogenéticos. Este es un magnífico documento que nos habla de todos los pasos que podrían darse, y no quiere decirse que vamos a dar los cuatro pasos; pero sí podríamos dar el primero.
Nadie puede negar que existen ciertas interferencias en la libre circulación del material. Yo tengo pruebas de países que han dicho: a este país no le doy porque no es amigo; a este país no le doy porque en este momento tiene un régimen dictatorial. Lo que nosotros queremos es que esto no suceda.
Se dice que debe haber duplicados ya que pueden producirse catástrofes mundiales de terremotos o incendio y desaparecer este material. La sensación que recojo aquí es que hay un deseo de superar a otros países; pero lo que nosotros debemos establecer son reglas de juego para que el material fitogenético circule sin interferencias de tipo político, ya que lo que queremos y lo que hemos perseguido siempre es que haya equidad y una política justa en la distribución de estos recursos.
Manifestamos, por consiguiente, como lo hemos hecho todos, que estamos plenamente de acuerdo con la clarísima exposición del Presidente del GRULAC, en que cualquier debate es ocioso en el Consejo. Esto debe pasar a la Conferencia y allí esgrimiremos los argumentos; pero lo que sí quisiera es que en ningún momento se piense hacer nada en lugar de otro, sino complementar algunos aspectos que no pueden hacerse porque no tienen personalidad para hacerlo.
Y. HAMDI (Egypt)(original language Arabic): Allow me first of all to congratulate the Director-General on the excellent document prepared by him. After the consultations held between the Director-General and the members of the working group and after examining the various views expressed in the Committee on Agriculture he has prepared a very well-founded document. We welcome this report and wish to express our delegation's full support for the proposal made by the Director-General concerning genetic resources, which are considered the universal heritage of mankind. This subject will be taken up in detail during the Conference.
W.E. ADERO (Kenya): My delegation thanks the Director-General for producing this very comprehensive and balanced report on plant genetic resources. The report has indeed covered the most important elements in the International Genebank.
We generally support the proposals contained in this report. Since the report is going to be discussed further at the Conference we intend to make our detailed interventions at the Conference.
H.F. NAJEB (Iraq) (original language Arabic): We would like in turn to express our support and our views on this document. We support this comprehensive report which contains proposals for the ideal manner which would enable us to conserve plant genetic resources and the best method to make all countries benefit from these vital resources.
We would also like to express our support and appreciation to the Director-General especially, as he has sought to find that common basis between all parties concerned on this subject. This common basis, thanks to future and continuous efforts, should enable us further to improve the existing structures in this field. We have been accustomed to a careful follow-up and concern on the part of the Director-General on all matters relating to agriculture and nutrition to safeguard the
interests of developing countries. I would therefore like to say that this common basis does provide a sound basis for future improvements and the appropriate proposal for discussion and further development of the subject in the interests of one and all.
Finally, we would like to address an appeal to all member countries to adopt this report which will be submitted to us once again in the Conference.
J. TCHICAYA (Congo): Nous prenons assez tard la parole sur ce sujet qui, à notre avis, est d'un intérêt capital pour tous les pays du monde. Il a d'ailleurs fait l'objet d'un débat assez animé au Comité de l'agriculture et nous avions exprimé l'espoir qu'au niveau du groupe qui avait été constitué on aboutirait à des conclusions que l'on pourrait facilement adopter au niveau de ce Conseil et surtout de la Conférence.
Nous sommes heureux de constater que le Directeur général nous a présenté un rapport excellent, rapport excellent parce qu'il constitue à notre avis une synthèse fort réussie des opinions diverses qui avaient été exprimées lors des débats.
Nous voudrions rendre ici hommage au Directeur général qui, malgré le manque de consensus au niveau de ce groupe, a manifesté un certain courage afin de nous présenter ce document qui, à notre avis, constitue une excellente base de discussion pour la Conférence.
K.M. EJAZUL HUQ (Bangladesh): We would like to express our full endorsement of the proposals contained in the Director General's most comprehensive report, and we urge upon all members to lend full support at the Conference.
M. TATIETA (Haute-Volta): La délégation de Haute-Volta accorde une grande importance à la création d'une banque internationale de gènes et à la préparation d'un projet de convention internationale pour les ressources phytogénétiques. Notre délégation pense que l'existence d'une telle banque est de nature à promouvoir la recherche, plus spécialement dans les pays en voie de développement, qui ne disposent pas toujours des structures et du personnel adéquats. Nous marquons notre accord sur le contenu du rapport et appuyons la création de structures régionales. Cela demande évidemment une accélération de la formation des chercheurs dans les pays qui en sont dépourvus afin de permettre à chaque pays membre de bénéficier de cette oeuvre commune.
Notre délégation reste persuadée qu'une telle banque favorisera une coopération efficiente en matière de recherche. Par conséquent, notre délégation apporte sa caution à cette initiative.
DIRECTOR-GENERAL: Mr. Chairman, I have listened with great interest to the comments made by 23 delegates and one important observer, who made a very significant contribution.
