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II. WORLD FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SITUATION (continued)
II. SITUATION MONDIALE DE L'ALIMENTATION ET DE L'AGRICULTURE (suite)
II. SITUACIÓN MUNDIAL DE LA AGRICULTURA Y LA ALIMENTACIÓN (continuación)

4. State of Food and Agriculture 1996 (continued)
4. Situation mondiale de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture 1996 (suite)
4. Estado Mundial de la Agricultura y la Alimentación en 1996 (continuación)

Mallam Issah SEIDU (Ghana): Like other speakers, the Ghana Delegation also expresses appreciation for the Secretariat work and for the presentation made this morning. Regarding the item under discussion, Mr Chairman, the Secretariat paper as well as the document State of Food and Agriculture 1996, reveal certain facts of interest. It is of concern to us to note that most indicators tend to show negative or declining trends for the African continent, thus as always making it the area with the most food security problems.

The document before us, Mr Chairman, has forecast that agricultural production in the years to come could expand at a rate faster than in the past. But gains in per caput terms are not likely unless extraordinary actions are taken to mobilize both external and African continent's resources towards increased food production. This calls for measures, in the view of my delegation, to increase productivity through increased yields. A great potential exists to increase the food production of the over 36 countries facing acute food shortages through better water control and increased plant nutrients.

Most African soils are literally depleted of their nutrients with the removal by plants at a faster rate than what is returned to the land. FAO statistics show that Africa accounts for only 3 percent of world fertilizer consumption in 1992–93. And eight countries only in Africa accounted for 99 percent of the total. This leaves the rest of Africa with virtually zero use of fertilizer. The rural poor, many of whom live on environmentally fragile areas are the victims just as they are responsible for soil degradation. Staple food producers working on marginal soils have little choice but to sacrifice the future for the present-clearing trees and depleting soils in an unsustainable manner to provide livelihood.

Mr Chairman, this observation is not intended to play down the use of organic nutrients. The key to sustainable and environmentally sound plant nutrition is through the use of other sources of plant nutrients to complement and supplement mineral fertilizers under the integrated plant nutrition systems (IPNS). Sustainable increased agricultural production and improving farmers' profitability can only be achieved through the judicious use of mineral fertilizers, organic manures and biological nitrogen fixation.

My delegation, Mr Chairman, has opted to limit its intervention to production constraints with the understanding that Africa, as a net food importer is carrying a heavy burden due to the high international market prices.

Africa has first of all to increase its production before it can enjoy the boost to the world economy as a result of the trade measures introduced by the Uruguay Round.

Eiji SUZUKI (Japan): I appreciate the efforts made by the Secretariat to provide the document CL 111/2, a summary of the State of Food and Agriculture, 1996. I would like to make brief comments on this document. First, paragraph 9 states that a major reason for convening the World Food Summit is the expected 680 million undernourished people in the year 2010. We concur with the importance of this estimated figure and stress that the problem of present hunger and malnutrition should be dealt with in the World Food Summit along with future sustainable food production capacity of the world in a balanced manner. On the world agricultural markets section, we would like to point out a couple of important observations contained in the Secretariat document.


The first point is in paragraph 10, where it concludes that "the global supply/demand situation would remain tight and global food security precarious for at least another year." We, as a food importing country, view these consecutive years of a tight supply/demand situation with great concern.

The second important point on the present situation is in paragraph 14, where the very low world stock level is well described. The lowest stock level, as well as the high prices of major commodities, are obviously two sources of concern for importing countries in general, and especially for low-income food-deficit countries.

Mr Chairman, the present 1996 State of Food and Agriculture discusses the topic of trade liberalization and price instability, which is very important. My country imports the major part of its food supply from external sources and this is the reason why we are so concerned about the effectiveness of trade versus supply stabilization. Although part 25 of this section does not specify as a conclusion whether trade liberalization contributes to stabilizing world market prices or not, we generally see the structure of changes following the Uruguay Round Agreement as adversely affecting the world price stability. More specifically, with respect to paragraph 16, we doubt whether clarification should, in principle, improve stability. And in paragraph 17, we share concern that further liberalization will lead to further cuts in the programmes that produced considerable stocks in the past, possibly leading to further instability.

Finally, Mr Chairman, in paragraph 26, it seems that the Secretariat paper infers that trade liberalization was the ultimate goal and that temporary price instability was an interim obstacle. But on the contrary, we feel that trade liberalization should not be regarded as the ultimate goal. In any case the relationship between trade liberalization and price instability should be carefully studied.

Dong Tae KIM (Korea, Republic of): I would like to briefly touch upon some issues concerning the current world food situation. There are over 800 million hungry and malnourished people in the world. In addition, the outlook for the world food supply is not optimistic. FAO has reported that the ratio of ending stock to world food and consumption for 1996 is only 14 per cent, significantly below the recommended level of 17 per cent.

Furthermore, the food situation in many food importing countries, especially in the low-income food-deficit countries, is deteriorating as a result of the tight food supply and higher food prices. These factors have been all too characteristic of the international market trend.

Moreover, FAO forecasts that the gross rate of all agricultural production will be lower in the period from now to the year 2010, in contrast to comparable periods in the past. Many food research institutions have also reported that the outlook for the long-term food situation will be even worse.

FAO has already made a significant contribution to combatting world hunger and undernutrition. However, many serious food security concerns still remain to be addressed. For example, the food crisis in the low-income food-deficit countries requires immediate international action. The international community must pay more attention to solving this problem. We expect that the forthcoming World Food Summit, to be held in November, will be a turning point in efforts to ensure food security for present and future generations, affirming that food is a basic right, essential for an active, healthy and dignified life.

In the midst of the complexities posed by natural and social political conditions, it is difficult for a country to fulfil its basic food requirements through imports, given the unstable nature of the world market. Like most industrial commodities, food is an ever-present and continuous basic need. Having food is the basic right of all human beings, which must be satisfied with a minimum


degree of risk. Also each country faces unique individual food supply circumstances just as each country enjoys its unique diet.

I firmly believe that the specific characteristics of each country's food, agricultural and nutritional problems must be given full consideration when designing solutions to such problems. In this context, I would like to stress the importance of each country's efforts to ensure food security for its people. Without providing basic food requirements the achievement of world food security will be limited. The effect of trade liberalization on food security therefore merits very careful consideration. The premiss that each country has the right to achieve food security must also be respected.

Finally, Mr Chairman, let me commend FAO staff for organizing this Council meeting and wish them every success. Thank you very much for your attention.

Raffaele DE SANTIS (Communauté européenne): Excusez-moi de reprendre la parole mais c'est seulement pour une petite précision suite à l'intervention de la délégation des Etats-Unis. En ce qui concerne la taxe dans le secteur des céréales, je voulais souligner que cette taxe était une réponse à une situation de prix très élevés. Elle n'était pas du tout une cause de ces prix élevés, mais une mesure prise dans un moment particulier du marché. La démonstration en est qu'une fois baissés à un niveau moins élevé, la taxe a été éliminée. Une deuxième remarque est que cette mesure conjoncturelle dans le secteur des céréales a été prise dans l'Union européenne conformément à l'accord de l'Uruguay Round et, de plus, nous nous sommes assurés de respecter les engagements vis-à-vis des pays en voie de développement en ce qui concerne les approvisionnements de leurs marchés.

Christophe KIEMTORE (Burkina Faso): Monsieur le Président, je voudrais, avec votre permission, faire rapidement quelques commentaires sur ce point à l'examen. En premier lieu, j'aimerais très sincèrement féliciter le Secrétariat et, en particulier, M. De Haen qui a fait une présentation très claire de ce document. Ma délégation est satisfaite de laprésentation de ce document qui est très différente de ce que nous avons l'habitude de recevoir. Cette forme de résumer la situation de l'alimentation dans un document de 4/5 pages permet aux délégations de prendre connaissance d'un fait majeur qui marque ce secteur. Nous voudrions donc profiter de l'occasion pour demander au Secrétariat de continuer à travailler dans ce sens, pour permettre aux délégations d'avoir la possibilité de consulter les documents dans d'autres circonstances et tel qu'annoncé pendant ou après le Sommet mondial.

