LE PRESIDENT: L’année 1991 marque pour la FAO un événement important qui est le quarantième anniversaire du transfert du siege de la FAO de Washington D.C. à Rome. Depuis quarante ans exactement, la FAO a le grand privilege de travailler dans la Ville éternelle, dans des conditions que je n’hésiterai pas à qualifier d’excellentes; le climat de Rome est particu-lièrement propice aux travaux de la FAO. C’est dès lors un anniversaire que l’on ne pouvait passer sous silence. A cette occasion, les autorités de la ville de Rome nous feront l’honneur de recevoir au Capitole les représentants des Etats Membres de la FAO, en presence des plus hautes autorités du Gouvernement italien et de la capitale. Le Gouvernement italien manifeste ainsi son intérêt indefectible pour l’Organisation pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture, et confirme de la sorte son appui et son hospitalité toujours généreuse, ce dont nous lui sommes reconnaissants.
La célébration solennelle aura lieu au debut de la Conference, plus précisément dans la matinee du lundi 11 novembre. Le calendrier de la Conférence devra done être amende quelqùe peu. C’est le but du corrigendum afin d’inclure le temps nécessaire à cette célébration dans le programme des seances. Cela ne va pas affecter le déroulement des travaux de la session de la Conference car le point reserve à l’admission de nouveaux membres ne sera pas abordé, vu l’absence de nouvelles demandes d’adhesion de la FAO. Il n’y aura par consequent ni vote ni cérémonie d’admission. Nous pouvons done sans trop de difficulté consacrer toute la matinee du lundi 11 novembre à la cérémonie du quarantième anniversaire, qui débutera au Capitole. L’heure n’en est pas encore tout à fait précisée: ce sera soit 10 h 30, soit 11 heures. De toute façon, vous en serez avertis en temps utile.
Vu la dimension de la salle que le Maire de Rome mettra à notre disposition au Capitole, la participation sera limitée aux chefs de délégation des 157 pays membres de l’Organisation. Le Secrétaire général de la Conférence est en train actuellement de mettre au point le détail de la cérémonie, cérémonie au cours de laquelle prendront la parole, nous l’espérons, le représentant du Gouvernement italien, le Maire de Rome, le Directeur général de la FAO, le Ministre de l’agriculture italien, le President de la Conference ainsi que Madame Tina Anselmi, Présidente du Comité italien pour la Journée mondiale pour l’alimentation. Un service d’autobus sera organise pour transporter tous les participants au Capitole. Vu l’importance et la solennité de la cérémonie, j’ai pensé qu’il était plus que nécessaire que vous en soyez parfaitement informés immédiatement pour vous permettre d’en faire part à vos gouvernements respectifs.
Des délégués ont-ils des remarques à faire au sujet du document 99/11 concernant l’organisation de la vingt-sixième session de la Conference? Je répète, compte tenu de ce qui se trouve dans le document CL 99/11-Corr.1, qu’il n’y aura pas de seance plénière le lundi 11 novembre afin de permettre aux ministres et chefs de delegation d’assister à la cérémonie organisée par la ville de Rome pour marquer le 40ème anniversaire de l’installation du siege de la FAO à Rome.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Yo siento mucho respeto por la gran competencia, ampliamente demostrada, de los señores Alessi, el profesor Giovanni Tedesco, Bernard Linley y todos los que participan en la preparación de este documento 99/11, y por es soy temeroso de plantear alguna observación de detalle solamente.
Al final del párrafo 7 del documento CL 99/11 se dice: “Segunda y tercera semanas de la Conferencia, 18-28 de noviembre”, y al frente se hace una lista de los teinas sobresalientes de esas segunda y tercera semanas, pero no se ha incluido alii el tema 34, la elección de los miembros del Consejo. Esto aparece más adelante, en el calendario, donde se dice que esa elección cúipezará el 25 de noviembre, o sea, que ese 25 de noviembre está comprendido entre el 18 y el 28. Digo esto para precision, porque asi algunas delegaciones encuentran ya todo aqui, en el párrafo 7, antes de llegar al calendario.
EL PRESIDENTE: Por supuesto, debemos elegir los miembros del Consejo en esa sesión, y vamos a añadir la proposición de usted, que me parece importante para aclarar bien el programa de trabajo.
Mustapha-Menouar SINACEUR (Maroc): Je n’ai pas de remarque particulière à faire sur le document. Je voudrais simplement, puisqu’il s’agit du calendrier provisoire de la vingt-sixième session de la Conférence, faire part de certaines observations.
Je voudrais faire remarquer qu’à la dernière session de la Conférence, certaines commissions n’ont pas respecté le calendrier: elles ont pris soit de l’avance sur les travaux, soit du retard, si bien que certains points ont été déplacés. Je ne vous cacherai pas que cela présente certaines difficultés à nos delegations parce que nous essayons, dans la mesure du possible, de programmer l’arrivée de nos techniciens en fonction de l’organisation des travaux, et nous avons été dans le regret de constater que deux de nos directeurs sont arrives à la Conference et n’ont pas pu participer pleinement aux travaux des commissions du fait que les questions qu’ils devaient suivre avaient été abordées la veille de leur arrivée. Disc, si le Conseil pouvait lancer un message aux futurs presidents de commission pour qu’ils essaient, dans la mesure du possible, de respecter le calendrier, cela rendrait grand service à nos délégations.
Sur un point plus général concernant l’organisation de la Conférence ên général, notre délégation avait fait part, lors d’une réunion d’information qui a eu lieu dans cette salle même, à la fin du mois de mai, entre les représentants et le Secrétariat, de certaines remarques relatives à la
participation pleine et active des délégations, et plus particulièrement à une présence soutenue des ministres et chefs de délégation. Dans ce sens, nous avions lancé l’idée, à l’époque, que l’on pourrait penser à revoir un peu l’organisation des travaux en faisant avancer la réunion des commissions de manière à ce que la Conférence elle-même, au lieu d’une durée de trois semaines, ait une durée plus brève. Ainsi, les pays en développement pourraient assurer la presence permanente de leurs ministres ou de leurs chefs de delegation. Une session qui durerait une semaine ou cinq jours ouvrables pourrait constituer un element intéressant pour que les ministres et chefs de delegation y participent pendant toute la période au cours de laquelle auraient lieu, bien sûr, la declaration du Directeur général, l’adoption des rapports du Comité préparatoire et toutes les élections.
Je voudrais préciser que c’est une idee qui mérite d’etre approfondie, par nous-mêmes d’abord et par tous les pays qui pensent que l’etude de cette question peut être poursuivie. Je pense que notre delegation souhaitera recueillir l’assentiment des pays en développement qui sont concernés par cette question dans le cadre de notre groupe, et par la suite, lorsque la question aura un peu mûri, nous pourrions même la faire partager par les pays amis du groupe de l’OCDE, puisque nous avons mis en place une structure informelle de contact entre les deux groupes. A partir de ce moment-là nous aurons toute la latitude de voir quelle suite on pourra donner à cette idee.
Pour conclure, j’aimerais simplement dire que notre effort en la matière est de pouvoir assurer une participation pleine des chefs de delegation, parce que nous sommes partis du constat que la plupart des chefs de delegation venaient à l’ouverture de la Conference, faisaient une declaration générale, en écoutaient certaines autres et partaient aussitôt parce qu’ils ont souvent un calendrier très charge. Le but de cette idee est de pouvoir les faire rester pendant une période peut être un peu plus longue mais definitive.
Nous ne cherchons pas à diminuer le caractère de la Conférence, d’autant plus que cette idee nous avons essayé de l’approfondir. Nous avons remarqué que déjà à la fin des années 60 cette idée existait. Il y avait déjà des comités préparatoires de la Conference et peut-être même des commissions qui faisaient double emploi à l’époque. A partir de 1970/71 on a supprimé ces comités qui se réunissaient avant la Conference pour en venir à la formule actuelle. C’est une idee qui est confirmee aujourd’hui devant les membres du Conseil. Nous proposons qu’elle soit étudiée dans l’avenir et nous proposons à tous les pays membres d’apporter leur contribution et dire s’ils estiment que cette idee peut être intéressante pour avoir une Conference avec des résultats réellement concluants.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie le représentant du Maroc de la double question qu’il vient de poser, notamment en ce qui concerne l’organisation des travaux de la Commission, qui relève bien sûr de la présidence des différentes commissions, présidence dont nous avons parlé hier matin.
En ce qui concerne les reunions, vos suggestions sont intéressantes. On va s’efforcer de faire le point de la situation.
Sra. Mónica DEREGIBUS (Argentina): En el documento CL 99/11 nosotros encontramos una contradicción que quisiéramos, señor Presidente, que nos fuera explicada.
El punto 24 de la Agenda Provisional, del Programa Provisional de la Conferencia, que figura en el Apéndice A, dice “Opciones para una forma de adhesion como miembros de la FAO de las organizaciones regionales de integración económica”. En cambio en el calendario, en el Anexo B, en la 17° sesión dice: Tema 24, y el titulo que figura es otro. El título dice: “Adhesion como miembros de la FAO de las Organizaciones regionales de integración económica: Enmiendas de los Textos Fundamentals de la Organización”.
Quisiera saber, señor Presidente, cuál es el título del tema.
EL PRESIDENTE: Much as gracias por su intervención. Quisiera saber si otros Miembros del Consejo quieren hacer algunas preguntas, a las que después contestaremos.
Sture THEOLIN (Sweden): My delegation listened with great interest to the ideas put forward by the delegate of Morocco. We feel it is important also to try to improve and strengthen the effective participation of Member States in the governing bodies, in particular at political level. Therefore, we have also reflected since the informal meeting to which the delegate of Morocco referred, and I know a number of countries are very interested in this idea. I think it is a sensible suggestion that this idea should be studied and explored further through informal contacts between Member States, as suggested by the delegate of Morocco.
Daniel Yoman KONAN (Côte d'Ivoire): Je voudrais tout simplement, après le délégué de la Suède, apporter moi aussi mon appui aux propositions et aux idées émises par le représentant du Maroc. J’aimerais effectivement que l’on puisse, sur le plan informel, se rencontrer entre délégués pour pousser plus avant cette idee qui peut apporter beaucoup à la qualité des travaux de ce Conseil et au niveau de la Conférence également.
Gonzalo BULA HOTOS (Colombia): Cuando el nombre de mi país, señor Presidente, aparece en posición vertical, quiere decir que yo deseo intervenir.
EL PRESIDENTE: No sé, Embajador Bula Hoyos, si lo había puesto antes o después de su primera intervención.
Gonzalo BULA HOTOS (Colombia): Habíamos vacilado mucho, señor Presidente, en intervenir aiinque los comentarios del colega de Marruecos han suscitado nuestra simpatia desde cuando él los expuso por primera vez en la reunion oficiosa de Miembros del Consejo con los representantes permanentes.
Yo creo que algunos de los aspectos de la declaración de Marruecos, como usted lo notó con su sabiduria habitual, dependen de circunstancias, de presencias de Ministros y de otras alternativas que están fuera del alcance de cualquier estructura organizativa; pero hay unos aspectos de la declaración de Marruecos, que han sido apoyados por Suecia y Cote d’lvoire sobre la posibilidad de mejorar el funcionamiento de la Conferencia. Por eso he intervenido, porque quisiera ir más allá de lo que han dicho Suecia y Cote d’lvoire. Parece evidente que a estas alturas el Consejo no pueda entrar a discutir en detalle las propuestas de Marruecos, pero proponemos, señor Presidente, que en el Informe se diga que se expusieron en el seno del Consejo algunas ideas que podrian contribuir a mejorar el funcionamiento de la Conferencia y que el Consejo pide a los Comités del Programa y de Finanzas que se ocupen de estudiar esas ideas que aparecen en las Actas del Consejo.
Esto se ha hecho, señor Presidente, a través de los años, ha habido muchos procesos y, en général, han sido satisfactorios los resultados.
EL PRESIDENTE: Creo que hay que ir más allá en el sentido de que la intervención estará en las actas y que también en el Informe podemos añadir algo a propósito de la cuestión que subrayó el distinguido representante de Marruecos, vamos a dar una primera contestación.
Je crois que la premiere question qui a été posée en ce qui concerne l’organisation des travaux des commissions depend des presidents des différentes commissions. Il est difficile de répondre de façon plus complete à ce stade. Il est clair que les voeux émis par le représentant du Maroc doivent être pris en consideration. Il est très important, non seulement pour les pays en développement mais pour tous les pays, de savoir comment se présente l’organisation des travaux pour qu’ils puissent faire participer leurs spécialistes dans les meilleures conditions. Un effort constant doit être fourni. Ce n’est jamais tout à fait parfait, parce qu’il se produit toujours des difficultés de dernière minute, mais nonobstant les imperfections inevitables, on doit tendre vers une amelioration constante et une perfection plus grande.
Je vais donner la parole à M. Shah qui nous expliquera ce qui s’est passé antérieurement parce que je crois qu’il est important de connaitre l’historique de cette question.
V.J. SHAH (Assistant Director-General, Office of Programme, Budget and Evaluation): Perhaps it is appropriate for me on behalf of the Secretariat to offer some clarifications to the very interesting suggestions commented on by members of the Council this morning.
The delegate of Morocco, although perhaps he has been in Rome for a shorter time than myself, is very well informed. In fact, it was in 1969 at the Fifteenth Session of the Conference that the Conference itself adopted a Resolution on the agenda of the Conference and for the shortening of the sessions. This matter was dealt with very much in the same spirit that the delegate of Morocco mentioned.
