CHAIRMAN: Items 10 and 11 are related. We have already heard from the Executive Director ot the WFP in connection with Item 10. I now request Mr Crowther so say a few words about Item 11.
D.K. CROWTHER (Assistant Director-General, Administration and Finance Department): You have before you documents CL 87/INF/15, Sup. 1 and Sup. 2 having to do with this specific item. You will note that CL 87/INF/15 includes the Joint Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of FAO, and CL 87/INF/15 Sup.1 includes extracts from the reports of the Programme Committee, the Finance Committee and the Joint Session on their deliberations on this subject. Supplement 2 gives the deliberations of the Nineteenth Session of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes (CFA) on this issue. It also includes extracts from the CFA Report having to do with this particular issue.
I am very pleased to say that the Director-General is very happy with the response both of the people who are implementing the findings of the Joint Task Force, on the part of the Executive Director, the Joint Task Force, and each of the members who are involved in implementing the actions that were included in the Joint Report.
As Mr Ingram has reported, there certainly is positive action on the side of everyone, and I am very pleased to say that the relations have been substantially improved and that implementation is on-going.
If there are any specific questions on this document we can entertain them, but I think that is all that needs to be said with regard to introduction.
G. BULA HOYOS (Colombia): A los representantes de Colombia nos complace sinceramente que esté con nosotros nuestro distinguido amigo el señor James C. Ingram, Director Ejecutivo del PMA. La presencia del Director Ejecutivo confirma la importancia de este tema, y su presentación valiosa, interesante y completa, nos ofrece la oportunidad de reiterar, en nombre del Gobierno de Colombia, nuestro más decidido y pleno apoyo al Programa Mundial de Alimentos.
Sobre la parte primera, como hecho más sobresaliente de 1984 destacamos la valiosa asistencia del PMA para atender las necesidades críticas y urgentes de ayuda alimentaria de Africa al Sur del Sahara. Está muy bien que más de la mitad de los recursos totales del PMA, destinados a situaciones de urgencia, haya sido ofrecida a Africa y nos complació también oír al señor Ingram que ese esfuerzo se duplicará en 1985. Decimos esto porque habíamos tenido una ligera inquietud cuando observamos que en el párrafo 22 esos proyectos para Africa habían aumentado del 24 por ciento en 1983 al 35 por ciento en 1984, al tiempo que en el párrafo 25 se afirma que el promedio desde su fundación se ha logrado el 29,1 por ciento del total de los recursos para esa misma región. Habíamos observado, sólo como aficionados a las estadísticas, que tal vez esas cifras no indicaban ese notorio aumento, pero nos ha tranquilizado la declaración del Director Ejecutivo.
En cuanto a Améric Latina y el Caribe, la región a la que pertenece nuestro país, en el párrafo 25 de la parte 3 "Asistencias para el desarrollo", consideramos que es importante que se mantenga esa cronológica estabilidad regional de que se habla en ese párrafo 24. Los representantes de Colombia hemos demostrado constante preocupación por la situación de recursos en efectivo del programa. Los párrafos 67 y 68 indican diferencias desfavorables entre lo recibido y lo gastado en efectivo
en 1984. La situación de los recursos en efectivo del Programa no es buena ni tampoco alarmante, como ha dicho el señor Ingram en otra oportunidad, pero nos preocupa que si se prolonga esa situación pueda causarse perjuicios al Programa más adelante en cuanto al transporte y demás servicios.
Pensamos que este Consejo debe reiterar el llamado que hacemos cada año cuando se nos presenta este informe, en el sentido de pedir a los donantes que cumplan las disposiciones de que sus contribuciones al Programa sean por lo menos en efectivo en un tercio de esa contribución. Esa situación de crisis de liquidez afecta también las compras de productos de que se habla en los párrafos 68 a 73.
La delegación de Colombia piensa que este Consejo debe instar, una vez más, al PMA a que intensifique las compras de alimentos en países en desarrollo. El distinguido colega y amigo de Malawi ha insistido sobre ello y nosotros le apoyamos plenamente. El incremento de las transacciones triangulares es muy importante para los países en desarrollo, como valioso estímulo para aumentar la producción de alimentos e intercambio comercial entre países vecinos o de una misma región. Esas transacciones triangulares tienen la gran ventaja de procurar ingresos de divisas a los países exportadores y de ofrecer a los países beneficiarios alimentos aptos para sus necesidades.
A este respecto este Consejo debe apoyar el párrafo 14 en el cual el CPA instó a todos los donantes a que aumentaran las transacciones triangulares justamente para estimular el aumento de la producción en los países en desarrollo, el comercio entre ellos, y también para que la ayuda alimentaria sea más eficaz.
Pensamos que el Consejo debe reconocer el hecho positivo de los donantes, párrafo 71, que usa el PMA como agente para comprar productos por su cuenta en transacciones triangulares. Esa actitud constructiva contrasta con la de otros donantes que dan instrucciones perentorias al PMA para que sólo compren alimentos en sus propios países o en otros países desarrollados indicados por ellos. Sin duda esa decisión desafortunada es la base del párrafo 72, según el cual sólo el 60% de las adquisiciones en 1984 fueron hechas a países en desarrollo.
Semejante actitud fue ampliamente criticada por el último CPA aunque ello hará parte del Undécimo Informe Anual, desde ahora el Consejo debe pedir a esos países que no procedan así, sino que faciliten el aumento de las transacciones triangulares. Sabemos que éste no es un problema simple, que existen obstáculos, que hay dificultades, pero no obstante la delegación de Colombia piensa y confía en la capacidad de la inteligencia y la imaginación del Director Ejecutivo. Pensamos, repito, que es deseable y ciertamente posible aumentar tanto el número como el volumen de la participación de los países en desarrollo en las transacciones triangulares.
Convendría recordar que en el 18° período de sesiones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial, párrafo 20, se afirmó que la FAO puede desempeñar una función esencial difundiendo las informaciones relativas a los excedentes alimentarios en los países en desarrollo.
Siguiendo sus instrucciones, lo que vamos a decir cubre también el tema 11, la parte final de la positiva declaración del Sr. Ingram esta mañana, confirmando que ahora existe afortunadamente una luna de miel en las relaciones entre la FAO y el PMA; podríamos entonces aprovechar esa luna de miel y pedir en nuestro informe que el PMA utilice esa información de la FAO para aumentar cada vez más las transacciones triangulares en el futuro. Los gastos de transporte, en total en 1984 ascendieron a cerca de 150 millones de dólares, cifra apreciable de la cual podrían beneficiarse más los países en desarrollo si se incrementara el estático 11% de que habla el párrafo 81.
Este Consejo ha hecho reiteradas recomendaciones en el sentido de que se utilicen los barcos de países en desarrollo. Ojalá traten de cumplirse esas recomendaciones. Nos gustaría que se hicieran más esfuerzos en ese sentido, sobre todo ahora cuando, como lo dice el párrafo 3 y lo confirmó el Sr. Ingram, las asistencias del PMA a los países en desarrollo alcanza un nivel sin precedentes, de manera que esa coyuntura es favorable para incrementar la participación de los países en desarrollo en el transporte.
El cuadro A, última página, al cual se refiere el párrafo 27, demuestra que los recursos del Programa dedicados a proyectos de desarrollo parecen, así al menos lo creemos, solamente sembrar esta duda y estas inquietudes que han venido declinando regularmente en el curso de los últimos años.
Pensamos que los proyectos del PMA deben ser altamente prioritarios, los de desarrollo en particular, aquellos que pueden contribuir directamente a prevenir los déficits alimentarios y las crisis. Ojalá pudiéramos tener la seguridad, y para ello confiamos en nuestro Director Ejecutivo, de que se va atener esa posible o aparente disminución de los recursos para proyectos de desarrollo y que esa disminución no se va a prolongar más allá de 1984, año que cubre este informe. Desearíamos saber cuáles son las previsiones para 1985-86.
Pensamos que los dirigentes del PMA, caracterizados por su dinamismo y competencia deben entrar seriamente en contacto con los gobiernos de todos los países, particularmente con los africanos, a entablar un diálogo para definir verdaderas prioridades y para identificar proyectos realmente benéficos.
En los párrafos 25 a 30, queremos destacar el esfuerzo que ha hecho el Programa para estudiar los proyectos. Esperamos que ese esfuerzo produzca positivos resultados que se reflejen en el próximo Informe Anual.
La Parte II: Políticas, Programas de Ayuda Alimentaria, es de la mayor importancia para este Consejo. Estamos de acuerdo con el párrafo 10, según el cual la ayuda alimentaria en la medida de lo posible debe ser utilizada para el desarrollo a medio y largo plazo y no solamente como paliativo a corto plazo.
Particularmente a la luz de las crisis alimentarias, deseamos insistir en que el PMA intensifique sus esfuerzos, ya reconocidos y alabados, para ayudar sobre todo a los países menos adelantados a desarrollar su capacidad de producción alimentaria.
El PMA sobresale en el panorama de las Naciones Unidas como el Organismo que más se ha fortalecido, aun dentro de la crisis de la cooperación multilateral. Sin embargo nunca, en ningún bienio, se ha alcanzado la totalidad de la meta prevista.
El objetivo de promesas ordinarias para 1985-86 que lnicialmente se propuso de 1 500 millones de dolares, el CPA debió reducirlo a 1 350 millones. Hasta ahora solo se han logrado 1 200 en recursos ordinarios, aportaciones del CAA y de la RAIE.
Las perspectivas para 1985 son inquietantes y parece que se detiene el avance del PMA. Esperamos que esto no corresponda a esta impresión, seguramente superficial.
Este Documento, sin embargo, nos indica que en 1985 las asignaciones disminuirán en un 26 por ciento en relación con 1984. De 925 millones se ha pasado a 680 millones. Las asignaciones para el desarrollo en 1985 volverán al nivel de 1983, concluye lamentablemente el párrafo 84.
En el CPA, y aquí también nos preocupa el párrafo 85 que habla de cómo esa reducción del nivel podría afectar aún en medidas limitadas el número de proyectos que se aprueban o aquellos en curso.
En el CPA el Director Ejecutivo nos tranquilizó en su declaración de esta mañana con elementos muy positivos que destacaba y que parecen darnos una seguridad que realmente nos complace.
Queremos concluir nuestra intervención apoyando el llamado del Sr. Ingram, del Director Ejecutivo, para que los donantes suministren asistencias que mejoren las actuales deficiencias del almacenaje de alimentos para que se establezcan las reservas de seguridad alimentaria y para que se logre una coordinación efectiva entre los donantes que hagan verdaderamente eficaz la asistencia del Programa.
Permítame, que al final y contra mi costumbre, presente una nota de sentido personal. Este Informe Anual comprende los períodos 17 y 18 del CPA, ambos tuve el honor de presidir y he tenido la satisfacción de haber sido sucedido por un distinguido representante colega y amigo, el Sr. Hostmark, de Noruega, a quien aun en su ausencia quiero rendir homenaje de amistad y simpatía. Proviene de un país nórdico avanzado y de gran sentido positivo de la cooperación internacional, a lo cual el Gobierno colombiano rinde homenaje permanente. La circunstancia de que durante 1984 yo haya presidido el CPA me ofreció la oportunidad de conocer de cerca la valiosa cooperación del Dr. Edouard Saouma, Director General de la FAO, y de todo su personal también; de los representantes del Secretario General de Naciones Unidas y, de manera muy directa y permanente la cooperación y el estímulo del Sr. Ingram, Director Ejecutivo del Programa Mundial de Alimentos, y de todo el personal de ese importante Organismo. Permítame que destaque, señor Presidente, particularmente la asistencia diaria que recibí del Sr. Haque, del Secretario del CPA, un funcionario internacional excepcional quien en todo momento estimuló mi función de Presidente con un espíritu serio, objetivo y realista.
Finalmente, una vez más el Gobierno de Colombia desea alentar al Sr. Ingram y a todo el personal del PMA para que continúen la valiosa labor que vienen realizando.
H. WETZEL (Germany, Federal Republic of): I should like to thank the Executive Director of the World Food Programme for the clear and lucid introductory statement on the Tenth Annual Report of the World Food Programme which we consider a comprehensive and balanced document.
The Report as well as the updated information we got from the Executive Director this morning provides us with a very informative over-view of successful activities, and reveals in a frank manner at the same time some concerns and problems.
At the outset I should like to pay tribute to the Executive Director and his dedicated staff. It is not necessarily the record level of commitment which is most impressive. Although this shows of course how much confidence WFP was able to generate - even more so the pragmatic approaches to quite a number of most difficult problems convinced us of the efficiency of the Programme which has once more underlined its role as the largest development source in international cooperation after the World Bank group.
