EL PRESIDENTE: Buenos días, señoras y señores. Declaro abierto este 106° período de Sesiones del Consejo. Personalmente siento una gran satisfacción de volvernos a encontrar en esta Sesión adicional del Consejo.
Este Consejo se honra de contar con la presencia de varios ministros y de otros altos funcionarios de Gobierno, a quienes doy la bienvenida. Asimismo, nos complace y nos honra la presencia de nuestro Director General, el señor Jacques Diouf, a quien le damos la bienvenida. Acogemos también con gran gusto al Presidente del Comité del Programa, Dr Dieter Bommer, y como Presidente del Comité de Finanzas al Embajador Valenza.
Antes de iniciar la reunión, quisiera hacer una breve comunicación. Como ustedes saben la CEE participa en esta reunión de acuerdo con los párrafos 8 y 9 del Artículo II de la Constitución de la FAO. Me han solicitado les informe de que la declaración hecha por la Comunidad Europea y sus Estados Miembros se encuentra en el documento informativo CL 106/INF/6, que ya ha sido distribuido a todos los miembros de la reunión. Desearía llamar su atención sobre dicha declaración.
Este Período de Sesiones adicional ha sido convocado en base a la Resolución 10/93 de la Conferencia, que autoriza a este Consejo a decidir sobre todas las modificaciones necesarias que requieren la aprobación del Consejo sobre la base de las propuestas que el señor Director General ha formulado, y dentro de los límites del presupuesto efectivo de trabajo aprobado por la Conferencia.
Expreso la esperanza de que esta reunión produzca resultados benéficos para la Organización y para todos los Estados Miembros. De esa manera el Director General sentirá que el ejercicio de sus altas y delicadas responsabilidades estará sometido regularmente a la vigilancia del Consejo, previsto en la Constitución, y ustedes, representantes de gobierno, habrán tenido otra oportunidad de impartir las directrices, las orientaciones y el asesoramiento que corresponden a sus funciones.
Para agilizar nuestros trabajos y lograr ir a la substancia de nuestras deliberaciones, les solicito de la manera más respetuosa, que reduzcan al mínimo posible sus expresiones de agradecimiento y sus homenajes a los miembros de esta mesa, así como a otros efectos. Espero también que puedan limitar sus intervenciones, sobre todo en el tema principal que nos ocupa, a no más de 10 minutos.
De igual manera y, como de costumbre, sesionaremos de 9.30 a 12.30 de la mañana, y posteriormente, de 2.3 0 a 5.3 0 en la tarde. Estoy seguro de que todos ustedes van a ser muy puntuales.
EL PRESIDENTE: Si no hay ningún comentario por parte de ustedes, pasamos a considerar el punto primero de nuestra agenda, que es la adopción de la agenda y el calendario, documentos CL 106/1; CL 106/INF/1 y CL 106/INF/6.
Señoras y señores, tienen enfrente de ustedes los documentos correspondientes para este período de sesiones. Noto que la distinguida delegada de Canadá requiere el uso de la palabra, y se la concedo.
Mme Michelle COMEAU (Canada): J'aimerais avoir un point d'information dans le cadre du point 8 - Questions diverses - pour faire une mise au point quant aux célébrations du 50ème anniversaire de la FAO, qui auront lieu à Québec en 1995.
EL PRESIDENTE: Hemos tomado nota de la petición de la Delegación de Canadá y, si ustedes están de acuerdo, incluiremos este punto en: Otros Asuntos. No observo que haya ningún otro comentario y entiendo por tanto que aprobamos la Agenda y el Calendario provisional propuesto.
It was so decided
Il en est ainsi décidé
Así se acuerda
EL PRESIDENTE: Como resultado de las consultas entre grupos regionales y otros grupos y representantes, me permito comunicar a ustedes los candidatos propuestos para ocupar los cargos de Vicepresidentes de esta Sesión.
En primer lugar, al Excelentísimo señor Isaac María Dos Anjos, Ministro de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Luanda, Angola; la Excelentísima señora Concha Marina Ramírez de López, de Honduras y la señora Marai Kadlecikova, Consejero, Representante Permanente de la República de Slovakia ante la FAO. Señores, a todos estos candidatos les distinguen altas calificaciones profesionales y gran experiencia que serían de gran ayuda a esta presidencia. Si no hay objeción, por aclamación este Consejo les elegirá.
Declaro, por tanto, electos a los Vicepresidentes de este Consejo. De esta forma concluimos la parte primera del Tema 2 y pasamos al Comité de Redacción.
Igualmente, a partir de consultas, ha sido informado respecto de la constitución de dicho Comité de Redacción y se ha propuesto que funja como
Presidente de dicho Comité el señor Per Harald Grue, de Noruega y que los miembros que lo constituyan sean: Australia, Egipto, Hungría, Japón, Malasia, Noruega, Siria, España, Sri Lanka, Tailandia, Trinidad y Tabago, Estados Unidos, Venezuela, Burkina Faso y Swazilandia.
Si no tienen ustedes objeción a esta composición del Comité de Redacción, quedan, entonces, electos dichos miembros.
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Muchas gracias señores ha quedado constituido el Comité de Redacción conforme a la lista que les he leído. Espero, distinguidos delegados, que los Estados Miembros de nuestra Organización puedan encontrar, de igual manera, alguna fórmula de representación adecuada de los países que lo integran a fin de que todos los grupos se sientan adecuadamente representados.
Señoras y señores, como les había mencionado antes, creo que le debemos dedicar todo el tiempo necesario a los temas principales de este Período de Sesiones, sea durante las reuniones de la Plenaria, como en las del Comité de Redacción. Esperamos que este Comité pueda concentrar todos sus esfuerzos en producir un informe que refleje de manera adecuada todas las discusiones y todos los puntos de vista sobre el tema por el cual se ha convocado a este Consejo.
EL PRESIDENTE: Tienen ustedes ante sí el Documento CL 106/INF/8. Informa a los miembros del Consejo de las solicitudes de Estados no Miembros de la FAO recibidas por el Director General:
1) Para participar en este período de Sesiones del Consejo, el caso de Rusia y de Ucrania; y
2) Para asistir a otras reuniones de la FAO, como se ha indicado en el párrafo cinco del documento.
En el párrafo seis se dan los nombres de los países que han asistido a reuniones de la FAO desde la última reunión del Consejo. Si ningún miembro del Consejo quiere hacer uso de la palabra respecto a este tema, lo daríamos por aprobado.
It was so decided
Il en est ainsi décidé
Así se acuerda
EL PRESIDENTE: Si no hay observaciones, podemos decir que este Consejo ha tomado nota del contenido de dicho documento.
It was so decided
Il en est ainsi décidé
Así se acuerda
EL PRESIDENTE: Incluye todas las propuestas hechas respecto al calendario anteriormente presentado. Los Miembros del Consejo notarán que todas las Conferencias Regionales han sido postergadas hasta después de la conclusión de este Período extraordinario de sesiones del Consejo. ¿Los Miembros del Consejo tienen alguna observación que hacer respecto a este calendario propuesto y a su contenido? Si no tienen ninguna observación, el Consejo queda informado del mismo.
It was so decided
Il en est ainsi décidé
Así se acuerda
EL PRESIDENTE: Señoras y señores del Consejo, distinguidos delegados, es un gran placer para mí poderles presentar al ilustre Director General de la FAO, Dr. Jacques Diouf, que nos hablará esta mañana sobre sus propuestas para la Organización. Sr. Director General, me complace darle la palabra.
EL DIRECTOR GENERAL: Sr. Presidente, distinguidos Ministros y Delegados, señoras y señores. Es un placer para mí darles la bienvenida a esta reunión del Consejo, que es la primera reunión desde que fui elegido Director General. Esta reunión es muy importante porque durante esta sesión vamos a tomar decisiones sobre propuestas de reorganización, propuestas de programa y propuestas de política, (continue en français)
Je voudrais d'abord commencer par les défis qui interpellent notre Organisation et qui sont à la base des propositions que j'ai eu à vous faire.
Le premier défi est celui de la sécurité alimentaire. Ce défi nous interpelle puisque aujourd'hui 800 millions de personnes n'ont pas un accès adéquat à la nourriture. 192 millions d'enfants ont un déficit protéinique et énergétique. La population actuelle est de 5, 5 milliards de personnes et en l'an 2030 nous serons 9 milliards d'individus.
La FAO a pour logo "Fiat Panis". Il convient donc que nous nous attaquions prioritairement au problème de la sécurité alimentaire, ce qui nous a amenés à vous faire comme proposition principale de mettre l'accent sur la capacité des pays à satisfaire eux-mêmes leurs besoins alimentaires.
Nous pensons que cette action va nécessiter de la part de l'Organisation une approche nouvelle des problèmes de l'alimentation et une définition des modalités d'action qui tienne compte des expériences acquises dans ce domaine au niveau des différents continents, notamment en Amérique latine et en Asie.
Le deuxième défi est celui des maladies et fléaux qui touchent l'agriculture de manière négative à travers le monde. C'est le cas des criquets ainsi que des différentes maladies animales qui ne respectent pas les frontières et posent des problèmes. Il faut que cette Institution développe une capacité de réaction à ces problèmes.