That Resolution, 6/69, led to an intensive series of studies, reports and consideration by the Programme Committee, by the Council and by the Conference itself in 1971. Then, if memory serves me right, it was in the late 1970s - in 1977, if I am not mistaken - when the Conference again suggested that arrangements for the Session be re-examined. This matter was again considered with the report by the Director-General to the Council and was duly referred to the Conference,
I would therefore just like to confirm that the matter has received the periodic examination of Member States, and, in whatever informal discussions may take place, Member States will of course wish to bear in mind the kind of considerations that have led to the present arrangements.
LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL: Je voudrais traiter du point qui a été soulevé par la delegation d’Argentine.
La différence concernant le point 24 de l’ordre du jour a trait exclu ivement à une question de traduction en langue espagnole. Le texte dans les autres langues est correct. Je remercie la représentante de l’Argentine de nous avoir signalé cette question. Le texte exact est celui qui figure à la page B9 du document en langue espagnole.
Dans la version finale du document qui sera présenté à la Conférence une correction opportune sera naturellement apportée au texte.
LE PRESIDENT: En fait il s’agit d’une erreur de traduction en espagnol. Je remercie la délégué de l’Argentine d’avoir bien voulu faire cette remarque judicieuse.
Puisqu’il n’y a aucune demande d’intervention sur ce point 17.1 de l’ordre du jour, je déclare clos le point 17.1.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous allons ma in tenant passer au point suivant qui concerne la date limite de presentation des candidatures au poste de President indépendant du Conseil (CL 99/12).
Le Conseil doit, suivant une tradition constante, fixer une date limite de presentation des candidatures au Secretaire général de la Conference, M. Alessi, au poste de President indépendant du Conseil.
Cette question a déjà été discutée dans différents groupes et dans le document CL 99/12 il est propose de fixer cette date au Vendredi 6 septembre à 17 heures, soit à peu près à mi-chemin entre la clôture de la
session du Conseil et l’ouverture de la session de la Conference qui devra procéder à la nomination du Président indépendant du Conseil.
S’il n’y a pas d’observations, cette proposition est acceptée.
It was so decided
Il en est ainsi décidé
Así se acuerda
A titre personnel puis-je rassurer tous mes amis sur le fait de l’intention de notre pays de presenter une candidature que vous connaissez bien.
Nous en avons maintenant terminé avec le point 17 puisque le point 17.2 a été examine hiér matin.
Mustapha-Menouar SINACEUR (Maroc): Peut-être avez-vous abordé le sujet à l’ouverture de la séance, mais j’aimerais savoir comment vous envisagez le déroulement des débats. Je sais que vous conduisez très bien les travaux mais au point de vue timing je vois que dans la seance de l’après-midi on abordera le point 24 qui est resté en suspens. Pourriez-vous nous indiquer vers quelle heure?
LE PRESIDENT: Le timing depend de vous, de la longueur des interventions des différents membres du Conseil et éventuellement des observateurs.
Je caresse I’espoir d’en terminer ce matin, quitte à prolonger la seance de quelques minutes si les traducteurs le veulent bien, avec les points 12, 25 et 26 de l’ordre du jour de façon à pouvoir, à 14 h 30 precises, examiner les points qui ne sont pas vraiment très complexes, les points 23, 27.2, 28 et 29, que nous aurons certainement terminés sans aucune difficulté pour 15 heures ou 15 h 30. Nous examinerions ensuite le dernier point mais nous voudrions que vous ayez d’abord l’occasion, dans le courant de la matinee ou à l’heure du dejeuner, d’examiner le document du Groupe de travail qui s’est réuni hier soir. La reunion a duré jusqu’à 9 h 30. Ce Groupe, tout comme le Comité de redaction, a fait hier soir un excellent travail. Cela permettrait de reprendre le point 24.3 de notre ordre du jour vers 15 h 30, au maximum 16 heures. J’ai la conviction profonde que vers 18 heures au plus tard on pourra en terminer avec l’ensemble des points à l’ordre du jour, ce qui permettrait au Comité de redaction de se réunir, et ce qui permettrait également de participer à une reception que donnent nos amis de la Chine.
Nous reprendrions l’examen du rapport, qui est je ne dirais pas finalise mais assez avancé, demain après-midi de façon à pouvoir en terminer en fin d’après-midi ou demain soir. Cela dépend de vous. On peut difficilement être plus clair.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous passons maintenant au point 12 de l’ordre du jour: seizième rapport annuel du Comité des politiques et programmes d’aide alimentaire du PAM pour examen et éventuellement décision (CL 99/13). Ce rapport est destine au Conseil économique et social, au Conseil de la FAO et au Conseil mondial de l’alimentation (1990).
Le point 12 concerne le seizième rapport annuel du Comité des politiques et programmes d’aide alimentaire du Programme alimentaire mondial pour examen et éventuellement decision. Nous avons, en ce qui concerne ce seizième rapport annuel, un seul document, le document CL 99/13, seizième rapport annuel du Comité des politiques et programmes d’aide alimentaire au Conseil économique et social, au Conseil de la FAO et au Conseil de l’alimentation. Je salue tout d’abord la presence du Directeur exécutif du PAM, M. James Ingram, et je lui donne immédiatement la parole pour presenter le point 12 de notre ordre du jour.
James INGRAM (Executive Director, World Food Programme): You have before you the Sixteenth Annual Report of the CFA. The report covers the activities of the CFA and the World Food Programme for calendar year 1990. The Report goes to this Council and to ECOSOC, and also to the World Food Council, in accordance with WFP’s General Regulations. As was the case last year, the Report contains a summary of the major decisions taken by the CFA during the year in question.
The Report shows that, once again, 1990 was a year of achievement for the Programme. By the end of 1990, total multilateral resources made available to WFP for the 1989-90 biennium - that is, the two years - had reached a record of nearly US$1.75 billion, including 4.5 million tons of food. For the year 1990 proper, the Programme delivered US$683 million worth of food to the poor and hungry, the largest amount since 1987. Annual turnover was again in excess of one billion dollars. A record tonnage of food was bought - namely, 735 000 tonnes, of which six out of every ten tonnes was bought in developing countries to the tune of some US$93 million.
However, the most significant WFP statistic of 1990 is that the value of our commitments for refugees and displaced persons and for emergency operations was almost as high as the level of commitments to development projects. Deliveries to development projects in 1990 accounted for only just over one half of total WFP food aid shipments. Ten years ago more than three quarters of our deliveries were for development projects. We expect that this emphasis on food for victims of natural and man-made calamities will continue. It is quite probable indeed that deliveries of food aid in 1991 will be the highest in the Programme’s history; yet we expect that deliveries for development activities will be below one half and possibly no more than 40 percent - so quite an important shift in the emphasis of the work of the Programme over the last ten years.
The Report before you includes for your consideration a draft resolution setting a pledging target for WFP’s regular resources - that is to say, food and money to support our development projects and to meet the totality of our programme support and administrative expenditure. The resolution recommends that for the 1993-94 biennium this target be maintained at the same level of US$1.5 billion as for the current biennium. This pledging target was recommended to this Council and to ECOSOC by the CFA at its May Session.
In recommending this target, account was taken of the actual level of pledges made in the past. In recent years, on average about 85 percent of each pledging target has been realized. I should like to emphasize that traditionally only 24 percent of contributions have been in cash, well under the one-third called for in WFP’s General Regulations. On this occasion, however, that is to say, for this pledge for 1993-94, for reasons that I will explain later on in this address, it will be essential for the future well-being of WFP and the beneficiaries it serves that the target be met in full.
The decision to maintain the pledging target at the current level does not mean that more food aid is not needed. Indeed it is. All projections show that the need for food aid will continue to increase during the 1990s because of growing food imports, worsening balance of payments and high levels of debt servicing as well as increasing numbers of malnourished people in many developing countries. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, even on the most optimistic assumptions about changes in food production and population growth rates, the region’s food gap will continue to grow into the second decade of the 21st century. Obviously food aid can and will play a major role in meeting that gap. We in WFP also believe that food is an important development resource that, used properly, can help promote equitable and sustainable economic and social development. It is gratifying to see that a number of recent studies, including FAO’s and the joint World Bank/WFP study on food aid in Africa, support this idea. I would also like to point out that there remains a powerful case for direct distribution of food to beneficiaries.
When the CFA discussed the pledging target for 1993-94, donors were adamant that in the future all aid agencies will probably have to do more with less. Consequently they described the pledging target proposed as being realistic. However, several delegates voiced concern over the zero growth of the pledging target in view of the increased need for food aid. I must say that I have sympathy with this view, but on balance I believe that the best course is to endorse the target recommended.
Let me be quite clear. There is no lack of availability of food aid. All the indications are that surplus food in the main donor countries will be available for some years to come. Currently available figures indicate that food aid deliveries to developing countries in the crop year 1990/91 will exceed the record 15.6 million tonnes of 1987/88. This in part reflects donors’ response to emergency needs in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Bangladesh, but it shows that there remains a capability by donors to increase food aid significantly over average annual deliveries of the last few years.
I have just returned a few days ago from leading a high-level United Nations mission to the Horn of Africa on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, to reassess the impact of the changes in Ethiopia on the international community’s response to the region’s humanitarian needs. The suffering caused in the Horn region by the deadly combination of war and drought is virtually unprecedented. New movements of large numbers of people have taken place, and their needs must be met. In such a fluid situation where problems of quick delivery of relief food aid to the needy are immense, I implore donors to put more food and cash through WFP while giving us the flexibility to respond as necessary to quickly changing situations. Let me repeat this sentence because I attach a lot of importance to it. The problems of quick delivery of relief food aid to the needy are immense, not just their needs but getting the food to them. I therefore implore the donors to put more food and cash through WFP - I emphasize through WFP - while giving us the flexibility to respond as necessary to quickly changing situations. Otherwise, I fear that rigidity and bottlenecks will develop which will make it impossible, in fact, to deal adequately with the needs.
What sets 1991 apart from previous years is the unprecedented level and devastating extent of emergencies around the globe. Rarely have there been so many major emergencies occurring simultaneously, caused by war and civil strife, drought and sudden natural disasters. It is estimated that 45 million people are affected world-wide requiring over five million tonnes of food aid during 1991. In sub-Saharan Africa alone we estimate that some 30 million people will need emergency relief in the course of this year.
Obviously we in WFP are acutely sensitive to the need for emergency relief. At such a challenging time it is, of course, entirely appropriate that WFP should give the utmost priority in its work to dealing with this need. Already this year - that is, in the first six months - we have committed nearly twice as much emergency food aid as we committed in the whole of 1990. In fact, our commitments have already exceeded the minimum target of 500 000 tonnes for the International Emergency Food Reserve. But that figure is only an inadequate measure of the impact on our dedicated staff. Workloads have risen exponentially and brave officers are daily risking their health and lives. I have seen for myself on this visit I’ve just made in the last few days the pressure they face. The world community would do well to recognize that there are many selfless people in the service of the United Nations.
However, even at a time such as this, I believe that it would be a very great mistake for development food aid to suffer as a result of the vastly increased need for emergency food aid, particularly in terms of pledges to WFP’s regular resources. In fact, a decline in pledges to WFP’s development activities would have significant implications on the Programme’s ability to channel relief food aid.
WFP’s support for development work is, of course, the major reason why the Programme was created. Food aid is the only aid resource that is in practice available in sufficient quantities over time to reach very large numbers of poor individuals in developing countries. Furthermore, food aid remains largely self-targetting on the poor. These are very important
considerations. Many of WFP’s development activities are located in marginal, risk-prone areas to which very little external aid flows. That’s the reality: very little flow of food aid. WFP helps people in such areas cope with the threat of disaster, thus lessening the impact when disaster strikes, and also hastening recovery afterwards. I believe that without WFP’s development work, which is almost entirely funded from contributions to the Progamme’s regular resources, the needs for emergency food relief would likely be far greater.
The call on WFP to help meet the burgeoning worldwide need for emergency food aid is imposing a tremendous strain on the Programme’s cash resources. The cost of delivering emergency food aid is substantially higher than the cost of delivering food aid for development projects, particularly when the costs for internal transport, storage and handling are taken into account. These extra transport costs have too often been paid for out of regular resources - i.e., funds for development. We now face a situation where the total cash needs of WFP cannot be met unless contributions to the development prgoramme are at a much higher level than is currently the case. Furthermore, even if all donors were to provide one-third of their contributions in cash - sufficient cash to cover all expenses - for both development and emergency purposes - would not be generated unless pledges to the regular programme reach the biennial target.
It is repeatedly stated to us that WFP does noble work, as the Report of our last year’s activities shows. But if our assistance for both development and emergency needs is to be sustained then we need more than prayers, promises and praise. I urge donors to increase their contributions to WFP and to give us more flexibility in their management. I do so not for the sake of WFP, but for the sake of the growing numbers of the poor and hungry.
Mohammad Saleem KHAN (Pakistan): I will start by thanking Mr Ingram for his usual comprehensive presentation on the CFA’s Report.
As a member of the CFA, we have actively participated in its proceedings and should not have been assuming the floor now. However, while we give general endorsement to the CFA Report, we would like to touch upon a few points of special significance which are contained in the Report and which have been highlighted by Mr Ingram in his introduction. The year 1991, as Mr Ingram also noted, has already made a mark as a year of emergency and crisis, placing a greater demand and burden on the services of humanitarian aid agencies such as WFP. Unfortunately, 1991 also seems to be becoming a year of indifference to emergency needs from countries of means, who seem to be looking ever more inwardly in earmarking resources for developmental and emergency assistance to poor countries, including humanitarian food aid. From Chile and Peru to Ethiopia and the Sudan as well as to the Middle East and Bangladesh and East Asia, one eye has been kept closed while responding to the needs of these countries. This pathetic apathy comes in a period when the capacities of developing countries themselves to respond to such situations are deeply constrained by severe national and international economic adversities.