WFP has been helpful in many respects. Most commendable are a number of various efforts to put the tasks of this Organization in the broader context of overall developmental efforts, both multilateral and bilateral. A sober look at the overall economic environment that WFP is operating in is indeed a main concern. In particular, the obvious trend to link food aid more effectively to overall sectoral economic strategies at the national level finds our strongest support and should be strengthened wherever possible.
The new liaison arrangement between the World Bank, which in 1984 provided a grant of US$2 million, and WFP, may successfully contribute to a better integration of food aid measures into the overall development strategies as discussed in consultative groups and consortia. UNDP round tables could play a similar role.
When indicating our preference for strengthening the developmental impact of food aid measures, we feel that there is an urgent need for a more precise distinction between pure emergency measures and others with developmental components. Decisions on emergency aid allocations should be based on solid appraisals and upon agreed criteria. Emergency food aid and related measures alone cannot be considered the most effective answer to changing the unbearable situation in many parts of the world, in particular in Africa, if we really want to tackle the problems at the roots.
Coming now to some detailed information in the Report 1 have some brief comments. The allocation of 86 percent of the commitments to low-income countries - and here I understand to the vulnerable groups and rural poor - finds our support as well as the major emphasis on measures in response to the critical situation in sub-Saharan Africa. We commend the Executive Director on having made the appropriate administrative and organizational arrangements, both at Headquarters and at the field level. The weekly reports issued by the African Task Force Secretariat which cooperates closely with the United Nations Office for emergency operations in Africa, form an important element in our own decision making process at the bilateral level.
Coming to the cash position of the Programme, we were informed that the situation is not alarming but there is certainly ample room for improvement. If donors would contribute one-third of their regular pledges in cash there would be no problem at all. My Government did abide by the respective rules for many years and I am confident we will be able to maintain that position.
We noted with great satisfaction the continuing relative small amount of administrative costs. We hope the Programme can also be run in the future in such a cost-effective manner. One pre-condition is of course to maintain the high quality and dedication of WFP's staff. We also encourage the management concerned to remove soon all obstacles which impede the gradual introduction of limited rotation between field and Headquarters posts.
The Annual Report of the WFP to the FAO Council, to ECOSOC and to the World Food Council on the Programme's performance during the previous year covers the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Session of the CFA. One of the major topics of these sessions were discussions and decisions concerning a report of the Joint Inspection Unit on Personnel Problems in the World Food Programme. Paragraph 9 of the Annual Report before us touches upon certain difficulties for WFP in carrying out its Programme. Action has been taken in the meantime based on the work of the Joint UN/FAO Task Force and we notice this with satisfaction. We were highly pleased to hear from the Executive Director this morning, and this was confirmed by the representative of the Director-General some minutes ago, that good progress is already being made in the spirit of goodwill and mutual cooperation. We are furthermore pleased to hear of the favourable prospects in that we are now embarking on a durable relationship of these two organizations which indeed have to play an important complementary role.
R.C. GUPTA (India): My delegation had the opportunity of studying this Report in the last session of the CFA and as we said at that time we find it an extremely balanced, informative and comprehensive document giving a clear picture of the performance of the Programme in the year 1984. Since we are discussing items 10 and 11 together 1 would consider it appropriate to compliment the FAO Secretariat also for producing the two supplements of Information document 15, which makes it easier for us to have the views of the Programme and Finance Committee also in the same place. It will certainly assist in understanding the situation better.
We would heartily congratulate Mr Ingram and his colleagues in the World Food Programme for their deep commitment and dedication. We would particularly compliment the Executive Director for his comprehensive and candid presentation. The extent of the involvement of the Programme in alleviating hunger and assisting development is evidenced by the fact that at the end of 1984 it had 288 operational projects in 87 countries involving an outlay of over $2.9 million. The performance of the Programme in the context of Africa particularly has amply demonstrated its resilience and strength and we could not perhaps say anything better than the observation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who has complimented the Programme in making a significant contribution to alleviating the emergency situation in Africa.
Another notable factor is that the Programme has been able to do much more than it did in the 1970s, when 1.9 million tons of food aid was delivered over a period of 3 years, which performance has been doubled in a period of six months in the present year. It has also done extremely well in coordinating the efforts of various agencies in meeting the emergency situation in Africa by constituting an African Task Force Secretariat which has become a clearing house of information on food aid requirements and logistics.
With regard to the Programme we would comment on the fact that 9 percent of the population in the least developed countries have received 36 percent of the total development assistance in 1983 and 38 percent in 1984, and the Programme's commitment to low income countries continues to be as high as over 86 percent.
With reference to the outlook for the future, we note with some concern that the cash outgoings in 1984 were substantially higher than cash income and if this situation continues the Programme could be in very serious difficulties both in terms of having cash for transportation and handling of the commodities provided as also for making purchases of commodities not readily available or for making this operation cost effective by purchasing commodities in the same regions where the need arises.
We strongly urge all donors and international organizations to assist the World Food Programme by donating cash resources to the extent of at least one-third of their pledges to the Programme.
Another factor which we would like to highlight is the diversification of the parcel of commodities provided to the World Food Programme. If the Programme is to be treated truly not as a surplus disposal Programme it will be necessary for donors to see that they provide commodities which are needed by aid-recipient countries. I would not like to dwell upon the subject, but my indication should be clear enough.
Another aspect to which we would like to address ourselves is the effectiveness of food aid. The Executive Director dwelt at length on this aspect and while it is a matter of great satisfaction that the donor community and the international community at large has come forward in a most generous manner to assist Africa and the African crisis this satisfaction could be shortlived if food aid is not used as a proper resource to build ways and means to end the food aid itself.
As the Executive Director pointed out, in certain countries of Africa the crop is likely to be harvested shortly and if excessive availability of food aid acts as a disincentive and a factor depressing the prices this would go against all programmes and schemes for rehabilitation of agriculture in Africa because unless the producer gets adequate prices production will not rise. He has rightly emphasized the need for building warehouses for stocking of surpluses, otherwise either the crop or donated commodities would go to waste or they would serve as a disincentive to agricultural production.
Further, a lot of lipservice is paid to the need for rehabilitation but, as the Executive Director has pointed out, and I say this in all humility and in a spirit of friendship and brotherhood, the African countries themselves as well as the donor community have to take immediate steps to see that food aid is used in a manner which will have long-term beneficial effects. Employment-led equitable growth is the only manner in which we have to approach this subject and some of the approaches suggested by the Executive Director in terms of integrating food aid with other forms of assistance, integrating food aid with the development process is the right approach and we commend the suggestion about UNDP round tables to sort out these issues.
Lastly, we would like to address a few comments to item 11. As late as April 1985 the Finance Committee met and this aspect of relationship between the World Food Programme and FAO was discussed and the report of the Finance Committee makes rather depressing reading. But we are extremely happy with the observations of the Executive Director and Mr Crowther this afternoon and it is a matter of some satisfaction that the relationship is improving and progress is in the right direction.
Mr Ingram's comments that the two Organizations have entered a phase of durable relationship we find extremely heartening and we would encourage FAO as well as the World Food Programme to continue these efforts, because after all the two Organizations have common goals, a shared trust, and we are confident that they will be able to rise to the occasion and provide the maximum assistance they are capable of doing to the needy and hungry of the world.
ZENG XIANRONG (China) (original language Chinese): First I would like to thank the Executive Director of WFP, Mr Ingram, for his clear introduction of this item.
The report now under discussion is as exellent as it is informative. It gives an all-round review of the policy of food aid and the enormous amount of work done in 1984; it has also provided an outlook for 1985.
May I offer a few comments on this report.
Firstly, we are pleased to note that the level of commitments to development of the WFP has attained a new record as compared with 1983. This is brought about mainly by its ever increasing resources, enabling it to commit more development projects each year and to provide more food for emergency operations. Such a fact indicates that the WFP, under the guidance of CFA, has achieved gratifying results in implementing the recommendations of food aid adopted by the World Food Conference.
From the report we noted that the WFP, in allocating resources in 1984, has given priority to low-income countries and the LDC's as well as to countries in the African region. This has produced good results and is in conformity with the aim of food aid.
We are of the view that the WFP should consider itself duty-bound to provide to the African region as it is struck by serious calamities, helping these countries and their people to tide over the famine and rehabilitate agricultural production, as well as to integrate food aid with development activities. Undoubtedly, WFP is playing a significant role in this field.
The Chinese delegation would like to express its deep concern about the outlook for 1985 as contained in Part 8 of the report. No matter how one views it, the substantial decrease in the level of commitment for food aid in 1985 will have harmful effects on development. However, it is to be acknowledged that doing a good job in food aid, enabling food provided to play its due role is a rather complex matter, involving various factors from different areas as well as efforts from the parties concerned. For recipient countries of food aid, it is necessary to further strengthen planning, institution establishment and food management on the basis of experience gained in these fields. As for donor countries, more food and cash should be generously granted while recipient countries try to improve the utilization of food aid. By doing so, the donor countries can also help the WFP to improve its implementation of food aid policies and programmes.
Finally, we wish to put on record our endorsement of the report.
Sra. M. FERMIN GOMEZ (Venezuela): Hemos escuchado con mucha atención la excelente síntesis presentada por el señor Ingram, Director Ejecutivo del Programa Mundial de Alimentos, y quisiéramos expresar nuestro reconocimiento y expresar nuestras congratulaciones a él y a su extraordinario equipo por la labor desarrollada tal como ha sido presentada.
Deseamos intervenir para referirnos a algunos de los puntos subrayados por él en la parte 2 del Informe, especialmente a la conveniencia de utilizar la ayuda alimentaria no como un paliativo a corto plazo, sino como apoyo de una estrategia de crecimiento equitativo para las zonas rurales, a lo cual añadiríamos que debería convertirse en un principio a ser adoptado por la FAO, no sólo para el caso extremo de Africa, sino también para las áreas subdesarrolladas de otras regiones que reclaman ayuda alimentaria de parte del Consejo Mundial de la Alimentación.
Esa estrategia de crecimiento equitativo para las áreas rurales del Africa subsahariana que hace hincapié no sólo en incentivar la producción de estas áreas, sino que incluye entre sus objetivos el dar prioridad al empleo sobre todo en la construcción y mejoramiento de la infraestructura indispensable para el desarrollo agrícola, nos parece por demás interesante.
Deseamos destacar el concepto de la ayuda alimentaria integrada en los planes nacionales de desarrollo de manera que sirvan como un estímulo para el incremento de la producción local y en conexión con este punto deseamos poner énfasis dando nuestro apoyo de manera expresa a dos conceptos expuestos por el señor Ingram: uno, la necesidad de crear la reserva de seguridad alimentaria; dos, la conveniencia de que la estrategia a seguir debe centrarse en las infraestructuras rurales existentes en los países de bajos ingresos deficitarios en alimentos y la necesidad de que los planificadores del desarrollo agrícola de esos países, así como los expertos enviados a dichas áreas rurales presten atención a los cultivos de productos autóctonos, añadiríamos nosotros.
En cada una de esas áreas existen cultivos y sistemas agrícolas tradicionales que han servido de base en la alimentación de muchas generaciones y que no deberían abandonarse en favor de cultivos exóticos sin mengua del verdadero desarrollo agrícola independiente, que debería ser una de las metas a seguir en estos programas.
Quisiera citar un solo ejemplo de nuestra propia experiencia en trabajos de campo realizados en mi país y en algunos otros de América Latina. Me refiero al sistema tradicional multiple o de cultivos múltiples, como lellaman al multi crop system; este sistema común a varios de los países de América Latina, los cuales van adoptando nombres autóctonos de cada país, como la chinampa, la milpa en México,el conuco en Venezuela, la chacra chilena y el nombre que se me escapa en Cuba.
En todos ellos, el campesino planta en su pequeña parcela una variedad de cultivos que constituyen su dieta básica como el maíz ó los granos o la papa o la verdura y hasta la fruta.
Esto constituye una reserva alimentaria a nivel familiar, de la cual van cosechando oportunamente el producto que necesitan día a día, semana a semana.
De ese vegetable garden, que en Estados Unidos se está poniendo de moda por los que están siguiendo la nueva tendencia de alimentación naturalista huyendo del excesivo uso de fertilizantes en la producción de alimentos los campesinos recogen sus cosechas, los granos, y la guardan pero conservan en la propia tierra los tubérculos y las verduras para ser usados lo más frescos posible.