Nous devons également faire face à un certain nombre de défis qui résultent des décisions prises au Sommet de la terre à Rio. Comme vous le savez, notre Organisation est celle qui a le plus de responsabilités, dans le système des Nations unies en ce qui concerne la préservation et l'aménagement des ressources naturelles. Nos responsabilités couvrent en effet les productions végétales et animales, ainsi que les productions forestières et halieutiques y compris l'aquaculture. Il importe donc que
nous nous dotions d'une capacité suffisante pour suivre les différentes actions qui sont menées au niveau du système des Nations unies, pour jouer pleinement notre rôle, et veiller à ce que ces ressources, qui doivent être utilisées pour le bien des différents Etats Membres, comme pour le bien de l'humanité tout entière, le soient d'une manière qui en assure la permanence et qui permette que dans les décades à venir ces ressources soient encore à notre disposition, (continues in English)
How do we deal with these challenges? First, to deal with the challenge of food security, we believe that we should increase production and productivity in low-income food-deficit countries. We believe that we have to do that as a priority, but not exclusively. We understand that food security is a wide concept, involving not only supply aspects but also the demand aspects; the household aspect; income; employment, but we believe that we have to start with production. If you produce food, you generate income, you provide employment. We believe that the experience of the green revolution which led many Asian and Latin American countries to increase their production to the extent of satisfying their needs should be the basis for our strategy. Yet, we should learn from the limitations of this green revolution. These were two: the first limitation was related to the impact on the environment and to the problem of sustainability. Many difficulties arose, particularly in relation to excess production, excess use of fertilizers and pesticides, problems of irrigation without drainage. We have to ensure that, in the new green revolution, those concerns are taken care of.
The second limitation was a problem of social equity. In many places where the green revolution occurred, we had to observe that some farmers became richer, while the borderline poorer farmers lost their land and were obliged to move to cities where they lived in very difficult conditions. We have to ensure that the new green revolution is undertaken in a way that would be sustainable socially because it would take into account the needs of the poorest.
The second challenge is related to the occurrence of international pests and diseases. We are proposing that FAO organize itself with a view to being able to conduct preventive action. If there is no possibility of stopping the spread of a disease or a pest right from the beginning, we should have the capacity for early reaction. We should not wait until the problem becomes serious to start calling meetings of different donors and then face a problem of even greater dimension, involving large control operations leading sometimes to the heavy use of pesticides and thereby endangering the environment. If we deal with the problem at the beginning, not only will it be treated more easily but we will be in a position to do so in a sustainable way, taking into account environmental considerations.
The third challenge related to the follow-up to UNCED will have to be dealt with by ensuring an integrated approach based on the consideration that the human being is the target of everything we are doing in the field of environment, that environment is to be used to satisfy the needs of human beings in a sustainable way, the needs of present and future generations. We should therefore be in a position to play our role as task manager in the system organized by the UN system through IACSD. We believe that we should try to ensure that our Organization not only undertakes different actions in sectorial fields that are within the responsibilities of each of the departments of FAO, but that we have a collective integrated response in the framework of a new structure that we are proposing to set up. We
believe that in so doing we will be able to respond to the request of the international community.
We have also to respond to the challenge facing us in the forestry sector. As you know, we are losing 17 million hectares of forest every year. We have to ensure that the forest is used in a sustainable way. We are therefore proposing to provide assistance to our member countries in designing national plans that would ensure proper management of these resources. We also believe that there is an opportunity to use the framework of FAO to have the necessary consultations so as to arrive at an approach accepted at international level. We therefore propose that a panel of world renowned experts, independent of FAO review these overall programmes that we are undertaking now, prior to the meeting of our Committee on Forestry; this Committee would be preceded by a meeting of NGOs and the private sector so that we can get their input before COFO. In addition, in parallel to COFO we should have a meeting of ministers in charge of forestry. It is not in all countries that the Minister of Agriculture is the Minister of Forestry. FAO should have the benefit of such a policy forum where decisions are taken at the highest possible level, that is why we are proposing such a meeting for 1995.
We have also to respond to the problem of fisheries. We all know that there is overexploitation of fish stocks. We are working on the International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing; and we are pursuing the implementation of the agreement on the flagging of vessels. We will continue these activities, but here again there is a need to go through the same process of having access to independent expertise to provide the input into our work, ensuring also inputs from the private sector and NGOs, prior to our classical meeting of intergovernmental experts before going to a ministerial meeting. There again we observe that in many countries the Minister of Fisheries is not the Minister of Agriculture and FAO should have access to the highest level of decision-making to look at issues with a view to arriving at a common understanding at an international level.
Now, to do all this work, we believe that some changes have to be introduced in the structures of this Organization. Structures in themselves do not achieve results but do facilitate work and allow resources to be used more efficiently. This is why we are proposing to set up a new Department of Sustainable Development. This department will naturally not take over the responsibility of each vertical department in agriculture, forestry and fisheries but would integrate their activities in the field of environment and sustainable development and constitute the focal point for responding to the decisions taken at the Rio Summit and, in particular, provide the input to the Commission on Sustainable Development. We believe that we should also change the Department of Development to make it a department of technical cooperation, with a view to integrating the three aspects that we consider indispensable to support the activities of our member countries. The first element is to advise member countries on policies. We believe that if a proper policy framework is not created, that would make it possible to increase production, that would create incentive and increase productivity, then whatever activity we would undertake would not yield the expected results. In the second aspect, we should continue to develop our capacity to prepare projects and thereby increase investment. As you know, external investment in agriculture has decreased from 12 billion dollars in 1980 to 10 billion dollars in 1990. During the same period the world population increased by 19 percent. This is a trend in the wrong direction which should be corrected. The way we should bring our
influence, would be by developing bankable projects in the field of agriculture for funding by financial institutions.
The third element is the implementation of projects in which FAO should be able to provide its assistance. We should however integrate the operations of projects in fishery, forestry and agriculture because in real life those activities are mixed and in addition such integration would allow a better use of the resources that we are putting at the disposal of the different member countries.
Another very important point is the need to deal with social issues. We are dealing with human beings. Agriculture is not techniques alone, agriculture is not yields, agriculture is not productivity, is not irrigation alone; agriculture is human beings working on the land, whose culture and community life revolves around agriculture. In our actions, therefore, we should ensure that social considerations are taken into account in relation to what we are doing. We have to ensure that people's participation is encouraged and that women who play a key role in agriculture are fully associated and given the means to act within their community.
The important element that I think should be looked at, when considering the proposals before you, is the need to allow some flexibility. You will realize that in preparing such proposals within a period of two and a half months, it was not possible to really go into details. We have however tried to be as detailed as possible, but this is a continuing process. We will over the months and over the years have to adjust, readjust and react to problems arising in the implementation of the proposals. We have also to react to the concerns of our member countries.
I wish to take the opportunity to say also that it is my strong belief that development plans and programmes are the responsibility of governments. It is not for FAO to prepare plans and programmes for governments. FAO is there to provide assistance and support, to help in capacity building, but it is sovereign governments in relation to their people who in the end take the decision.
I also wish to emphasize the need for technical cooperation among developing countries. We believe that there is a high potential of human resources. Many of these countries, having been independent for more than thirty years, have had time to build human capacities, very often not effectively used, even at national level and which could be a source for greater enhancement of our programme. Member countries should endeavour to put this expertise at the disposal of their partners, as developed countries have already been doing within the framework of the Technical Cooperation Programme and the Trust Funds' programme.
Mr Chairman, you indicated that we had to be short. Excuse me for having been a little long, but I thought I had to introduce some of the main points of the documents before you. There is a much longer declaration which will be distributed to you immediately.
I will not finish without thanking the staff of FAO. To work during two months and produce the quality of papers that we have been able to provide needed a lot of dedication, commitment and openness to change on the part of the staff. I would like to thank them here publicly and to say how grateful I am for the support which they have provided.
I also wish to thank all of you, because what I have been able to propose in two and a half months is the result of the contacts that I have had with you during my campaign over two years. I have listened to your concerns, I have listened to your views and opinions. In addition, you have been kind enough to reply to the letter which I sent when I arrived, indicating priority areas. This is what I have tried to embody in the document that I have presented to you. I will end by saying ...continue en langue originale arabe: merci beaucoup et que Dieu vous bénisse!
Applause
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EL PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias, señor Director General. Esta Presidencia jamás se atrevería a imponerle a usted ningún límite de tiempo, al contrario, creo que ha sido usted de enorme ayuda para este Consejo, porgue no solamente lo ha ilustrado usted y aclarado los puntos que le propone para transformar esta Organización sino que estoy seguro que nos ha transmitido a todos nosotros su pasión por luchar en contra del hambre y la malnutrición, por erradicar las plagas que afligen a la humanidad y para transformar esta Organización para que cumpla con sus propósitos de implantar un desarrollo sostenible, de ser más eficiente, más eficaz y más descentralizada.
Por todo eso, señor Director General, le agradecemos profundamente. Estamos seguros que su mensaje, sus aclaraciones, serán de gran ayuda a los debates que este Consejo tendrá y también para la aprobación de sus propuestas. Muchas gracias, señor Director General.
Distinguidos delegados, me complace profundamente el que este Consejo haya escuchado las palabras del Director General y como nos queda aún más de una hora y media para esta reunión matutina, pasaremos al tema número cinco de nuestra Agenda.
EL PRESIDENTE: Como les había ya dicho, este Consejo extraordinario se ha reunido para discutir y aprobar las propuestas que nos ha presentado el Director General de la FAO, pero debe quedarles a todos ustedes muy claro qué es lo que este Consejo va a aprobar. Por eso, y conforme lo indica el documento CL 106/2 y su suplemento, se le pide al Consejo una aprobación normativa de las propuestas del Director General, que como él nos ha indicado, son un primer paso dentro de un proceso.
Este Consejo, por tanto, deberá decidir sobre los siguientes puntos relativos a los tres aspectos que nos ha mencionado el señor Director General: Programático, el de Carácter Estructural y el de Políticas. Me voy a permitir, por tanto, identificar el tipo de aprobación
que se está pidiendo a este Consejo, con las modalidades que sus intervenciones y que la voluntad general del Consejo indiquen.
En primer lugar, en el ámbito de los programas, el Director General nos propone el Programa especial sobre la producción de alimentos en apoyo de la Seguridad alimentaria en los países de bajos ingresos y con déficit de alimentos (PBIDA).