The CFA at its first session last month initiated a review of food aid policies during the 1990s with particular focus on WFP’s own policies during this period. While this review, which is expected to continue over the next two CFA Sessions, will result in certain changes in the strategies of WFP, these changes themselves are unlikely to enable the WFP to respond to the situation according to actual requirements.
The WFP can do what its resources in both commodities and cash permit it to do. This Council in its report should therefore emphasize that donors should contribute more liberally to the WFP both in commodities and in cash so as to enable WFP to perform its task according to needs placed on it and the mandate as assigned to it by Member Nations.
Secondly, my delegation, as always previously, would like to note its appreciation to the WFP and all other donors for their continuing assistance to my country in maintaining the large Afghan refugee population based in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan is keen that conditions be developed under which these refugees could honourably return to their homeland. Pakistan has always willingly cooperated with any international effort in that direction. We supported the voluntary repatriation programme proposed by the inter-agency heads of the WFP, UNHCR and UNOCA during their visit to Pakistan in February 1990. We have welcomed the Secretary-General’s recent five-point programme for settlement within Afghanistan, which hopefully would facilitate an honourable return of the Afghan refugees to their homeland. While we look forward with hope to such an opportunity, we also hope that donors will continue to assist our efforts to sustain the large Afghan refugee population in Pakistan towards the closing stages of their transition according to the actual needs of the refugees.
Finally, we note that it has not been mentioned in the CFA Report that the man who has so ably been guiding the affairs of the WFP over the past seven and half years, Mr James Charles Ingram, will be retiring before the FAO Council receives the next report of the CFA. This period has been marked with some of the greatest challenges the WFP has ever faced to which the Programme rose most ably in responding, due in no small degree to Mr Ingram’s efforts and leadership. We would like to note our appreciation for the services he has rendered to the WFP and to the cause of humanity. We wish him all the best at this closing stage of his illustrious career.
Gonzalo BUIA HOYOS (Colombia): Los representantes de Colombia damos nuestra más cordial bienvenida al Sr. Ingram y a nuestros distinguidos amigos, sus colaboradores, quienes se èncuentran detrás de usted, en el podium, señor Presidente. Nos complacemos también en saludar de manera muy cordial a nuestro amigo Peter Hansen, representante del Secretario Général de las Naciones Unidas.
En la sesión de esta mañana, cuando vamos a discutir, además del tema 12, los temas 25 y 26, en los cuales, posiblemente, la delegación de Colombia no va a intervenir, queremos decir ahora que la manera como nuestro amigo Peter Hansen ha representado al Secretario Général de las Naciones Unidas en el CPA, con competencia, equilibrio y eficacia, ha contribuido notablemente a mejorar las relaciones entre la FAO y el PMA, hecho que nos complace.
El Gobierno de Colombia se complace asimismo en reiterar a usted, Sr. Ingram, su más pleno reconocimiento por la forma tan eficaz y competente como usted viene dirigiendo el PMA, hecho que se refleja en este 16º Informe Anual, en relación con el cual apoyamos particularmente los proyectos de alimentos por trabajo, colonización de tierras, producción agrícola y desarrollo comunitario; proyectos que, como dice el párrafo 4, estimulan y retribuyen el trabajo de los pobres en la creación de infraestructura rural y de muchos otros aspectos que interesan el desarrollo social y económico.
Los párrafos 5 a 8 contienen cifras que no queremos repetir, cifras y hechos que confirman la importante y significativa tarea realizada el año pasado por el Programa, como valioso organismo al servicio del desarrollo. Entre los principales tipos de proyectos citados en el párrafo 17, los representantes de Colombia atribuimos particular importancia a los de producción agrícola. El incremento de la producción agrícola en los propios países en desarrollo es fundamental para que los Estados del Tercer Mundo puedan, ojalá, algún día, dejar de estar sometidos a la dependencia actual. Lamentamos que los recursos asignados a proyectos de desarrollo en 1990 hayan bajado al nivel de 1980, diez años atrás. Confiamos en que en los próximos años, en la medida en que los recursos y las circunstancias lo permitan, y tal como lo ha expresado el Director Ejecutivo, el PMA volverá a asignar más altas cantidades para proyectos de desarrollo. Cumplimos el deber y la convicción de apoyar los conceptos políticos y programáticos sobre la función del PMA, expresados por el primer orador sobre este tema, nuestro colega y amigo Saleem Khan, de Pakistan.
El gasto de transporte es una fuente que podría beneficiar a algunos países en desarrollo que están en condiciones de que se utilicen sus embarcaciones y medios de transporte en général. El año 1990 no alcanzó en gasto de transporte el alto nivel de 1988, pero si fue ligeramente superior al de 1989. Dice este documento que, de los 167 millones de dólares del total de los costos en transporte en 1990, sólo 46 millones beneficiaron a los países en desarrollo. Si nuestros cálculos son exactos, esto representa apenas un modesto 27 por ciento. Ni este documento ni tampoco la presentación del Director Ejecutivo hacen comparaciones, como se venían realizando antes, con años anteriores. Por eso preguntamos: ¿Cuál fue ese porcentaje en cuanto al transporte en 1988 y 1989?
Preguntamos también: ¿Sigue acaso vigente la decisión de un importante donante, según la cual las tres cuartas partes de los productos con que contribuye al PMA deben ser transportadas en buques con bandera de ese país? Las compras de alimentos en 1990 del PMA fueron de 155 millones de dólares para ser distribuidos en el mismo país o en otros países en desarrollo. De esos 155 millones, 91 - ó 93, nos pareció entender al Sr. Ingram - se compraron en 48 países en desarrollo. Entendemos que esa cifra corresponde a las compras hechas con los recursos propios del PMA, del CAAA, de la RAIE, donantes bilaterales y otros organismos de Naciones Unidas. Como tampoco hay comparaciones a este respecto, preguntamos: De los 157 millones comprados en alimentos en 1989, la cifra adquirida en los países en desarrollo ¿fue superior o inferior a los 93 ó 91 millones de 1990? Otra pregunta, señor Director Ejecutivo: ¿Sigue vigente la vinculación de que algunos grandes donantes condicionan los recursos que ofrecen a que las compras de alimentos se hagan en otros países desarrollados?
Sabemos que hay buena disposición del PMA, tanto para aumentar el transporte de productos en buques de países en desarrollo como para incrementar las compras de productos en los Estados del Tercer Mundo. Sin embargo, queremos preguntar a usted señor, Director Ejecutivo, si en los casos de transporte y la compra de alimentos el PMA se ve obligado a cumplir esas vinculaciones con rigidez estricta. ¿O, a veces, esos donantes permiten cierto margen de flexibilidad? Otras preguntas, señor Director Ejecutivo - pero no voy a llegar esta vez a veintinueve, señor Presidente, lo prometo -: En pcasiones, esas vinculaciones, sobre todo en materia de transporte, ¿han afectado, acaso, el rápido, oportuno y adecuado suministro de alimentos, sobre todo en casos de ayudas de emergencia?
Nosotros, en relación con la meta para el proximo bienio, habiamos esperado que se propusiera una cifra superior a la del bienio en curso, pero, con realismo, hemos aceptado ya esa meta en el CPA y confirmamos esa misma posición en el seno del Consejo. Creemos que este Consejo debe reconocer la actitud positiva de los donantes que ban hecho posible las realizaciones que estudiamos en este informe, pero también pedir que se hagan esfuerzos para qi e, por fin, alguna vez, en el PMA se alcance el total objetivo en el proximo bienio.
Igualmente, creemos que el Consejo debe apoyar el llamado que ha hecho el Director Ejecutivo para pedir a los donantes que cumplan la disposición reglamentaria según la cual deben hacer, por lo menos, un tercio en efectivo dentro del total de sus contribuciones, para facilitar los problemas del transporte, a que el Sr. Ingram hizo referenda. El relato que ha hecho el Sr. Ingram sobre su viàje reciente a zonas afectadas por acontecimientos que todos lamentamos y el conocimiento que tenemos de la forma como trabaja el personal del PMA, nos estimulan también para proponer al Consejo que en el informe sobre este tema hagamos un reconocimiento a la capacidad de abnegación y a los sacrificios que viene haciendo el personal del PMA al cumplir tareas difíciles y a veces peligrosas.
El Gobierno de Colombia, coherente en cuanto al marco dentro del cual sitúa la cooperación internacional, ha venido sosteniendo siempre que es necesario que los propios paises en desarrollo hagan esfuerzos para hacer el mejor uso de la ayuda alimentaria que reciben. Desgraciadamente, en muchos de esos paises todavia no existen las condiciones y los recursos; sobre todo, del personal capacitado que permita utilizar de la mejor manera esa asistencia. Por ello, los representantes de Colombia atribuimos notable importancia a la capacitación del personal nacional, ya que, como lo dice muy bien el párrafo 47, deficiencias administrativas y de gestión son obstáculos principales para que los paises en desarrollo utilicen con efectividad y eficacia la ayuda alimentaria. Dijimos ya en el CPA - y no vamos a insistir aquí; por lo menos, no vamos a insistir demasiado - que lamentamos que en el PMA se haya seguido el mal ejemplo de la FAO, ál implantarse el funesto crecimiento cero.
Sin embargo, quisiéramos preguntar a usted, señor Director Ejecutivo: No obstante la aplicación de ese crecimiento cero en todas las actividades del PMA - no solo en personal, sino en número de proyectos y volumen de asistencia, como dijeron en documentos presentados al CPA, y, contra lo cual nos rebelamos en el CPA, pero aqui ya no vamos a insistir -, la Dirección de Personal y Servicios Administrativos, bajo la eficaz y
competente labor de nuestro amigo Mohamed Zejjari, ¿estará en condiciones de mantener - o de aumentar - el nivel de 5 200 funcionarios gubernamentales de paises que participan en 166 programas de capacitación organizados o financiados por el PMA? A la luz de’ las consideraciones que hemos hecho sobre la responsabilidad en los paises que el PMA debe estimular, lamentariamos que el crecimiento cero vaya a arrasar con esas posibilidades de capacitación que el Gobierno de Colombia considera esenciales.
Nos parece interesante también y, ya voy a terminar, señor Presidente, la idea del párrafo 49. Sera conveniente utilizar cuando sea posible, empresas nacionales de los paises en desarrollo para realizar encuestas y otras actividades relacionadas con la preparación y capacitación de los beneficiarios y del personal local de los gobiernos. Esa clase de capacitación fortalecerá los escasos recursos de las instituciones nacionales en los paises en desarrollo y convendrá continuarlas e intensificarlas.
Una última pregunta, señor Presidente le prometo, .la última. Aparte del caso de Sri Lanka citado en el párrafo 49, ¿se ha puesto en práctica esto en otros paises?
Finalmente el Gobierno colombiano reitera su reconocimiento a usted, Sr. Ingram y a todos sus colaboradores, particularmente al Sr. Domingo Donida, y a sus funcionarios en la Division de America Latina y el Caribe, por la permanente y eficaz atención que vienen ofreciendo a nuestro país.
Nuestro colega y amigo Saleem Khan, de Pakistan, se ha referido a su persona y a sus excelentes ejecutorias como Director Ejecutivo del PMA, Sr. Ingram. Creo que el colega de Pakistan lo ha hecho de forma adecuada porque él conoce muy bien el calendario de todas nuestras reuniones y sabe, o imagina por lo menos, que ésta sera la ultima ocasión que usted se presenta ante el Consejo de la FAO; pero los representantes de Colombia conservamos la esperanza de sumarnos a esas expresiones del amigo de Pakistan e inclusive de extender de manera más amplia y sincera nuestro reconocimiento y nuestra gratitud a usted, Sr. Ingram, y lo haremos en la próxima Conferencia.
D. CHURCH (United Kingdom): Mr Chairman, I begin by welcoming this report which gives a lively impression of the diversity of the Programme’s activities in 1990, and also by thanking Mr Ingram for his interesting and indeed thought-provoking introduction.
We note that an increasing proportion of WFP’s activities during 1990 were devoted to humanitarian relief. We believe that this is a matter for congratulation to WFP, particularly in view of the serious emergencies which have developed in many parts of Africa in late 1990. We have sometimes, however, seen a need for greater recognition here in Rome that this emergency relief is a central function of the Programme, and in this connection I was considerably encouraged by the emphasis laid by Mr Ingram in his introductory remarks on this aspect of the work of the Programme.
I would also like to take this opportunity to endorse very strongly his remarks about the outstanding contribution being made by the staff of the Programme and other UN bodies in meeting these challenges, often in very dangerous circumstances.
My delegation welcomes the recent developments in feeding long-term refugees and displaced persons, and in particular the evidence in the report of close and effective cooperation between UNHCR and the Programme. We look forward to hearing details of the new Memorandum of Understanding between the two Organizations in due course. I can however say now, that we believe it is right in principle that the Programme should assume full responsibility for the provision of basin foodstuffs for refugees. In this connection we would urge all donors to follow the practice of guaranteeing full internal transport, storage and handling costs when providing food for refugees through the Programme.
We attach considerable importance to the policy discussions which have now been set in train in the CFA on the basis of a series of papers including that produced by FAO for the Committee on Food Security. We hope that these discussions will lead in due course to the formulation and agreement within the CFA of clear guidelines aimed at sharpening the focus of WFP’s project portfolio in terms both of geographical spread and project time.
We welcome the fact that purchases of food in developing countries, both from WFP’s own resources and on behalf of other agencies and bilateral donors, continue to grow. I would like to emphasise that this is a very important service for medium sized food aid donors such as the UK, who would otherwise find it more difficult to support triangular transactions which we certainly try to do wherever possible.