Queremos sintetizar nuestra idea relativa a la ayuda alimentaria pensando en las reservas de ayudas de la Comisión Mundial de Alimentos y en que pudiera adoptarse esta estrategia enseñando a los campesinos, apoyando su sistema de cultivo para que ellos no abandonen la agricultura de subsistencia. Yo pienso que la ayuda de la FAO o del Programa de Alimentos no debe tratar de estimular un desarrollo excesivo para estos países que necesitan alimento inmediato, que no tienen capital, para desarrollar una agricultura a nivel comercial, y por consiguiente, la agricultura de subsistencia. En estos casos sería más recomendable, y en eso pensábamos cuando el señor Ingram anunciaba la necesidad de que estos expertos que van a los países para ayudarles, prestaran atención a esas prácticas autóctonas que les serviría de inmediato, pudiéramos decir con menos costos para el Programa y que al mismo tiempo estimularía a los campesinos en algo que ellos conocen, dándoles empleo, que es otro de los objetivos que persique el Programa y manteniendo una posibilidad de estímulo para un desarrollo agrícola a un nivel que no llegue al nivel de exportaciones o al nivel comercial.
Estas ideas mal hilvanadas, que deberían ser un poco mejor estudiadas por este Comité de Expertos que posee el Programa Mundial de Alimentos, podrían ayudar a muchos países, no sólo en Africa, estoy segura que también en América Latina, en donde estos sistemas de cultivo se practican tradi-cionalmente y que no llegan a desarrollarse a un nivel más alto por falta de estímulos de tipo capital o en vez también de nuevos cultivos que pudieran ser adoptados y adaptados a su clima.
No quiero recargar más la atención de ustedes con estas ideas, pero creo que pueden ser útiles si se estudian y si se incorporan a este Programa Mundial de Alimentos, como única manera de adaptarlas a las posibilidades de una ayuda local.
H. REDL (Austria): First of all, I would like to thank the Executive Director, Mr Ingram, for his clear introduction. My delegation attended the 19th Session of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes as an observer. The 10th Annual Report was studied with particular interest. We noted with satisfaction that deliberations of previous years had been taken into account, and that 86 percent of the total performance was earmarked to benefit poor countries. The establishment of the Africa Task Force has proved successful as is shown by the report and has guaranteed concerted action by all the United Nations organizations concerned.
A very important part of the work of FAO and WFP, regular cooperation, was satisfactorily solved by the ad hoc task force. We are pleased that consensus was reached between the parties concerned, as they know best how to cooperate most efficiently.
This report is undoubtedly a good basis for future cooperation. We also hope the proposed changes will not entail increases in the cost. Therefore, we await with interest next year's report on the funding of this cooperation.
As concerns the policy followed by WFP, Austria welcomes the still valid principle that solutions to the problems of hunger have primarily to be sought at national level. This calls for decisions both as to agricultural production and other economic problems. Important as food aid is, it will always have to be geared to the conditions of the respective developing country. Furthermore, we should be quite sure that urgent short-term and long-term measures do not interfere with each other so that the food aid adopted in the national programme of the recipient country will stimulate production and support humanitarian practice.
The annual report further states that in the field of development aid the aforementioned priority of the poorest developing country was observed, as indicated in paragraphs 20 and 23. We welcome there the division into agricultural and structural measures. We hope these will remain.
My delegation noted with great interest the statement on the new management information system under which the services of an international firm, as well as of a group of experts, have been enlisted to examine and improve the existing information system of WFP. Among other things, this concerns the use of the International Computer Centre. It would be interesting to learn whether the costs accruing for this purpose have already found expression in the increased efficiency of the WFP Information System.
In conclusion, we would voice our appreciation that the previous setting of priorities, with particular emphasis on Africa, has continued, and that WFP will make efforts to guarantee the more efficient participation of the recipient countries in their national development programmes.
H. DA SILVEIRA SARDINHA PINTO (Brazil): To begin with, I want to express the thanks of my delegation to the Executive Director of the WFP for his presentation of document CL 87/6, which contains the 10th Annual Report of the CFA. This report is clearly marked by the excellent level of operations of the World Food Programme in 1984 , reaching record levels of activity for the second consecutive year. Unfortunately, the perspectives for this year do not leave much room for optimism, since a decrease is foreseen of some 26 percent in the level of operation of the Programme in relation to the 1984 figures.
Another positive sign of the WFP activities in 1984 was the definition of a clear priority devoted to the most needy countries. In fact, 86 percent of WFP commitments were for the low-income food-deficit countries. At the same time, we were glad to notice very positive intervention by the Programme in other developing countries affected either by natural and man-made disasters, or by socio-economic crises, with direct influence on the availability of food for their people.
WFP has not only placed greater emphasis on responding to the critical needs of sub-Saharan Africa in 1984, but has also taken other measures aimed at improving the performance of all the Programme's activities related to the food crisis. This is especially the case in the establishment of a special unit known as the Africa Task Force Secretariat. Once again, WFP has the full support of my delegation for such an initiative. In fact, we are persuaded of the need to strengthen coordination to the greatest extent possible between donors, recipient countries and international organizations involved with food and development aid.
As regards the level of emergency operations approved in 1984, while recognizing the urgent needs, particularly of sub-Saharan Africa, my delegation wishes to express its support for the measures leading to strengthening the developmental impact of food aid in developing countries. This can also be achieved by integrating food aid programmes with national development plans in recipient countries
Finally, my felegation would like to commend the World Food Programme for the excellent work it has been doing in developing countries. We urge the donor community to make available to WFP the necessary resources for the achievement of its noble hopes.
Ms. M. FENWICK (United States of America): I think we heard this morning one of the finest speeches that has been given. It was impressive in so many ways. I would like to congratulate 'both the Executive Director and the Director-General on the progress that has been recorded in the relations between the two agencies which are, of course, joined in the hope of benefitting those who have least in the world. The progress in that spirit of goodwill and cooperation is something that I think we were all very happy to hear.
I would also like to congratulate WFP on handling the enormous volume of food, in struggling with ports and trucks, and railroads which are not always in the best repair, and trying to get food whei
it is so desperately needed. I think it has been a significant achievement.
In that regard I was particularly happy to note the emphasis that the Executive Director gave to the cooperation of transit countries, as he called them, those whose facilities have been strained, used and sometimes over-used in an effort to reach people who otherwise would have no help.
May I again, as I have before, draw to the attention of this Council the magnificent performance of Cameroon, which has only one tiny port, and their compassionate and noble actions when all of their resources were being strained to provide food for Chad. The President, officials of the Government, and the people of Cameroon I think deserve applause and our heartiest commendation. I hope that they understand how much their gesture of compassion and solidarity has been approved.
D. HUTTON (Canada): I too wish to thank Mr Ingram for his introduction to this item. His comments on the lessons to be learned from our recent experience in Africa for present and future food aid shipments are well taken. I can assure him of our openness to his suggestions.
The impressive achievements of WFP during 1984 are well documented in its Tenth Annual Report. For the second year WFP has marked record levels of activity. The orientation of its Programme activities towards meeting the unprecedented need for food aid assistance in sub-Saharan Africa has been in the vanguard of the international community's response to the situation there.
My delegation can only reiterate its full support for WFP and express our great appreciation and admiration of the work that has been done by Mr Ingram and his staff. I would like to highlight several specific matters raised in this Report.
We commend the Executive Director for his decision to establish the African Task Force and for the establishment of the food aid information system. The issuance of the Task Force weekly and monthly reports dealing with food aid pledges and deliveries, and evolving logistical constraints along with more frequent direct contacts between WFP staff in Rome and in the field and the various donor agencies is proving to be one of the most useful and practical examples of coordination yet enjoyed in the field of international development assistance. The complementarity between these activities and FAO's Global Early Warning Information System is equally commendable. The computerization of WFP activities is an exciting development. After an initial somewhat shaky start for the WIS system, WFP is moving rapidly into the forefront on the effective use of these available technologies. From our perspective, WFP is in the initial phase and, a very difficult one, of a revolution in the use of this technology. I believe that other agencies in the UN System and elsewhere would benefit from studying their evolving approaches.
I would add that at this point we do not share some of the views raised by certain delegations that WFP at this time faces a cash crisis. I have our views on this subject and others have been raised at the CFA, so I will not repeat them here.
I would like to note briefly and positively the work I understand has been and will be done in implementing the decision of the Nineteenth Session of the CFA on the UN/FAO Joint Task Force Report. I would also like to thank Mr Crowther for his contribution to this implementation. I will not repeat the elements of our statement on this item made at that Session of the CFA. However, I believe it was a simple, clear statement of our position and I will only underline again the importance my delegation attaches to the full and speedy implementation of this Joint Task Force Report. I would like to commend the Director-General and his staff for the approach which they have so far adopted in the implementation of the decision.
Finally, I would also like to formally ask the Director-General to make a full report on the implementation of the Joint Task Force Report at the next session of this Council. The Director-General will recall that this was a substantive aspect of the Canadian statement at the CFA.
A.M. KHALED (Yemen, People's Democratic Republic of) (Original language Arabic): I should like to thank the Executive Director for his clear, comprehensive and balanced report, and the additional information he has provided on the activities of the Programme.
Having considered this Report, my delegation would like to thank the Executive Director, and we should like to express our appreciation for the role played by the WFP in providing aid to the countries affected by the food crisis in Africa. No doubt Mr Ingram has been very active in this respect, and we should like to commend his efforts.
We should also like to mention our own experience with the WFP which has resulted in cooperation in implementing many projects in several areas which have had a concrete impact on development efforts in our country. The atmosphere of understanding, cooperation and enthusiasm between officials of the Programme and our Government officials was very positive. We have been honoured by a visit by Mr Ingram to our country very recently and this has demonstrated his interest and his goodwill regarding the integration of food aid in development plans.
The prospects regarding the Programme are well known to my delegation and we will cooperate to implement all the necessary objectives.
We should also like to share the worries expressed by the Executive Director regarding the cash position which would restrict the Programme's ability to implement its activities.
My delegation should like to support the appeal to donor countries to carry out their commitment and to give cash contributions. We support the Executive Director's views on the continued crisis in Africa and the necessity for cooperation, consultation and coordination with the donor countries in order to overcome the crisis.
In conclusion we should like to express our appreciation and satisfaction for the ideas presented by the Executive Director regarding present relations between FAO and WFP, and should like to congratulate the Director-General and the Executive Director for this spirit of understanding and cooperation. We trust that this atmosphere will he further improved for the benefit of all in order to reach the humanitarian goals which the two organizations seek to achieve.
P. PONGPAET (Thailand): First of all my delegation wishes to express our thanks to the Executive Director of the World Food Programme for his clear introduction to this document under consideration.
The Tenth Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes shows the record levels in the amount of assistance, provided for both development and emergency purposes by the World Food Programme in 1984.
As shown in the Report, we are pleased with the manner in which development assistance and emergency operations work hand in hand and that emphasis and priority were given to the low-income food-deficit countries, particularly in Africa.
My delegation is grateful for WFP's role as coordinator of emergency operations along the Thai-Kampuchea border in cooperation with the United Nations Border Relief Operation (UNBRO) as indicated in paragraphs 38 and 39.
The establishment of the African Task Force by the Executive Director of the WFP is commendable. This Unit has cooperated closely with the United Nations Office for Emergency Operations in Africa. We believe this kind of cooperation would ensure speediness and effectiveness in providing assistance to the needy people of this continent.
We believe that the food aid information system established by WFP would be strengthened with the support of the FAO Global Early Warning System. My delegation, therefore, supports the close cooperation of the World Food Programme and FAO and the coordination of their work.
My delegation has followed with interest the annual review of food aid policies and programmes conducted by the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes. We have seen the successful reviews conducted for both the donors and the recipient countries. We see that the reviews not only highlight the problems to be tackled but also provide good experience for the recipients, the donors and the World Food Programme. My delegation therefore supports the continuation of those reviews.
While we are supporting paragraphs 70, 71, 72 and 73, more emphasis could be given to the practices on on triangular transactions. We believe that WFP and FAO could encourage these activities as their merits are well known to us.
On the Joint Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General on the FAO/WFP relationship, my delegation welcomes the decision taken by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of FAO. We would be happy to see these two organizations working closely and more harmoniously for the benefit of the unfortunate people who are in need of assistance from FAO and the World Food Programme.
Last but not least, paragraphs 84 - 85, show that owing to the constraint on resources, the World Food Programme has had to set a preliminary commitment ceiling for 1985 at a lower level than that of 1984.
My delegation therefore wishes to support paragraph 86 and wants to add that the limited resources should be channelled only to those who most deserve it.
In conclusion my delegation endorses the Tenth Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes and commends the informative and comprehensive nature of this document.
F. de MENEZES (Sao Tome-et-Principe): Je voudrais me joindre aux autres délégués qui m'ont précédé pour féliciter M. Ingram, le Directeur exécutif du PAM, et son équipe pour le rapport qu'il a bien voulu nous soumettre, qui nous donne le détail des multiples activités et actions de cette Organisation pendant l'année 1984 et les perspectives pour l'année en cours. Tout notre appui va donc aux aides alimentaires dans le cadre de l'assistance au développement sans oublier évidemment ce que nous pourrions appeler les ballons d'oxygène que peut représenter l'aide alimentaire d'urgence. Je voudrais formuler le souhait que la capacité des interventions de la RAIU soit sensiblement renforcée et augmentée. Mon pays, Sao Tomé-et-Principe connaît bien et même très bien d'ailleurs les actions du PAM après une aide d'urgence et nous avons commencé cette année 1985 avec une aide alimentaire comme assistance au développement de notre pays, suite à un projet parmi ceux que le Directeur exécutif peut personnellement décider quant à son octroi.