En segundo lugar, el sistema de prevención de emergencias (EMPRES) de las plagas y enfermedades transfronterizas de los animales y las plantas. En el ámbito de la estructura de la Organización, a este Consejo se le pide que apruebe la transformación del presente Departamento de Desarrollo en un nuevo Departamento de Cooperación Técnica con la estructura interna indicada en el documento CL 106/2. Asimismo, el establecimiento de un nuevo Departamento de Desarrollo Sostenible, basado en las Dependencias actuales de los Departamentos de Agricultura y de Política Económica y Social (ES) con la estructura interna indicada en el documento CL 106/2. Adiclonalmente, el establecimiento de una nueva Dirección de Análisis del Desarrollo Económico y la Agricultura, en el Departamento de Política Económica y Social.
Finalmente, dentro de este ámbito, el establecimiento de una oficina de coordinación de las actividades normativas operacionales y descentralizadas.
En materia de Políticas, el Director General, nos ha propuesto el fortalecimiento de las Oficinas Regionales, el establecimiento de Oficinas Subregionales para cada una de las siguientes subregiones: Africa del norte, Africa austral y oriental, islas del Pacífico, Caribe y Europa del este y el establecimiento progresivo de un cuadro de funcionarios profesionales nacionales en las oficinas de Representación en los países.
Finalmente, les aclaro que este paquete de medidas requerirá de transferencias dentro de cada capítulo, así como de un capítulo a otro, que se regirán de conformidad al artículo IV.5 del Reglamento Financiero y, por tanto, no se requiere que este Consejo estudie la posibilidad de modificar las consignaciones presupuestarias aprobadas por la Conferencia en 1993 en su Resolución 9/93.
Al aprobar este paquete de medidas, de carácter normativo, estarán también indicándole al Director General las modalidades con las cuales están ustedes haciéndolo, a fin de que él lleve a cabo e implante sus propuestas.
Todos estos puntos que les propongo a ustedes, los discutiremos de manera conjunta, de manera que bastará que intervengan por una sola ocasión. Les insto igualmente a que en sus declaraciones indiquen su posición aprobatoria relativa a la totalidad o en específico a cada una de las propuestas del Director General. Les suplico también, como lo he hecho al principio, que en el entendido, que pienso que ustedes comparten conmigo, la motivación del mensaje del Director General, de sus palabras, ustedes desearán seguramente agradecerle, pero permítanme hacerlo a nombre de ustedes, y permítanme también solicitarles que vayamos al punto y no le demos vueltas.
Si no hay ningún comentario de parte de ustedes, le daré la palabra al Presidente del Comité del Programa para que nos informe respecto de las conclusiones a las que llegó él mismo.
- Secretariat Introduction and Statements of the Chairmen of the Programme and Finance Committees
- Présentation par le Secrétariat et allocutions des Présidents du Comité du Programme et du Comité financier
- Introducción de la Secretaría y declaraciones de los Presidentes de los Comités del Programa y de Finanzas
D.F.R. BOMMER (Chairman, Programme Committee): A number of colleagues from both committees are here with us in the Council. Therefore, I am under their scrutiny and I will reflect the result of the debate of our joint meeting of the Finance and Programme Committee together on the topic under discussion which is the review of the programme structures and policy of the Organization. Both committees considered these reviews and proposals of the Director-General in individual meetings and then finally in a joint meeting and we concluded also that the results of our joint meeting should be presented not only in one report but also be annexed with the main substance of the result of the Programme and Finance Committee's deliberation on the issue.
The Committee unanimously commended the Director-General's proposals for the reinvigoration of FAO and recommended their approval by Council. We felt that the presentation of the proposal of the Director-General in the document, and particularly his presence during a full day of the debate of both committees, characterized his frank and open nature of exchange of opinions with Member States and their representatives. This meeting gave us an additional opportunity to seek clarification personally from the Director-General.
The openness and transparency the Director-General showed in his responses were fully appreciated by the Committees. The additional information he provided was found to be very helpful. Nevertheless it was generally felt that the task of the Council in its review of the Director-General's proposals would be considerably facilitated if more information could be made available to Council members in time before the start of the Council. The Committees therefore recommended to the Director-General to provide such supplementary information in five areas. We are pleased that the Director-General has found it possible to do so in document CL 106/2-Sup. 1.
On the basis of the additional information they received, the Committees were satisfied with the assurance that the redeployment of resources had not fundamentally affected the broad substantive thrust of the approved Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95 and that priorities to which Member Nations attached particular importance had been preserved and even, where possible, strengthened. The Committees'intention was that the same level of information should be provided to the Council.
It was also decided, to further assist the Council in its debate, to put the report of the joint meeting of the Programme and Finance Committees into a single document, document CL 106/6 in front of you, Mr Chairman, which also contains extracts from the reports of the Programme and Finance Committees relating to their separate discussions of the Director-General's proposals. The full reports of the Committees may be found in document CL 106/4.
You will note that the Committees joint report is focused on the aspects of particular significance the Committees wished to draw to the attention of the Council, and which I would like to recall here.
The Committees congratulated the Director-General on the manner in which he had carried out his review in the face of exacting time pressure, yet seeking to achieve the broadest consultation and dialogue with Member Nations, external independent experts as well as FAO staff in all locations.
The Committees expressed appreciation for the strategic orientations, the approach and broad scope of the proposals put forward by the Director-General and welcomed his determination to launch a process of change to obtain a more effective, efficient and responsible Organization.
The intent of the Director-General to enhance FAO as a centre of excellence was appreciated but at the same time it was noted that this would require the capacity of FAO to attract staff of the highest calibre. The Committee also welcomed the action placed on the Organization operating in a spirit of broad partnership with Member Nations, with other Intergovernmental Organizations, with Non-governmental Organizations and with the private sector. It was agreed that beside programmes, cooperation agreements would be needed to ensure the successful process of shared goals with external partners at the least cost for all concerned.
The Committees unanimously supported the major strategic dimensions of this process of change based on decentralization and restructuring, including improvement in procedures and attitudes to achieve more cost-effective delivery of services and the strengthening of national capacities. They supported the changes proposed to the organizational structure both at Headquarters and in the field through decentralization. The proposed structures were judged to be consistent with the priorities of the Organization and aimed at improving cost-effectiveness in operations. There was full agreement with the importance attached by the Director-General to accompany the proposed streamlining of structures with the introduction of improved management practices and information systems, including administrative measures to enhance efficiency, accountability and transparency in operations. The Director-General informed us that these steps to undertake these improvements are following the approval of the Council of his present proposals.
The Committees also gave their support to the proposed sharpening of FAO's programme priorities in the crucial fields of food security, transboundary disease and pest control. With regard to the Special Programme on Food Production in support of food security in low-income, food-deficit countries, the Committees were further informed about and welcomed the intent to ensure a balanced approach based on due complementarity with other actions in support of food security, while giving recognition to the fact that ultimate choices and decisions rested with the governments concerned. With regard to the proposed emergency prevention system, abbreviated to EMPRES for transboundary animal and plant pest diseases, the action placed on the prevention measures and environmentally sustainable action was considered particularly relevant and timely.
This is in essence what we have discussed and concluded, and I underline again that the additional information provided will bring us a long way towards answering a number of questions raised by both Committees in our
deliberations. My last point, Mr Chairman, is that I understand that the second item of our joint meeting, which related to the work of both Committees, you will take up under Item 8, Other Business. Thank you very much.
EL PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias, señor Presidente del Comité del Programa. Tiene la palabra el señor Vicepresidente del Comité de Finanzas.
Gian Luigi VALENZA (Vice-président du Comité financier): Je crois qu'après ce qui a été si bien dit par le Président du Comité conjoint sur nos travaux, il y a vraiment très peu à ajouter. Son analyse a été intéressante, complète et détaillée; et je crois que mes collègues qui se trouvent dans la salle et qui sont membres du Comité financier ou du Comité du programme peuvent, eux aussi, confirmer que les explications données par le Président du Comité conjoint ont été tout à fait exhaustives.
Je voudrais seulement ajouter quelques mots sur l'ambiance de travail des deux comités en session conjointe. Cette ambiance de travail a été, cette année, particulièrement favorable et, disons, amicale. Nous avons adopté une nouvelle méthode de travail qui s'est révélée tout à fait adéquate et efficace. En effet, cette nouvelle méthode de travail a permis non seulement d'améliorer le travail en soi mais surtout d'offrir une plus grande possibilité d'échanger les différents points de vue pour arriver ainsi plus facilement à un consensus sur les différents problèmes qui étaient devant nous.
Last but not least, je voudrais aussi rappeler l'intérêt tout particulier que le nouveau Directeur général a porté à nos travaux. En effet, il est resté avec nous pendant toute une journée en prenant des notes et en suivant très attentivement le débat. Cela a été tout à fait intéressant pour nous et je crois que c'est une très bonne méthode qui pourra donner des résultats tout à fait positifs.
V.J. SHAH (Deputy Director-General, Office of Programme, Budget and Evaluation): I am honoured to be given the floor. This will not be a Secretariat introduction to the item, for the simple reason that the item has been introduced to you in the Director-General's opening statement to the Council.
I appreciate the opportunity, however, to assist the Council by drawing attention to the main points provided as additional information in document CL 106/2-Sup.l. As this document was only prepared earlier this month and reached members some two weeks ago, these comments of clarification may be found useful.
The additional information deals with five areas. The first is the "Expanded functional statements on the two new departments and other new units". The Organization charts regarding these are in Annexes 2 to 5 of document CL 106/2. In order to relate the organizational charts to the functional statements, we may quickly go through the changes involved.
First we look at the present Organization chart and now you will see the present units which are involved in the proposed changes. Turning to the proposed revised Organization chart, I draw attention to those units which
are created, transformed or amended. The new units are highlighted with yellow text and the transformation of the Development Department into the Technical Cooperation Department is in blue text.