In conclusion, two very short remarks. Firstly, I have taken very careful note of Mr Ingram’s appeal to donors to make more relief food aid available through WFP for the Horn of Africa following his trip, and to make this available as flexibly as possible. I can assure him that this is a very clear message which I shall be taking back to London with me tomorrow. I would also like to associate myself wholeheartedly with the remarks made earlier by my friend Mr Saleem Khan of Pakistan about Mr Ingram and his outstanding contributions to the work of the Programme.
Michel MOMBOULI (Congo): Nous voudrions pour commencer remercier le Directeur exécutif, Monsieur Ingram, pour son expose introductif. Nous voulons rappeler qu’en tant que membre du CPA, l’occasion nous a été donnée de participer au travail des différentes sessions de ce Comité dont il est fait ici rapport aux organes directeurs hiérarchiques du PAM au nombre desquels figure le Conseil de la FAO. En raison de ce que je viens de dire, je peux ajouter que nous appuyons le contenu de ce rapport qui nous est présenté.
Toutefois, nous voudrions saisir cette occasion pour insister très brièvement sur certains aspects de ce rapport à savoir les alinéas 1, 2 et 3 des conclusions de ce rapport, qui traitent respectivement des objectifs de contribution de 1, 5 million de dollars que nous avons recommandés au CPA pour la période 1993-94 en faveur du PAM; également de la nécessité pour les donateurs de contribuer au PAM par plus de produits mais aussi en espèces à hauteur d’au mo ins un tiers du montant de leurs contributions.
Nous voulons en venir au mobile qui nous a encourages à prendre la parole à cette occasion. Ce mobile est surtout le compte rendu sommaire que le Directeur exécutif du PAM a bien voulu nous faire à l’issue de sa tournée dans les pays de la Come de l’Afrique, une partie de notre continent meurtrie par les dernières vagues de crises et penuries alimentaires.
Nous voudrions remercier le Directeur exécutif du PAM pour son témoignage pathétique même s’il n’a été que sommaire, de ce qu’il a vuet entendu, et nous nous associons à l’appel vibrant qu’il a lancé en direction des pays donateurs pour que ceux-ci donnent plus d’aide au PAM pour lui permettre de répondre sans plus tarder aux situations d’urgence dont le Directeur exécutif a momentanément été témoin.
A l’instar de la delegation de Colombie, nous voudrions aussi exprimer toute notre solidarité aux fonctionnaires du Programme qui se battent de par le monde sur le terrain pour apporter l’aide alimentaire, au risque de leur vie, aux personnes qui en ont un vibrant besoin.
Pour terminer, nous voudrions nous aussi nous associer aux delegations du Pakistan, de la Colombie et du Royaume-Uni quant à l’espoir d’avoir l’occasion de remercier M. Ingram qui va peut-être nous quitter à la tête du Programme, au terme d’un travail dur mais fructueux.
Jacques WARIN (France): Je voudrais commencer par remercier les fonctionnaires du PAM pour le document intéressant qu’ils ont contribué à nourrir, en l’occurrence le rapport annuel du CPA, et plus particulièrement M. Ingram qui vient de nous exposer à la tribune les derniers développements consécutifs à son recent voyage dans la Corne de l’Afrique.
Depuis la dernière session du Conseil, en novembre 1990, des progrès importants ont été realises dans le sens d’une plus grande efficacité et d’une gestion plus cohérente des activités du PAM, grace en particulier à la revision des regies générales du Programme et à la signature de son accord de siege.
Ma délégation se félicite de l’heureux aboutissement de ces deux questions et se reserve d’intervenir à leur sujet un peu plus tard dans la matinee.
Nous sommes particulièrement satisfaits, après tant de débats consacrés aux problèmes de gestion et d’administration, de pouvoir aujourd’hui examiner les questions de fond que soulèvent les politiques d’aide alimentaire.
Comme l’ont très bien mis en relief les deux dernières sessions du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale de la FAO et du Comité des politiques alimentaires du PAM, les politiques d’aide alimentaire concernent tout autant la FAO que le PAM. Qu’il s’agisse de l’aide au développement ou de l’aide d’urgence, la cooperation entre les deux organisations est essentielle et nous nous félicitons de constater qu’elle a été réaffirmée, notamment à la faveur de la revision des regies générales du PAM.
Ma délégation ne peut done, dans cette brève intervention, que se limiter à donner un avis d’ensemble sur trois questions principales.
Premièrement, la repartition existant entre l’aide aux projets de développement et l’aide d’urgence; deuxièmement, le problème de la repartition entre les ressources en espèces et les ressources en produits; troisièmement la situation de trésorerie.
En ce qui concerne tout d’abord l’aide aux projets de développement, nous sommes nous aussi préoccupés par la tendance signalée au paragraphe 14 du document à la reduction des engagements qui sont tombés en 1990 au niveau le plus bas depuis 1980. Plusieurs explications ont été données attribuant cette evolution au caractère cyclique des engagements en faveur des grands projets, ou bien encore à la hausse des prix des produits en 1989 et au debut de 1990.
Mais l’explication la plus alarmante est sans doute celle qu’a donnée le Directeur exécutif du PAM lui-même, à savoir que l’accroissement considerable des situations d’urgence, et done du volume nécessaire des aides d’urgence, au cours de l’année 1990, a joué un role considerable dans la reduction du volume d’aide aux projets de développement. Il serait sans doute intéressant de tenter de définir comment risquent d’évoluer dans l’avenir les parts respectives de ces deux formes d’aide. Mais est-ce bien possible?
A cet égard, j’ai été frappé par les renseignements que vient de donner M. Ingram sur le niveau sans precedent des situations d’urgence qui sont non seulement constatées cette année mais prévisibles pour l’avenir. Le Directeur exécutif du PAM nous a cite le chiffre de 45 millions de personnes dont 30 millions en Afrique, qui devraient être affectées cette année ou l’année prochaine par une situation d’urgence. Je compare tout naturellement ce chiffre des 45 millions à un autre chiffre, que je retire des documents qui nous avaient été fournis pour la dernière session du Comité des politiques alimentaires, qui était celui de 12 millions: 6 millions de personnes affectées par des catastrophes naturelles et 6 autres millions qui étaient placées en situation soit de réfugiés, soit de personnes déplacées dans leur propre pays. Nous passons done de ce chiffre constate en 1990 de 12 millions de personnes à un chiffre prévisible de 45 millions, presque le quadruple, de personnes affectées par des situations d’urgence. Je comprends done très bien l’appel angoissé ou la prière formulée par le Directeur exécutif du PAM qui consiste à demander un accroissement considerable des dons de la Communauté internationale en nourriture et en argent qui passent par le canal du Programme alimentaire mondial.
S’agissant de l’aide d’urgence, nous sommes plus particulièrement préoccupés à la fois par le bas niveau de la reserve internationale d’urgence (207 000 tonnes seulement à titre indicatif face à un objectif de 500 000 tonnes) et également par son fonctionnement relativement défectueux. A cet égard, deux categories de mesures nous semblent nécessaires - je les ai indiquées il y a un mois à , 1a session du CPA et je le répète ici - une mise en oeuvre véritablement multilatérale de la RAIU et une repartition plus satisfaisante de ces ressources entre la part fournie en produits et celle fournie en espèces, afin de pouvoir assurer le transfert des denrées jusqu’aux bénéficiaires.
Ce problème de la repartition entre les ressources en espèces et les ressources en produits se retrouve sous un angle plus général dans l’aide alimentaire accordée aux réfugiés et aux personnes déplacées. Nous nous félicitons de constater que le nouveau mécanisme de financement a donné de bons résultats et nous appuyons les activités du PAM tant en ce qui concerne la formation aux techniques agricoles que la surveillance nutritionnelle des populations bénéficiaires. Nous sommes également particulièrement satisfaits de la cooperation accrue entre le PAM et le HCR qui a abouti à l’établissement de directives et nous espérons que les négociations ouvertes en 1990 entre les deux organisations déboucheront prochainement sur la signature d’un memorandum d’accord qui confierait au PAM certaines responsabilités du HCR dans le domaine de l’aide alimentaire.
Pour conclure je voudrais dire un mot de la situation de trésorerie. Vous la connaissez. Le Directeur exécutif l’a exposée avec plus d’ampleur. Ma delegation émet le voeu que les difficultés de trésorerie que connait actuellement le PAM trouvent rapidement une solution.
Nous avons suivi de très près cette question lors du dernier Comité des politiques alimentaires, et nous sommes persuades que la voie la plus prometteuse pour restaurer la situation de trésorerie du PAM passe par l’adoption du principe, qui est soutenu par le Directeur exécutif, du versement par les donateurs du tiers de leur contribution en espèces.
C’est dans cet esprit que la France est disposée à participer aux consultations qui ont été prévues sur ce sujet des problèmes de trésorerie d’ici la 32ème session du CPA en décembre prochain.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie le délégué de la France qui a souligné, réaffirmé la nécessité d’une bonne articulation entre le Programme alimentaire mondial et la FAO, ce dont nous sommes convaincus. II a souligné également les problèmes de la RAIU et la nécessité de la balance en ce qui concerne les engagements internationaux sur le principe un tiers-deux tiers, qui permettrait, s’il était respecté, de régler un problème angoissant de trésorerie que le représentant de la France a très bien souligné.
Sture THEOLIN (Sweden): May I on behalf of the Nordic countries thank the Executive Director for his introduction to the World Food Programme’s Annual Report for 1990. The Nordic countries approve the report. It has been discussed in the CFA and I will not bring up these matters here.
In the comprehensive description of the Executive Director of the challenges and needs which the World Food Programme and, indeed, the world community, are facing, the Nordic countries share the concern of the Executive Director and would like to join in his appeal that new and potential donors will come forward to reach and hopefully surpass the pledging target.
Resources aside, an organization such as WFP depends so much on its staff. We commend the skill and dedication displayed by the Programme staff at all levels, particularly those in the field who are devising ingenious
food-for-work projects, or performing miracles for millions of people who regrettably continue to be affected by natural disasters, civil strife and war. We join the previous speakers in recognizing the invaluable services of and the respect and confidence which donor countries and recipients owe to Mr James Ingram, the Executive Director.
We appreciate that the members of the CFA have started an important discussion on the policies and mechanisms for food aid, and the role of the World Food Programme in the 1990s. The Nordic countries are long-standing supporters of multilateral food aid through the WFP. As you know, Mr Chairman, the Nordic countries follow carefully the situation in the Horn of Africa. We thank the Executive Director for his moving report on the visit in this region. We regard the World Food Programme as an efficient vehicle for development and for emergency assistance. We are prepared to continue with the new dialogue with our partners to make it even more efficient in the years to come.
Mme. Simone ROBIN (Canada): L’ intervention de la delegation canadienne sur cet item de notre agenda sera brève, d’autant que nous avons eu déjà l’occasion, en tant que membre du CPA, de commenter le rapport annuel en cause.
Comme l’indique le 16ème rapport annuel du CPA, l’année 1990 a été une année active et des plus productives. En effet, elle a donné lieu à l’elaboration et éventuellement à l’adoption par voie de consensus, d’une resolution et de nouvelles regies générales susceptibles de clarifier le role du CPA, son envergure ainsi que la nature des liens structurels qu’il entretient avec le PAM, notamment avec le Directeur exécutif. Elle aura aussi permis de voir se finaliser les négociations relatives à l’accord de siege du PAM. Ce sont là des résultats remarquables dont nous pouvons tous nous réjouir.
De plus, l’année 90 a vu s’accroitre globalement les engagements du PAM en matière d’aide d’urgence et d’aide aux réfugiés de longue durée et se réduire l’aide consentie aux projets de développement. Ce sont là des résultats remarquables dont nous pouvons tous nous réjouir. Telle qu’indiquée par le Directeur exécutif dans sa presentation liminaire, cette repartition relative entre l’aide au développement d’une part, et l’aide d’urgence et aux réfugiés d’autre part, pourrait éventuellement se maintenir en 1991, en regard de la situation Internationale qui prévaut et du role accru que le PAM pourrait être appelé à jouer auprès des réfugiés. Par ailleurs, l’objectif fixe pour le biennium 89-90 au chapitre des contributions à verser au PAM, notamment en espèces, n’a pas été pleinement atteint, générant ainsi des contraintes qui ne se sont certes pas résorbées depuis lors. Dans ce contexte, l’objectif de 1, 5 milliard pour le biennium 93-94 retenu par le CPA nous apparaìt réaliste et acceptable.
En terminant, ma delegation voudrait signaler que l’agenda des reunions du CPA en 1991 et éventuellement en 1992 prévoit, entre autres, de discuter des modalités relatives à la RAIU, du role de l’aide alimentaire dans les années 90 et de la situation financière du PAM au chapitre des liquidités. Le CPA apparait done conscient des principales difficultés auxquelles le PAM est confronté. Nul doute qu’avec l’heureux melange de bonne volonté et
de détermination dont le CPA a fait preuve en 1990, celui-ci saura formuler des réponses appropriées à ces problèmes qu’il importe de solutionner de façon pragmatique et constructive.
A I’instar des orateurs qui m’ont précédée, ma delegation voudrait profiter de l’occasion de cette reunion du Conseil pour remercier M. Ingram et tout le personnel du PAM pour les efforts qu’ils ont consentis cette année et les années précédentes pour venir en aide aux populations les plus démunies.
Brutosusanto SUGIANTO (Indonesia): May I begin by expressing my delegation’s appreciation of the management of WFP under the able leadership of its Executive Director.
The assistance of WFP in projects dealing with poverty allevation in East Java and transmigration projects in Sumatra and the help given by WFP to the refugees in Golang Island will be noted by all of us in Indonesia as a genuine commitment of WFP in helping the rural poor and suffering peoples, despite the many difficulties that confront the WFP nowadays.