Le deuxième point que j'aimerais souligner concerne la situation déjà préoccupante de l'alimentation dans le monde telle qu'il en ressort du document examiné. On y voit que la production est en baisse pour certains produits, que les prix sont en hausse pour d'autres, que les stocks et les réserves alimentaires mondiales sont précaires. Le rapport souligne à juste titre que la situation est très préoccupante pour le continent africain. Il contient aussi des perspectives qui ne nous sont pas très favorables. Ma délégation se félicite que le Secrétariat ait pu mettre en évidence le problème qui touche la majorité des pays africains, et nous voudrions saisir l'occasion pour exprimer notre regret pour le fait qu'au cours des négociations concernant les documents du Sommet et la situation particulière du continent africain, qui ressort d'ailleurs dans tous les documents examinés par la FAO ou d'autres instances. Nous regrettons donc que cette spécificité du continent ne ressorte pas clairement dans les documents et n'apparaisse pas avec clarté dans le processus des négociations. Nous pensons que ce continent mérite, étant donné sa situation particulière, que des mesures spécifiques soient préconisées pour aider l'ensemble de ces pays à assurer la sécurité alimentaire dans leur territoire régional ou national.

Le troisième point que je voudrais évoquer concerne l'importance qu'il faudrait accorder, dans ce contexte, à la production nationale et à sa maîtrise. Le document souligne ajuste titre l'importance d'un certain nombre de facteurs; cela dit, le volume et les flux de production mondiaux sont bien

décrits. On y évoque aussi l'importance des marchés, l'importance des échanges et de leur libéralisation, et nous pensons que, pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire, les pays concernés devront compter avant tout sur la maîtrise de la production nationale dans les pays respectifs. Le commerce à lui seul ne peut contribuer durablement à une sécurité alimentaire dans les ménages, surtout si les pays concernés ne sont pas en mesure d'accroître la capacité locale de production, d'où l'importance pour ces pays d'accroître les investissements dans le secteur agricole. La maîtrise de l'eau est un facteur essentiel, parce que les phénomènes de sécheresse et de désertification sont liés à ce facteur. La resolation des sols est également un facteur très important, ainsi que le transfert de technologies, l'éducation et la formation de la population d'une manière générale, et des producteurs en particulier.

Un quatrième point concerne l'importance des facteurs climatiques. Je voudrais mentionner que pour un certain nombre de pays, surtout ceux qui sont dans la zone désertique, la pollution est totalement dépendante du facteur climatique, et tant que ces facteurs climatiques ne seront pas maîtrisés, il est tout à fait impensable de prévoir la maîtrise de la sécurité alimentaire dans ces pays. Le problème de la désertification devrait retenir l'attention du Conseil et aussi retenir votre attention pendant la préparation des documents du Sommet mondial.

Un dernier point concerne la constitution des réserves et des stocks de sécurité au niveau national et ce point n'est pas suffisamment souligné dans les documents que nous avons examinés. Nous pensons que des mesures de sécurité doivent être prises par les pays eux-mêmes à travers un mécanisme permettant de mettre à la disposition du pays des stocks et des réserves pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire dans les zones les plus touchées. Aussi longtemps que la production nationale restera soumise au facteur climatique aléatoire, la constitution des réserves et des stocks au niveau national sera un facteur clé pour aider les pays à assurer un minimum de sécurité alimentaire pour l'ensemble de la population.

Dennis GEBBIE (Australia): Let me first join others in welcoming the continuing work of the Secretariat in the area covered by the State of Food and Agriculture Report.

In terms of the forecasts for agricultural products for 1996–97, the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics (ABER) has recently released it's own latest forecasts for this period and these forecasts are broadly in line with those mentioned in the summary paper provided by the Secretariat.

The key forecast, I think Mr Chairman, is that world grain prices will fall in 1996–97 as the tight supply situation of the previous year eases with a recovery in world grain production. The message here is that price signals are reaching producers, as they should and this illustrates that the market is working as it should. It also highlights the key or vital role of trade in ensuring world food security. In our own case, we have in prospect a very large winter grain crop which should be, in fact, the second highest harvest on record.

I will not repeat the comments made by a number of others on the reasons for the recent high grain prices. The United States, in particular, highlighted the role of the weather and the input situation in the former USSR as key elements for those high prices, rather than being an impact of trade liberalization. The link between trade liberalization and price instability is obviously an important one. It has been mentioned by many delegates. I think it is worth recalling here paragraphs 25 and 26 of document CL 111/2, or the summary document from that, paragraph 25 in particular, Reports on the Experts Meeting on Price and Stability. It points out quite clearly that the experts felt that the new international trading environment was likely to be characterized by lower levels of global stocks but more resilient markets, owing to faster response to production demand stocks. The experts were not clear if price and stability would be higher or lower or the probability of price sparks greater or smaller. I think the message coming out of the Experts Meeting was that we need to be very careful that we do not make some of the prejudgments that

are being made as to adverse effects on price and stability caused by trade liberalization. It seems quite clear that any such judgements are premature.

Let me turn now to the Stocks to Use Ratio issue, which has been mentioned by a number of delegates. The Stocks to Use benchmark used in the State of Food and Agriculture Summary was in fact established in the period of quite different Government policies than exist today.

In the early 1970s, the FAO estimated the level of stocks it felt was required to ensure global food security. This assessment was based on transport requirements, the level of market integration and the timing of production availability that existed during the early 1970s, which is quite a long time ago now. Given the increased integration of international markets, including developing countries and improvements in transport and handling methods, it is unlikely that the estimate of the Stocks to Use benchmark is applicable to the present environment. The estimate that world grain stocks need to be at least 17 per cent of utilization to ensure adequate global food security, we think is out of date and tends to be somewhat narrow. A further issue here is that by limiting the Stocks to Use analysis to grains, the approach does not truly represent global food availabilities, which cover a much wider scope. It also, Mr Chairman, in our view, does not represent any more a reliable benchmark of food security.

In this context, I would draw attention to paragraphs 9 and 10 of CL 111/10. This was a report of the Twenty-First Session of the Committee on Food Security. These particular paragraphs highlight well the shortcomings of over-reliance on the Stocks to Use ratio.

Finally, let me just say a few words about the United States Farm Bill. We very much welcome the passage of the FAIR Act and believe the United States deserves a good deal of commendation for the radical change in direction that they have taken under the FAIR Act. It certainly does not resolve all of the market and trade distortion problems that have existed with US agricultural policy in the past but it is a very important step and there is a very good message and a good deal of leadership there to draw on throughout the world in this new direction the United States has been taking.

We also very much welcome the restraint of both the United States and the European Union, in terms of the absence of use of subsidies on exports of grain over recent times and we would thoroughly endorse the US call for a continuation of such restraint. In fact, we would argue strongly that the realities of the market suggest there is no valid reason for resuming these practices.

Cephas GOODING (Barbados): First of all, I would like to join in thanking the FAO Secretariat for providing us with a very useful summary of the state of food and agriculture. I shall try to keep my statement brief and to the point.

I would wish to share the concern expressed by other delegations regarding the world food situation. Certainly, the abnormally slow growth in the total crop and livestock production recorded for the last year, is a matter to which we all need to devote renewed vigour. We all have concern, I am sure, but it seems to me that we need to do more to ensure that adequate stocks as well as food aide flows are available and adequate so that the scourge of hunger and malnutrition can be effectively tackled. We certainly can not be comfortable with the 11 percent contraction of commitments of external agricultural assistance recorded for 1994.