It may now be useful to look at the main changes in terms of the present and the proposed units. Thus, we can see the changes proposed in the Office of the Director-General and the units reporting to it. I draw attention to the functional statements on the Office for Coordination of Normative, Operational and decentralized activities. Turning to the Economic and Social Policy Department, you see on the left the Department as it is now, and I refer to the functional statements on the Agriculture and Economic Development Division. On the right now you see the Department as it is proposed. Turning now to the Agriculture Department, you will see that there is no main functional statement, as the only change to this Department is the transfer out of the Agricultural Research and Technology Development Division of the Agriculture Operations Division.
Now we see the structure of the Regional and Liaison Offices, on the left as it is now and on the right as it is proposed, with each Regional Office having under it a Sub-regional Office. In addition, Mr Chairman, I would draw your attention to the FAO Country Offices, which are now logically placed under this new structure.
Next, we can view the Technical Cooperation Department where the new or transferred units are highlighted in yellow text, and finally we can view the Department of Sustainable Development, where we can see the units transferred from the Research and Technology Development Division (AGR), from the Human Resources, Institutions and Agrarian Reform Division (ESH) and from the Economic and Social Policy Department. Functional statements are provided for both Departments.
The second subject of additional information is "Clarifications on the source and intended application of funds", as shown in the budgetary table in paragraph 145 of document CL 106/2. We begin with the savings from the selective freezing and unfreezing of established posts. Annex 2 in the document supplement 1 gives information in terms of the numbers of posts affected. However, we also point out that the numbers will continue to change as posts are unfrozen, as a management decision. Therefore, the important aspect is not the number of posts frozen or unfrozen at any one time, but the volume of savings obtained from these.
At US$18.4 million, the savings from frozen posts are the largest component of the total savings. You see the others from Publications, Meetings and Other operational cost reductions, the whole yielding US$29.7 million.
How is this applied? We can now view the proposed Resource Allocations in terms of programme priorities, Headquarters restructuring, decentralization and communications infrastructure. The distinction between staff costs and non-staff costs is evidently important. You will note the care taken not to inflate future obligations. In fact, out of the total of US$22 million of non-staff costs, US$9 million would be one-time non-recurring costs.
The third subject is the "Indication of the impact of shifts and savings on on-going programmes". I limit myself to displaying the core of the analysis in terms of the pie diagram. Our technical and economic programmes in Chapter 2 of the budget comprise 378 programme elements. This diagram shows
clearly the limits of the impact. Indeed, only 12 of the 378 programme elements are affected by more than a 20 percent impact.
This information is amplified in much greater detail in Annex 3 of the supplementary document, both in terms of resources and in terms of affected programme activities. You will note that the whole process has been carefully managed to minimize any adverse impact on programme implementation.
In considering the programme impact, Mr Chairman, it may also be useful to examine it in perspective. The only precedent we have is that of the programme review and the changes made by the Council in June 1976.
At that time, the approved budget amounted to US$167 million, of which US$35.4 million represented a programme increase over the previous biennium. Now we work with a budget of US$673 million which had zero growth over the preceding budget.
In 1976 you will see that the savings reprogrammed amounted to US$35.4 million, the same amount as the programme increase, representing 21 percent of the approved budget. Now the proposed reprogramming of savings amounts to US$29.7 million, or 4.4 percent of the approved budget. The inferences would be clear to all.
Finally, two annexes in the supplementary document deal with the "Tentative timetable of implementation of the Director-General's key proposals" and "Further clarifications on the approach in Food Security". I do not need to elaborate on these.
EL PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias, Dr. Shah. Creo que todos los delegados han quedado muy impresionados por el uso de las pantallas. Para decirlo en una expresión en español, que no creo tenga traducción, diríamos que estamos "apantallados". Creo que esto ilustra muy claramente cuál es el ámbito de las propuestas del Director General y sus impactos específicos en la estructura de la Organización y en sus políticas de descentralización.
Distinguidos delegados, deseo aprovechar la hora y casi un cuarto que tenemos todavía antes de terminar nuestra sesión matutina. Varios delegados me han hecho llegar su intención de intervenir lo más pronto posible. Pueden ustedes, por tanto, levantar sus banderas para indicarme su deseo de hacer uso de la palabra.
- Council discussion and decisions
- Débats et décisions du Conseil
- Debate y decisiones del Consejo
George N.M. PELPOLA (Sri Lanka): This is an historic session of the Council. I am grateful to you for giving me the floor at the outset of this debate to make a statement in behalf of the Group of 77.
This Organization is at a crossroads. The Group of 77 wishes to pay tribute to the Director-General and to congratulate him on the masterly course that he has proposed to set our Organization, to strengthen its impact as an international community and as Member Nations to face the greatest challenges of all time.
We have been aware of much of the thinking of Mr Diouf through his campaign platform for a reinvigorated FAO to meet the challenges of hunger in the 1990s and beyond. That is why we united to elect him as our Director-General. Few, I imagine, however, could have foreseen the dynamism, vision and pragmatism with which he has formulated his proposals from the reviews of the work programme, structure and policies of the Organization.
These proposals have been made available to us for some two months. They have been studied in our capitals. The Programme and Finance Committees have examined them in detail. They have unanimously commended the Director-General's proposals and recommended them for approval by the Council. The Committees, like some Member Nations, whilst supportive of the proposals, desired to have some additional information. This was also provided to us in the most speedy and complete manner.
Accordingly, it is now time for a decision. As stated by the Director-General in his document, FAO is expected to act now and not dally in search of perfection which would not be helpful for this Organization and its Member Nations. The alternative to status quo or endless minimal adjustment is not conducive to a more effective FAO.
The 50th Anniversary is a propitious time to give rebirth to the Organization. I am sure the Council will recognize the very comprehensive agenda for change which the Director-General has elaborated for us. This is a policy package which addresses the expectations of Member Nations. It is responsive to the special needs of developing nations, whilst not forgetting the needs of other agents. It puts the right accent on quality and cost-effectiveness, the two key words of our present-day world. It is thus conscious of the need for economy and improved quality of life. It stresses the broad partnership with external partners at a time of great diversification of decision-making centres and initiatives.
All these features should be welcomed by all Member Nations represented in this Council, and indeed the whole membership of FAO.
The Plenary of the Group of 77 met on Friday, 27 May 1994. The Chairmen of the four regional groups, namely, Asia, Africa, the Near East and Latin America and the Caribbean, on behalf of their respective membership pledged their full support for the proposals formulated by the Director-General. The Chairmen, together with the membership, further expressed their supportive views.
Today I place on record the tribute of the membership of the Group of 77 to the Director-General on the course that he has started which no doubt will meet the aspirations of the membership.
I have no intention of taking more time but it is necessary to state that the price of greatness is responsibility. Responsibility is the skill to lead with dedication, determination and dignity. Responsibility is the ability to recognize, reconsider and respect the views and needs of another. Responsibility has no colour. It is not white or black. It only has character. Responsibility is the strength of character to accept defeat gracefully and success with humility. Responsibility is the ability to refrain from prejudgement but to cultivate confidence and to give a man the chance to improve himself.
We, the members of Group of 77, have acted with responsibility, recognizing the qualities of responsibility in Mr Jacques Diouf, our Director-General.
In conclusion, Mr Chairman, we congratulate him; we support him; we are proud of him and we will stand by him always.
Juan NUIRY SANCHEZ (Cuba): Le pido disculpas, Sr. Presidente, por no obedecer a su solicitud, en este caso específica, pues no podríamos comenzar sin reiterarle la satisfacción que como latinoamericanos y del Caribe experimentamos al verle a usted, Sr. Presidente, conduciendo este importante Consejo de la FAO que con tanta expectación se ha esperado, en la seguridad de que todos haremos gala de los altos principios, sentido práctico, equilibrado y justo, a la altura de las responsabilidades y retos contraídos de cara al fortalecimiento de la FAO como la más importante agencia especializada dentro del sistema de las Naciones Unidas próximo a cumplir los cincuenta años de su fundación. Permítame felicitar en esta oportunidad también a los Vicepresidentes elegidos para este 106° período de sesiones del Consejo Extraordinario de la FAO, así como agradecer al Director General Sr. Diouf su grata introducción en su brillante y clara declaración en nuestro idioma español.
Sr. Presidente, el GRULAC hace meses creó un equipo de trabajo compuesto por los Países Miembros del Consejo, pero que contó con la participación activa de todos los países que componen nuestra región. Su objetivo fue analizar, dentro de nuestras propias características, las propuestas del Director General de la FAO, Sr. Diouf, contenidas en el documento Programa Estructuras Políticas de la Organización, de acuerdo con el mandato conferido por la 27a Conferencia General de la FAO. Luego de un largo y profundo proceso de análisis, se consideró oportuno elaborar un documento que recogiera los principales aspectos de las propuestas y de este modo fijar nuestra posición como región.
Por esta razón, Sr. Presidente, solicito su autorización para que ese Documento sea leído por el Presidente del GRULAC, Excelentísimo Sr. Embajador de la República Dominicana, en nombre y como posición de los países que componen la región de América Latina y del Caribe.
Alfredo LEBRÓN PUMAROL (Observador de la República Dominicana): El Grupo Latinoamericano y del Caribe, GRULAC, ha estudiado con especial atención las propuestas del Sr. Director General de la FAO, contenidas en el documento CL 106/2, marzo 1994 sobre los Programas, Estructuras y Políticas de la Organización, que presenta a la consideración del 106° período de sesiones del Consejo de la FAO, de conformidad con el mandato que le otorgó la 27a Conferencia General. De acuerdo con este mandato, al Consejo le corresponde, dentro del límite presupuestario aprobado, decidir todas las modificaciones necesarias del Programa y Presupuesto para el bienio 1994-95 que requieran de su propia aprobación, teniendo en cuenta los acuerdos de la Conferencia.