While being in agreement with the content of the Annual Report as a whole, my delegation would like to say a few words relating to the last part of the Report, which deals with the pledging target for 1993-94.
We note that the pledging target for the biennium 1993-94 has been set at US$1.5 billion, which is equal to that of the current target for 1991-92. It means that no provisions have been made for an increase in the level of the target, while it is already known that the need for food aid will continue to grow in the near, and in the not too distant, future.
In this context my delegation is in full agreement with the conclusion of the last Session of the CFA, which stated that the Executive Director of WFP will have consultations with donor countries on the matter of making greater efforts toward reaching the target, at least to such an extent that it should be more than what has been realized heretofore; moreover, that the cash component should constitute 30 percent of the pledge.
My delegation is in agreement with the draft resolution of the Council on the target for WFP pledges covering the period 1993-94, and the relevant draft resolutions of the forthcoming FAO Conference and of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Having heard the statements of distinguished previous speakers, my delegation wishes to join them for the good, warm, and close relationship of WFP and Indonesia, and for his personal and substantial contributions to the work of WFP.
Raphël RABE (Madagascar): La delegation malgache appuie le seizième rapport annuel du CPA et remercie M. Ingram pour sa presentation très claire. Ma delegation voudrait adresser au PAM, au Directeur exécutif et à toute son équipe les chaleureuses felicitations du Gouvernement malgache pour les performances plus que satisfaisantes que le Programme a réalisées en 1990.
Nous adressons nos vifs remerciements à la communauté des donateurs qui ont mis à la disposition du Programme les ressources lui permettant de réaliser lesdites performances.
Nous tenons à nous féliciter de l’ensemble des realisations, mais nous souhaiterions mettre en exergue la satisfaction qui est la nôtre pour les réponses appropriées que le Programme a données à nos demandes d’aide d’urgence. Bien entendu, on peut encore, et on doit, en améliorer l’efficacité et la nouvelle organisation qui sera mise en place y contribuera sans doute, nous en sommes convaincus.
Nous encourageons le développement des opérations triangulaires, le développement des achats locaux et des échanges de produits. En ce sens, nous faisons nôtres les appels lances par M. Ingram à l’endroit des donateurs pour que ces derniers apportent le tiers de leurs contributions en espèces. En effet, les besoins en espèces du Programme sont importants et très justifies. L’insuffisance de liquidités ne pourrait qu’entraver gravement l’execution correcte du mandat du Programme.
Nous ne pouvons qu’accueillir très favorablement la realisation de l’etude sus l’Afrique qui a été discutée lors du dernier CPA et la volonté du PAM de répondre aux besoins croissants en aide alimentaire de la region. Nous avons d’ailleurs appuyé en son temps l’idée d’un programme special pour l’Afrique, pour éviter que l’intensification des actions des aides alimentaires dans la zone n’entraine une diminution de l’ assistance dans les autres regions défavorisées.
Je voudrais clore mon intervention en joignant ma voix à celle des delegations qui se sont exprimées avant la mienne pour réitérer à M. Ingram en même temps felicitations et reconnaissance pour tout ce qu’il a fait, tout ce qu’il a realise, pour faire du Programme un outil si précieux pour le développement de nos pays.
Kiichi NARITA (Japan): My delegation would like to commend the Executive Director Mr Ingram and his staff, on the excellent quality and presentation of the Sixteenth Annual Report for 1990, and also congratulate them for their commendable performance and achievements during the year under review, especially for many successful emergency feeding operations which are carried out under very difficult and dangerous circumstances.
Since Japan is a member of CFA, my delegation has already expressed our views on this annual report in that forum.
Therefore, I do not have much to say at this moment, but let me focus on a few points among many areas which are to be admired, namely that WFP has been endeavouring to improve project designs by utilizing the technical support of FAO, ILO, WHO and other related international agencies. In addition, we appreciate that WFP has recently taken steps to strengthen its collaboration with NGOs in order to execute more effectively small-scale projects particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Moreover, my delegation expects that WFP continues to cooperate with the World Bank in a complementary manner by combining WFP’s food aid with the World Bank’s financing.
On this occasion, in response to the Executive Director’s sincere and special request for additional contributions for the suffering people in Africa and other countries, my delegation is pleased to state that the Japanese Government is planning a special contribution at the end of this month to, and through, WFP, of about Yen 5 725 million - that is about US$40 million - for the refugees in Ethiopia, Liberia, the Sudan, and their surrounding countries; also, for the African refugees in Pakistan and Iran, and the Cambodian refugees in Thailand.
My delegation also takes this opportunity, here in FAO Council, to express our wholehearted appreciation for Mr Ingram’s efforts and achievements during his ten year term.
LE PRESIDENT: Il va de soi que le Programme alimentaire doit collaborer avec l’ensemble de la famille des Nations Unies. Etant par essence un programme alimentaire, il est souhaitable que les liens particulièrement étroits qui l’unissent à l’Organisation pour l’alimentation soient réellement une priorité. Je crois qu’entre un programme alimentaire et l’Organisation pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture, il existe un lien privilégié tout à fait special.
Ma GENG-OU (China) (Original language Chinese): The Chinese delegation would first like to commend the Secretariat for the preparation of document CL 99/13, and also of the Sixteenth Annual Report of the WFP, submitted by CFA. We would also like to thank Mr Ingram for his introduction. We give our support to this Annual Report.
Over the past 30 years, WFP has played an active role and has made a great contribution towards eradicating poverty and hunger, and assisting agricultural development in developing countries. The Chinese delegation would like to express its appreciation for this. We hope that WFP will intensify its efforts to foster agricultural development in developing countries.
We have noted that the level of food aid pledging has been kept at quite a low level, and the cash percentage in a donation has not reached the level required by the General Rules of the WFP. This directly affects the capacities of WFP in its food aid delivery, lagging far behind the needs of developing countries. We are very concerned about this. We hope that the international community - especially the food surplus developed countries -should make more efforts.
In conclusion, the Chinese delegation wishes to thank the WFP for the assistance extended to China. At the same time, we would like to warmly thank Mr Ingram for his great contribution to the developing countries during his term of office.
Adel EL-SARKI (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): In the name of God, the Compassionate and the Merciful, my delegation on whose behalf I have the honour of speaking, has studied very carefully the document before us. Allow me to thank Mr Ingram for his very complete and lucid introduction to this item. We would like to congratulate the WFP for the excellent work that it has done. We would also like to thank them for their efforts to support the struggles in the developing countries, struggles against hunger and malnutrition.
I think the document gives us a very clear example of the excellent work that has been done by the WFP. As for paragraphs 9 to 11, which refer to the Programme’s resources which are earmarked for development aid, my delegation hopes here that the cash commitments for 1991-92 will reach the level which is advisable, and that would be one-third of all commitments. After having studied paragraphs 17 to 22, which refer to the different types of projects, we have identified the projects that deal particularly with the environment. This is a tendency which we would particularly like to welcome.
My delegation is also very pleased with the use of the purchase of products and foodstuffs from developing countries. We would congratulate the WFP for that approach.
We also would like to congratulate the Programme for its support to Africa in the UNPAAERD. I must say that the Programme’s efforts have also had very positive effects on the economic and social programmes and have supported the implementation of many projects of agrarian reform and rural development.
David JOSLYN (United States of America): This report certainly represents a very productive period for both the World Food Programme and the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes. During this period, WFP was turned to for help in delivering emergency relief food to affected populations in Liberia and surrounding countries, various countries in Southern Africa, the Gulf, Bangladesh, the Horn of Africa and many others. Specifically in the Horn of Africa, protracted relief situations stretched everyone’s capabilities very thin, but the World Food Programme tenaciously kept searching and keeps searching for solutions to food needs in Northern Ethiopia, the Southern and Northern Sudan, Somalia, as well as other areas. The opening of the port of Masawa and the World Food Programme’s role in this was certainly worthy of acclaim. As pointed out by my colleague from the United Kingdom and many others, during this period WFP has shown a high level of collaboration with many other agencies of the UN system, specifically the high level of cooperation with the FAO, UNHCR, IFAP, WHO and the World Bank are to be noted. But WFP’s collaboration goes beyond this. WFP collaborates very closely with bilateral donors and non-governmental organizations in the delivery of food aid. This as well is noted by my delegation.
During this same period of time, the Committee on Food Aid was just as productive. The Committee grappled successfully with General Regulation changes to modernize and rationalize the management of this important UN programme. The Committee began a complete review of important food aid
policy issues that will underlie the Programme in the next decade and beyond. The Committee began to address some of the financial problems that affect the World Food Programme. CFA members will remember that donors agreed to make special efforts between now and the next CFA to find ways to resolve these problems. Over the next few years there will be many new and difficult issues before the CFA and WFP. But my delegation has confidence that this vital Organization with its capable and dedicated staff and with a strengthened governing body will successfully face those challenges.
I would like to make a comment about the general level of food aid for emergencies, and more specifically for Africa. Mr Ingram’s introduction, we believe, clearly characterizes the situation. However, we are deeply bothered by the notion held by others that there may exist “donor fatigue” which is seriously limiting the availability of food aid. While my delegation joins others in efforts to provide more food aid to the needy of the world, we believe that close observers of global relief are aware of the untiring efforts of all donors to deal with the myriad of constraints to delivering huge amounts of relief food in Bangladesh, most of Africa, the Gulf, while dealing with the emerging needs in some European countries. My delegation believes that there is no evidence that the donor community is in a state of fatigue. Rather, the challenges are huge, complex and growing. My delegation insists that the donor community is engaged with all its energy to provide for emerging needs throughout the globe.
Finally, I would like to join first the representative of Pakistan and all other speakers and, I am sure, all the other members of this Council in acknowledging Mr Ingram’s very noteworthy contributions to global development. My delegation appreciates the way you, Mr Ingram, have served this programme with an unparalleled level of integrity.
Gerhard LIEBER (Germany): First of all, I would like to thank Mr Ingram for his introductory remarks to our debate.
May I avail myself of this opportunity to express my country’s high appreciation for WFP’s Executive Director and his staff for their persistent engagement for hunger and poverty alleviation the world over. We feel especially deeply obliged to Mr Ingram who has so ably guided WFP through the, in our opinion, most important period of its history.
As we have been actively engaged in the CFA’s work, we can therefore approve the report before us in full. We are satisfied with the performance of WFP. The report reflects, however, a trend which developed during the past decade of a diminishing share of development-targeted food aid activities. As we have always advocated the principle of help for self-help, we deplore this development and its likely continuation during the 1990s. Of course, we are aware of the objective causes and factors underlying the increased need for emergency food aid in countries stricken by natural disaster, drought and civil strife. We see, however, positive signs for such situations to be overcome. Therefore, we harbour some optimism that efforts by WFP itself, the donor community and recipient countries can succeed in reversing this trend and come back to the principle put forward already by the World Food Conference in 1974, help for self-help as the main tool to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in the world.
Daniel Yoman KONAN (Côte d'Ivoire): Ayant toujours suivi les sessions du CPA, du Conseil et de la Conference qui traitent des activités du PAM, nous avons pu nous rendre compte de l’accroissement continu de ses operations. Que ce soit en matière d’urgence pour les réfugiés ou pour le développement, le PAM nous a consent!, à la Côte d’lvoire, d’avoir un appui pour l’alimentation dans les cantines scolaires et une aide pour le reboisement. Enfin, depuis le malheureux conflit du Liberia voisin, le PAM est intervenu, en liaison avec d’autres donateurs, en direction des réfugiés qui sont actuellement environ 300 000 personnes. Un projet d’aide régionale en faveur des réfugiés libériens, d’un montant de 91 millions de dollars, a été adopté à la dernìère session du CPA, au cours du mois de mai. Nous savons gré au Comité des politiques et programmes d’aide alimentaire d’avoir accueilli favorablement ce dernier projet d’aide aux réfugiés qui vient appuyer notre pays, et surtout les populations frontalières du Liberia qui, en authentiques Africains, ont spontanément accueilli leurs frères et parents victimes de ce conflit qui, nous l’espérons tous, prendra définitivement fin comme devraient le faire tous ces conflits et ces guerres qui suscitent desolation et désespoir sur notre continent et qui, done, ne peuvent pas laisser indifferent le PAM chaque jour appelé à intervenir, ici et là - M. Ingram vient lui-même de nous le des. Dans la corne de l’Afrique d’où il revient à peine, si les moyens financiers adéquats et un surplus d’aliments ne sont pas rapidement dégagés, cela sera dramatique. C’est done ce qui nous autorise à lancer un appel en direction des donateurs pour que la souplesse que sollicite avec insistance et conviction le PAM lui soit consentie, souplesse que le PAM pratique déjà. Je vous renvoie au paragraphe 42 du document et je vous rappelle la formule d’autorisation de logistique d’urgence, sorte de facilité de caisse ou de découvert bancaire pratique trois fois au cours de l’année dernière, et qui est peut-être d’actualité au moment où nous siégeons.
L’examen du document CL 99/13 et l’expose introductif sincere et franc de M. Ingram ont suscité à notre delegation un sentiment ambivalent d’inquietude et de satisfaction. Je commencerai done par l’inquiétude, de manière un peu télégraphique si vous me l’accordez:
- inquiétude pour la croissance zero de l’objectif de contribution: 1, 5 milliard de dollars, encore une fois, et pour le personnel, notamment celui de nos pays;
- inquiétude pour la situation de trésorerie et done pour les contributions en numeraire car la regie d’un tiers/deux tiers n’est pas respectée;
- inquiétude pour l’insuffisance des articles non alimentaires indispensables pour améliorer le stockage intérieur des denrées;
- inquiétude de voir que les choses s’inversent dans le mauvais sens, car seulement 40 pour cent du budget du PAM iront au développement contre 60 pour cent pour les urgences et les réfugiés;
- inquiétude de constater le tassement des operations triangulaires, notamment en Afrique de l’Ouest, ma sous-region. Je vous renvoie ici au paragraphe 64 a) iii).