Barbados, like many other small land-locked and island states, is a net importer of food. We have, for many years, been pursuing a policy designed to stimulate food production. This policy calls for the diversification of our agricultural production system. Diversification has, however, proven to be particularly challenging. This is so since farmers have to be taught how to master new

production systems and also because difficulties have been experienced in accessing funding on reasonable and concessionable terms for the needed new investments in the agricultural sector.

I am pleased to report, however, that our country has been able to achieve some success in its diversification programme. We are now self-sufficient in the production in several commodities, including root crops, vegetables, selected fresh fruits, fresh milk, fresh pork and whole chicken. Clearly we still have a lot to do.

I have to point out that it is extremely important that the special needs of developing countries, particularly small, land-locked and island states, be taken fully into consideration, if there is to be any meaningful improvement in the state of food and agriculture in the world and a general improvement in world food security.

With the serious decline in international aide flows and the availability of technical assistance generally, many developing countries have to mobilize their resources needed for investment in agriculture from their own resources. It is therefore extremely important that these countries be allowed to access available commodity markets, under whatever arrangements, so that they can earn necessary foreign exchange to pay for imported food and other goods, to serve the needs of their population and also so that their farmers can earn a reasonable income.

Finally, we believe that the protection of natural resources must be given high priority at national, as well as international levels. That is why we are disappointed at the report that the majority of species subject to fishing are now fully over-exploited. There must clearly be a greater spread of cooperation among countries, particularly at the regional level if our natural resources, including shared resources, are to be properly preserved for future generations.

B. SANDAMU (Zimbabwe): While the document on the state of food and agriculture paints a very gloomy picture about Africa, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, I am happy to report that in the twelve member Southern African development community, 1995–96 agricultural season has been one of the best in the last five years and suddenly the food security situation in that region is improved tremendously. Countries that had to import food because of the 1994–95 drought are, this year, in a position where they can export.

You will also be aware that for some years our region suffered a lot of civil strife and, at the moment, peace seems to have returned to the region and we hope that it will prevail. Because of the peace in the region, we see agriculture production improving in those countries that are now enjoying peace that previously were torn apart by civil strife.

We are very concerned with the trend in the decrease in agricultural commodity prices. For countries that rely mostly on exports of primary products, the reduction in the prices of agricultural commodities affect our balance of payments. We would like to see stable world prices for our agricultural commodities.

Government policy in our region is given top priority to the effects of drought mitigation in the future. We live in a region that is endemic to droughts and we have learned lessons in the past that we should always be prepared of eventualities such as droughts. As a result, we also appeal to the international community to assist us in investing more in agricultural production, particularly in the smallholder sector, that is very much vulnerable to changes in the weather patterns.

We also welcome the convening of the World Food Summit and the Commitment to improve global food security.

Suresh Chundre SEEBALLUK (Mauritius): First of all, my delegation wishes to associate itself with the previous delegations in commending the FAO Secretariat for it's very informative report.

This report has drawn attention to the situation of uncertainty that the Uruguay Round may bring about and this confirms the apprehension that many African countries and small island countries, like Mauritius, have been having on the impact of the Uruguay Round. Indeed, what appeared to be sound in theory, may not be so, in practice.

While my delegation concedes that the new trade environment is likely to be beneficial to a number of developing countries, it may not be appropriate to leave all developing countries in the same group. Most of the studies, if not all, that have been carried out so far on the impact on the Uruguay Round, have indicated that the new trade regime would be unfavourable to the African countries, especially those in the Sub-Saharan region. This is where hunger and malnutrition is more prevalent.

Therefore, my delegation, hopes that process of reform that the WTO agreement on agriculture will undergo, eventually will address these concerns. At any rate, my delegation considers that the move to establish a level playing field should be approached with caution since nature has wished it otherwise and the various players, indeed, cannot ever aspire to play in the same league.

Jalal RASSOOLOF (Iran, Islamic Republic of): My delegation is honoured to welcome you, once again, on this august meeting and wishes you full success in achieving the goals and objectives of the session of the FAO Council. I also would like to sincerely thank the Secretariat and all FAO's specialized departments for preparing the documents of the Council and commend them in their very high quality performance in this regard.

In order to meet your criteria of time allocation, I will try to be very brief and restrict myself to comments related to some important issues of the summary document CL 111/2, the State of Food and Agriculture 1996 and then, bring to the attention of the distinguished colleagues and delegations, very briefly, a few achievements of the Islamic Republic of Iran in agriculture sector and especially in food security.

My delegation is most pleased to note, as mentioned in paragraph 6 and 7 that the world output in 1996 has expanded at 3.5 per cent with robust 5.9 per cent growth in the developing countries. It is also promising that this acceleration continues to 1996 and that agriculture value added expected to exceed population growth in all developing country groups. We pray for the continuation of this trend in the very long future.

Apart from this, the rest of the report is not very promising. At the global level 1995, was a year of abnormally slow growth in total crop and livestock production. Stocks and food aide flows declined and international market prices rose which added to the burden of net food importing countries. Total food aide shipments, in cereals, in 1995–96 are estimated to have decreased further compared to the previous year. At the same time, total commitments of external assessment to agriculture continued the declining trend of the previous years, contracting by an estimated 11 percent in constant 1990 prices. Stock recovery in 1996–97 would be very modest compared with the sharp reduction during 1995–96, leaving cereal reserve below minimum safe levels in 1996–97.

The global supply demand situation would remain tight and global food security precarious for at least another year. Furthermore, the situation would be aggravated and deterioration of agricultural terms of trade in 1996.

During the discussion, at the previous CFS seesion and Inter-Sessional Working Group, trade and market liberalization were over-emphasized as a measure of food security by some distinguished delegates while my delegation believes in the important role where free market and trade can play in this respect. We would like to draw the kind attention of all delegations to the following phrases of the document under consideration, which I quote: "although, tarrification should in

principle improve stability, it is not clear that the practice market price stability will increase over the next few years, particularly for the temperate zone commodities".

The big decrease in Government stock has not been off-set by a corresponding increase in private stocks. In general, as Governments reduce their stocks, the private trade does not fully replace them on balance, changes in levels and ownership of stocks are likely to be dis-stabilizing. Furthermore, the meeting of Experts on Agriculture Price Stability held in Rome, June 1996, discussing the impact of the implementation of the Uruguay Round agreement stated that pricing stability would be greater in the interim than after the system had settled down. Therefore, we believe that it is the responsibility of the exporting countries, which are the main beneficiaries of the implementation of the Uruguay Round agreement, to help net food importing countries at least during the interim period to face and solve their related difficulties.

Allow me to complete this not very pleasing picture by adding two more facts from paragraph 4 and 9 of the document under consideration, which I quote: "no less than 26 countries in the world are currently reported as facing acute food shortages requiring emergency assistance...". In the long run, "FAO estimates that by the year 2010 there will still be about 680 million persons suffering from undernutrition...". The very existence of this fact shows that we, the Member States of FAO, still have a long way to go before achieving the goal. We choose as the symbol of FAO, 51 years ago, that is the Fiat Partis.

Please note that a man from Africa, the most food insecurable and vulnerable region of the world, as the Director General of FAO, who has closely witnessed the pain of hunger, has called for a World Food Summit at the level of Heads of state and Governments to be held next month, here in this building. Let us join hands and give him the full support in achieving the very humanitarian goal of this summit. Only over good will, solidarity and commitment can guarantee our success.

Mr Chairman, let me briefly inform you of some of our achievements in agriculture development and increased food production in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The rate of agriculture growth during the first five years development plan, 1988 to 1993 was 5.9 per cent, which far exceeded the rate of population growth. Wheat, the most important commodity in our diet, increased by 4 million metric tons, reaching a total production of more than 11 million tons per year. In spite of a rather high population growth, the self-sufficiency coefficient in wheat production increased from 72 per cent to 84 per cent per capita. Cereal production in 1995 was 275 kilograms. This production level permits for a 120 days emergency reserve per year. Total crop and horticultural production increased by 45 per cent. Livestock production also increased by 20 per cent, that is, from 5.1 million tons to 6.2 million tons during this first five year programme.