El GRULAC comparte y apoya plenamente los esfuerzos del Director General en orden a llevar a cabo un proceso de reforma que le permita a la FAO enfrentar con éxito la eliminación del hambre que afecta a 800 millones de personas, la malnutrición de 192 millones de niños menores de 5 años y asegurar que el mundo produzca de manera sostenible una cantidad suficiente de alimentos para 9000 millones de personas en el año 2030. Asimismo, el
GRULAC, comparte la preocupación del Director General, en cuanto a que la FAO debe contribuir a los esfuerzos de los gobiernos para erradicar la pobreza rural y prestar la debida atención a la conservación y protección de los recursos naturales y a la evaluación de las consecuencias del Acuerdo de la Ronda Uruguay. Los Acuerdos de Marakech tendrán consecuencias importantes para los países en desarrollo, entre otras razones porque contemplan la reducción progresiva de los subsidios por parte de los países desarrollados a la producción agrícola. Es por ello que compartimos la importancia de que la FAO asuma la función de evaluación y seguimiento de estos acuerdos y, en ese sentido, oriente a los países en desarrollo en la elección de políticas adecuadas de apoyo a la agricultura.
El GRULAC expresa su acuerdo con las prioridades indicadas por el Director General, notando que se refieren a zonas y países donde la seguridad alimentaria es un problema urgente en donde pueden obtenerse resultados satisfactorios en un corto plazo. El Grupo considera que esto no debe significar que la FAO disminuya el énfasis necesario en las actividades de desarrollo en su sentido más amplio, conforme a las necesidades de los distintos Países, Regiones y Subregiones. En particular, considera importante que la FAO tenga siempre presente la necesidad de generar niveles adecuados de empleo en la zona rural y tome en cuenta factores tan importantes como el acceso a los alimentos, la necesidad de que los suministros lleguen a los que verdaderamente lo necesitan y las novedades internacionales que en materia de políticas tengan incidencia sobre los precios de los productos básicos el comercio y la importación de alimentos.
El GRULAC comparte con el Director General su conclusión de que la FAO es, hoy en día una institución excesivamente centralizada, que necesita ser más eficaz en su servicio a los países y que, por lo tanto, es necesario darle una nueva forma a su organización, actuando sobre sus estructuras, procedimientos y actitudes, y aprovechando mejor las capacidades nacionales.
Al apoyar las propuestas para el presente bienio, el GRULAC comparte la opinión del Director General de que el 50° Aniversario de la FAO es el momento propicio para revitalizar la Organización, tarea esencial que demandará la activa participación de todos los países miembros y que debería ser iniciada lo más pronto posible.
Como expresión de nuestro respaldo a la gestión renovadora del Director General, deseamos contribuir positivamente formulando algunos planteamientos en relación a sus propuestas y que son el producto de un estudio serio y minucioso realizado por los Representantes de los Países Miembros del GRULAC que esperamos sirvan de base al intercambio de ideas que actualmente se están llevando a cabo en la FAO en torno a la reforma de la Organización.
Los párrafos 23, 24, 25, 26 y 27 del documento al Consejo desarrollan los principios rectores: "un plan maestro para determinar una trayectoria inmediata y a más largo plazo de la FAO". Estos principios son compartidos por el GRULAC.
A fin de lograr la mejor correspondencia entre los principios expuestos por el Director General y los resultados de su implementación para el bienio 1994-1995, el GRULAC estima que es preciso considerar también los siguientes aspectos:
1. Compartimos la propuesta del Director General de separar claramente las dos instancias funcionales del trabajo de la FAO: la normativa y la operativa. Ambas deben adquirir su justa dimensión y peso, pero a su vez, ambas deben conservar una lógica y apropiada interrelación. La forma como se integren deberá ser objeto de una mayor reflexión, pero es importante que el logro del mayor beneficio posible para los países sea el principio fundamental que guíe lo que en este sentido se acomete. Por otra parte, entendemos que la aplicación de criterios de universalidad y niveles óptimos de disciplinas o conocimientos son esenciales en la determinación de la localización más adecuada de las unidades especializadas responsables de las actividades normativas de la FAO. Si bien ello privilegia a muchas de las actividades que hoy se realizan en la sede central, una correcta aplicación de estos criterios permitiría a su vez la localización de núcleos de especialistas en las propias Regiones, Subregiones o Países Miembros de la Organización. La actividad operativa, que por lógica tiene carácter local, deberá estar cada vez más dirigida y supervisada por las unidades descentralizadas localizadas en las Regiones, Subregiones y Países Miembros. La propuesta del Director General, de aprovechar al máximo las capacidades locales, adquiriría aquí su mejor expresión. Este avance, así como el establecimiento de programas de formación y capacitación para el personal local y la incorporación de los especialistas al trabajo operativo, permitirán enfrentar el riesgo latente de divorcio entre lo "normativo" y lo "operativo" en el seno de la Organización.
El riesgo de consolidación de una FAO normativa, sinónimo de "Centro de Excelencia" que funcionaría sólo en Roma y otra "operativa", divorciada de la anterior y sinónimo de proyectos y actividades aisladas en los países, debe evitarse de manera decidida.
2. La descentralización, que cuenta con el pleno apoyo del GRULAC, debe comprender, además del personal, competencias técnicas, administrativas y presupuestarias, así como actividades normativas y operativas a nivel de las oficinas regionales, subregionales y locales. La única forma en que la FAO puede ser visible y responder eficientemente a las necesidades de los países, es que esté dotada, a nivel local, de recursos y competencias necesarios. En este sentido el fortalecimiento técnico de las oficinas locales deberá estar en estrecha relación con las prioridades de los países y contar con la capacidad y competencia necesarias para atender los requerimientos básicos de un programa de asistencia técnica efectivo.
3. La FAO debería enriquecer el enfoque de asistencia a través de proyectos por uno de carácter programático que sea coherente con los requerimientos de los países o regiones en materia agropecuaria, forestal y pesquera y que incluya las actividades normativas y operativas. Basada en los objetivos de los respectivos de planes nacionales y en conjunto con los gobiernos, la FAO debería formular programas de asistencia técnica a corto y mediano plazo.
El esquema programático debería servir como referencia para el seguimiento y evaluación del Programa FAO en los Países, las Regiones o las Subregiones y, a partir de estos resultados, desarrollar sistemas de evaluación del conjunto de las actividades de la FAO.
4. Las prioridades reflejadas en los programas de seguridad alimentaria y prevención de plagas de plantas o de enfermedades de animales deben adecuarse a las características y requerimientos específicos de las distintas Regiones, Subregiones y Países.
En la Region de América Latina y el Caribe el problema de la seguridad alimentaria asume características particulares, ya que a la pobreza rural se suma la alta proporción de población pobre y con graves problemas alimentarios y nutricionales que residen en las capitales y principales ciudades de la mayoría de los países de la Región. En estos países, la pobreza urbana está muy vinculada con los problemas de la agricultura y las condiciones de la vida rural. La necesidad de atención a un problema de seguridad alimentaria así caracterizado, justifica la alta prioridad que la FAO debería asignar a la Región de América Latina y el Caribe en este campo, dentro de un marco de cooperación regional que responda a las necesidades y posibilidades de los países.
5. La participación activa de los Países Miembros de la FAO en el proceso de reforma es requisito indispensable para asegurar el éxito de la misma. La revitalización de la FAO requiere una renovada participación de los Países Miembros, tanto en la formulación de las Políticas, Programas de Labores y Presupuestos de la Organización, como en el seguimiento y evaluación de los mismos.
En la medida en que se confirme el convencimiento de que la FAO requiere de una reforma profunda para estar a la altura de las exigencias de un mundo que tiene desafíos nuevos y más urgentes que los existentes al momento de su creación, la próxima Conferencia General de la FAO, que coincidirá con la celebración del 50° aniversario de su Fundación, deberá concentrarse de manera especial en el estudio y aprobación de estas reformas. Para estos efectos, la sesión de noviembre del Consejo de la FAO podría adoptar las medidas para una adecuada preparación y estudio de las materias que se someterán a la consideración de la Conferencia General de 1995.
II. Propuesta de simplificación de las estructuras de la Secretaría
1. Departamento de Cooperación Técnica
Este Departamento, "eje de las actividades operacionales", debería mantener una estrecha relación con las Oficinas Regionales, Subregionales y de los Países y procurar a través de ellas la asistencia requerida. Asimismo, es muy importante que la propuesta del Director General señalara cómo repercutiría el cambio del Departamento de Desarrollo en Departamento de Cooperación Técnica sobre la estructura administrativa de las Oficinas Regionales y Subregionales y cómo se daría la integración y coordinación de las actividades del nuevo Departamento con las Oficinas Regionales, Subregionales y de los Países ("estructura en el terreno" o "estructuras descentralizadas").
La identificación y formulación preliminar de proyectos así como la responsabilidad de la supervisión de su ejecución, incluyendo la contratación de personal técnico y adquisición de insumos y equipos, cuando esto sea viable debería ser una competencia de las oficinas locales. En tal sentido, este Departamento debería desarrollar normas y mecanismos de ejecución, sistemas de seguimiento y evaluación e identificación de recursos, así como elaborar procedimientos que permitan a las representaciones locales una mayor eficiencia en la asistencia a los países.
Debería evitarse, en forma decidida, que se cree a nivel de la sede un esquema burocrático que "concentre" las actividades operacionales de la
Organización. Estas por su propia naturaleza, deben ser descentralizadas y manejadas a nivel local.
2. Departamento de Desarrollo Sostenible
La FAO debe ubicarse a la altura del mandato general emanado de la CNUMAD, aprobado por la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas. El programa de trabajo y la estructura misma del Departamento debería reflejar adecuadamente las tareas que le corresponden a la FAO según el mandato de la CNUMAD en materia de recursos naturales y medio ambiente, y a otras iniciativas generales y compromisos internacionales importantes a los que la FAO deberá dar seguimiento.
3. Oficinas Subregionales
Los Países Miembros de la Región expresan su satisfacción por la propuesta del Director General de crear una Oficina Subregional de la FAO en el Caribe. Las particularidades de la economía y de la ecología de ese sistema insular, así como su lejanía de la Oficina Regional, lo justifican plenamente. Por razones similares, la FAO necesita también una mayor presencia en el Istmo Centroamericano, donde es necesario y prioritario fortalecer y reactivar el proceso de integración, así como coordinar políticas que permitan la incorporación efectiva del sector agrícola al desarrollo económico.