Ici, il est à remarquer que le Secretariat, dans son document, utilise lui-même le terme “inquietude" en constatant que certains donateurs lient leurs contributions à ce titre à des achats dans les pays développés. Qu’en est-il alors des habitudes alimentaires?
Je voudrais maintenant parler de satisfaction car il y en a, même si M. Ingram, dont je salue la franchise et le courage, nous a dit dans son introduction qu’il préférerait les moyens financiers aux éloges:
- satisfaction de voir l’accord de siege arrive à un point avancé. Je crois que le délégué du pays hôte nous en parlera;
- satisfaction de voir la grande amelioration des relations entre le PAM et la FAO et, partant, entre tous les pays qui font partie de ces deux organisations;
- satisfaction devant l’immense travail qui a été effectué, ces derniers mois - nous en sommes tous témoins - par le CPA et surtout de la direction dynamique et appréciée de l’Ambassadeur du Kenya, Son Excellence Daniel D.C. Don Nanjira, dont l’action à la tête du Comité, qu’il a preside, nous a permis d’aboutir à de bons résultats pour les travaux immédiats et futurs du Programme;
- satisfaction encore de voir l’élargissement du CPA et sa reconnaissance pleine et entière en tant qu’organe de direction intergouvernemental du Programme.
La délégation que j’ai l’honneur de représenter voudrait conelure en adressant ses vifs remerciements d’abord au CPA, puis au PAM lui-même et surtout à M. James Ingram, bien connu dans mon pays qu’il a eu l’occasion de visiter. Je pense que nous aurons l’occasion de rendre un hommage mérité au Directeur exécutif en d’autres circonstances. Qu’il me suffise de dire, à ce stade, que M. Ingram aura sûrement marque le PAM de sa forte personnalité qui lui a permis de faire progresser l’Organisation dans tous les domaines.
Sra. María NAVARRO ARRUE (Cuba): La delegación de Cuba, señor Presidente, apoyó el decimosexto Informe Anual del Comité de Politicas y Programas de Ayuda Alimentaria durante las sesiones de su 31º periodo de sesiones el pasado mes de mayo. Por ello, nuestra delegación reitera su apoyo hoy al mismo en el marco de este 99º Consejo de la FAO.
Mi delegación apoya la politica seguida por el PMA de dar énfasis en la ayuda alimentaria a los países menos adelantados y con deficit alimentario que, sin duda, son los más necesitados, aunque, señor Presidente, nos satisface igualmente que el Programa continue su universalidad dando atención a las necesidades de otros paises en desarrollo que también la precisan.
El documento Informe Anual del Director Ejecutivo sobre la labor del PMA en 1990, es una muestra palpable de la importante labor que ha venido desarrollando el Programa en la conducción de la asistencia alimentaria a los paises en desarrollo. Por ello, nuestra delegación durante la Sexta
Reunión del Subcomité de Proyectos del PMA el pasado mes de mayo, con honda preocupación se refirió al peligro que veíamos en la perspectiva de una sustancial baja de recursos y promesas para el bienio futuro. Cuba, con realismo, aceptó también la cifra con que contará el PMA para desarrollar su trabajo en el futuro inmediato, aunque hacemos votos para que en un futuro no lejano el Programa pueda arribar a las metas y cifras que se ha planteado para desarrollar holgadamente su encomiable trabajo.
En mayo planteamos que habíamos asistido a un proceso largo de estudio y discusiones en aras de conferirle al Programa facilidades de acción que, sin duda, harían del Programa un instrumento más eficiente y con mayor agilidad.
Lamentamos también por ello, que a la luz de este nuevo proceso nos viéramos en la necesidad de contar con un PMA que emergia más empobrecido.
Llamamos la atención, señor Presidente, en este sentido embuidos de una postura positiva, para que se hagan todos los esfuerzos posibles que coronen las necesidades reales que el Programa requiere en esta nueva fase de tantas necesidades en el mundo.
El aumento sustancial de la ayuda alimentaria destinada a aliviar situaciones de urgencia y otras relacionadas con personas refugiadas o desplazadas, ha sido una, o sino la caracteristica principal de la ayuda alimentaria del PMA en este ultimo periodo. Nos parece indiscutible esta acción, aunque mi delegación piensa que la misma no debe ir en detrimento de las donaciones destinadas al desarrollo que alcanzaron en 1990 su nivel más bajo en 10 años.
Reiteramos que el desarrollo es, señor Presidente, en ultima instancia, la via que puede a largo plazo contribuir más efectivamente al logro de la seguridad alimentaria de nuestros paises. Por consiguiente, debe continuar siendo un objetivo prioritario del PMA que necesita, lógicamente, contar con más recursos para ello.
Para no hacer más largos nuestros comentarios, apoyamos otras brillantes interveneiones aqui escuchadas que han elevado el papel del PMA y, en sentido général, compartimos lo planteado por la representación de Colombia sobre asuntos del Informe relacionados con el transporte, compras locales, operaciones triangulares, el cumplimiento de un tercio en efectivo de las donaciones, etc.
Por último, abogamos por la sostenida y fructifera cooperación del PMA con otras organizaciones, sobre todo con la FAO, la que debemos seguir impulsando porque asi lo necesitan nuestros paises y por la comunidad de intereses que ambos tienen.
No queremos finalizar nuestra intervención sin antes hacer un merecido reconocimiento a la labor realizada por el Sr. Ingram al frente del PMA, y como otras delegaciones deseamos expresar nuestra gratitud y hacer además extensívo este reconocimiento al personal del PMA que en la Sede y el campo trabajan con dedicación y abnegación por una causa tan justa como es ayudar al desarrollo y urgencias de los paises más necesitados del mundo. Con esto va implícito nuestro especial mensaje de gratitud y buena voluntad a la
División de America Latina y el Caribe del Programa, que con eficiencia y dedicación atienden y ejecutan cotidianamente nuestras solicitudes y reclamos.
Gamal Mohamad AHMED (Sudan) (Original language Arabic): Mr Chairman, we became acquainted with the terms of this report, and as members of the CFA, and also as a country with close links with the WFP, we are bound to support this report.
We would like to thank the WFP for the report and we would like to pay tribute to the CFA for all that it has achieved over recent years within the framework of the WFP.
We read in this report that increased interest is shown in countries suffering from food deficit. And there is increased attention paid to developing programmes and to the activities of working people.
We would compliment the work being done by the staff at Headquarters and in the field, and the courage they have shown. We would particularly compliment Mr Ingram for his wisdom and experience in directing this Programme, which he has marked with a high degree of efficacy. Mr Ingram’s mark on the Programme we are sure will remain indelible. We thank him warmly for all his efforts.
In conclusion, we would like to make an appeal to donor countries and ask them to increase their efforts to make even greater contributions in order to enable us to tackle the requirements of our countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and the Horn of Africa. We support what has already been said by members of the Council in regard to triangular operations and the problems of displaced peoples and refugees.
Ulrich KNÜPPEL (CEE): Au nom de la Communauté européenne, j’aimerais me joindre à tous ceux qui ont exprimé à Monsieur Ingram leur haute estime pour le travail accompli par lui-même et par l’Organisation qu’il représente.
Je voudrais rappeler l’intervention du représentant de la Communauté à propos du point 4 de l’ordre du jour qui concerne les actions récentes de la Communauté et de ses Etats Membres dans le contexte de l’aide d’urgence.
Enfin, je voudrais me référer à un certain nombre de points qui ressortent du seizième rapport annuel du CPA. Bien que le CPA ait consacré beaucoup de temps en 1990 à discuter des questions institutionnelles, celles-ci seront discutées sous un autre point de l’ordre du jour.
Nous constatons que l’expedition de vivres par le PAM a augmenté en 1990 par rapport à 1989, mais des contraintes de ressources pour les contributions ordinaires ont entrainé une reduction des engagements pour le développement. Nous regrettons que le travail de développement par le biais de l’aide alimentaire soit limité de cette façon, mais nous ne nous attendons pas à de grands changements, vu les besoins des urgences et des réfugiés ainsi que des limitations budgétaires auxquelles les bailleurs de
fonds son confrontés. Il est d’autant plus important, dans les circonstances actuelles, que le PAM fixe des priorités claires pour son travail. Nous nous félicitons de l’augmentation de toutes les categories de contributions de la part des pays à faible revenu et à deficit alimentaire, mais nous croyons qu’une concentration accrue sur ces pays est souhaitable dans le cadre des ressources ordinaires.
Nous notons que la repartition des engagements pour une année donnée varie selon les pro jets ou les élargissements qui sont présentés au CPA; cependant, le niveau particulièrement bas des engagements en 1990 pour le développement agricole nous donne des inquietudes.
Malheureusement, les ressources du PAM doivent être de plus en plus dirigées vers les urgences et les réfugiés. Nous trouvons que la flexibilité du PAM pour les livraisons d’aide d’urgence, par l’emprunt des stocks ou par des achats locaux, est très utile. Nous considérons également comme un bon exemple la façon dont le programme régulier peut soutenir les aides d’urgence, au paragraphe 31 du rapport concernant l’élargissement de projets de développement pour apporter du secours aux victimes de la famine.
Le rapport note la nécessité que les projets d’aide alimentaire soient suffisamment soutenus sur les plans techniques et financiers, soit par la contribution technique du système des NU soit par le financement par une des agences de bailleurs de fonds. Nous considérons que ce soutien est important pour s’assurer que le programme continue à combattre la pauvreté et la faim d’une façon efficace.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous arrivons au terme des interventions.
Je donne la parole au Directeur exécutif du Programme alimentaire mondial pour répondre aux questions qui ont été soulevées.
James INGRAM (Executive Director, World Food Programme): 1 would like to thank the delegates for their useful observations on the report. Many issues were raised, which I will not reply to at the moment, concerning the distribution of commitments in relation to development projects, setting of priorities, the policy issues to be considered in the CFA and so on, but some useful points were raised which will help the Programme in preparing its agenda, so to speak, for next year. So I value the comments that were made.
There were a few specific questions that I would like to seek to answer at this point. Some questions were asked about the purchases by the Programme of food in developing countries. In 1990 the purchases in developing countries were, as I have said, 91 million dollars. They were higher in 1989, namely 107 million dollars. In 1988, 109 million dollars. The percentage in fact has dropped from 80 percent in developing countries in 1980 to 59 percent in 1990. But these annual fluctuations are to be expected. For example, in the past we have always been able to purchase heavily in Kenya and Zimbabwe, but at the present time we are not able to purchase large quantities in either country. We have also recently made
somewhat larger purchases in developed countries for different regions. We are not really constrained in relation to where we purchase if the resources come from the IFR, the Food Aid Convention, or the regular resources, subject only to the proviso that they are almost always from developing countries, such purchases. But when we are purchasing on behalf of a bilateral donor, clearly we must respect the views of the bilateral donor. We are in effect providing a service so it is effected by the, what you might say, particular interests in each year of bilateral donors, and secondly, as I have mentioned, if you do get a lack of availability of food in important developing exporting countries, such as Zimbabwe and Kenya, well obviously it affects both the absolute amount and the proportions.
On transport the expenditure - this is for external transport, basically shipping - in 1990, 46 million dollars was spent on the flag fleets of the developing countries; in 1989, 38 million dollars, so it is an increase over 1989 but it is a reduction as compared with 1988 because we spent 54 million dollars on the ocean transport, etc., for the developing countries, but it is fluctuating in effect round about 50 million dollars. The total amount last year for transport expenditure was actually 137, that is for both ocean transport and the purchasing, so 137 million dollars of purchases and external transport, but we also spend, of course, large sums on subsidizing internal transport, shipping and handling. We spent approximately 20 million dollars in 1990 on that, so the total expenditure using the services of developing countries was 157 million dollars last year. It is quite significant expenditure, although I doubt very much if any other agency purchases that degree of services from developing countries. It is going to be immensely higher in 1991, doubtless well in excess of 200 million dollars, the reason being that the famine situations in Africa in particular, are so much worse in 1991 than they were in 1990. For example, in Sudan, which is one of the countries I have just visited, we expect to spend over 50 million dollars on transport services within Sudan in 1991. So these expenditures represent a substantial transfer of resources to developing countries.
On the issue about flag fleets, the legislation of one donor country provides that 75 percent of all its food aid must be shipped in flagged vessels of that country. It is enshrined in the legislation, so it is not at the discretion of the officials of that country, but I am pleased to say that the additional cost, which is quite high, is now met by the country. Of course, we would prefer it to be done differently; we would prefer to be able, as we do for everybody else, to transport food in the most economical way, because in that way the resources available to the Programme for developing countries would be higher.
They are the basic questions about transport and purchasing. There were also some questions about using the local institutions.
We spend - I do not have the precise figures - but we spend substantial sums each year on consultants from developing countries - that is within consultant firms - or research institutes or universities in developing countries. This is in connection with project design and evaluation. These expenditures are on a rising curve. I have not the precise data at the moment but they are increasing because we want to use the capacities of developing countries as much as possible for evaluation and project design, so that is another area of WFP expenditure.
I believe that we will be able to carry out the training programme envisaged for the nationals of developing countries notwithstanding the staff constraints under which we are operating. I believe we will in fact be able to meet the target.