The second five year development plan, which has started in 1995, has given priority to agriculture as the main provider of the national food security. A structure adjustment programme would continue in this plan. Input subsidy, which decreased dramatically in the first five years, now would continue its downward trend throughout the second plan and would far exceed the criteria established in the Uruguay Round final Act. Decreased application of chemical fertilizer, pesticides and insecticides, is also a major goal of the second agriculture development plan. The level of chemical inputs would decrease by 30 per cent at the end of the plan. The money saved in this way would be spent on environmental and biological pest control research.

Last, but not least, I would like to convey my appreciatiation to FAO for the valuable assistance they have provided to the agricultual development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In particular, I have to commend the TCDC Department for their valuable support and especially, for the very constructive and efficient mechanism recently developed in this unit.

Chamnong VATHANA (Thailand): My delegation is very grateful once again to see you in the Chair of this FAO Council. My congratulations are also extended to the Vice-Chairman. The Document CL 111/2 indeed gives sharp and precise information. I thank the Secretariat for responding to the data of the Member Nations. As all you know, rice is vital to Thailand, both as a source of foreign income and as a stable food for all the people in Thailand. Let me brief you on the rice situation in my country. In 1996 rice production is expected to be around 21.3 million tons, slightly increased from the previous year. The export projection in 1996 is around 5.6 million tons or 0.4 percent less than 1995. It is my prediction that the world rice supply is sufficient to meet the demands of rice importing countries. I can assure you that Thailand will remain a reliable rice supplier to the world market. Mr Chairman, may I now turn your attention to trade liberalization and price instability. In this regard my delegation would like to express its appreciation of the work that has been carried out by FAO, particularly after the Uruguay Round Agreement was concluded partially.

On the 10 and 11 June this year, FAO held an informal meeting of experts and examined agricultural price instability and Thai/FAO work. We have read this document carefully and we are very interested in reading more details of this report. I therefore would appreciate if the Secretariat could make this report available, at least to my delegation. Finally, Mr Chairman, my Delegation fully supports the continuation of the reform process of the Uruguay Round Agreement, based on the effective removal of the subsidies and barriers that distort international trade especially in agricultural products. We firmly believe that the subsidies on agricultural products would adversely affect food production and distribution, particularly in the European countries which do not subsidize their international production.

Ahmad RUSLI JOHARIE (Malaysia): Malaysia would like to commend the FAO for producing an authoritative and useful report on the State of Food and Agriculture. This report, no doubt, will be heavily quoted and will be very useful for us in looking at world trends in production, prices, trade and other related matters pertaining to food and agriculture.

Mr Chairman, while many Member Nations report on optimistic production levels of cereals and downward trends in prices, Malaysia is very concerned that the issues of malnutrition, undernutrition and famine still afflict a substantial portion of the human population. This is reflected in the FAO estimates that in the year 2010 there will still be about 680 million people suffering from this malaise. While we understand that the World Food Summit in November will address this issue, Malaysia is concerned about the effectiveness of present policies, strategies and programmes to elevate this problem. The poor, undernourished and unfortunate millions cannot afford to wait for the World Food Summit to come up with proposals, recommendations and plans of actions. Their problems must be tackled immediately and in the short term. Henceforth, we believe future reports of the FAO on the State of Food and Agriculture should also focus on effective policies, strategies and programmes that have been employed to overcome this problem.

We need to know and emulate success stories, if any. In this connection, Malaysia is concerned about the scope of coverage of the report on the State of Food and Agriculture. While we appreciate that the compilation of statistics on supply, demand and price trends, and analyzing trends is important, it is our opinion that the State of Food and Agriculture report should also highlight selective issues of what has been done and needs to be done to overcome the problems of the food sector, especially in overcoming hunger and malnutrition. In this regard Malaysia would like to propose that FAO also highlight policy, strategies and programme issues. These issues have also been addressed by many Members of the Council in their deliberations.

Finally, Mr Chairman, FAO Regional Officers must play a greater role in assisting the various regions, especially food-deficient regions, in cooperation with regional economic bodies and organizations, to come up with viable options for increasing supply and moving towards regional and national self-sufficiency in food requirements and animal feed.

Wilberforce SAKIRA (Uganda): Mr Chairman, we think that this document CL 111/2 is a good paper. It is short and informative and it gives the State of Food and Agriculture in a clear and precise manner. We would like to thank the Secretariat for providing us with such a useful document.

The paper has indicated that, in general, food production has been increasing in the recent past and that prices have been declining with time in developed countries but increasing in developing countries. Our delegation, like others which have taken the floor before us, has noted that the gloomy picture presented in the document is a cause for concern and we are particulary concerned with four areas.

The first one is in paragraph number 4, Mr Chairman, if you will allow me to quote, although unfortunately it has already been quoted by the delegation from Iran. Paragraph 4 states no less than 36 countries in the world are currently reported as facing acute food shortages requiring major assistance, more than half of which are in Africa. Mr Chairman, this morning the delegation of Canada alluded to this point and has indicated that there is a need to address the problems of Africa. Surely we cannot see and continue to see the problems of Africa continuing to afflict these people from year to year while we do nothing. Secondly they are concerned about the statement that there have been shortages in the world cereal market and that this has affected the nutritional status of the poor. I believe that there is a need for Council to address this problem. Thirdly, we have noted that the global cereal supply/demand situation in 1996–97 is likely to remain tight and global food security is predicted to be precarious. Mr Chairman, we think that it will be necessary for the Secretariat to continue advising Member Nations to put in place policies and programmes and also ensure that programmes are implemented which will address food security in these countries, particularly in the Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries. Mr Chairman, if you can allow us, I want to give two areas which we think are very important in crop production and where we think that FAO should continue giving assistance. One, Mr Chairman, is with regard to soil and water conservation. There are various areas in the world where soil erosion is rampant and this leads to excessive soil wash, it leads to loss of mineral nutrients and to low yields. And as you know, Mr Chairman, it takes about one thousand years, one thousand years for just one inch of soil to be formed through natural processes. I repeat, one thousand years for just 2.54 centimetres of soil to be formed through natural processes. In other words, soil is a resource which cannot be renewed. So there is a need to address the problems of soil and water conservation.

Another area which I would like to emphasize is the idea of using organic manures. There is no need for us to continue using mineral fertilizers because of the problems which are known by everybody here. So here we are only giving two specific areas where we think maybe FAO could give assistance to Member Nations. Lastly, Mr Chairman, when talking about Stocksto Use ratio the delegation of Australia has indicated that this yardstick or benchmark as accorded may not be realistic now. They have proposed that the ratio should be reviewed to suit the conditions and the dictates of today. We entirely agree with this proposal that FAO should look into this suggestion which has been put forward by the Australian delegation.

LI ZHENGDONG (China) (Original language Chinese): First of all, Sir, I would like to thank the Secretariat for having prepared an excellent document, the one now before us, CL 111/2. This document is very concise and enables us to understand the food and agricultural situation in the world.

Mr Chairman, the food and agricultural situation of the world is something before the eyes of all. Hunger and poverty continue to resist and to exist in numerous regions throughout the world and especially so in the African continent, but from the viewpoint of the number of the hungry and the famished the food and agricultural situation in Asia should not be overlooked or neglected. We always feel that hunger and poverty are two closely interrelated problems and this is the reason why, Sir, the solution thereto must take into consideration the fact of their being interconnected. Mr Chairman, we feel that the difficult food and agriculture situation today is so much different

from the one we experienced in the 1970s. We all know that hunger and malnutrition affect many parts of the world but at the same time, in addition to all that, you have the issue of overproduction and over-nutrition in parts of the world. This means, Sir, that the problem which we have to resolve is not only to increase the production of food in poor countries but also to address the problem of the distribution and marketing of foodstuffs. In order to resolve the food problem when a country has to count on its own efforts and promote the development of local production, we must not overlook assistance from the international community. In particular it is necessary to allocate a sufficient degree of importance to the considerable role played by foreign aid with a view to the development of the agriculture sector in developing countries.