En razón a lo anterior, el GRULAC vería con gran satisfacción que el Director General considerara la posibilidad de establecer una Oficina Subregional de la FAO en Centroamérica.
III. Otras medidas
Compartimos las propuestas del Director General en relación con los procedimientos y sistemas financieros y administrativos para ahorrar costos y aumentar la calidad de las realizaciones de la FAO. Consideramos que, para el logro de una mayor eficiencia, deberá asignarse la debida importancia a la descentralización de estas actividades y a la supervisión y evaluación de las actividades descentralizadas. En todo caso una especial atención debería otorgarse a los siguientes aspectos:
1. El diseño o rediseño de un sistema global de información administrativa y financiera debería tomar en consideración la necesidad de aumentar la eficacia de los métodos de trabajo y procedimientos internos de la Organización, incluyendo el proceso de descentralización.
2. Con el objeto de reducir costos y aprovechar plenamente la capacidad local, se deberá priorizar la utilización de expertos e instituciones locales existentes.
3. La rotación del personal y la carrera funcionaría, que el GRULAC considera importantes, requieren la definición y puesta en práctica de una política de personal con criterios claros para la contratación y promoción de personal, tanto a nivel del programa regular como de los programas de campo.
IV. Consideraciones finales
Al formular los planteamientos antes expuestos, el GRULAC desea reiterar su mejor disposición para participar activamente en las discusiones y acuerdos relacionados con el proceso de reforma de la FAO, a fin de que sirvan en mejor forma los intereses de los países miembros. En tal sentido este 106° Consejo de la FAO será de gran importancia ya que restablecerá las bases y el marco general que orientarán las medidas de reestructuración y reforma que el Director General llevará a cabo durante el presente bienio. En todo caso, el GRULAC expresa su apoyo general a las propuestas del Director General y tiene el convencimiento total de que no se afectará la continuidad y eficiencia de los Programas aprobados por la 27a Conferencia, salvo en lo que sean modificados expresamente por este Consejo. La próxima Conferencia Regional de la FAO de América Latina y el Caribe ofrece una oportunidad privilegiada para que los países de la región se pronuncien respecto de las políticas, programas, prioridades y estructuras futuras de la FAO en función de las necesidades de la Región.
EL PRESIDENTE. Deseo explicar cuál es la forma en que estoy procediendo a dirigir estos debates. He sido informado de parte de muchas delegaciones de que están reunidas en Grupos, Grupos Regionales, del deseo de que primero se presenten las posiciones de carácter global o paraguas, con el propósito de que ulteriormente las delegaciones que pertenecen a dichos grupos hagan intervenciones mucho más breves, vinculándolas a la posición del grupo. Es esa la forma en que han querido organizarse ustedes, o muchos de ustedes. No es algo que la Presidencia haya promovido, pero considero que esto va a agilizar mucho y a facilitar nuestros debates. Es por ello, que ustedes escucharán en la mañana varias intervenciones a nombre de grupos. De esta suerte, yo he reorganizado la lista de oradores en función de ese propósito que me ha sido transmitido.
Alhaji MAI M. JIR (Nigeria): May I request you to give the floor to the Chairman of the African Group, His Excellency Ambassador Jerome Karugaba, Ambassador of Uganda, to make a statement on behalf of the Group. However, Mr Chairman, I would like to request as a country to make the country statement at the tail end of the list.
Jerome T. KARUGABA (Uganda): I have been mandated by the Africa Group to express our deepest satisfaction with the way the Director-General, Mr Jacques Diouf, has swiftly handled the Mandate of the Conference as in its Resolution 10/93. We congratulate him personally and the staff of the Organization, especially the Secretariat for this great achievement.
We take the opportunity in this address to also express our deep thanks to the Director-General for his invitation and convening of the high-level experts' seminar in January this year. Our Group is convinced that those experts made a useful contribution to the Director-General's Review of Programmes, Structures and Policies. We commend them, Sir, for this international service.
Mr Chairman, in dealing with document CL/106/2, we are aware that it is about "strategic choices and broad lines of action, and not fine points of detail". We as members are being called upon by the Director-General to give approval to the principles on how he and the Organization should
proceed. But Mr Chairman, never before in the history of this Organization has an issue been raised at such a short notice, turned upside down, down-side up, inside out and details demanded and availed almost at the dot as this one has been.
Mr Chairman, I know that you know, like other Members, that our two committees, that of Finance and the other on Programmes, have rigorous systems of working and they have never been short of our trust. The issues we are now dealing with in document CL/106/2 have been submitted to them before. Their individual reports in document CL 106/4 and of course the address by the Chairmen of the Joint Committees are testimony to their exhaustive work. Their joint report in document CL 106/6 is further proof of the precise nature of their recommendations. They have virtually done all our sessional work already. The Director-General's document CL 106/2-Sup.l precisely gives further details on the issues requested by the two committees.
Our Group congratulates the two committees on a job well done and associates itself with their recommendations to the Council that the Director-General's Review of the Programmes, Structures and Policies of the Organization be approved. Such quick approval will help the Director-General and the Organization to keep the momentum so far unleashed by his dynamic style of administration and help to keep Members' attention focused on our Organization.
Mr Chairman, many members of the Africa Group will be participating in the debate on the details of the documents. However, allow me to make short comments on certain important aspects of the proposals as they relate to Africa and other regions in a similar situation to ours.
The Director-General's sharpened focus on low-income food-deficit countries as indicated in paragraph 65 of document CL 106/2 is very welcome to our Africa Group and we believe to many other similar regions of the world. Our region promises the Director-General and the staff of the Organization all the cooperation they will need. We welcome the attention promised to Africa (paragraph 67) among the many low-income food-deficit countries of the world. We also welcome the recommendations made in paragraphs 68-71 especially on staff training, resources mobilization and technology improvement, and the analysis made by the Director-General in paragraph 72. We feel that when the above is coupled with the regionalization of the main operational departments of FAO, our own governments will feel more comfortable that FAO is their organization and partner in development. Local knowledge of the weather and other aspects of the environment by the farmer will be taken into consideration too when designing agricultural extension strategies. We also recommend that serious comparative studies, improvement and application be done on successful traditional technologies from the various developing states. The same should be done on traditional foods, grains, tubers, lentils, plantains, etc. that have for centuries helped the populations in these areas to survive. A lot of food is lost after harvest. FAO should ensure the development of appropriate storage facilities.
There are also storage practices of the old in our countries that could be improved rather than discarded for new ones that are usually too expensive to acquire, construct and maintain safely without damaging the environment.
The energetic action against plant and animal diseases promised in paragraph 65 is very welcome. We would like to recommend however that, while such action, of necessity, will be initially taken within individual states, cross-border cooperation be seriously encouraged. It has been seen in many regions of Africa that both plant and pest animal diseases have been inadvertently introduced or re-introduced in formerly disease-free areas. There are many reasons for this but three of these are very important.
Civil commotions have usually led huge bodies of people to flee from their homes and the lucky ones have usually fled with seeds and animals to their places of refuge. Some of these may bear pests and diseases. The reverse has also happened when refugees return to their homes with such seeds and animals. Hence the cross-border treatment referred to above will obviate such happening.
In the African Region, the constant droughts and crop failures reduce seed availability and therefore populations are forced to seek and get any seed from anywhere, regardless of whether such seed is free of pests and diseases.
There is general lack of phytosanitary measures. Creating awareness in this important area is absolutely necessary to be addressed by FAO.
Our Group endorses recommendations by the Director-General in paragraphs 23 and 24 that the various changes recommended be guided by the basic principles of the Organization as well as of good administration.
We believe strongly that despite the proposed decentralization and regionalization of the Organization's operatives, FAO will remain one International Entity, well-nourished by experiences and successes from its proposed globally spread offices which will live closer to the peoples that the Organization was created for. As said earlier, the Organization, as it moves closer to national borders, will be taken by the Members as their own, worth supporting continuously.
The increased number of nationals to be trained or involved will hopefully be able to give of their best, now that they will be called upon as local experts, to bring the Organization closer to the poor producer majority, especially the rural poor.
We support strongly the creation of the Division on Women and people's participation in development as indicated in para 53 of document CL 106/2 and as fully explained in paragraph 23 of document CL 106/2-Sup.l. We wish to point out, however, that one of the major handicaps preventing women from participating fully in the developmental process is the lack of adequate formal and tertiary education.
In order therefore for FAO to be able to reach the greatest number of women, it will have to liaise closely with National Governments which are responsible for the provision of such education and with International Organizations like UNICEF which also have training components in their programmes.
Jürgen OESTREICH (Germany): In the FAO Council, this is the first time since Mr Diouf was elected that a representative of the European Union
takes the floor. I would therefore like to take advantage of this opportunity and offer to Mr Diouf, on behalf of the European Union, our sincere congratulations to him in this most important post to steer FAO. We look with confidence to him and his staff, and wish him wisdom, vigour and much success.
The subjects we discuss under this agenda item are perhaps the most important ones that have been put on the table here for many years: to review programmes, policies and structures of FAO, in view of present worldwide conditions and challenges. It is therefore with much interest that we have analysed the rich and forward-looking document that FAO services prepared under the guidance of the Organization's new Director-General .
We endorse the proposed consistent set of guiding principles to govern the process of change of the organization. It is in particular through the combination of strengthening FAO as an international Centre of Excellence, which will be more decentralized in its role to provide more coherent "operational" services to Member Nations on certain sectoral and thematic specializations, that FAO will greatly enhance its international credibility. At the same time, it should be recognized that there is a possible tension between improving and strengthening "operational" services, and the wish to strengthen the organization's role as a "Centre of Excellence", in terms of attention, manpower and budget. It is important for us that the balance included in the mandate will be kept in future.