These then are the specific questions that were raised. Of course, I would like to thank the Committee, although I did say we need money rather than praise - of course we do not object to praise, we are not averse to praise - but I was particularly pleased with the recognition given to the work of our staff in Rome and of course in developing countries. I have said quite a bit about it and it is very important. In Ethiopia, where I have just been among other countries, just a few days in effect after the end of the civil war and the coming into power of an interim government, I think it is not well-realized that you read in the paper, for example, about evacuation of staff, but the United Nations - and I am not talking about WFP; we have our share - but the total of United Nations staff still working at this moment in Ethiopia is in excess of one hundred, and that includes FAO staff also. All agencies have in fact kept the staff required to deal with emergency situations in Ethiopia. The staff who have been evacuated and the families are really those who are not vital for this emergency work, and there are more people from the United Nations still in Ethiopia than, I dare say, diplomats and NGO workers, and it is dangerous, and when you see the stress under which people are working, you do feel great admiration for them. So I will have pleasure in conveying to our staff the concern expressed by the Council in this regard.
I also appreciate of course the nice remarks made about my own work. I would only say that of course I have another nine months to go, and I expect to be at my desk on the last day of my term, and I only hope you can still say nice things when I actually reach the end of the term. Of course I will not have an opportunity to address the Council again. I will, as several have mentioned, hope to be able to address the Conference so I will give you my final thoughts on that occasion.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your intervention and for the answers to the different questions, Mr Ingram.
Je crois que ce débat et cette discussion au sujet du seizième rapport annuel ont été particulièrement intéressants. Ces discussions ont souligné la nécessité d’en arriver à réaliser les objectifs, que ce soit pour la Reserve alimentaire internationale d’urgence ou l’effectif global qui est fixe. Beaucoup ont parlé de la repartition à laquelle tous les Etats ont marque leur accord en ce qui concerne le tiers des ressources en espèces et les deux tiers en produits. Je crois que c’est un element important. Je crois que nous devons aussi souligner que le Programme a, par essence, un caractère multilateral et quelles que soient les vues des différents donneurs bilatéraux, ce caractère multilateral doit pouvoir être maintenu. Done, les regies que se fixe le Programme dans cet aspect multilateral qu’il faut maintenir et souligner doivent, petit à petit, être atteintes. Je sais que c’est un effort constant et je suis convaincu que le PAM y arrivera. Nous allons rester dans le même cadre puisque du point 12 nous allons passer au point 25, à moins qu’il n’y ait une remarque supplémentaire de la part de l’un ou l’autre membre du Conseil.
En l’absence de demande, je declare le point 12 clôturé.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous passons au point 25 qui concerne les modifications proposées des Regies générales du PAM. Nous avons sous les yeux un seul document, le document CL 99/25: Modification proposée des Regies générales du PAM.
Je demande à notre Conseiller juridique de presenter les modifications juridiques qui risquent d’etre apportées, compte tenu des propositions qui ont été faites par le Comité des politiques et programmes d’aide alimentaire et qui nous sont actuellement soumises.
LEGAL COUNSEL: The document before you is CL 99/25 entitled “Proposed Amendment to the General Regulations of WFP”.
In the words of the TV talk shows, this is one subject that needs no introduction. As you know, the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes at its First Special Session in March 1991 decided to submit to the FAO Council a draft resolution for submission to the FAO Conference on the membership of the CFA and the adoption of revised General Regulations of the WFP. A parallel submission is being made to ECOSOC and thence to the General Assembly of the United Nations.
The resolution of the CFA, which requests the Council’s endorsement of the draft Conference resolution and revised General Regulations of the WFP, is set out in paragraph 11 of the document. The draft Conference resolution, which the Council is now being asked to endorse and submit to the 26th Session of the Conference, is set out as Annex I to the paper. The listing of Member States for the purpose of election to the CFA is set out as Appendix A to the draft Conference resolution and the draft revised General Regulations for the WFP are set out as Appendix B to the draft Conference resolution.
The comments of the Director-General are set out in paragraphs 3 to 10 of the document CL 99/25. I would merely wish to draw your attention to two points: the first is the recognition in the draft revised General Regulations of the principle of reliance by the WFP on the technical services of FAO, including services regarding global information and early warning systems. The second is the fact, noted in paragraphs 9 and 10 of the paper, that a further resolution of the Conference will be required to authorize the exception from the provision in Financial Regulation 6.7 that requires that trust funds must be administered in accordance with the
Financial Regulations of FAO unless otherwise provided for by the Conference. A draft Conference resolution authorizing the WFP Trust Fund to be administered in accordance with separate Financial Regulations approved by the CFA in accordance with the revised draft General Regulations of WFP will be submitted to the next session of the FAO Finance Committee arid thence to the 100th Session of the Council and the 26th Session of the FAO Conference in November.
James INGRAM (Executive Director, World Food Programme): What the Council can do for the World Food Programme today is so much more important than what I can say. I will therefore not detain you for long with words. As I am sure most of the members of the Council know, I will be leaving the World Food Programme in the Spring of next year. For me, this is now a time for taking stock - for looking backwards and for looking forwards.
Looking backwards, I have developed during my stewardship great pride, a pride which the Council can properly share, in what WFP has accomplished with resources woefully inadequate for the awesome and often appalling challenges which it has had to face. It is particularly a pride in the men and women who have worked for the Programme, both at our country offices and in Rome. In the field they have often had to work in great hazard in areas where disease, famine and violence, for whatever reason, have held sway. They have worked tirelessly to bring succour to millions in need. At Headquarters the staff have provided the planning and support which has made our country work possible. This has been done in the context of an increasingly archaic, restrictive and frustrating constitutional framework and in steadily declining working conditions. The constitutional framework had been designed to serve a small, temporary and experimental programme and the Headquarters facilities a small, temporary and limited Secretariat. The world’s needs and WFP’s performance have turned it from that small, temporary and experimental programme into one of the world’s foremost international aid agencies. The facts thus demanded a new constitutional framework and new Headquarters facilities. In a single decision today this Council can place the Programme irrevocably on the road to achieving these two objectives in the immediate future.
It would be flying in the face of history, and of the record, to deny that it has been a struggle to reach the point that we have now reached. The constitutional review which has taken place over the last few years has involved positions which have been strongly held and forcefully argued because they were perceived to involve important points of principle. However, in the end everyone gave a little. For the little that was given much has been gained. Today you have before you, in the revised General Regulations, a new constitutional framework which will be responsive to the needs and requirements of the 1990s both as regards the legislative and administrative requirements of the Programme.
Looking forwards, the new Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes will, through its enlargement and changed composition, more accurately reflect both what the nations of the world can give and what the nations of the world require. Strengthened also in its powers, the Committee will be able to provide stronger guidance and direction to the Programme’s administration. That administration will, in turn, have the financial and
administrative autonomy necessary to respond more quickly, more efficiently and more effectively to the needs of recipient countries for food aid, for development and for emergency relief. This new constitutional framework rightly maintains links with the Programme’s founding organizations, in order to protect and strengthen the legitimate interests of the United Nations and of the Food and Agriculture Organization. A new and constructive cooperation can thus emerge to the benefit not only of the organizations but, more importantly, to the benefit of those whom we all - United Nations, FAO and WFP - are designed to serve.
Today the Council is being asked to ensure that the World Food Programme will be placed where it rightly belongs, on the same constitutional basis as the great aid organizations of the United Nations family, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Children’s Programme. The Council is being asked to do this not for the Executive Director, nor even for the men and women who serve WFP but above all for those who receive its assistance.
The texts before you today have been arrived at because of the dedicated efforts of the representatives of many governments reflecting all shades of opinion. I would like to express my appreciation to all those governments who have worked so tirelessly to this end. It has also succeeded because of the talents of many international civil servants in the United Nations, in the Food and Agriculture Organization and in the World Food Programme. I must take this opportunity to thank especially the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of FAO for their essential contributions to the outcome. I must also thank all the members of their staff who have been involved in this endeavour. I should do so by name, but those names are legion.
English is a rich language, but it is not particularly rich in the language of gratitude. All that I can say is thank you to all those who have given of their time and their talents to arrive at the result before you.
You also have before you today, for your information and comments, an enduring testimony to the great generosity and foresight of the Italian Government in the newly signed Headquarters Agreement for the World Food Programme. Upon its entry into force, this will provide a modern facility for WFP Headquarters, a facility which I have no doubt will be worthy of this matchless city. In the interim, a great financial burden has been removed from WFP by the Italian Government’s decision, embodied in an exchange of notes, to meet all rental costs until the Programme moves to its new Headquarters. With the revised General Regulations a new Headquarters forms the second essential foundation for a modern World Food Programme.
If you endorse the Revised General Regulations, and if we can look forward to the early entry into force of the Headquarters Agreement, it will be with the greatest confidence that I can hand over to my successor. The new Executive Director will be taking over not only a Programme with a historic past but with the capabilities for an even more historic future. It will be a future in which confident and cooperative relationships between the Programme and its founding organizations will be forged. It is for the sake of this that I ask the Council to turn this new page to a future which will ensure that what is past and that a new and promising beginning is born.
LE PRESIDENT: Je salue la présence de M. Peter Hansen.
Peter HANSEN (Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations): The United Nations welcomes the opportunity to address your Council on the question of the governance of the World Food Programme.
It is a very, very different Programme from what it was thirty years ago and oVter the change, from what it was to what it has become the Programme, its Executive Director, its staff and, indeed, its founding Organization have much to be proud of.
The United Nations has always maintained that the development in the operations of the World Food Programme justifies periodical review of its functioning in order to improve its effectiveness.
We have worked very closely with FAO in discharging our respective functions as parent organizations of the World Food Programme. So far as the review undertaken by the CFA on the Governance of the World Food Programme is concerned, the United Nations and FAO, have followed very closely the deliberations of the CFA and its Sub-committee, and have provided all the inputs we could to facilitate their work.
Reformation of the United Nations System is rather a rare commodity, so being at the treshhold of achieving reform in this instance, the CFA and the Council would have much to be proud of too.
The United Nations is particularly pleased that the validity of the World Food Programme as a joint programme of the United Nations and FAO has been reconfirmed. This would ensure that the important linkage of food aid to development and to food production and nutrition will continue to be maintained not only organizationally, but undoubtedly strengthened conceptually. We are confident that the enhancement of the role of the CFA in providing intergovernmental supervision and direction over the activities of the Programme will strengthen the further confidence of governments-donors and recipients alike-in the work of the WFP.
The revised General Regulations also envisage that the Programme will continue to draw upon the technical services of FAO, as well as those of the United Nations and other relevant organizations of the system.
We noted with appreciation the statement made in the CFA by the Executive Director, Mr James Ingram, at the time of the adoption of the conclusions and recommendations at the Special Session; that the World Food Programme intends to utilize and hopefully expand its utilization, of FAO technical services, as well as those of other relevant organizations. We will continue to work for the close collaboration between the World Food Programme and its founding organizations.
There has been considerable interest in the timely and coherent response of the United Nations System in providing emergency and humanitarian relief assistance, and the reform of the WFP is one important facet of this. The Economic and Social Council will shortly undertake a review of this matter at its Second Regular Session this year in Geneva, when it will also be considering the proposals for the reform of the WFP.
We welcome the inclusion in the Revised General Regulations of a provision for the United Nations to draw on the World Food Programme in providing humanitarian relief assistance. This would improve the capacity of the United Nations, in close collaboration with the other organizations concerned, to respond in an expeditious manner to urgent emergency situations.
We are also very pleased - I shall not go into detail - that the Headquarters Agreement has been signed and that it will provide a good basis for the future functioning of the WFP.
Mr Ingram has made it very clear in his comments today what enormous challenges are facing the World Food Programme. The Programme can well come up with a strengthened governance system which would increase to meet these challenges; but, in order to do all this, the Programme will need more resources and, with the strengthened World Food Programme, the United Nations look forward to even greater support from the international community to the World Food Programme through increased contributions to support its activities in the years to come.
The time is short, and there are many speakers, so let me - rather than delve into the other challenges which the Programme faces - say that the United Nations will stand ready to participate in meeting these challenges, and it goes without saying that the United Nations will participate actively to ensure the effective implementation of the envisaged changes relating to the governance of the World Food Programme, when hopefully you will have adopted them and they will come into effect next year. To this end, we look forward very much to continuing our close collaboration with FAO and the Programme.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie M. Peter Hansen, représentant du Secrétariat général des Nations Unies, pour son introduction extrêmement precise et constructive.
Il est important que les deux parents du Programme expriment leur point de vue, et ils auront certainement l’occasion de le faire. Je dis bien les deux parents, et non pas les deux parrains dont on a parlé hier, car il s’agit bien de deux parents attentifs et désireux d’augmenter la collaboration et l’articulation indispensable que nous souhaitons, comme l’a très bien souligné lé représentant du Secretaire général.
Daniel D.C. DON NANJIRA (Kenya): The item before us for discussion now is one of the key items on the Council’s international agenda. The Kenyan delegation has listened very attentively, as in the past, to the introductory statement of Mr Moore, the Legal Counsel for FAO, and to the thought-provoking statements just made by Mr James Ingram, Executive Director of WFP, and Mr Peter Hansen, Personal Representative of the Secretary-General. I also want to recognize the presence on the podium of Mr West, who is our friend - I hope, Sir, you will be able to say something in the course of this session.
We are most grateful for the information we have just been given, which should facilitate our discussion and decision on this important item. I therefore thank you once again Mr Chairman, for giving me an opportunity to make a statement on this important item, and to inform this august body about the views and position of my Government relating to the proposed amendments to the General Regulations of the World Food Programme.
As you are aware, I was privileged to serve as Chairman of the CFA during 1990 when this issue dominated the work of the CFA, and I also chaired the First Special Session of the CFA held on 18 March this year which approved the recommended changes before the Council. You will therefore, I hope, forgive me, Mr Chairman, if I am a little lengthy and sentimental in my intervention. You know my personal attachment to this issue and my strongest belief in the indispensability of consensus as the sine qua non condition for the success of any process of this kind.