Monsieur Ingram, je voudrais, au nom de mon gouvernement, vous adresser, directement aujourd'hui et dans cette session du Conseil, nos vifs remerciements pour ces actions que cette Organisation que vous dirigez si bien a pu faire par rapport à mon pays. Je voudrais également féliciter et remercier vos collaborateurs tels que M. Nastorg et Mme Valérie Sequeira qui ont su user d'une énorme abnégation et d'une grande patience pour que les projets actuels pour mon pays puissent avoir lieu.
J'ai passé le mois de mai dernier à Sao Tomé et j'ai pu m'entretenir sur place avec votre représentant M. Pita Gros à qui, en passant, je voudrais adresser par votre intermédiaire mes félicitations et remerciements pour toutes ses actions dans mon pays maintenant qu'il nous quitte pour un autre lieu d'affectation. En m'entretenant avec lui j'ai pu apprendre que l'aide actuelle suit son cours normalement avec pour sélection la question de l'acheminement des produits mais que même cela est en voie de solution. D'ailleurs je saisis cette occasion pour vous demander et demander à la direction du PAM de ne pas hésiter à contacter l'Ambassade de Sao Tomé-et-Principe qui est la représentation permanente auprès de la FAO quand il s'agit de ce genre de problèmes. Nous sommes au courant de tous les bateaux qui peuvent être appelés à décharger ou à charger à Sao Tomé.
Je voudrais finalement faire part à Monsieur le Directeur exécutif du PAM de ma joie d'apprendre que les relations entre cette Organisation et la FAO sont en train de devenir bonnes. Je dois féliciter le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies et le Directeur général ainsi que le Directeur exécutif du PAM de toutes les actions et de la bonne volonté qu'ils ont mises à trouver une solution à cette situation. Une bonne entente entre les deux organisations ne peut qu'être bénéfique aux pays comme le mien qui ont besoin des actions conjointes des organisations. Quand un pays comme Sao Tomé-et-Principe n'est pas encore malheureusement de ceux qui bénéficient de beaucoup d'aide bilatérale, l'existence d'un organisme comme le PAM est pour nous essentiel, principalement quand elle est bien dirigée comme c'est le cas,et nous souhaitons que lui soient donnés les moyens nécessaires pour que ces actions soient rapides et efficaces.
J. TCHICAYA (Congo): La délégation congolaise, à l'instar de celles qui se sont exprimées avant elle souhaite féliciter Monsieur Ingram, le Directeur exécutif du PAM pour son excellente introduction du 10ème rapport annuel du CPA. Il s'agit là d'un document que nous avons déjà appuyé au CPA. Cependant, vous me permettrez d'insister sur un certain nombre de points mais, auparavant, nous voudrions nous féliciter du développement continu des activités du PAM sous la direction de M. Ingram, son Directeur exécutif. Les records battus en ce qui concerne le volume d'aides alimentaires en faveur de projets de développement et de l'aide d'urgence, montrent le dynamisme de cet organisme qui a ainsi fait preuve de son efficacité,ce qui devait inciter les donateurs à tout mettre en oeuvre pour aider le PAM à atteindre son objectif de 1 350 millions de dollars.
Nous savons aussi que le PAM se heurte à des difficultés objectives qui limitent les activités de son action sur le terrain, notamment les obstacles qu'il rencontre dans l'acheminement de l'aide d'urgence vers les pays en développement et à l'intérieur de ces derniers. A cet égard, il faut remercier les donateurs qui aident le PAM à résoudre les problèmes logistiques de distribution et nous voudrions lancer un appel pour que cette assistance soit accrue afin de réduire la portée de ces contraintes. Mais il est maintenant évident que la mauvaise répartition des réserves alimentaires constitue un obstacle majeur qui joue énormément en défaveur de la célérité nécessaire pour l'efficacité de l'aide alimentaire d'urgence. C'est pourquoi nous appuyons l'objectif de 2 millions de tonnes en deux volets pour la RAIU afin que les zones vulnérables puissent être en mesure de répondre aux situations d'urgence avec plus de promptitude.
Nos félicitations pour toutes les initiatives et mesures prises en faveur de l'Afrique et nous demandons au Directeur exécutif de continuer à privilégier cette région surtout du côté des projets de développement.
J'ai été très attentif ce mat in lorsque M. Ingram a parlé de la nécessité d'intégrer l'aide alimentaire dans les plans nationaux de développement. Il s'agit là d'une idée chère à notre gouvernement et je dois regretter avec le Directeur exécutif que les donateurs ne jouent pas le jeu en la matière et se dissimulent derrière des législations nationales désuètes car celles-ci continuent à ne pas tenir compte du fait que l'aide alimentaire constitue désormais une ressource très importante dans la mise en oeuvre des programmes de développement dans nombre de nos pays.
Nous aimerions insister sur les opérations triangulaires dont on a largement reconnu les vertus à plusieurs égards et c'est pourquoi nous appuyons le fait que le volet espèces ne soit pas négligé dans les contributions d'aide alimentaire au PAM, même si la situation financière du PAM n'est pas alarmante. Cela se justifie surtout au moment où nous vivons une crise alimentaire sans précédent en Afrique et des efforts sont en cours pour relancer la production dans cette région. Ceci revêt une importance capitale lorsqu'on sait que les opérations triangulaires sont un stimulant précieux pour accroître la production agricole et répond aux inquiétudes que nous avons souvent manifestées quant à la crainte de voir l'aide alimentaire avoir des effets négatifs sur la production nationale en changeant les habitudes alimentaires des populations concernées et. en renforçant ainsi la dépendance alimentaire de ces pays.
Pour terminer nous voudrions prendre acte du rapport commun du Secrétaire général de l'ONU et de la FAO sur les délibérations de l'équipe spéciale ONU et FAO chargée d'étudier les problèmes des relations avec le PAM. Nous tenons à féliciter, à l'instar du Directeur exécutif, les efforts faits par le Directeur général pour déléguer des pouvoirs étendus au Directeur exécutif afin de lui permettre de gérer le programme avec plus de souplesse sans que les relations des trois coopérations qui existent depuis plus de 22 ans n'en souffrent. Nous sommes particulièrement satisfaits de la volonté exprimée par tous de mettre en oeuvre les dispositions contenues dans ce rapport dans un esprit de confiance et de respect mutuel. Nous sommes d'ores et déjà satisfaits de ce que nous ont déclaré à ce sujet M. Ingram et le représentant du Directeur général.
Nous sommes certains que les effets synergiques qui résulteront de ce dialogue constructif contribueront encore davantage à solutionner les problèmes des populations qui souffrent de la faim et de la malnutrition à travers le monde.
Sra. G. SOTO CARRERO (Cuba): La delegación de Cuba quisiera, señor Presidente, por su intermedio agradecer al Director Ejecutivo del Programa Mundial de Alimentos, señor Ingram, por la elocuente y constructiva presentación de este tema mediante la cual nos ha proporcionado datos adicionales a los que aparecen en el documento que analizamos y que son de gran utilidad a nuestra Delegación, y seguramente a todo el Consejo.
Mi delegación se congratula porque los esfuerzos fundamentales de la ayuda de urgencia en 1983 se dedicara a los países al sur del Sahara pero también porque el Programa Mundial de Alimentos en buena práctica del principio de universalidad que los caracteriza haya tenido en cuenta otras regiones en desarrollo, como bien se expresa en el párrafo 25.
Otro aspecto al que quisiéramos referirnos, al igual que lo han hecho otras delegaciones, es a la compra de alimentos en los países en desarrollo, la conveniencia y beneficios de las operaciones triangulares que ya han sido reconocidos por otros oradores, así como se recoge en el párrafo 14 del documento que analizamos y consideramos que este Consejo debe apoyar.
Sobre los problemas de transporte reiteramos la necesidad de que se incremente la práctica de utilizar los barcos de los países en desarrollo, lo cual en ocasiones agiliza la entrega de los productos además de otros beneficios que proporciona a los países en desarrollo.
Los proyectos de desarrollo que a nuestro entender son elementos de gran importancia, si no fundamentales, dentro de las acciones del Programa Mundial de Alimentos sufren una merma según se expresa en la parte 8, párrafo 84. Este aspecto consideramos que debe ser objeto de preoccupación de este Consejo y muy especialmente si esta merma afecta a la buena marcha de proyectos ya aprobados por el CPA.
Finalmente, quisiera expresar la satisfacción de la delegación de Cuba por el contenido de la última parte del Informe del señor Ingram y en la cual se refirió expresamente a la colaboración existente entre la FAO y el Programa Mundial de Alimentos en el ejercicio de sus respectivas funciones, lo cual se ha logrado con la mejora de las relaciones entre ambas organizaciones, lo cual a nuestro entender se vierte en un beneficio neto para los países que necesitan la ayuda tanto de la FAO como del PMA, así como una mayor garantía para los países donantes de que sus generosos aportes sean utilizados coordinadamente y sin duplicidad de esfuerzos.
F.G. POULIDES (Cyprus): We have listened very carefully to the statement of the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Mr. Ingram, introducing and commenting on the Tenth Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes. I wish to express the warmest congratulations of the Cyprus delegation to Mr. Ingram for his lucid introduction of the Report.
It is indeed gratifying to note the Programme's impressive performance for 1984. In this respect we note the record levels for both emergency and development assistance provided in that area. We wish to comment most warmly on the creation of the special African Task Force, and particularly for the speedy delivery of food aid. This is indeed a great achievement which needs particular encouragement.
We note and welcome from the Report the continuation of the practice of the triangular transactions which have been official to the developing countries. For these transactions to be continued and increased, cash resources should be made available to the Programme. We would like therefore to appeal to the donor countries to provide the World Food Programme with as much cash contributions as they possibly can.
We note the developing countries' share of transportation which reached in 1984 about 11 percent of the total shipments. Considering, however, the tonnage owned by the developing countries, efforts should be made for a substantial increase of this percentage.
Finally, we were glad to note from the Executive Director, Mr Ingram's concluding remarks, that the Joint Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and of the Director-General of the FAO will result in an improved relationship within the UN family. We hope that in an atmosphere of goodwill, mutual respect and confidence the Programme will continue to grow and operate efficiently to the benefit of the developing countries.
With these observations my delegation fully endorses the Tenth Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes.
H. MALTEZ (Panamá): Antes de nada permítame usted unirnos a los países que nos han precedido en el uso de la palabra y felicitar muy sinceramente al Sr. Ingram por su excelente presentación del tema en examen.
La delegación de Panamá desea referirse muy brevemente al documento CL 87/6 que trata sobre el 10° Informe anual del Comité de Políticas y Programas de Ayuda Alimentaria, no solo con el proposito fundamental de expresar en líneas generales su apoyo a dicho Informe, sino también para efectuar algunos comentarios que el mismo le merecen.
En primer lugar, esta delegación toma nota del nivel sin precedentes alcanzado por las actividades del PMA en ese total, como se pone de manifiesto en la parte primera del Informe y análisis. Se nota no sólo un incremento de las asignaciones para proyectos de desarrollo, sino también para las operaciones de urgencia en relación con el año anterior, año que se consideró excepcional.
Nuestra delegación, además, comparte en general las políticas y programas de ayuda alimentaria señalado y en particular la expresada en los párrafos 12 y 13 del documento en examen referente a que el problema del hambre debe enfrentarse en el plano nacional y que la ayuda alimentaria debe integrarse en los planes nacionales de desarrollo.
Permítanos igualmente, señor Presidente, insistir en la necesidad de que todos los donantes aumentan las operaciones triangulares ya que compartimos la opinión que las mismas son un medio para estimular la producción de alimentos en países en desarrollo y el comercio entre ellos, tal como se indica en el párrafo 14.
Asimismo queremos expresar nuestra esperanza que la cantidad de recursos prometidos al PMA en forma de recursos ordinarios para el bienio 1985/86 logre alcanzar su totalidad o la cantidad más cercana a la misma y que aumente el número de países donantes.
Para concluir, sobre el tema particular de las relaciones entre la FAO con el PMA la delegación de Panamá desea subrayar que se complace que sobre la base de los trabajos del Grupo de Acción Conjunto NU/FAO el Secretario General y el Director General llegaran a un acuerdo y que este acuerdo se venga a materializar en la delegación de nuevas funciones al Director General Ejecutivo del PMA, las que, en nuestra opinión, aumentan la flexibilidad en cuestiones administrativas y de gestión de este Programa.