Concerning the proposed priority areas for FAO's activities, we consider that both food security and actions to prevent and combat plant pests and disease outbreaks are important dimensions of agricultural and rural development. Therefore, we do endorse the proposals in principle. Elaboration of the proposals and further discussions will still be needed. Mr Chairman, I would like to say a few more words on the issue of food security.
It may be of interest to mention here, that the Commission of the European Communities has very recently presented a policy paper to its Council of Ministers of Development Cooperation. Ministers will be considering this paper which stresses the need to re-emphasize food security policies and programmes. Such policies and programmes will take as a point of departure that there will be continued need for relief operations and food aid in SSA, and the EU will continue to respond to these short-term needs. However, it is proposed to focus more on long-term oriented food security policies and programmes. In that respect, the proposed policy lines concur with yours as regards the need to increase the national production and supply of food crops, particularly in low-income food-deficit countries.
These proposals, however, do not imply that national food self-sufficiency should be the central objective. As was already underlined during the International Conference on Nutrition, national food self-sufficiency is neither necessary nor sufficient for food security at household level, where the demand side and the distribution side of food become most relevant issues.
In order to increase national and local supply of food, it is proposed to adopt food security as a guiding principle underlying agricultural and rural development programmes. This requires to emphasize the food security dimensions of a variety of activities that all contribute to it, or have an
impact on it. These include policies and programmes focused on agricultural development facilitating a stable balance of local/national production of foodstuffs and their import, rural infrastructure, marketing and transport infrastructure, trade, import and price policies that would enable farmers to obtain a fair price for their products. It includes also adequate production support services (finance, extension, input supply), security of land titles, and processing capacity.
We are of the opinion that FAO has an important role to play in providing advice in these fields to many developing countries who are among its Member Nations.
Apart from underlining the supply side and its dependency on adequate national policies, it is in our view equally important to enhance the demand side for food, so as to improve household food security policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to increase economic growth, enhancing people's productive capacities and purchasing power, and to help ensure stable distribution systems of food stuff, are vital fields in this perspective. It will be evident that the absence of political unrest and armed conflicts is a most important condition for these policies to bring about any significant improvements.
To the extent technology transfer would help to take away bottlenecks to increase national production or processing, when promoting such transfers particular attention should be given to its possible environmental impacts. Any actions to be undertaken should therefore be coherent with the concept of sustainable agricultural development, as was already underlined during the Den Bosch conference of 1991, and reiterated again at Rio.
Such policy orientations should however not lead to expand governments' involvement in directly productive activities or marketing, as these should in our view, to a much larger extent, be left to the private sector. This goes also for support services. In this context, good governance and increased transparency certainly help to create an economic and institutional environment that encourages the involvement of the private sector and of all kinds of cooperative groupings and associations. Such an approach, when combined with the above-indicated macro-economic structures and policies, will favour local resource mobilization and encourage additional investment.
While we very much agree with FAO's emphasis on the long-term dimension of food security, it should also be recognized that in sub-Saharan Africa particularly, short-term food security problems will continue to be a fact of life for many years to come. Therefore, links between emergency operations, food aid, rehabilitation, and development are of key interest. In this perspective, we would like to suggest increased coordination and cooperation between FAO and other UN bodies, like the World Food Programme, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs and NGOs.
I would like to add, that also at European level coordination on food security matters is taken seriously. Recently, the Development Council decided to adopt food security as one of the areas to enhance coordination, between the Community's and Member States' cooperation policy. It is envisaged that later on this year the Development Council will adopt a resolution on the matter. This resolution will specify institutional mechanisms for coordination at policy level and at operational level, in Europe as well as in recipient countries, on issues related to food
security policies and programmes as initiated by Member States or by the Community. We strongly urge FAO to adopt a similar coordination strategy with the other major food security players in the international field.
As regards commitment to agricultural and rural development, I would like to repeat that traditionally a very important part of European resources is dedicated to development cooperation. There is no reason to assume that, in this respect, there will be a significant difference for the rest of this decade, whether concerning the second phase of the Lomé IV Convention with the ACP countries, or under protocols with other regions.
Mr Chairman, I have taken the liberty to dwell fairly extensively on issues related to food security, because of the importance both our Organization and the EU attach to it. I thank you for this opportunity.
Concerning the proposals for the restructuring, these should be consistent with the priorities of the Organization as set out by the Director-General and taken into account our debate. More specifically, I would limit myself to the particular case of the transfer of personnel from Regional Economic Commissions, and I would like to suggest a pragmatic treatment that would reflect the different task and problem fields that are being handled by each regional committee.
Finally, Mr Chairman, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, I would like to express our sincere appreciation of the spirit of dialogue and openness that the Director-General has demonstrated in the process of formulating new orientations for the Organization, and in defining its future programmes and structure. From our side, we are very keen to contribute to further discussions on formulation and implementation of the Organization's policy changes.
J.C. MACHIN (United Kingdom): Thank you very much, Mr Chairman. Can I say first of all that I very much welcome the businesslike approach which you have commended for this meeting, and I would gladly embrace your suggestion that we try and be as brief as possible. I would like to associate myself with the statement just made on behalf of the European Union. I would like to add some national, specific comments and, as I say, I will do my best to be brief.
I would like to do three things. One is address some general remarks about the Director-General's review; secondly, provide to the Council some illustrations of areas we support and others which raise questions in our minds: finally, to adduce a broad view of how the UK sees future priorities. Could I also say that our overriding aim is to give Mr Diouf positive reactions and constructive ideas of his much welcomed reform initiative, even after two-and-a-half months.
The United Kingdom welcomes the Director-General's proposals and statement and agrees that the priorities set for FAO are broadly appropriate to meet changing needs and challenges. We acknowledge the innovative thinking and, clearly, all the hard work that has gone into these attempts to restructure the Organization. Secondly, we acknowledge the unique and vital role of FAO as a global information centre, as a centre of excellence and as an authority on all aspects of transboundary issues.
Mr Chairman, I would like to single out a number of areas within this broad chapeau of agreement on which my delegation places particular emphasis. We
welcome forestry reduction and access to food in both rural and urban areas, where we believe that FAO has a vital role to play in provision of services such as early warning, information on stock availabilities, and on technical possibilities for production increase. We also broadly endorse the Africa focus of this programme. Secondly, we welcome the acknowledgement of the need to accept pluralism, both in regard to the pursuit of mixed development assistance and through FAO's own intentions to seek coordination partners in its field activities. Thirdly, we welcome the programme for further decentralization, which we consider will strengthen FAO's core function of information gathering and analysis, increase the relevance of its work, and reduce costs. Fourthly, we welcome the proposed separation of responsibilities for FAO's normative and field functions, with of course the appropriate linkages.
Mr Chairman, my delegation has some questions and concerns about some aspects of these broad principles, and I think it is appropriate to highlight some of them now, whilst emphasizing again that the United Kingdom is impressed, as a number of speakers have said, by the spirit of change within FAO, and our comments are designed to encourage the Director-General in the direction he is taking, whilst at the same time trying to ensure that the detail of that direction is carefully considered by the Director-General, by the Council and by member countries.
Let me illustrate some of our concerns. The first is that FAO should adhere to areas of comparative advantage. We see these as being very much its role in the planning and coordination function. On the technical cooperation side, there are of course very many organizations which can offer similar services, yet none can supply this central role that is unique to FAO. The second is that FAO should avoid putting too much reliance on technical solutions to food security/access without this being set within a very clear policy, economic and social framework. The latter point is one which the Director-General addressed in his introduction, and we agree it is extremely important. We wonder also whether FAO has the comparative advantage for giving micro and macro policy advice to governments discussing adjustment programmes. Thirdly, we would like to see more thought given to the setting-up of the Department for Sustainable Development. Other organizations already exist as major coordinators in sustainable development. Indeed, it is what all aid agencies are about. We agree that it has its attractions but we feel that it is more important to ensure that sustainable development is the central concern which is integrated into all FAO's departments and all policy thinking. In the same vein, we are concerned that issues like people's participation, good government, and women in development should be compartmentalized into a separate division. Again, the Director-General in his introductory statement referred to these key areas but, in our experience, there is a danger that separation can mean marginalization. This is what has happened when some donors set up women's units over a decade ago to deal with women in development; it tends to marginalize. We much prefer full integration.
Finally, Mr Chairman, we were a little concerned when we first read the documentation about the forestry sector, where we felt rather more emphasis should have been given. However, I was delighted by the Director-General's statement this morning, which I have just read, and from which it is very clear the emphasis that he and FAO will be putting into this crucial area, not least its mandate to follow up, through the Commission on Sustainable Development, post-Rio activities. I am delighted with some of the proposals
that he has mentioned for various meetings, and particularly the ministerial meeting in 1995.
Mr Chairman, I started by saying that we are impressed with the efforts that have been made by Mr Diouf to reform FAO's management structures. We welcome the move to greater decentralization, rationalization of existing structures and moves to maximize cost-effectiveness. During this Council and in the months ahead the United Kingdom will pursue with the Director-General and his colleagues some of the questions that occurred to us in relation to these very welcome initiatives. I do not want to take much time on them now, but let me just indicate briefly the general areas which we will be interested to learn more about during that dialogue and that process.
The first is the decentralization of normative functions. Question: will this lead to the break-up of centres of excellence, and what thought has been given to function reallocation as opposed to piecemeal decentralization? Secondly, the role of national programme officers and the real comparative cost advantage of this move, which, I should add, we very much welcome. Thirdly, the extent to which decentralization will be matched by a complete overhaul of the need for centralized services, particularly those of personnel management.
Fourthly, the optimum personnel profile in relation to the balance between General Service and specialist staff, fixed-term contract and permanent staff, and then the relationship and balance between overseas activities and Headquarters here in Rome. Fifthly, the pace of management reviews and their scope, particularly in relation to information and publications. How radical will the appraisal of the need for periodicals and other services be? Secondly, will the review of Administration and Finance take fully into account changes such as decentralization on deciding on new management information systems before exploring replacements to FINSYS and PERSYS? Thirdly, to what extent is FAO critically examining the need for its supply services such as procurement, personnel training, training management and administration, as opposed to looking at outside bodies which might do the job more cost-effectively?