Certainly emergency and humanitarian aid are indispensable, but this should not lead us to lose sight of the importance of development-oriented assistance because this is something which comes into the picture for long-lasting or sustainable development and progress. The world trade of foodstuffs also to a great extent influences the food and agriculture situation in the world. We feel that in the process of the liberalization of trade and foodstuffs, it would be necessary to take into consideration the concrete situation of developing countries, take into consideration their just demands and their interests and, I repeat, take into consideration what are their interests. To this end it is necessary to enable them to be in a position to support their own production systems with a view to their food security situation.

José ROBLES AGUILAR (México): Queremos agradacer a la Secretaría de la elaboración del informe presentado. El resumen es valioso porque en forma breve nos aporta elementos sobre la situación reciente y las perspectivas de la agricultura y la alimentación. Advertimos que la situación agrícola y alimentaria en el mundo se presenta aleatoria, así, mientras que en algunas áreas hay indicios de mejorías en otras se observan retrocesos. Sin embargo, el panorama en su conjunto justifica la necesidad de fortalecer las acciones internacionales para resolver de manera común los problemas que afectan a este sector clave. En este contexto, quisiéramos resaltar dos elementos contenidos en el informe.

En primer lugar, la escasez que observan los mercados de cereales. Este hecho tiene efecto directo en la disponibilidad de alimentos y, consecuentemente, en el estado nutricional de la población y plantea riesgos para los numerosos países en desarrollo importadores de estos granos. Durante la discusión, que en los pasados días se tuvo sobre el plan de acción de la Cumbre, se ha infatizado la necesidad de que los países proveedores de alimentos sean fuentes confiables y seguras. De igual forma, reviste importancia el nivel de reservas contemplados por la FAO. Estimamos que compete, tanto a los proveedores como a los consumidores, la responsabilidad de mantener estos niveles en rangos aceptables. Por lo que respecta al crecimiento de la producción agrícola, el documento ubica ésta en 1,2 por ciento en 1995, nivel actual insuficiente si se consideran los objetivos compartidos por todos nosotros en relación a un aumento cuantitativo y cualitativo de los alimentos. No obstante ello, el informe nos reporta también un elemento positivo, en el sentido de una expansión de la producción, previéndose, que el valor añadido de la agricultura, excederá el crecimiento demográfico en varios grupos de países en desarrollo.

El texto presenta asímismo, un escenario en que descienden los compromisos totales de asistencia externa a la agricultura y se reducen los envíos totales de asistencia alimentaria. Ello viene a ratificar la necesidad expresada por los países en desarrollo, de que en la próxima Cumbre se adopten compromisos sobre las acciones complementarias de cooperación internacional, en un marco, en el que, además, los organismos multi-laterales se ven actualmente presionados por diferentes circumstancias a reducir sus apoyos.

Una prioridad que conviene resaltar, para garantizar una mayor disponibilidad de alimentos, consiste en mantener las superficies de cultivo e incrementar los rendimientos, lo cual requiere una planificación adecuada, precios remuneradores y servicios de sanidad agropecuaria indispensables. En lo internacional, es importante que el comercio transcurra en condiciones justas, sin

distorsiones, un comercio nacional apropiado en los países. México hace esfuerzos por incrementar su producción nacional de alimentos, para lo cual ha diseñado un plan integral para el campo, en el que todos los actores de este sector, participan activamente, ello, en un marco en que las condiciones climatológicas han sido adversas en el último trienio. De igual manera, se realizan esfuerzos para mejorar la comercialización de sus productos agropecuarios y pesqueros, tanto en el plano nacional como en el internacional, buscando el equilibrio entre el beneficio de productores y consumidores.

Abdel Rahman ABDELHAFIZ (Observer for Arab Organization for Agricultural Development) (Original language Arabic): Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, may the peace and the health of the Almighty be with you. For me it is an honour and a pleasure to take the floor on behalf of Dr. Yahia Bakour, Director-General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD). It is an honour for me and a pleasure to extend to His Excellency Jacques Diouf, the Director-General of FAO, and to all of his senior staff members, our heartfelt thanks for having been so kind as to invite AOAD to attend the 111th Session of the FAO Council.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr Chairman, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development is one of the specialized institutions belonging to the League of Arab States, which was created in 1970 in view of the heightened awareness of the importance of the agricultural sector for the economy of Arabic countries and to coordinate the efforts of the Arab countries in that area. The Organization, that I am pleased to represent today, selected the city of Khartoum for its headquarters and it has national offices in countries such as Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Yemen.

This organization has never ceased to deploy efforts in order to attain the objectives indicated in the Protocol for its creation and which are the following: the promotion of natural and human resources in the area of agriculture; the improvement of their investments and the enhancement thereof; to raise the levels of yield and to ensure integration of the agricultural sector in the economies of all Arab countries; to reinforce, bolster and strengthen inter-Arab trade in the area of foodstuffs; to reinforce agricultural production with a view to attaining the objective of self-sufficiency; to promote and support agricultural projects and agro-allied projects to improve the level of income of those in this sector.

The Organization has its general assembly which is made up of all of the Ministries of Agriculture in the Arab countries. It has an executive its Executive Council, which has 7 members who are Ministers of Agriculture of their respective countries. In 1993, 25 years more or less after its creation, the organization took a break, as it were, to do some stocktaking on its past achievements, review its policies and look ahead to the future. In this sense it drew up a strategy for the 1990s. Moreover, the activities and the programmes of the organization can be summarized in six main activities: a programme for environmental research; a natural resource promotion programme for the improvement and promotion of human resources; a programme of scientific research into new front-edged technologies; a study programme into the evolution of the situation--the regional and international situation and its implications upon the Arab world; and a programme of cooperation with international and regional organizations.

The Arab Organization for Agricultural Development coordinates its activities with all of the international and regional organizations of a pertinent nature and this to the extent that it is involved in funding and takes part in seminars and activities which are organized by IFAD, FAO, the United Nations and other organizations. This bears witness to our direct and remarkably active activities. The General Assembly of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, at its 24th Session which was held in January 1996 in Tunis, decided to prepare a working document for the forthcoming World Food Summit scheduled to take place here in Rome in November 1996. This document was drawn up by the Organization in an effort to illustrate its views on food security for the entire Arab world, and it is a pleasure for me to indicate that our Organization has

also prepared a report on the state of food and agriculture in the Arab world. This document was submitted for consideration by the 23rd Regional Conference of Near East Countries held in Rabat, Morocco, in March 1996.

The AOAD annually publishes two documents: The State of Food and Agriculture in the Arab World or Agriculture and Food Security in the Arab World as well as The Statistical Yearbook of Arab Agriculture. These two documents deal with the evolution of production and yield of the major crops, especially oil seeds, cereals, sugar, animal production and fisheries, for all Arab countries. The Organization has been able to produce these documents in the form of diskettes, which makes it possible for them to be distributed and circulated.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr Chairman, in this brief overview of our situation, I have tried to give you an idea of what the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development actually does and to talk about its programmes and activities which pursue the promotion of the agricultural sector in the entire world, and in some African countries which are also party to the Arab world, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and others. By way of conclusion, Mr Chairman, I trust and hope that your proceedings will be successful.

H. de HAEN (Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Department): Mr Chairman, first of all let me thank you all, on behalf of the staff who prepared the document as well as the full report on the situation of food and agriculture, for your very complimentary comments. We have taken careful note of the information that you have provided. I heard only a few questions but many interesting comments, but to these few questions I will try to give some short replies.