I want to stress that this report is not intended at all to weaken the IBPGR or to increase the cost of international work on plant genetic resources - on the contrary. After all, FAO is very closely associated with CGIAR under the aegis of which IBPGR is placed. FAO is one of 3 sponsors of CGIAR, along with UNDP and the World Bank. The IBPGR Secretariat is in FAO. They meet here. The Chairman of IBPGR is nominated and appointed in consultation with the Director-General of FAO. We finance the largest part of the cost of the Secretariat here. The Secretary of IBPGR is an FAO staff member, a senior officer of the organization, and he has under him other FAO officers who are paid for by you as member countries. We are therefore in very close association with IBPGR.
I know that a more detailed discussion will take place in the Conference, but I do not think we can spend days in the Conference discussing the subject. Also specialists from France and other countries will come to deal with this item, which is very important.
During the Conference, it would be no good saying, for instance, that this undertaking, because of one or two articles, has to be refused as a whole. We can certainly assist in the consideration of any amendment of any articles of the undertaking, and it would be a pity if, because of one article or another or one word, the whole text were just rejected. I am very conscious that no international undertaking could ever be implemented unless adopted by a consensus, and no doubt my proposals would have to be accepted first of all by the important countries; otherwise they are meaningless. But I would like to assure those countries who are concerned with the whole issue, because they are financing IBPGR, that all of us can certainly try to accommodate their concerns by rewording, by proposing to delete some words or to put something in. I am referring, for instance, to the intervention of the delegate of New Zealand, who says that there are maybe some articles which they do not like. It would be very interesting and useful if we could know in advance, before the consideration of the item in Commission II what is the paragraph of, the article which bothers you and others. The whole undertaking is for discussion by yourselves, and can be changed by editing, deleting, etc.
The same applies to the other issues, the International Gene Bank etc. If it is discussed with a constructive spirit, telling us frankly what you don't like, what bothers you, we will try to find some wording or at least we may have draft amendments which later on can be improved, but please do not reject the whole proposal entirely because there is some aspect which you do not like. This is all a proposal. It is all flexible. The same applies to the Committee of the COAG or COAG itself dealing with the subject once every two years.
I want to stress this: we in FAO would appreciate receiving direction and orientation from our governing bodies, as far as our dealings with IBPGR are concerned. COAG could very usefully study the Report of IBPGR, advise the FAO Director-General how to deal with it and, what to convey to IBPGR. At present I have no governing body to advise me on this, so I think COAG could at no cost have an item on its agenda or have a sub-committee to this effect.
I am just giving you an example why some changes are needed. As I think Peru said, for 10 years we have had the same mechanism. I am very relaxed about all my proposals. I think that there are new initiatives; I am looking at the future. I think no one of them can be implemented unless it is approved by consensus. This is why I hope there will be more dialogue in Commission II and not just "this is unacceptable" and "this is acceptable".
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be following with my colleagues the debate in Commission II with great interest. I hope we can reach agreement on some of my proposals. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr. Director-General.
I think the Director-General has explained the position in a very clear way. I think he has shown that what we are asking for is not a cut and dried answer, yes or no, but what we want is progress in this very important field. I would like to again add my words of appreciation for the Director-General's document. As one who has spent a large part of my professional life in genetic resources conservation and utilization, I must compliment the Director-General and his staff on preparing a document which can help us to make progress. There will naturally not be agreement on every letter of it, but I think it is a document which provides opportunity for progress. The progress we are seeking is not just for our lifetime but for the 21st century, 22nd century and beyond. Therefore on this occasion we must express our gratitude to the Mexican delegation which originally started the ball rolling in the last Conference and contributed to the subsequent progress made, to the working party members and the Director-General who himself chaired the working party and to Dr. Bommer and his able colleagues.
I hope the Conference will develop a consensus with which all are agreed. What is important here is not just a resolution but a commitment to action, and that commitment can come whenever everyone is agreed that there is a certain thing which they all feel ought to be done. I am happy that the document provides a mechanism whereby not only members of FAO but even those who are not at present members of FAO can join in the action plan. A very significant recommendation in the document is the fact that there are some countries, for example there are two countries which have been mentioned, the USSR, which has a very large collection of plant species, and the German Democratic Republic. In the previous Council meeting I mentioned about Vavilov, who initiated the whole concept of centres of origin of crop plants and of centres of genetic diversity. There is a very large collection in Gartersleben in the German Democratic Republic. The document rightly provides a mechanism by which as the Ambassador of Peru said, both developed and developing countries can together try to conserve and utilize plant genetic resources which constitute a common human blessing and heritage. So I would like to thank the Director-General for this document, and I hope the various experts who will be coming here next week from Member Nations will examine the document carefully and in a spirit of achieving something for an important cause. I think the cause is greater than all of us. I mentioned last time that while we humans are mortals, genes can be immortal. That is where I think sometimes a great cause can evoke a kind of response which transcends immediate human understanding. We therefore will remit it to the Conference for the consideration of Commission II. After listening to all the delegates, I am confident that something very constructive is going to happen as a result of this important initiative. I want to thank all the Council members for their participation.
The meeting rose at 17.45 hours
La séance est levée à 17 h 45
Se levanta la sesión a las 17.45 horas