Expresamos nuestra confianza de que los acuerdos obtenidos contribuirán efectivamente a que el PMA siga actuando como hasta ahora, y mejor, en beneficio de los sectores que en distintos países necesitan de la asistencia de este Programa.
REAZ RAHMAN (Bangladesh): The Bangladesh delegation would like to thank Mr Ingram for his excellent introduction to the Tenth Annual Report of the CFA which has highlighted and indeed supplemented the main activities and achievements of the Programme. We compliment the Programme and commend the Secretariat for the role they have played in meeting the critical needs of developing countries and particularly those stricken in Africa.
The phenomenal growth of the Programme from its modest beginnings in 1963 is a testimony of the efficient dedicated work performed by the Executive Director and his staff. This is further borne out by the records set in 1984-85 not only in the approval of new emergency projects, the tonnage of food shipped, the significant increase in purchases from the developing countries and the fact
that the share of resources to the least developed countries increases by 38 percent. We have also noted the appreciable growth in expenditure turnover as well as in the number and value of development projects that have become actually operational.
We welcome the priority attached by WFP to the African crisis, the increasing value of new emergency assistance to Africa, and the additional responsibilities assumed by the WFP in constantly adapting itself to the crisis. The establishment of the Task Force, the new clearing house of logistic functions undertaken by it, have borne some dramatic results including stepped up food aid delivery by as much as three to sevenfold volumes. We are also especially appreciative of the role played by both donors and transit countries in this process.
We welcome the innovative approaches and initiatives taken by the Programme to make a more effective institution, not only for humanitarian relief assistance but for social and economic development. In this connection we note in particular the Executive Director's approaches in Africa which point towards such potential replicative programmes as food for work activities in Mali, resettlement programmes in Chad, ways to usefully exploit marketing and local surpluses in Sudan, etc. which the Executive Director pointed out to us today.
In the overall context we support the specific focus and orientation in the following priority directions:- First, the concentration in the low-income countries, particularly the least developed countries, and the concern directed even to such aspects as alleviating internal transport costs and handling disabilities.
Second, stress on the integration of developmental food aid in the country's national food strategies and programmes to help increase food production, prevent disincentives to such production, whilst at the same time bolstering humanitarian objectives. We appreciate in particular the reference in paragraph 31 of document CL 87/6 which specifically refers to Bangladesh as an exception to the fact that national planning authorities have somewhat neglected coordination between WFP food aid with both bilateral and other forms of aid.
Thirdly, ways and means to meet emergency food aid with medium and longer term developmental objectives.
Four, approaches to broaden where possible the food basket to meet the appropriate needs of developing countries.
Five, the critical link between a properly administered food aid and world food security with its three essential components of production, stability of supply and access. We fully support the Executive Director's stress that a viable route for WFP's activities in an employment led growth strategy for rural infrastructure. Our own experience with the Food of Works Programme and the critical need to increase the purchasing power of the large number of unemployed in our country has demonstrably proved the validity of this approach.
Although we have noted with great satisfaction the rapid increase in the activities and commitments of the Programme for development until 1984 when its commitments to development projects reached US$ 925 million for 2.1 million tons of food, we are concerned to note however that the commitments to development projects during 1985 will have to be reduced by about 26 percent because of resource constraints. This is all the more alarming because of the continuing critical food situation being faced by many developing countries. We are grateful to donor countries for their contribution to the World Food Programme, and would hope that in view of greater food aid needs and the unique role of WFP in this regard, the donors' support to the Programme will not only be continued but enhanced in the future.
In this connection, we would also urge the traditional and possible new donors to meet the balance of the WFP pledging of US$ 1.35 billion fixed for the current biennium. My delegation also supports the call for contributing one-third of the Programme's resources in cash and services to make the Programme's operations more flexible and efficient, and to enable it to respond to the needs with appropriate commodities through local purchase or triangular transactions. We also support greater utilization of shipping capacities available in the Third World countries where possible.
In conclusion, my delegation has been actively involved in the sensitive discussions on the relationships between the FAO and the WFP. It is therefore a matter of great satisfaction for us that the CFA at its Ninteenth Session welcomed the joint decisions submitted by the Secretary General and the Director-General which will enable the two bodies to work together with greater efficiency, complementarity and effectiveness. We appreciate the Executive Director's assurance of goodwill and cooperation, and his expectation that this would lead to a more durable and fruitful relationship.
Mlle E. RAVAUX (France): Lors de la 19ème session du Comité des politiques et programmes d'aide alimentaire, ma délégation a eu l'occasion d'exprimer au PAM son appréciation pour l'ensemble de ses activités au cours de l'année 1984 qui font l'objet du dixième rapport annuel soumis à l'examen de ce Conseil. Elle remercie M. Ingram, le Directeur exécutif du PAM, pour sa présentation claire de ce rapport, présentation faite dans un esprit très positif.
Ma délégation souhaite saluer à nouveau les efforts déployés par le PAM en relation avec les autres institutions des Nations Unies et notamment l'OAA, en réponse à la crise alimentaire en Afrique subsaharienne. Cela est particulièrement sensible dans le domaine logistique où d'importantes actions ont été menées afin de favoriser et d'accélérer la réception de l'aide alimentaire d'urgence par les populations victimes de la famine.
Ma délégation souhaite, en association avec le Directeur exécutif du PAM, rendre hommage au dévouement manifesté dans ce domaine par le personnel du PAM qui n'a pas ménagé sa peine tant au Siège que sur le terrain. Nous nous félicitons des dispositions spéciales prises par le PAM pour assurer le succès de ces opérations et renforcer la coordination avec les différentes aides.
Ces dispositions concernent d'une part la diffusion régulière par télex d'informations sur la situation en matière d'approvisionnement, d'autre part l'organisation des transports de l'aide alimentaire: des réseaux logistiques ont été mis en place pour parvenir à une plus grande efficacité. Comme vous le savez, mon pays a participé à ces efforts en mettant à la disposition du PAM deux experts en logistique, l'un au Siège, l'autre sur le terrain. Nous apprécions aussi la création d'un bureau spécial au Siège chargé de coordonner toutes les activités entreprises par le PAM pour faire face à la crise en Afrique. Lors de la 19ème session du CPA du PAM, la délégation française a participé activement aux travaux du Sous-comité plénier chargé d'examiner les projets. Elle a pu constater ainsi les efforts importants déployés par le PAM pour améliorer le cycle des projets et renforcer son rôle dans le domaine de l'assistance au développement.
En ce qui concerne le rapport du Secrétaire général des Nations Unies et du Directeur général de la FAO sur les conclusions de l'équipe spéciale chargée d'étudier les problèmes des relations entre le PAM et les organisations mères, ma délégation souhaiterait rappeler ce qu'elle a déclaré lors du dernier comité.
La France est satisfaite des conditions dans lesquelles se sont déroulés les travaux de cette équipe et apprécie que les délais aient été respectés pour la présentation des conclusions. Le texte auquel on est parvenu tient bien compte de la multiplicité des activités du PAM ainsi que de la complexité des liens avec les organisations mères.
Enfin, ma délégation constate avec satisfaction que la mise en application des conclusions de ce rapport s'effectue dans un esprit de coopération. Elle est heureuse d'apprendre que les relations entre le PAM et l'OAA se sont améliorées. C'est pourquoi elle leur adresse ses plus vifs encouragements afin qu'ils poursuivent leurs efforts dans cette voie constructive.
Sra. M. RUIZ ZAPATA (México): México, como miembro del CPA, se pronuncio en su oportunidad en favor del informe anual que analizamos ahora. Por esta razón solamente queremos reiterar en este Consejo nuestra aprobación al mismo, que incluye los grandes logros del PMA, de los que sinceramente nos felicitamos. Apoyamos sobre todo la orientación hacia el desarrollo al que las actividades del Programa tratan de apegarse. En este sentido me parece justo señalar la constructiva intervención del señor Ingram al introducir este tema y apoyar el llamado que hizo tanto a los países receptores como a los países donantes para que actúen de acuerdo con esos lineamientos. Apoyamos asimismo que el Programa concentre gran parte de sus actividades en Africa, ya que esto no afecta la universalidad del Programa y está de acuerdo con la voluntad de la Comunidad Internacional de solidarizarse con la solución del problema. Estaremos esperando el documento que anunció el Director Ejecutivo al respecto en el próximo período de sesiones CPA, ya que estamos seguros que la experiencia adquirida en la práctica por el Programa podrá ser de gran utilidad para el sistema de las Naciones Unidas en su conjunto.
Nos parece muy adecuado que el Programa dedique atención a los problemas de naturaleza conceptual y no sólo pragmática. En este sentido sería interesante considerar y estudiar la manera en que la ayuda de emergencia pueda tener alguna incidencia en la estrategia de largo plazo tendentes al desarrollo, ya que debemos evitar que los recursos destinados a dicha ayuda de emergencia se sustraigan de la asistencia al desarrollo. En una primera aproximación nosotros sugerimos que incluso la ayuda de emergencia debiera formar parte de la estrategia de seguridad alimentaria. Sabemos que lograr esto puede ser un ejercicio extremadamente difícil; sin embargo, creo que valdría la pena intentarlo.
Para que tenga usted una indicación clara sobre la posición de México en cuanto a algunos de los puntos que se han tocado, permítame señalar nuestro apoyo total a las operaciones triangulares, a la utilización de buques de países en desarrollo y a que las contribuciones se apeguen a los textos básicos y comprendan una tercera parte en efectivo para darle así al Programa la flexibilidad que
necesita.Llamo su atención a las repetidas intervenciones del Director Ejecutivo en este sentido. Apoyamos también la diversificación de la ayuda alimentaria, lo cual tendría beneficios evidentes en el mantenimiento de los hábitos alimentarios de la población de los países receptores.
Al ser uno de los últimos oradores, me complace especialmente constatar la unanimidad manifestada hasta ahora en nuestro Consejo al expresar la satisfacción por la rápida y efectiva puesta en práctica de las medidas contenidas en el Informe del Grupo de Acción Naciones Unidas FAO, en consonancia con las decisiones adoptadas por los Estados Miembros en el CPA.
México, naturalmente, se une a este consenso y expresa su confianza en que la indispensable cooperación entre ambas Organizaciones continuará.
R.G. PETTITT (United Kingdom): My country's delegation usually makes clear when speaking in other fora our admiration for the practical work of the World Food Programme and the down to earth approach of its management. In keeping with this down to earth approach I will not take the time of the Council for the presentation of bouquets. I will only take up the challenge made by Mr. Ingram in the later part of his presentation this morning.
My Government is known to have strongly held views on the different value of food aid in the development process and when used for emergency assistance. These views are the result of much thought within governments and among our academic and non-governmental community. We would be glad to be involved in the meeting of minds which Mr. Ingram has commended between donors, planners and developing countries and international practitioners about the effective use of food aid in development.
In conclusion we welcome the positive response of all concerned to the deliberations of the UN/FAO Task Force. We are glad to hear from both WFP and FAO that the implementation of the decisions taken by the Secretary-General and the Director-General is proceeding well and we look forward to the progress report which has been promised in due course.
A.M. QURESHI (Pakistan): We have carefully gone through document CL 87/6 presented to us. We would first like to thank Mr, Ingram, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, for a comprehensive presentation of the Tenth Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes. We were given in great detail the broad activities of the World Food Programme. We would also like to thank Mr. Crowther for his comments bearing on the matter of relations of FAO with the WFP.
First we would like to make a few observations on the report in document CL 87/6. We are happy to note that the year 1984 has been a year of considerable achievements for the World Food Programme and the commitments to development projects attained the high water mark of US $925 million which is a record, thus surpassing the level of 1983 by US $229 million. The commitments to emergency operations in 1984 outstripped that of 1983 by attaining the level of US $234 million. We also observe with appreciation that the World Food Programme shipped far more food for both development and emergency operations in 1984. Thus in 1984 the Programme committed resources to the tune of US $1.2 billion both for emergency and project assistance, which is no doubt a record achievement.
We appreciate that the Programme is conscious of and alive to the urgent need of strengthening coordination between the donors and recipient countries. We hope that the Programme will continue to address itself to cutting down the time lag between the pledges made and the actual delivery of food aid.
We are also happy to note that the Programme continues to underline and encourage the importance of triangular transactions.
We note with satisfaction that the World Food Programme has accentuated its focus on Africa in its hour of great need. We would like to congratulate the Programme for working in concert with FAO for alleviating the tragic situation in the African context.
We also wish to extend our deep appreciation to the WFP for the most valuable emergency assistance being extended to Pakistan for over 3 million refugees from a neighbouring country.
Finally, my delegation is happy to endorse the Tenth Report of the CFA.