Beginning with the issue of the minimum safe levels of stocks, we have noted various comments on them but also a concern that we may have to re-compute and re-estimate these minimum safe levels which in fact were established quite some time ago, but as you know, those who attended the CFS in one of its previous normal sessions, regular sessions, the Secretariat has a study underway on these minimum safe levels. In fact, we will report about further progress in this regard, firstly, at the next intergovernmental grain meeting which will be held, I think, in February 1997 and also at the next regular session of the CFS. I think this takes care of a number of comments with regard to the stocks.

We have noted with interest the debate that our chapter on the relationship between trade liberalization and price instability has initiated and we have taken due note of all the critical and complimentary comments on it, including the debate amongst yourselves about the impact of various types of export policies on price instability. We have taken note of the suggestion to continue monitoring the impact of developments on the market and trade reform on instability. I can assure you that the report about this expert consultation, from which we reported in the document, can be and will be published if you so wish. We will make efforts to make this report available as soon as possible, as suggested by the distinguished Delegate of Thailand in particular.

We noted the comment by the distinguished Delegate of the United States that we should, as I understood it, have a proper geographical balance in picking specific cases of country policy. Over the years, when you look at the SOFA, you will see that we have chosen different aspects which we considered important but, as your country contributes to almost exactly 50 percent of total cereal exports globally, it seemed to us of interest to choose the topic of your Farm Bill this year to highlight certain potential impacts on the world markets.

Distinguished Delegate of Bangladesh, you certainly correctly underlined that our wording that our forecast is based on the assumption of normal weather still needs to be checked. Since the report was printed we know more about the weather worldwide and the major cereal production regions. In fact, when you compare our report with the figures in the document and the ones I mentioned already, you will see that the percentage is now slightly lower, that the forecast production of global cereals will be above last year’s production. The report speaks of 6 per cent and orally I

spoke of 5.2 per cent. So somewhere in the world, or some of the weathers in the world are slightly less than normal and than we predicted originally. To be precise, our current forecast for global cereal production this year would be 1.8 to 1 billion metric tons.

Regarding investment, still with reference to the comment of Bangladesh, the downward tendency to which we referred is not investment but, if I took it correctly, it’s the official development assistance. The financial assistance given to developing countries was in fact--I do not have the figures here--but we have had in 1990 constant dollar terms a decline, over the last 5 or 8 years, from around US $ 15 billion to nearly US $ 10 billion going to the agriculture sector. Since you addressed investment, as you know, investments are covered in one of the technical documents for the Summit in which we only provide an estimate of current actual investment to agriculture, but we must admit that we do not have very good statistics and, in collaboration with all of you, we could do better in establishing a time series on investment. I reveal no secret when I say we still know even a bit more, I think, on investment in some developing countries and even in some developed countries. Altogether we can do better in having time series on investment, but the report for the Summit in fact compares our actual investment to the investment needed to attain the 2010 forecast of global agricultural production in developing countries and comes to the conclusion that it should be more; investment should be, as you know, gross investment should be about US $ 30 billion higher, taking an annual average between now and the year 2010. That’s about all we have said so far about investment.

Most of the other comments were just of a commentary nature. (continue en français)

Je remercie le délégué du Burkina Faso pour ses remarques sur l’Afrique. Je cite aussi les commentaires d’autres représentants un peu préoccupés parce que nous n’avons pas assez souligné la production et la tendance négative de la production dans quelques pays africains et que nous avons trop souligné les échanges, les marchés et les prix. J’admets que c’est vrai pour le document devant vous mais, comme vous le savez, de nombreux autres documents de la FAO traitent déjà des sujets sur la production et l’investissement dans l’agriculture africaine et sa problématique, et en particulier, les ressources naturelles comme l’a souligné le délégué de l’Ouganda. Comme vous le savez, le document sur l’investissement, préparé pour le Sommet mondial de l’alimentation, a un chapitre sur le problème du manque d’investissements en Afrique et le résultat en est que, pour atteindre le but pour l’An 2010, l’investissement agricole en Afrique devrait être augmenté plus que la moyenne des pays en voie de développement, c’est-à-dire 30 pour cent. C’est le résultat de ce calcul qui n’est pas très spécifique disons-le, mais qui souligne comme vous l’avez également fait les problèmes spécifiques de votre continent. (continues in English)

Concerning just a final remark, distinguished delegate of Malaysia, you proposed that the report about the situation of food and agriculture in future should have more details on policies and policy experience. We take note of that, although the full report contains quite a number of case studies. So please do not infer from what you have here in brief--and many of you complimented us for having been brief--do not confuse that with the much thicker full report which has a number of very specific case studies. In addition I recommend that you read, as soon you have it in all languages, the technical documents for the Summit, one of which has the title Success stories for Food Security. I hope that will give you more information on experience with policy than we have been able to present in this document.

I think, Mr Chairman, I have covered most of the comments and I thank you for your attention.

El PRESIDENTE: Gracias, señor de Haen. No solamente ha contestado a las diversas preguntas que se le formularon y a los interesantes comentarios, sino además ha hecho un estupendo resumen en inglés y en francés de este debate que ustedes seguramente se unirán a mi en calificar como de una alta calidad. Le agradezco por ello y esto además me permite ahorrarme y ahorrarles a ustedes el resumen que de otra manera me atrevería hacer de los debates, porqué el doctor De

Haen lo ha hecho con gran destreza y no es necesario entonces que yo utilice mis notas para repetir lo que él ya ha formulado. Si no hubiera entonces otra delegación que deseara hacer uso de la palabra sobre el tema 4, lo cerraremos y pasaremos inmediatamente al tema 6.

6. Reports of the 2nd Extraordinary Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) (Rome, 22–27 April 1996), and of the 4th International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources (ICPGR) (Leipzig, Germany, 17–23 June 1996)
6. Rapports de la deuxième session extraordinaire de la Commission des ressources génétiques pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (Rome, 22–27 avril 1996) et de la quatrième Conférence technique internationale sur les ressources phytogénétiques (Leipzig (Allemagne), 17–23 juin 1996)
6. Informes de la segunda reunión extraordinaria de la Comisión de Recursos Genéticos para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (Roma, 22–27 de abril de 1996) y la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional sobre los Recursos Fitogenéticos (Leipzig, Alemania, 17–23 de junio de 1996)

El PRESIDENTE: El tema 6, como ustedes saben, son los informes de la 2a reunión extraordinaria de la Comisión de Recursos Genéticos para la Alimentación y la Agricultura y la 4a Conferencia Técnica Internacional sobre los Recursos Fitogenéticos, documentos CL 111/8 y CL 111/17. En ese tema el Consejo discutirá estos informes. Estas dos reuniones complementarias han permitido la finalización del primer informe sobre el estado que guardan los recursos fitogenéticos en el mundo y la adopción del primer plan mundial de acción y la continuación de las negociaciones para la revisión del compromiso internacional.

Como ustedes saben el proceso preparatorio de la conferencia técnica ha sido conducido por los países a través de sus informes nacionales, reuniones regionales y subregionales y la segunda reunión extraordinaria que sirvió como comité intergubernamental preparatorio. El éxito de la conferencia técnica ha sido debido al esfuerzo negociador y a la voluntad política de los países que han contado en todo momento con el apoyo decidido de la comunidad científica y la sociedad civil, asi como con la dedicación y el trabajo de la secretaría de la FAO y muy en particular por el apoyo, la organización y la decidida voluntad del gobierno y el pueblo alemán para llevarla a cabo.

La preparación del primer informe sobre los recursos fitogenéticos y la adopción en Leipzig del Primer Plan Mundial de Acción, ha dotado al sistema mundial de la FAO sobre los recursos fitogenéticos de los instrumentos internacionales solicitados por la comisión con el fin de racionalizar su trabajo y facilitar sus funciones de supervisión y coordinación de actividades. Con respecto a la aplicación del Plan de Acción Mundial, la conferencia técnica acordó que éste se aplicará como parte integrante del sistema mundial en armonía con el convenio de biodiversidad, y que los gobiernos, a través de la comisión de recursos genéticos para la alimentación y la agricultura, supervisarán y orientarán los progresos realizados. Los países participantes también estuvieron de acuerdo en que tanto el informe sobre el estado de los recursos fitogenéticos en el mundo como el plan de acción mundial, serían examinados y revisados periódicamente por la comisión.