Mr Chairman, these are just some of the questions in our minds which, as I say, we will be raising over the coming weeks and months. I do not want to end this intervention with an emphasis on questions, but I do hope that it is understood that these are important issues for us to explore with the Director-General if FAO is to maintain and improve its position as a unique organization and the important role it can play as we approach the end of the century. The UK, apart from, obviously, its core contribution, has supported FAO with some technical help and advice in a number of areas: fisheries, forestry, food security and pest control, and I would like to say to the Director-General that we are very ready to explore with him further areas of mutual collaboration.
Finally, Mr Chairman, I conclude by complimenting FAO on the quality and the concise nature of the documentation before us. It has obviously taken a lot of hard work and, whilst transparency does not always mean length, in commending the Secretariat on these documents, I do hope that the reports of this Council and indeed, for the next Programme of Work and Budget, can be presented in the same very clear format. Indeed, could I suggest that FAO follow the excellent example of the recent CFA meeting, where I understood a very short record of the meeting was produced. Improved
governance arrangements, however small, send important signals to our capitals, to our Member Governments. Above all the signal my Government is looking forward to is tangible evidence of change in the way FAO does things. The Director-General's commitment to reform and his timetable are very clear. What we would now like to see is the transformation of that commitment into the implementation of change within that time frame. Two-and-a-half months is a very small step but nevertheless, Mr Chairman, it is a very welcome first step. Thank you very much.
Adel M. ABOUL-NAGA (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): Allow me on behalf of the Near East group to congratulate the Director-General of the Organization and his assistants on having prepared this remarkable document which is now before us, a document prepared in compliance with Conference Resolution 93/10, in a short time frame and reduced margin of manoeuvre inherent in a budget which had already been approved, coupled with the restraints of staff in place whose contracts have been renewed. We should also like to welcome the broad consultations conducted by the Director-General, with various capitals, with FAO departments, with former Independent Chairman of the Council and selected group of experts in the field of international agricultural development. We share the Director-General's views on the major challenge of putting an end to the human tragedy of 800 million people living below food-subsistence level and of maintaining a sustainable food production sufficient to feed 9 000 million people by the year 2030.
As to the points contained in the Director-General's Review, the Near East Group would like to state the following. First, the Group supports the priority given to the Special Programme on Food Production in support of food security in low-income, food-deficit countries and also to the special programme on Emergency Prevention System to Combat Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests, whilst taking particular account of the clarification contained in the supplementary document and of the implementation schedule contained therein.
Due note has also been taken of the assurances given by the Director-General and the Secretariat to the Programme and Finance Committees to the effect that giving priority to increasing food production in no way means reducing the activities of other programmes relating to different food security components. Furthermore, we are cognizant of the fact that the programme's targeted beneficiaries are the LIFDCs, where the major stumbling block to food security lies precisely in their inability to tap their own resources, thus greatly impeding adequate food production. Consequently, we consider the resources earmarked for these two programmes within the current budget but an initial sum to be beefed-up in future budgets in order to secure the attainment of the desired goals. We also urge the Director-General and the Organization to cooperate further with other international and regional institutions operating in this field in order to attract more investments to these programmes.
Secondly, as for the proposed changes in the organizational structure and whilst taking due account of the clarifications and statements contained in the supplementary documents on the mandates of the proposed departments and its various divisions, including the new Agriculture and Economic Development Analysis Division, we do support the Director-General's proposal and request the presentation of progress reports to be submitted to the forthcoming Council Sessions. These reports would review the
implementation of these proposals and measure their impact as relates to enhancing FAO's efficiency.
Third, our Group is in favour of the decentralization policy within FAO and supports the intended step-by-step implementation. We are also in agreement with allowing the various offices to make the necessary operational decisions in the field since the regional and subregional offices to be set up are in dire need of an integrated cadre of specialized professional experts operating in the field and using their expertise to the benefit of the regions and countries they serve.
As to the subregional offices to be set up, we welcome them as a first step to be followed by others according to their impact on the subregions they are meant to benefit.
In conclusion, we express our full support for the Director-General's plans to set up cadres of national, technical staff in FAO's country, regional and subregional offices to be recruited amongst the nationals of the countries of the respective regions. We are all looking forward, developing and developed countries alike, to the follow-up of the proposals' implementation as they translate into an enhanced, more efficient and revitalized Organization capable of serving the purposes we all believe in and of facing up to the growing challenges awaiting it.
Mr President, my colleagues from countries of the region will make statements later expressing their own points of view regarding the items before us in the Agenda. This allows me in conclusion, as the representative of my country, to raise questions of importance to Egypt later on in the session.
WU YIXIA (China) (Original language Chinese): At the beginning of the meeting the Director-General gave us a detailed and concise presentation of his review of the Organization's programmes, structures, and policies which provides a useful basis for our deliberations. In the light of Resolution 10/93, the Director-General, Dr Jacques Diouf, reviewed the programmes, structures and policies of FAO and presented his proposals to Council. We wish to sum up the gist of the Director-General's proposals as reform and guiding principles. Reform refers to re-adjusting FAO's organizational structure and transferring its priorities of work, whilst guiding principles refer to decentralization in the use of technical experts practising economy and reducing expenditure.
The Chinese delegation believes that the Director-General's proposals have reflected his firm intention of enlivening FAO's service for Member Nations, embodying the major issues in the World Food Agriculture field as well as amply demonstrating and putting emphasis on the practical results of FAO's activities. At the same time these proposals are a concrete example of the Director-General's unique style and rich experience in management. We strongly support these proposals and the reform he is going to carry out.
As the Director-General pointed out in document CL 106/2, reform is not an easy task for it involves many aspects. Some can be foreseen at present and some cannot. Therefore, reform cannot be done overnight. In order to carry out the reform better and to ensure reform will proceed in a healthy orientation, we would like to make the following observations.
First, regarding the organizational structure, is adjustment. Institutional adjustment is complex as it includes management and human factors. Its purpose is to strengthen coordination, prevent isolation of departments, reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency. The institutional adjustment itself is not the end but a means to achieve the above-mentioned goals. Therefore, we think whether the institutional adjustment can yield results depends mainly on the following aspects. It depends on taking practical actions. It is necessary to have an appropriate monitoring and evaluation system to assess the impact with a view to better formulating the Programme of Work and Budget for the biennium 1996-97 and the Medium-term Plan.
Second, regarding the transfer of priorities of work, the Chinese Delegation agrees that food security and transboundary control of animal and plant pests and diseases be taken as priority areas. To strengthen food security and help low-income, food-deficit countries to raise their agricultural production level will no doubt play an extremely important role in reducing the number of malnourished people in the world. However, food security hinges upon the interaction of food production and the purchase of food. To strengthen food security, it is imperative both to raise agricultural production and to improve people's purchasing power, particularly that of the malnourished people. Hence, while helping the low-income, food-deficit countries to improve their agricultural production, FAO should first of all consider how to create more employment opportunities for food-deficit and malnourished people so as to increase their purchasing power by increasing their incomes. Efforts should be made to improve circulation and marketing channels so as to lower the cost of sales.
Third, low-income, food-deficit countries need to formulate a sound "help the poor" policy and make it a basic national policy.
Fourth, the important role of a desirable, international, economic and trading environment and improving world food security should not be neglected. In this connection we hope that developed countries will further open up their markets for agricultural commodities and primarily processed products with improved market access of the exporting farm produce of low-income, food-deficit countries, enabling them to obtain sufficient foreign exchange earnings for purchasing the food they need domestically.
We are gratified to learn that FAO's financial status has taken a turn for the better which will help to upgrade FAO's service to its Members Nations. Nevertheless, the Organization's resources are still limited. Thus further efforts are called for to use the limited resources in countries and regions which have higher potential and can achieve good results. To this end the Chinese Delegation wishes to make the following recommendations:
One: We endorse the Director-General's approach to start with pilot projects. If they are good they can be further extended.
Two: It is important to select the right countries and regions for pilot projects, preferably selecting those with political stabilization so as better to assess their ability with strong executing capacity and food security as a priority area. The technology to be used should suit local conditions. It is necessary to introduce technology and measures welcomed by farmers so as to encourage them to active participation and enhance the joint role to be played by research, teaching and extension units.
Three: It is imperative to set up an effective monitoring management mechanism in order to ensure effective implementation of projects and their actual results.
Four: We hope that developed countries will provide the necessary funds and transfer appropriate technology to developing countries, particularly to low-income, food-deficit countries, with a view to helping them to improve agricultural production and food security.
Five: At present about 800 million people in the world are malnourished, among whom 520 million are in Asia, accounting for 67 percent of the total, whilst in China 80 million people are still not properly fed and clothed. We hope that the Director-General and the Council will not lose sight of this fact during FAO's reform.
With regard to the guiding principles, the Chinese Delegation agrees with the Director-General's proposal about decentralization and a more systematic use of local experts, technical personnel and institutions. At the same time we hope that FAO will use more experts and technical personnel from developing countries, particularly those from countries with stable food security and with growing food security. Undoubtedly this will play an important catalytic role in improving food security in low-income, food-deficit countries. Moreover, this will be a concrete reflection of strengthening the South-South cooperation.
Finally, please allow me to summarize my statement shortly. The Chinese Delegation and the Chinese Government support the Director-General's proposals for reform submitted to the Council. We are convinced that under the guidance of the Director-General FAO will achieve greater and more practical successes in solving the major problems in world food and agriculture. The Chinese Government is ready to enhance further its already existing sound cooperative relationship with FAO and make a greater contribution to the development of world agriculture.
The meeting rose at 13.00 hours
La séance est levée à 13 heures
Se levanta la sesión a las 13.00 horas