Briefly a few observations on relations of FAO with the World Food Programme. We welcome the statement of Mr. Ingram that good progress is already being made on the report of the UN/FAO Joint Task Force and all this is being done in a spirit of good will and cooperation. We recall that the joint sessions of the Programme and Finance Committees in their deliberations in May 1985 wholeheartedly endorsed the delegation of authority to the Executive Director for running the Programme in an effective and efficient manner, and all this was later endorsed by the CFA in its session last month.
My delegation would wish to congratulate the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of FAO for their constructive initiative in this regard. We share the optimism of those delegates who have preceded us that both FAO and the Programme will continue to play their complementary role in a spirit of accommodation, cooperation and goodwill to eliminate hunger, poverty and malnutrition from our unhappy world.
M. FRANCISCI di BASCHI (Italie): Je voudrais moi aussi me joindre aux autres délégations pour exprimer mon admiration à l'adresse du Directeur exécutif du PAM qui nous a illustré le document CL 87/6, et nous a aussi fourni des informations complémentaires sur l'activité du PAM.
Nous approuvons ce projet. Nous approuvons aussi les principes qui guident l'activité du PAM, les priorités, la concentration des efforts et de l'aide alimentaire à l'Afrique, à l'adresse des pays à faible revenu avec un déficit alimentaire structurel.
Naturellement, il est regrettable de constater que par rapport à l'année 1984, qui a signé un record dans les activités du PAM, il y aura dans l'année en cours une diminution d'environ 25 pour cent de l'aide disponible.
Nous pensons que l'aide alimentaire doit naturellement être intégrée dans les programmes nationaux de développement. C'est une doctrine acquise. Mais je vois que les difficultés les plus urgentes restent toujours, difficultés de transport, de distribution, de célérité de l'aide. Là aussi il faut se pencher sur ce problème très important des transports, les problèmes logistiques, le stockage, pour faire en sorte que l'aide soit efficace, qu'elle arrive à temps et qu'elle soit destinée aux personnes qui en ont le plus besoin.
Je voudrais aussi insister, comme d'autres délégations l'ont déjà fait, sur l'utilité des opérations triangulaires, et aussi sur la diversification de la corbeille de l'aide. Dans de nombreux cas, ces deux règles pourraient simplifier le problème des transports. Il faut aussi un respect plus grand des habitudes alimentaires locales.
Enfin, je voudrais me féliciter aussi pour les paroles que M. Ingram a prononcées au sujet de la coopération avec la FAO. Je suis convaincu que le PAM et la FAO sont entrés dans une période de collaboration durable, fructueuse, et j'espère qu'après avoir célébré cette nouvelle phase, on pourra bientôt célébrer aussi les noces d'argent entre les deux Organisations.
HIDAYAT GANDA ATMADJA (Indonesia): I would like first of all to congratulate Mr Ingram on his excellent presentation.
Since its foundation in 1963, the WFP has proved itself to be an important international aid institution to combat hunger in the world, especially in the developing countries. It has played an effective role towards the development of the human being. Of course, this is due to the efficient management of the Executive Director and to the devoted attitude of the staff. A recent factor in its important role is the WFP effort in alleviating food crises and the development of rehabilitation in Africa. For these things, my delegation wishes to extend its warm appreciation.
My delegation fully supports the initiative taken to solve food crises and towards agricultural rehabilitation in Africa, as discussed in the document before us. We would also like to express our appreciation to the WFP for the attention given to other parts of the world so far as food problems are concerned. We have noted that although WFP is now concentrating its efforts on the problems in Africa, it still pays sufficient attention to the natural calamities and man-made disasters in other parts of the developing regions.
With regard to the problems of food aid delivery to enable food to reach the beneficiaries in the quickest possible time, in the spirit of cooperation with other Asian member countries my country has developed a scheme, the so-called Asian Food Security Scheme. Food reserves in the Scheme can be withdrawn by member countries whenever required for emergency operations.
Therefore, my delegation is of the view that this kind of scheme might be worth thinking about by WFP and FAO for implementation in other regions. While supporting the initiative of food aid integration into national development programmes, my delegation would particularly like to emphasize the important role of food aid in increasing food and agricultural production in developing countries, since this would be the key role for combatting hunger and malnutrition all over the world.
In order to stimulate food production in the developing countries, I appeal to WFP and other international communities to promote and increase triangular transactions in the implementation of food aid.
Finally, my delegation endorses the Tenth Annual Report of the CFA.
K. SHIOZAWA (Japan): First of all, I would like to thank Mr Ingram for his lucid introduction of this urgent item on the Tenth Annual Report of WFA. My delegation has nothing particular to mention, but I do want to congratulate WFP on its remarkable achievement in 1984. We are only hoping that the Programme will continue its efforts in this direction in the future. We fully endorse the report.
Turning now to the relationship between FAO and WFP, I think we were informed by the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Mr Ingram, and the Assistant Director-General, Mr Crowther, that the decision taken by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of FAO is now being carried out most effectively, and is having tangible results. I do not think I need reiterate what we have said already at the last session of CFA.
My delegation only wishes that a progress report could be submitted to the next CFA session, when the budgetary implication of WFP and the proposed changes are to be discussed, and a full report given on the implementations for the decision to be submitted to the Twenty-first Session. While the information on the financial and staffing implication of the new arrangement is not available to us at this stage, I would stress the need for maximum economies to be made with regard to the stated expenses of WFP when implementing the new arrangements.
J. GLISTRUP (Denmark): I would just like to endorse fully the Tenth Annual Report presented to us so elegantly this morning by the Executive Director of the WFP.
On the agenda item concerning relations between FAO and WFP, CL 87/4, the reports of the Joint UN/FAO Task Force and other relevant documentation, I have the pleasure of speaking on behalf of the Nordic countries who also took a common position on this matter at recent meetings of the CFA and in other fora. We are now glad to have this opportunity of presenting our views at this meeting of the FAO Council.
At the Eighteenth CFA meeting, the Nordic countries welcomed the initiative of the Secretary-General and the Director-General to establish a Joint Task Force which, on the basis of the existing constitutional framework of the WFP, should review the administrative and financial problems encountered by the Programme and present its conclusions and recommendations to the Nineteenth CFA.
In the view of the Nordic countries, there is evidence that the administrative tools put at the disposal of the Programme, have not evolved at the same rate as the responsibilities entrusted to it. Since its inception in 1962, the WFP has grown from a small experimental programme to the largest source of development assistance within the United Nations system. Furthermore, since the Nordic countries, both individually and collectively, are large contributors to WFP, effective management of the programme resources has always been of paramount importance to us. The position of our respective countries has been motivated by genuine concern for the administrative capacity of the Programme to discharge its heavy responsibilities effectively.
In many practical and very concrete ways, we have demostrated our full support for both FAO and WFP. However, the growing evidence of administrative difficulties between the two organizations in our view has posed a threat to the fundamental principle of multilateralism. The Nordic countries would like to take this opportunity to express their sincere gratitude to the Secretary-General and the Director-General for presenting us with their report. We recognize that the conclusions have been reached after intense deliberations and in a spirit of compromise on both sides. We would like to express the hope that this constructive dialogue between New York and Rome will continue.
Turning to the Summary of Conclusions of the Joint Report, we consider that the proposed administrative changes contained in the report represent a significant advance in the ability of WFP to handle its own affairs by providing increased management and administrative authority in the
areas of personnel, contracts, accounts and auditing to the Executive Director. However, in order to achieve the full advantage of the administrative changes proposed, we join the Secretary-General and the Director-General in reiterating the importance of cooperation, goodwill, mutual respect and confidence in the relationship between the two parties concerned. Indeed, these aspects cannot be stressed strongly enough as they are fundamental for our cooperation within the United Nations system.
Since the effect of the proposed administrative and financial changes to a considerable extent will depend on the way in which they are implemented, we would request the changes to be implemented in the fastest possible way. Indeed, in this respect, we have noted with pleasure the comments made here today both by the Executive Director and Mr Crowther.
Finally, the Nordic countries sincerely hope that the proposed changes will be sufficient to bring about the very efficient management of the Programme's resources to the benefit of developing and donor countries alike.
CHAIRMAN: I must apologize to Council members. I have an unavoidable commitment so I will have to leave. I shall request my colleague, Mr de Baschi to take the Chair. Bur before doing so, there are one or two suggestions I would like to offer of my own, because of my familiarity with the subject of food for development programmes for over twenty years.
First, I would like to join the chorus of praise given to our Executive Director, Mr Ingram, and his dedicated colleagues, particularly those working far away in remote parts of Africa and elsewhere. Their efforts have led to the successful report we have just heard. I would like to say only that although we are all happy at the expansion of the Programme, as mentioned two years ago on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the World Food Programme, WFP expansion means in effect that there is more human distress, more human need for food. Ultimately the success of the Programme will be measured in terms of promoting an accelerating agricultural development.
Secondly, Mr Ingram's report stressed the increasing need for purchasing home-grown food, procuring the marketable surplus in the area, and utilizing it for a food programme in the same country. I hope that the World Food Programme can consider, at least in a few places as a pilot project, where there is good untapped production potential, working with the national government to develop a method of announcing, prior to sowing, a remunerative price for the crop. This would be a tremendous incentive. I have seen the progress in India which has been brought about by the announcement of a remunerative price before the crop is sown. This coupled with the purchase of any marketable surplus, at least in some areas where there is large untapped production potential, would render WFP as a powerful mechanism to assure to the growers a remunerative price when they have something to offer for the market.
Of course, the experience in India, particulary in the chronically drought-prone State of Manarashara where an Employement Guarantee Scheme for unskilled workers has been a great asset in terms of developing the ecological assets necessary for sustaining agricultural advance is useful.
Another important feature of the Employement Guarantee Scheme in Maharashara has been that over 60 percent of the labour force who joined the scheme are women. Nutritional studies have shown that when mothers receive food grain the child is the first beneficiary of the additional food grain. So one has a benefit which far transcends the particular work itself.
I think there are many innovative methods which WFP is working on which could be powerful instruments for using surplus grains and commodities in a way that would promote agricultural advance and agrarian prosperity, not hinder agricultural advance. There is a key method for utilizing this aid, how it is used, where it is used, and so on. There are many fascinating aspects of this Programme which I am sure future historians will chronicle.
M. Francisci di Baschi, Vice-Chairman of the Council, took the chair
M. Francisci di Baschi, Vice-President du Conseil, assume la présidence
Ocupa la presidencia M. Francisci di Baschi, Vicepresidente del Consejo
Mame BALLA SY (Sénégal): Je dois donc intervenir sur le rapport du dernier CPA. En réaffirmant tout simplement que la situation alimentaire, notamment en Afrique, a été particulièrement preocupante ces derniers temps pour notre continent et c'est pour cette raison que nous nous félicitons particulièrement des efforts consentis dernièrement par la Communauté internationale, la FAO et
le PAM, pour, dans un élan de collaboration qu'il convient de saluer, soulager les populations nécessiteuses de leurs souffrances. C'est pourquoi je voudrais encore réaffirmer toutes les conclusions de ce rapport qui d'ailleurs a été proposé en communication à notre présent Conseil.
Je ne saurais cependant m'abstenir de réaffirmer l'attitude de mon pays devant certains problèmes. D'abord la diminution de la proportion des projets de terrain financés par le PAM. Je crois que cette tendance a été signalée concernant le coût des travaux du CPA et qu'un souhait a été exprimé quant au renforcement de ces projets dans l'avenir. Je crois également que la lenteur parfois constatée dans l'acheminement de l'aide justifie qu'un apport beaucoup plus substantiel soit accordé au PAM pour lui permettre d'avoir tous les moyens de faire parvenir l'aide dans les meilleurs délais possibles car si celle-ci n'arrivait pas à temps je pense que ses effets bénéfiques pourraient en être compromis.
Il y a également une certaine réticence de quelques pays pour accroître leurs contributions en espèces au PAM. Cette attitude a l'inconvénient de ne pas permettre à cet Organisme de réaliser son souhait et d'accroître ses aides en produits susceptibles d'être produits sur place parce que certainement, dans le cas contraire, le PAM n'aurait pas les possibilités de favoriser davantage les transactions triangulaires qui auraient favorisé ce noble objectif du PAM et que mon pays voudrait appuyer et souligner.
Je sais qu'il y a des problèmes que des pays ont déjà mentionnés et que dans certains cas mon pays partage parce qu'il faut tenir compte dans toutes ces considérations de la qualité et de certains problèmes relatifs à ces transactions. Mais cela ne saurait point être des obstacles.