La Conferencia Técnica ha cumplido su misión, pero si no queremos que el Plan Mundial de Acción quede en papel mojado, ahora es preciso asegurar su puesta en práctica y su financiamiento por parte de los gobiernos y de organizaciones relevantes. Deseo invitar, por tanto, al Consejo para que endose el informe de la Conferencia Técnica incluyendo el Plan de Acción. El Consejo podría también invitar a la Conferencia de las Partes del Convenio de Diversidad Biológica a utilizar el Plan de Acción mundial para guiar sus prioridades y políticas relacionadas con la conservación y utilización de los recursos fitogenéticos de interés para la agricultura y la alimentación. La Comisión tendrá, como ustedes saben, que concentrarse en su próximas reunions

en la otra labor, no menos importante y también derivada del programa 21 de la Cumbre de Río de Janeiro, es decir las negociaciones para la revisión del Compromiso Internacional Sobre Recursos Fitogenéticos, incluidas las condiciones de acceso al germoplasma y la realización de los derechos del agricultor. Es fundamental para el éxito de este proceso la participación de los países en vías de desarrollo, y esto se facilitaría grandemente mediante la aportación de fondos extrapresupuestarios. La rápida conclusión de estas negociaciones que fueron solicitadas en la resolución C 7/93 permitirán dotar al plan mundial de acción de un marco jurídico y de una base financiera sólida.

Gerd MASSMANN (Germany): My delegation feels very grateful to the Secretariat for the comprehensive documentation before us of the results of the Second Extraordinary Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources and of the International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources last June in Leipzig.

My country was hosting this important FAO event. This was a great privilege but also a great challenge. German authorities involved have done their utmost to comply fully with the hosting function. This, I think, was a major contribution of my country to help advance worldwide efforts for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Leipzig Conference must be seen in conjunction with ongoing developments and debates in other international fora, especially those related with the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and with world food security. That is why the Leipzig Conference has found worldwide attention, respect and response.

The Conference had to address quite difficult issues. Therefore, by its successful conclusion, a good basis for the future development of activities of FAO in this field was laid. Speaking as a representative of the host country, I would like to thank the FAO Secretariat for the efficient and close cooperation in preparing and holding the Conference. Likewise, my country’s thanks go to all participating countries whose delegates, with their active involvement and willingness to compromise, have contributed to this outcome.

The Second Extraordinary Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources faced the difficult task to overcome a number of controversial issues before the Leipzig Conference would meet. As you know, the International Technical Conference had to cope with some of them still open when it was inaugurated. These questions proved to be very complex and interwoven with different agenda items that had to be discussed separately. It would have been unrealistic to believe that the Commission was able to solve these major issues. However, its deliberations allowed for an exchange of views on the main issues.

Furthermore, the Commission had done a far-reaching first review of the Draft Global Plan of Action, thus setting the necessary scope and the basis for the discussion of these subjects by the Conference. My country was pleased by the decision of the FAO Secretariat to convene an additional working party meeting in Rome right before the Conference. Thanks to the good quality of the work done by the Secretariat and the countries involved, the review of the global plan of action could be finalized. Thereby, some major controversial issues could be identified and commissioned to the Conference for resolution.

The adoption of the first global plan of action for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources and of the Leipzig Declaration, has allowed to provide a sound basis and the expression of the clear political ability of Member countries for FAO’s future work in this field to be continued and intensified in collaboration with other international agencies. Of course, it is the Member states that are called upon to take the necessary measures, based on the priorities agreed for the implementation of the global plan of action in the framework of their food and agriculture development needs. In this respect, Germany is reviewing its national programme on plant genetic

resources for food and agriculture, with a view to further strengthen and make it compatible with other programmes in the field of genetic resources for food and agriculture as part of our national strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

My country expects that the FAO Secretariat will likewise act swiftly to carry out the decisions contained in the Conference report. This includes, above all, the decisions for the implementation and financing of the global plan of action. Unfortunately, it proved impossible to finalize, in Leipzig, the Revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources as had been the hope of the 27th Session of the FAO Conference.

The accomplishment of the revision is a matter of great urgency in order to define the framework conditions for the future international cooperation which will have to be intensified. Only with a satisfactory conclusion of the Revision of the International Undertaking, the objectives of the Global Plan of Action can be attained and the measures foreseen be successfully carried out. My delegation expects the FAO Secretariat to carefully prepare the forthcoming round of negotiations, so that they can be continued without delay, as was agreed by the Commission on Genetic Resources at its Second Extraordinary Session and reiterated in the Leipzig Declaration.

Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, I may inform you that my government has made arrangements for the Chairman of the Leipzig Conference, State Secretary Dr. Feiter, to present the results of Leipzig, the Global Plan of Action and the Leipzig Declaration, to the Third Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity early in November, in Buenos Aires, and to the World Food Summit in mid-November, in Rome.

My delegation expresses its hope that the Conference results and FAO’s work in this field, will meet there with approval and further support. Close and fruitful cooperation should be developed with all relevant agencies, so that well coordinated measures and coherent activities will make the best efficient use of the financial resources available. Likewise, we do hope that FAO itself will reinforce its efforts in this sphere.

El PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias distinguido delegado de Alemania por esta importante declaración. Deseo reiterarle en nombre del Consejo el agradecimiento profundo a su gobierno y al pueblo alemán por facilitar la celebración de la Conferencia Técnica de Leipzig y por luchar por los resultados tan exitosos conseguidos. Yo estoy seguro que este Consejo sabrá dar las indicaciones necesarias para adoptar los resultados de dicha Conferencia, y para que éstos se traduzcan en una acción de la FAO, asi como en una invitación a todas aquellas instituciones involucradas en el apoyo y financiamiento a los programas y proyectos que se deriven del Plan de Acción, asi como al apoyo con fondos extrapresupuestarios para que se continúe con aquella labor que la Conferencia no concluyó y que la comisión está encargada de hacer lo que es la Revisión del Compromiso Internacional.

Christophe KIEMTORE (Burkina Faso): J’ai suivi avec attention l’intervention du délégué de l’Allemagne qui nous a expliqué l’importance des deux documents à l’examen et qui se réfèrent tous à la situation des ressources phytogénétiques pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture. Le Plan d’action mondial constitue pour ma délégation un pas important qui consacre des efforts mis en oeuvre au sein de la FAO et nous avons encore en mémoire le processus assez long, souvent difficile, qui devait aboutir un jour à cette Conférence technique internationale et nous nous félicitons pour le rapport de la quatrième Conférence technique qui a été adopté et sur lequel le Conseil devrait se déterminer.

Ma délégation pense que le Plan mondial de l’alimentation arrive à point nommé au moment où au sein de la FAO nous sommes en train de traiter des questions de l’alimentation et de la sécurité alimentaire d’une manière générale. Nous y voyons d’ailleurs un point commun car les resources

phytogénétiques, leur exploitation, leur conservation et leur utilisation, ne font que concourir et assurer une production plus stable et plus maîtrisée; tout cela poursuit donc un même objectif.

Ma délégation, à ce stade, apprécie vivement le contenu du document et nous pensons que le Conseil pourra en exprimer les mêmes sentiments. Si c’était le cas, et nous pensons que nous devrions, nous pouvons, le cas échéant, formuler une résolution pour consacrer notre effort. Nous verrons, dans ces conditions, comment en formuler la résolution et comment négocier les différents paragraphes; toujours est-il que le principe de la résolution est vu, de la part de ma délégation, comme l’élément essentiel sur lequel le Conseil devrait se concentrer pour marquer le succès qu’il a remporté à cette étape des négociations sur les ressources phytogénétiques relatif à l’agriculture et à l’alimentation.