The proposed amendments to the WFP General Regulations are the product of a long process, the history of which I do not wish to repeat here. It is needless to say that this Council has on many occasions had a quite unpleasant discussions on the issue. The CFA was virtually paralysed by it, and even relations among otherwise very friendly delegations were sometimes quite strained. I cannot therefore conceal my delight at noting the positive approach of document CL 99/25.
The Director-General himself made constructive and positive comments on the item, and the representative of the UN Secretary-General, has, as I have said earlier, likewise made constructive and positive comments on the issue. Thus, the parent organizations - not the “godparents” but the parent organizations - of CFA are supportive of the process, and the Kenyan delegation thanks them very much for their sincere and positive dispositions.
Obviously, I cannot let this opportunity pass without reiterating my delegation’s appreciation and gratitude to Mr Ingram, the Executive Director of WFP, for his personal and remarkable contribution to the success of the latest round of the reform process in CFA, which he actually initiated. His concern for the food needs of the food-deficient countries of the developing world and his wide travels around the world trying, and successfully so, to mobilize resources for the needy and poor peoples of the developing nations, have impressed us all very much, and we thank him sincerely. The Kenyan Government is particularly grateful for Mr Ingram’s mission last week to the Horn of Africa where he met, among others, with the senior Government leaders of the four countries of the Horn and where, of course, he also met my own President, Daniel Arap Moi, and senior officials of the Kenyan Government.
We are hopeful that WFP’s efforts to help us resolve the problems of refugees and other disastrous situations in the region will be fruitful.
We understand that Mr Ingram will be retiring in the course of next year, and we are glad that he still has nine months to go. We wish him, when the time comes, a very enjoyable retirement, and that he will be able to look, not just forward and backward, but sideways as well.
We are also thankful for the technical, legal, economic and other advice which CFA has received from FAO, WFP and the United Nations system as a whole. The explanations and clarifications we have received from the representatives of these agencies, particularly during our discussions of difficult and complex points which the delegations have come across in their deliberations on the work of WFP and CFA, have been very helpful, and they have enabled the delegations to reach the consensus that we have before us for consideration.
Thus, the proposed amendments to the World Food Programme General Rules are the product of a long process, the history of which, as I said, I do not wish to repeat. But, as I have stated earlier, I was at the steering seat of the CFA when this important matter reached its peak last year. It dominated the work of the Twenty-ninth Session of the CFA and was the subject of two meetings of a Sub-committee on Governance. It again dominated the work of the Thirtieth Session of the CFA. A Working Group was created which met in February this year and put together a Package. The Package was considered and approved by the Special Session I mentioned earlier.
Throughout this long process, the central issue was the search for a system of Governance for the World Food Programme which on the one hand granted it maximum administrative autonomy consistent with its status as a joint Programme of the United Nations and FAO, and on the other strengthened the role of the CFA as a genuinely and truly Governing Body.
It was also essential to strengthen the organic links of WFP to the technical services provided by specialized agencies of the United Nations system, particularly FAO. It is my firm belief, therefore, that the package of recommendations before this Council meets all these objectives. If approved - and I very much hope that they will be - then these proposed amendments would confer to WFP a degree of administraive autonomy similar to that of UNDP and UNICEF. The important technical role of the specialized agencies, and especially FAO, is fully recognized. I strongly recommend that this Council approve the proposed amendments to the General Regulations of WFP and that the draft resolution contained in Annex 1 be trasmitted to the Twenty-sixth Session of the FAO Conference for favourable consideration when it meets in November. It is my fervent hope that the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations will take up this matter during its summer session and reach similar conclusions and that a parallel draft resolution would be transmitted to the General Assembly for favourable consideration at its Forty-sixth Session which starts this coming September.
I wish to express my appreciation to the Director-General of FAO for this positive approach he has taken as is evidenced by his comments, as I have said earlier, on the proposed amendments. In this regard, the Kenya delegation shall fully support the Director-General’s proposal for an exceptional resolution on FAO’s Financial Regulation 6.7 at this forthcoming Conference of FAO. To put it figuratively, the light is beginning to show at the end of the long tunnel. The whole process of amending the WFP General Regulations is now nearing an end and should be completed by the end of 1991. I can only urge the Council to foster this process by approving the proposed amendments so as to enable the
strengthened and expanded CPA to come into force early next year and take up its most important tasks of guiding the WFP and developing global food aid policies. The time is ripe for WFP, a very important humanitarian and development organization within the United Nations system, to have appropriate governance arrangements that would facilitate efficient management of the over US$1 billion in resources it handles each year.
Finally, but not least, I wish to pay a special tribute to the members of CFA and to all observer members of the Committee and the Working Group whose valuable contributions during the negotiations led to the revised version of the General Regulations of WFP which we now have before us for endorsement. The membership of the international community has shown that, given political will and the necessary determination of governements, nothing is impossible in this world. I just therefore hope that what has been done and achieved by our governments within CFA can and will be emulated and repeated elsewhere within the UN system. All of us should take great pride in what we have achieved.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie l’ambassadeur du Kenya qui a été un des plus brillants President du CFA au même titre d’ailleurs que ses prédécesseurs auxquels je tiens à rendre hommage.
Mohammad Saleem KHAN (Pakistan): 1 would like to thank Mr Moore, Mr Ingram and Mr Hansen for their presentations as well as the Ambassador of Kenya who spoke as the Chairman of the CFA during the period in which this important issue was examined by the CFA.
Pakistan has had the honour and opportunity to participate in the exercise which led to the conclusions on the important matter of the revision in governance structures of WFP and its relationships with its two parents, the United Nations and FAO. The end-product may not be a reflection of all the different positions, but represents the best possible consensus on these positions. The decentralization of functions and authority, the increased responsibility to the CFA and the responsiveness of the Secretariat to this organ and the improvement in procedures would certainly lead to even greater effectiveness for WFP while paving the way for an even closer and healthier relationship with its two parent organizations. These changes at the same time would not affect the close working relationship WFP has with FAO and the United Nations and, as noted by Mr Moore and Mr Hansen, WFP will continue to draw on the resources and technical expertise of FAO as well as the UN and other UN specialized agencies and subsidiaries.
Not the least, the enlarged CFA, for the first time with a more equitable representation from the developing countries and membership clearly earmarked by geographical regions would, if allowed to work within the expected democratic spirit of multilateralism, lead to more balanced and representative decisions than before. The consensus is a happy augury for the future of WFP, as noted by Mr Ingram, as well as multilateralism. We hope all members will join us in supporting the CFA authorities’ recommendation for approval by the FAO Conference in their totality.
On a personal note, I would like to record my immense pleasure in having had the opportunity to closely work with a number of other distinguished colleagues, some of whom are not present amongst us today, in the Working Group of the CFA under the chairmanship of Ambassador Don Nanjira of Kenya, Chairman of the CFA during 1990-91. I must say it was an extremely congenial and pleasant atmosphere to work out conclusions over a most difficult issue. I assure you that the “Don” who was chairing our proceedings was not of the Sicilian type referred to under another item by the Malaysian Ambassador. It was an honour for me to have been working under all his Kenyan dignity and acumen.
Sture THEOLIN (Sweden): I speak on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. We thank Mr Moore, the FAO Legal Counsel, and Mr Peter Hansen, the representative of the Secretary-General, as well as the Executive Director for their very constructive and forward-looking introductions. We share their view on the vital importance of the proposals and of this very occasion. Furthermore, we thank the Director-General of FAO for his very constructive proposals contained in the document, which we support.
The Nordic countries give full support to the draft resolution submitted by the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes to the FAO Council for submission to the FAO Conference.
The Nordic countries are pleased, as were previous speakers, that consensus was reached on the proposed changes to the Regulations of the WFP and the other recommendations contained in the report of the Working Group. Indeed, we are encouraged by the constructive and cooperative spirit in which the new regulations were worked out. We would like to express our sincere appreciation and thanks to our partners in the Working Group and its Chairman, Ambassador Don Nanjira of Kenya, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Director-General of FAO and the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, as well as the CFA itself, for reaching a positive solution of the governance issue. We are confident that the proposed changes adopted as a whole by the CFA will offer to the WFP the authority required for performing its task in an efficient and orderly manner. We also believe that they will lay the foundation for a continued and improved relationship between the World Food Programme, FAO and the United Nations.
As the previous speakers before me, the Nordic countries fully support the draft resolution. Its adoption by the FAO Council and Conference as well as ECOSOC and the United Nations General Assembly will mark an important step forward towards an even more efficient vehicle for development and emergency assistance.
Gonzalo BUIA HOTOS (Colombia): Las enmiendas que estamos considerando son, básicamente, el resultado de las propuestas que hizo el Sr. Ingram como Director Ejecutivo del PMA. Todos sabemos que el Sr. Ingram insiste en retirarse de su cargo a partir de la primavera de 1992. Estos dos hechos confirman, señor Presidente, y distinguidos miembros del Consejo, que el Sr. Ingram al formular sus propuestas no estuvo dirigido ni por el prestigio ni por la ambición personales, sino por la búsqueda del bien de
la institución, que él ha dirigido durante los nueve años en forma excelente durante los cuales el PMA ha crecido, se ha fortalecido y ha mejorado sus servicios a los paises en desarrollo.
Ya dijimos antes la función importante que cumplió nuestro amigo Peter Hansen, como representante del Secretario Général de Naciones Unidas, la otra organización copatrocinadora, la FAO, estuvo representada con competencia y objetividad por nuestro amigo Edward West, a quien nos complace ver en el podio.
Queremos sumarnos a lo que ha dicho nuestro colega y amigo Theolin, de Suecia, en nombre de los Paises Nórdicos, al pedir que este Consejo reconozca la actitud constructiva y positiva del Director Général de la FAO y que en nuestro Informe apoyemos básicamente las observaciones del Director Général que aparecen a partir del párrafo 3. Particularmente, en el párrafo 5 el Director Général dice que, aunque no todas sus observaciones se reflejan en las normas générales, él reconoce que sus puntos de vista sean incorporados en el texto definitivo. Creemos que esta es una actitud que debe causarnos satisfacción a todos.
Igualmente apoyamos, señor Presidente, la necesidad de que se mantenga la función técnica de la FAO en relación con la actividad del PMA y que en la mayor medida posible y cuando resulte conveniente, el PMA utilice los servicios técnicos de la FAO.
Nos queda solamente, señor Presidente, porque no queremos entrar en detalle sobre las enmiendas mismas, reconocer que la forma ampliada como va a trabajar el CPA en el futuro, representará una mayor vinculación politica del Tercer Mundo a este importante Programa que, como lo dijo nuestro colega Saleem Khan, de Pakistan, debe seguir trabajando en un contexto multilateral.
Nuestro colega y amigo Don Nanjira, Embajador de Kenya, quien presidio los dos periodos de sesiones de 1990, habló con su corazón. Este es el momento tal vez en que podemos presentarle nuestras excusas porque a veces en medio del fragor de los debates fuimos injustos con nuestro Presidente. Tuvimos un Presidente que nos dirigió con tacto, con ponderación, con humor y con tolerancia. Los representantes de Colombia nos sentimos orgullosos de ser hermanos del Embajador Don Nanjira en el Tercer Mundo, porque él demostró que en nuestros humildes paises también se dispone de personas inteligentes, dinámicas, capaces y hasta valerosas, como fue la actitud que asumió Don Nanjira al presidir el Grupo Especial de Trabajo.
Confiamos en que la Asamblea Général de las Naciones Unidas y la Conferencia de la FAO darán su aprobación definitiva a estas enmiendas y que asi, en 1992, el PMA continuará su valiosa trayectoria dentro de un marco más dinámico y con realizaciones más positivas aún impulsados por la aplicación de esta reforma.
Confiamos igualmente los Representantes de Colombia, en que a partir del año proximo la FAO y el PMA iniciarán una nueva luna de miel que, ojalá, se prolongue al infinito.
Tang ZHENGPING (China) (Original language Chinese): First of all, we wish to thank the Legal Office of the United Nations and the CFA Working Group for their contribution to the revision of the WFP General Regulations. We would also like to thank the Legal Counsel of FAO, the Executive Director of the WFP, Mr Ingram, and the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for their presentations of the Agenda Item.
The Chinese delegation, having read document CL 99/25, would like to make the following observations.
We note that the CFA Special Session held last March approved the proposed amendments of the WFP General Regulations through a consensus reached among the CFA members after consultation.
According to the Revised General Regulations, the membership of CFA was increased to 42 from the original 30. This we believe will enlarge the Representation of the CFA and enable it to become a real intergovernmental body to reflect the interests of the majority of Member Nations so that FAO will play a vital role in effectively managing the WFP multilateral food assistance. For this the Chinese Government expresses its appreciation.
We have also noted that, while delegating full power to the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, the Revised General Regulations emphasized the technical role of FAO in designing and evaluating the projects of the WFP. This guiding principle will not only help to improve efficiency of the WFP administration but will also guarantee and enhance the quality of the activities of the WFP.
Therefore, we sincerely hope that the WFP and the FAO will maintain a good relationship of cooperation so as to make greater contributions to the eradication of poverty and hunger and to the agricultural production of developing countries.
Concerning Article 15 of Part D of the Revised General Regulations, the Chinese delegation would like to point out that, although we generally support the Revised General Regulations, this is a sensitive issue because it concerns a country’s sovereignty.
On behalf of the Chinese Government we would like to reiterate that this Article must be applied in a prudent manner to exceptional cases, and it is necessary to strictly define the meaning of exceptional cases. We hope that this position of the Chinese Government will be reflected in the record of the Council.
The meeting rose at 13.15 hours
La séance est levée à 13 h 15
Se levanta la sesión a las 13.15 horas