Egalement je pense qu'il convient de se féliciter de ce que nous avons entendu ce matin à propos du rapport commun du Secrétaire général des Nations Unies et du Directeur général par le Directeur exécutif qui voit déjà là un rapport avec l'espoir que nous avons toujours formulé parce que je crois que tous les pays membres ici ne peuvent que souhaiter une excellente collaboration des deux organisations compte tenu des nobles objectifs qu'elles visent en commun. Je crois que l'effort de l'un et de l'autre qui a abouti à ce rapport et qui semble constituer un pas considérable en avant, si je tiens compte de ce que nous avons entendu ce matin, ne peut qu'apaiser en tout cas nos inquiétudes et nous donner beaucoup plus d'espoir, en tout cas à nous pays africains, dont les seuls soucis sont moins de nous immiscer dans des problèmes de cette nature que d'avoir des structures fonctionnelles et efficaces pour les préoccupations de notre pays.
C'est pourquoi j'aimerais appuyer les deux propositions faites par le Directeur exécutif, que le Président, en vous cédant ce siège, a bien voulu rappeler parce que nous pensons qu'il s'agit de propositions qui peuvent être particulièrement efficaces et intéressantes pour notre pays.
A.K. OSUBAN(Uganda): Speaking so late in the debate we note that most issues have been eloquently dealt with by previous speakers. Therefore, we are able to be brief.
We must commend the Executive Director of the World Food Programme and the Secretariat for the very informative and constructive information presented to us.
We wish to commend the Programme's record levels of achievements as listed in paragraphs 3 and 4, although these record achievements do imply that there is still a serious problem of hunger in the world.
We also commend the initiatives taken by the Executive Director concerning the African crisis and the work of the African Task Force Secretariat set up at WFP Headquarters to coordinate and improve food aid deliveries and logistics in cooperation with recipients, donors and other agencies.
My delegation is also happy about the record level of WFP commitments for development projects which rose by 33 percent over that of 1983. We welcome this orientation of programmes towards agriculture production and rural development since these are the areas at the core of the present food crisis.
We also note with appreciation that for the third time since the inception of the International Emergency Food Reserve its target of 500 000 tons of cereals has been reached in 1984. However, by contrast,of the target for regular pledges for 1985-86 biennium of US$ 1.35 billion, only US$ 999 million has so far been pledged. We are therefore concerned that owing to the Programme's resources constraints the Executive Director has had to set a preliminary commitment ceiling for development projects for 1985 substantially below the level of 1984. Therefore, we appeal to donors to increase their contributions to maintain or even surpass the momentum of 1984.
We wish to note with appreciation the improvement of working relations between WFP and FAO. We believe that this will improve the efficiency and services offered by each organization.
Finally, I wish on behalf of the Government of Uganda to thank the World Food Programme for the substantial resources given to my country.
My delegation fully endorses the Report presented to us by the Executive Director.
M. J. BLAMEY (Australia): Firstly, the Tenth Annual Report of the CFA: Australia was a member of the CFA which considered in detail a part of the Annual Report. Australia's views on the issues which have been raised in the Council here today are reflected adequately in that Report.
Moving to item 11, it is not our intention to offer any substantial comment on issues relating to relations between FAO and WFP. Once again, we have already done so in the Nineteenth Session of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes. In our view the consensus reached in that particular meeting of the governing bodies of the World Food Programme gave broad general endorsement and impetus to the implementation without delay of the range of decisions agreed jointly by the Secretary-General and the Director-General. We share the hope expressed here, and the hope I am sure of all members of this Council that these decisions will be implemented in a positive and constructive way and will lead to an improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of the World Food Programme.
We began by saying that we do not wish to open a debate on the substantial issues which have already been discussed and resolved. We would however like to recall that the CFA agrees that the Executive Director of the World Food Programme would provide an interim report on the implementation of the agreed decisions concerning the relationship between the WFP and FAO, as well as a conclusive report on the outcome of the whole process in twelve months time. As a member of the FAO Council, we would appreciate similar reports from the Director-General on the implementation process.
M. MAHDI (Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of) (Original language Arabic): First of all, in connection with item 10 which we are discussing at present, I would like to say briefly that my delegation has already given its views on those matters in the. CFA Committee.
Turning to item 11, I would like to welcome the conclusions reached, which will lead to an improvement in relations between WFP and FAO. My own concern relates to suggested amendments which have no financial implications, and which the Executive Director should implement as quickly as possible. As to those arrangements which have financial implications, we fully concur with the delegate from Japan, and at the last session of the CFA our Ambassador asked that these proposals be discussed within the framework of the Finance Committee and that a report be submitted to CFA concerning the financial implications contained therein.
H. CARANDANG (Philippines): The Philippine delegation would like to associate itself with the other delegations in congratulating the World Food Programme Executive Director, Mr James Ingram, and his staff, for a job well done and for the achievements of the Programme as documented in its Tenth Report. We fully endorse this Report. The Philippine delegation is pleased to hear that the implementation of decisions taken by the United Nations Secretary-General and the FAO Director-General on the deliberations of the UN/FAO Joint Task Force is proceeding smoothly. This development is indeed very welcome, since it augurs well for cooperation between WFP and FAO. As food aid gains more importance, so does the cooperation between those two organizations also become very important. WFP has gained a lot of experience in meeting emergency situations and using food aid as a developmental tool - but so has FAO, in its 40 years of existence, gained a wealth of expertise in the field of agriculture and rural development. Improved cooperation between the two organizations cannot but contribute to the more efficient use of food aid and redound to the benefit of beneficiaries of the WFP.
C. KAREKEZI (Rwanda): La delegation Rwandaise voudrait tout simplement féliciter le Directeur exécutif du PAM qui a très bien présenté le 10ème rapport annuel du CPA et de la façon dont il a organisé la distribution des aides alimentaires d'urgence en 1984, année au cours de laquelle la sécheresse a affecté plusieurs pays d'Afrique, dont mon pays,le Rwanda.
Tout en appuyant ce rapport, ma délégation voudrait demander au Directeur exécutif de faire un effort supplémentaire pour que les vivres et aides alimentaires arrivent rapidement.
H.M. MBALE (Malawi): My delegation would like to commend the Executive Director for the World Food Programme for presenting to this Council a most encouraging report, as reflected "by the wide range of activities and commitments to development projects at record levels. An increase in WFP expenditure could in one way he considered as an indicator of worsening food situation in the world. However, although this might he the case, my delegation views it as an indicator of WFP's increased attention to our world food problems. The record levels of activity and commitment to development projects indeed reflects the magnitude of responsibility, that WFP has, given available resources to execute its programmes.
Part I of the Report has clearly highlighted the 1984 activities and in this connection my delegation admires the way in which the major emergency operations in Africa and other parts of the world have been conducted My delegation would however like to endorse the following observations which some of the previous delegations have pointed out as being areas requiring further attention when reviewing Food Aid and Policies and Programmes.
First, the content of paragraph 13 should be stressed and translated into action. We consider that projects which provide both emergency relief and food aid in the short term and incentive for increased production to support humanitarian objectives in the longer term, are a lasting solution to our present problems.
We further encourage the WFP to urge donors to increase triangular transactions both as a means of stimulating food production in and trade among developing countries. It is only through this line of action that food security programmes, which most of our countries are trying to launch, will survive
Recalling what the delegate of Zimbabwe said last week, some of our countries are indeed living in harsh climatic conditions; we are vulnerable to slight changes in weather , and one year of drought is enough to place us in a desperate situation. It is therefore our wish that projects which look into food storage subsidies, over and above agricultural rehabilitation schemes, would go a long way towards ensuring food reserves within the reach of the needy.
Finally, I would like to join the other delegations who have expressed their sincere appreciation to Mr. Ingram, in that happily the relationship between WFP and FAO is once again more cordial.
L. GANSORE (Observateur du Burkina Faso) : Nous voudrions avant tout féliciter le Directeur executif et son personnel pour tous les efforts entrepris, aussi bien dans le domaine des secours d'urgence que dans celui des projets de développement.
En ce qui concerne particulièrement le rapport, nous y notons les efforts fournis par le Programme pour répondre à la crise alimentaire en Afrique.
Lors des sessions passées du CPA, Monsieur le Président, mon pays a toujours insisté sur les problèmes de communication et de transport, de l'entreposage et de la manutention des secours alimentaires. Il s'agit là de problèmes qui, faute d'une solution adéquate, nuisent à l'efficacité de l'aide alimentaire. C'est ainsi que nous approuvons les efforts faits par le PAM dans ce domaine et exhortons les pays donateurs à aider le PAM et les pays bénéficiaires à résoudre ces problèmes, particulièrement celui du transport interne.
Nous appuyons le paragraphe 13. relatif à l'intégration de l'aide alimentaire dans les plans de développement et insistons sur l'importance et la nécessité des opérations triangulaires. Nous lançons un appel aux pays donateurs afin qu'ils accordent un peu plus de ressources en espèces sur la base d'un tiers des contributions.
Enfin, nous avons pris note du rapport commun du Secrétaire général de l'ONU et du Directeur général de la FAO sur les relations FAO/PAM et nous nous réjouissons des bonnes perspectives qui s'annoncent car nous avons toujours estimé que les véritables victimes d'une détérioration des relations entre les deux organisations sont les pays à bas revenu et à déficit céréalier.
D. DANG MEKOULA (Observateur du Cameroun) : La délégation du Cameroun a suivi avec un grand intérêt les débats des Membres du Conseil sur ce point de l'ordre du jour qui porte sur le rapport annuel du CPA au Conseil de la FAO.
Après la brillante présentation du Directeur exécutif, nous pensons que ce rapport permet d'avoir une information précise et complète sur la grande dimension que continuent de prendre les interventions du Programme alimentaire mondial dans les domaines spécifiques de la compétence de ce vaste programme d'aide alimentaire que notre Gouvernement considère comme une forme spécifique de financement spécial du système des Nations Unies.
Nous nous félicitons de l'appui que les Membres du Conseil accordent aux activités du PAM dont l'efficacité et l'impact se sont confirmés au cours de ces précédentes années et donc son rôle reste déterminant dans la lutte contre la crise alimentaire que traverse l'Afrique.
Notre Gouvernement partage l'orientation que prennent les interventions du PAM et qui visent tout à la fois à satisfaire les besoins d'urgence et surtout soutenir l'exécution des projets d'accroissement de production agricole et alimentaire à moyen et à long termes. Utilisée à cette fin, l'aide alimentaire devient un investissement.
Ceci pour souligner que le programme de relance de l'agriculture retenu par le Conseil requiert pour sa réalisation des ressources techniques, financières et matérielles, mais également et surtout des ressources humaines dont le niveau d'intervention dans l'exécution des projets et programme devient un élément déterminant.
C'est dans ce sens que le Gouvernement du Cameroun a décidé d'orienter les interventions du PAM pour les axer essentiellement sur le soutien à l'exécution des projets inscrits dans le Plan national de développement. Les principaux secteurs bénéficiaires de cette assistance au Cameroun sont : le développement rural, la foresterie,les infrastructures.
L'efficacité des activités du PAM dans notre pays s'est renforcée au cours de ces dernières années par l'acquisition au niveau local des céréales destinées au Programme régulier du PAM, aux programmes d'urgence d'aide aux populations victimes de la sécheresse dans le Tchad, aux réfugiés de ce même pays au Cameroun, ainsi qu'aux paysans de la zone de l'extrême nord du Cameroun également victimes de la sécheresse.
C'est la concrétisation de la coopération triangulaire évoquée et soutenue ici depuis le début des travaux de cette session du Conseil.
Cette opération d'achat sur place dans les zones excédentaires des denrées au profit des régions déficitaires tant au Cameroun qu'au Tchad, a permis non seulement de décongestionner le port de Douala, mais aussi de réduire les charges de transport, tout en encourageant les zones d'acquisition à accroître leur production.
C'est pourquoi la délégation du Cameroun appuie fermement le renforcement des opérations triangulaires qui permettent de mettre rapidement et à moindres coûts à la disposition des zones affamées, des vivres dont elles ont besoin, un effort particulier devant aussi être fait pour stimuler les économies des pays en développement en faisant appel aux bateaux de leurs armements pour transporter des aides.
Nous avons été heureux de savoir que les relations entre le PAM et la FAO sont maintenant plus sereines.
Cette situation heureuse permettra à chacune des deux Organisations de se consacrer pleinement à leur mission en vue d'accroître l'efficacité de leurs programmes d'assistance dans les pays en voie de développement.
J.C. INGRAM (WFP): I would just like to thank the Members of the Council for their remarks on behalf of the staff of the Programme. Your interest encourages us to continue with the work. I think it is always gratifying to the Secretariat to know the delegations do take such an acute interest in the work of the Secretariat.
There were no real questions as such but I would note that the initiative that the Programme has taken in Africa has been very strongly supported. We will certainly continue our efforts. The need remains and the need must be met. We have noted the great emphasis on triangular transactions, and to the extent that we have the cash resources we will do our very best to ensure that these triangular transactions are increased.
We have also noted the remarks that have been made about the use of shipping from the developing countries. As has been explained in the past, shipping is done on a competitive basis and clearly, since most of the food that is moved comes from developed to developing countries, this is some kind of real constraint on the actual amounts of shipping that go to the developing countries, but we will certainly redouble our efforts to do our very best to increase that share.
In relation to the commitment level for development assistance, I think what we have to do is basically look ahead to 1986. I would very much urge in the spirit of the remarks made by so many delegations this afternoon, for the donor countries to review the extent of their pledge for the remainder of this current biennium, because their pledge of course is the foundation of the commitment level. I would like to make it clear however that donors are actually giving more all
the time to the World Food Programme, but they are actually giving a great deal more, relatively speaking, in support of the crisis in Africa and emergencies generally. That of course I suppose reflects what are the real priorities in the world today. So I would not like to give the impression that somehow we are getting less. Actually we are getting more all the time both for development and emergencies, but the rate of increase in emergencies is much faster that it is for development, and there it is. The same goes for cash; we keep getting more cash too, but again it is not growing as fast as the flow of food being provided to the Programme that both development and emergencies requires. So I would simply ask very much that the donor countries in their natural preoccupation, as we in the WFP are preoccupied, with the crisis in Africa, must nevertheless remember that it is the development programme that is the foundation of what we are all trying to do, namely to get rid of the need for food aid. So I simply ask once again you might review your contributions for this biennium.
I think with those remarks I will finish my observations for today, but once again I would like to thank I think the thirty-three delegations who intervened.
D.K. CROWTHER (Assistant Director-General, Administration and Finance Department): Just a very short note on behalf of the Director-General. I certainly would like to thank all of those Council Members who have intervened to show support for the implementation and action that has been taken as a result of the Joint Report of the Secretary General and the Director-General. Some delegates have mentioned that they would like to see a report from the Director-General at the next Council, and while the Director-General certainly will wish to report to the governing bodies on a regular basis, the next Council I would remind you is a very short Council preparatory to the Conference, but there is a Conference agenda item in the World Food Programme section called Other, and certainly this item could be reported at that particular time. But rest assured the Director-General will report to the governing bodies on a regular basis on this implementation. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Le PRESIDENT: Nous en avons fini avec les points 10 et 11 de l'ordre du jour. Il est facile de faire une synthèse de nos discussions, parce qu'il y a une appréciation unanime du dixième rapport du Comité des politiques et programmes d'aide alimentaire du PAM. Il y a eu certaines remarques à propos du principe de priorité mais tout le monde a été d'accord sur la géographie des priorités. On a mis l'accent sur les opérations triangulaires, sur la diversification du panier de l'aide. On a surtout mis l'accent sur un principe fondamental, l'intégration de l'aide alimentaire dans les programmes de développement.
Ensuite, il y a eu des évaluations un peu différentes sur le problème de la liquidité du PAM. Certaines délégations pensent que la liquidité ne pose pas de problème, d'autres délégations pensent le contraire.
Sur le problème des nouvelles mesures qui ont été adoptées sur le thème de la coopération entre le PAM et la FAO, on a exprimé d'une façon unanime l'appréciation pour cette nouvelle phase de coopération efficace entre les deux organismes. Certaines délégations ont demandé un rapport dans les douze mois ou périodique, sur la mise en oeuvre de ces mesures.
Je pense que dans le Comité de rédaction on prendra acte de toutes ces décisions et la rédaction du rapport sur ce point ne devrait pas présenter de difficulté, du moins je l'espère.
Le PRESIDENT: Vous vous souvenez qu'on a déjà travaillé sur ce point.
En effet, nous avons concentré nos discussions sur le point du Code de conduite sur les pesticides. Je veux remercier le Conseil, parce que le résultat a été positif. Mais on a laissé de côté certains points qui sont les suivants: rôle des culture secondaires dans la nutrition et la sécurité alimentaire, transformation des denrées alimentaires et produits agricoles non vivriers, et enfin politique des prix agricoles.
Nous pourrions aborder de front ces trois points.
REAZ RAHMAN (Bangladesh): I would like to reiterate our thanks to Dr Bommer for his lucid and comprehensive introduction to this item when we were discussing the Code of Conduct.
As participants of the Eighth Session of COAG, we would like to commend the Secretariat for the success of that session which was constructive and marked by singular convergence of views. In all, as Dr Bommer in his introduction and the Summary of Matters brought to the attention of this Council in the first few pages of document CL 87/9 has amply demonstrated, there has been significant forward movement and accomplishment not only on standing items before the COAG but also in important new directions.
We are now increasingly aware of the important work being done by the Agriculture and Economic and Social Policy Department and the regional UN offices. These have been highlighted by the consistent focus on what the Director-General in his opening statement to the Eightieth session of the Committee on Agriculture identified as three governing approaches.
First, the central issue of how to help more effectively developing countries meet the demand for food not met today, and yet which might increase by over a third over the next decade.
Second, focus on the primary role of small farmers in achieving a permanent solution to hunger and the vital need to help them acquire access to the factors of production and a share in the results.
Finally, the key recommendation that hunger and poverty must not be seen purely as technical issues but as consciousness of the real problem, namely the unjust ineffective economic, social and political structures that distort and constrain the development process.
We fully endorse this umbrella and believe that the Agriculture and Economic and Social Policy Departments have indeed focused on these broad objectives in pursuit of practical lines of action - firstly, promotion of food production through concentration of the programmes in natural resources, crops, livestock research and technology, and through such key policy measures as strengthening of the food information and early warning system, strengthening of capabilities to implement structural reforms required in food and agriculture, including programmes of education and extension of the role of women in food and food production, relieving hunger and malnutrition by focusing continued concern on nutritional aspects.
These priorities have been fully reflected in the implementation of the Programme of Work of 1984/85 and a guiding criterion for the medium and long-term outlook. In endorsing the objectives of the Major Programme 2.1 Agriculture and the selection of strategies, priorities, programme changes in means of action embodied in the proposed Programme of work for 1986/87, we regret that proposed increases in the budget for technological and economic programmes have been kept to the absolute minimum though attracting the highest priorities in terms of overall increases of the FAO proposed budget.
Among the many new initiatives taken at theeighth session we wish in particular to commend the preliminary report submitted by the Director-General on price policies. It is recognized that the subject matter is rife with complexities and cannot be subject to uniform application. Nevertheless we believe that the study to be submitted to the FAO General Conference after further refinement and improvement will constitute a particularly important and useful guide and tool to help governments effectively implement policies adapted to their own indigenous circumstances.
We also believe that the two other selected development issues, namely the role of minor crops in nutrition and food security and processing of food and non-food agricultural products, were of particular relevance and assistance to developing countries such as ourselves and provide grounds for further useful follow-up action.
In conclusion we fully support the inclusion in the provisional agenda of the ninth session and look forward to the discussion of such selected development problems as: dry-land farming systems; the effect of tenure and fragmentation of farm buildings in agricultural development; and requirements and strategies for improved production of roots, tubers and plantains.
We also endorse inclusion under the standing item on food and nutrition discussion of the topic "The Role of Food Quality and Standards in Food Security, Trade and Health".
W.A.F. GRABISCH (Germany, Federal Republic of): We are glad that the other important part of the last COAG session is finally being taken up. We hope that the two postponements of the agenda item and the late hour will not lead to less interest being given to this subject.
My second remark concerns the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides. My delegation had not offered its views on the topic when it had been discussed although we continue
to take great interest in it, considering it as very important. As our position was covered by the EEC representative, we felt that we should refrain from repeating the points and proposals that he has made.
As regards the session of the Committee on Agriculture, I can be very brief on the other part of it. We hold the view that this was a good meeting. From the results that it has brought about we should like to stress just the following: First, the findings on the medium-term and long-term outlook for food and agricultural development. Second, the round of discussions on the important topic of agricultural price policies. We look forward with great interest to the deliberations on this subject at the forthcoming 23rd Conference. Third, the role of the so-called minor crops which are and may be of greater importance for achieving food security if even more use is being made of those traditional local crops. Fourth, the potential impact of better processing and marketing of food and non-food agricultural products, also as an incentive to increase agricultural production and to improve rural infrastructure.
We should like to thank Dr Bommer and Dr Islam as well as their staffs for the good preparation and the backstopping of that session. The activities of these two departments headed by these two directors do cover the largest portion of FAO's activities. We very much hope that COAG will strengthen even further its role as important technical advisors of FAO through the participation and deepened dialogue of competent experts from all over the world.
M. MAHDI (Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of) (original language Arabic): First I would like to reiterate my thanks to Dr. Bommer and Professor Islam for this excellent report.
My delegation has already participated in the COAG meeting and we have stated our position concerning the subjects discussed. Therefore we agree on the content of this report, but at the same time would like to make some observations in this connection.
We commend the interest of the Director-General in achieving the maximum benefit out of the field projects, in drawing the relevant lessons and also in the continuous supply of high quality inputs along with the introduction of strict measures for the evaluation of field activities.
Second, we welcome the achievements made in all the fields, including seeds production in developing countries and also the FAO focus on assisting those countries in the production of the improved seeds they require.
Thirdly, we endorse the achievements in the field of animal husbandry and we also welcome the interest in grazing lands, especially in arid and semi-arid lands and also in ensuring the fodder security and also the vaccins production in developing countries.
As regards training, we wish to stress its importance and commend the increase in the training activities and the importance attached to small communities. We have requested an increase in the training activities undertaken by regional offices including the Near East Regional offices.
The Summary Programme of Work and Budget for 1986/87 covers the activities of the Organization and we fully agree with the Director-General in strengthening the TCP programmes because these programmes are very important for developing countries. We fully agree with the decrease in administrative costs. We welcome the absolute priority given to the increase in food production, the best use of land and water resources, the supply of basic agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and vaccines and we encourage their production locally.
We agree with the delegate of the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the secondary crops, and we should attach additional importance to this aspect, especially in developing countries.
We fully agree with saying whereby developing countries should rely on their own efforts and achieve their self-sufficiency and this could be done through agricultural production and the achievement of reasonable growth and to increase their food production at a higher rate than the present one, which is 3 percent.
With a view to the problems of developing countries we have noted the efforts already deployed, but we think that there should be further efforts by the international community, and particularly developed countries and this in order to assist developing countries in improving their agricultural production. This could be done through further funding and assistance to these countries.
In conclusion we would like to commend the trend followed by this Organization in focusing the LDCs and the low-income countries and also the focus on women in the field of agricultural production.
We also commend the approach of the FAO in this connection.
LI ZHENHUAN (China) (original language Chinese): In my intervention on the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides, I have expressed our approval of the report of the eighth session of COAG. Now I would like to say a few words on the pricing of agricultural products.
The pricing of farm products is an important agricultural policy issue which was fully discussed at the Regional Conferences in 1984. We hope that the Secretariat will further improve the report on the price policy of farm produce on the basis of the deliberations at the recent COAG session so that it can exercise its due influence on policy making concerning management of agricultural production of various countries. Today we have more and more clearly realized the profound influence that agricultural policies can exercise on agricultural production. We hope that, as a technical intergovernmental body of FAO to consider agricultural related issues, COAG will continue to devote more efforts to the elaboration of agricultural policies so as to play its advisory role in policies for FAO in drafting its programme of work. This will eventually help Member Nations in evolving and implementing rational principles and policies in agriculture.
G. FRADIN (France): S'agissant des trois points que vous avez soulignés en présentant ce point de l'ordre du jour je ne reviendrai pas sur les déclarations que ma délégation a eu l'occasion de faire lors des travaux du Comité de l'agriculture pour le détail desquelles je renvoie au Secrétariat. Je soulignerais simplement l'un d'entre eux, celui des politiques des prix agricoles, ce qui ne veut pas dire que ma délégation se désintéresse des deux autres et en particulier de celui concernant les cultures dites secondaires.
Au sujet de la politique des prix agricoles je souhaite renouveler nos remerciements au Secrétariat pour avoir engagé cette étude approfondie sur un sujet qui a été trop délaissé. Nous apprécions le fait que si l'on excepte quelques développements un peu extérieurs au sujet cette étude était à la fois précise dans son analyse cohérente, constructive et nuancée dans ses conclusions. Le rapport qui nous est soumis rend bien compte de la richesse du débat du COAG. Il met bien l'accent en particulier sur quelques éléments qui nous paraissent particulièrement importants: la nécessité d'assurer aux producteurs un prix incitatif à la production, la nécessité pour les gouvernements de mettre en place les bases logistiques adéquates et d'adopter les réglementations appropriées pour que ces prix soient effectivement perçus par les producteurs. Enfin l'importance de la coopération entre pays en développement dans ce secteur, notamment par la création de groupements établis sur une base régionale.
The meeting rose at 18.00 hours
La séance est levée à 13 heures
Se levanta la sesión a las 18.00 horas.