Je propose que nous prenions une résolution pour adopter le rapport.

N. SHIBANI (Syria) (Original language Arabic): The delegation of my country welcomes with satisfaction the success achieved in the area of plant genetic resources and appreciates the documents we have read and which incorporate all these subjects. We commend the very important paper on plant genetic resources to increase food production, especially when these resources are used in the appropriate fashion. Therefore we support the Leipzig Declaration and we support all efforts deployed for the implementation of this Global Plan of Action on plant genetic resources. Despite the importance we attach to this Plan of Action, I have some very brief comments to make, mainly highlighting some points such as education and training.

Plant genetic resources, Mr Chairman, exist everywhere in the world: resources are abundant in those countries that lack the appropriate know-how to use them appropriately. The Leipzig Conference has stressed the importance of making efforts, now that we approach the year 2000, to better use plant genetic resources to the benefit of all peoples and this requires the training of experts. This is why we should start working right away to draw up and implement programmes aimed at training experts and specialists in those countries that may require them. We therefore recommend, Mr Chairman, that this Session of the Council adopt a Resolution or a recommendation to the effect that FAO start executing training programmes for the people working in the area of plant genetic resources.

El PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias distinguido delegado de Siria por esta confirmación de la intención y la importancia de poder, eventualmente, producir una resolución que instrumente los resultados de Leipzig.

George APOSTOIU (Roumanie): La délégation de la Roumanie apprécie l’important effort du Gouvernement de l’Allemagne et de la FAO pour la préparation de la Conférence technique internationale sur les ressources phytogénétiques de Leipzig.

La Déclaration de Leipzig et le Plan d’action mondial doivent créer un climat et les moyens pour instaurer une coopération fructueuse entre les agriculteurs et les chercheurs d’une part mais aussi entre les 110 pays parmi lesquels se trouve aussi le mien, qui a l’engagement international sur les ressources phytogénétiques. Pour ce qui est de l’implication financière du Plan d’action mondial, nous considérons que les engagements de fonds nouveaux et supplémentaires pris dans le cadre de l’Action 21 de la CNUED et de la Convention sur la diversité biologique devraient servir à financer l’exécution du Plan. De même, le rapport qui nous est soumis pour approbation sur les travaux de la session extraordinaire de la Commission des ressources génétiques pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture montre combien nos pays sont intéressés à la bonne gestion des ressources phytogénétiques pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture et, en particulier, à assurer la sécurité alimentaire des générations présentes et futures.

En examinant le rapport de la Commission tenue au mois de mars dernier (document CL 111/8), nous voudrions souligner que la Roumanie a adhéré à l’engagement international sur les ressources phytogénétiques ayant clairement comme objectif d’établir un système d’accès aux ressources génétiques et de concrétiser les droits des agriculteurs et des communautés rurales, de manière à garantir que nos pays et nos collectivités profitent de façon juste et équitable des bénéfices découlant de leur utilisation. Le problème du développement doit être conçu en liaison directe avec une bonne politique de conservation et d’utilisation des ressources phytogénétiques. Mais, pour beaucoup de pays, les moyens techniques et financiers sont évidemment une question difficilement abordable. Lorsqu’il s’agit de doter nos institutions nationales de moyens à la hauteur de cet objectif, nous sommes confrontés à beaucoup d’obstacles. Nombre d’Etats ont encore un chemin à parcourir pour conformer leurs possibilités et leur potentiel scientifique aux principes généralement affirmés et acceptés. C’est pourquoi nous voulons manifester notre satisfaction pour le fait que le rapport de la session extraordinaire contient dans le paragraphe 15 la conclusion de la Conférence technique internationale de Leipzig qui réaffirme, et je cite: «les fonds devraient être mis à disposition pour financer la mise en oeuvre par les pays en développement et les pays à l’économie de transition du Plan d’action mondial».

José ROBLES AGUILAR (México): Al apoyar los resultados de la Conferencia de Leipzig, queremos hacer eco del reconocimiento que usted hizo hace un momento al Gobierno alemán por haber hospedado este importante evento. Coincidimos como lo han señalado varias delegaciones, en el sentido que los acuerdos alcanzados en esta Conferencia no fueron fáciles, requirieron esfuerzo y voluntad política de todas las partes para alcanzar estos acuerdos. La Conferencia de Leipzig tiene un significado particularmente importante, a luz de que se celebra en el año en el que también tendrá lugar la próxima Cumbre Mundial de la Alimentación. La importancia que los recursos fitogenéticos cumplen en este sector, consideramos es fundamental. En este contexto, señor Presidente, queremos resaltar también la activa y creciente labor que la FAO está realizando en el campo de los recursos fitogenéticos. Los meses precedentes a la Conferencia de Leipzig y los próximos meses son muestra del gran dinamismo y de la gran actividad que ha desplegado la FAO en esta importante área en un contexto de creciente importancia de estos recursos. Queremos resaltar, como ya lo han señalado algunas delegaciones, la importancia del aspecto financiero que fue uno de los aspectos más difíciles sobre los que se alcanzó acuerdo en la Conferencia de Leipzig. En este marco, queremos también, señalar que en la reciente Conferencia Regional de la FAO para América Latina y el Caribe, celebrada en Julio, en Asunción, Paraguay, se solicitó a la Secretaría desarrollar actividades de seguimiento regional sobre la Conferencia de Leipzig.

Por último, señor Presidente, queremos hacer algunos comentarios sobre la actividad que mi país, México, realiza en este campo. Actualmente se desarrollan esfuerzos de coordinación interinstitucional y de carácter programático en materia de recursos fitogenéticos. La programación nacional, consideramos que ayudará a que cada país, en particular y en lo general, contribuyan a que la cooperación se fortalezca en este campo. Apoyamos ampliamente los informes presentados por la Secretaría para este tema y expresamos la importancia de alentar acciones nacionales que permitan concretizar los propósitos de Leipzig.

Ahmad RUSLI JOHARIE (Malaysia): On behalf of the Malaysian Delegation, I would like to congratulate FAO and Germany on their successful efforts in convening the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Leipzig from 17 to 23 June of this year. This Conference, we acknowledge, is a significant step in our efforts in the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. However, there are some concerns that Malaysia would like to put forward for the consideration of the Council.

Malaysia regrets that the fragile consensus reached during the Technical Conference, as expressed in the Leipzig Declaration and the Global Plan of Action (GPA), has diminished the opportunity for the GPA to be a truly effective Plan of Action. In our opinion, some important matters such as

financing the implementation of the GPA, the operationalization of farmers’ rights, technology transfer to assist the developing countries and access and benefit-sharing arrangements, have either not been covered or inadequately covered in the GPA. Such being the case, the GPA, in our view, is only a technical recommendation for the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, rather than an action plan for immediate implementation, as it should be.

We would also like to express our deep concern over the lack of strong commitments to the GPA, in particular the weak reference to funding in the GPA and its complete absence in the Leipzig Declaration. This essentially leaves the GPA in a financial void, if no serious efforts are undertaken. The financial resources and the financial mechanism to implement the GPA have to be worked out immediately. In this regard, Malaysia would like to propose that the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture deal with this matter adequately during the Third Extraordinary Session of the Commission in December this year, besides discussing the equally important revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources.

Mr Chairman and distinguished Delegates, the Malaysian delegation is also concerned over the lack of progress in the operationalization of access and benefit-sharing in the field of agricultural biodiversity, especially access to collections that have been acquired but not in accordance with the Convention on Biological Biodiversity. This matter has to be resolved immediately in view of the substantial increase in the number of plant varieties protected under the patent of plant breeders’ rights legislation. In many fora, Malaysia has often stated that increased and more effective conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture could only be achieved by establishing a built-in mechanism in the global system that provides for fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from commercial utilization of plant genetic resources. This built-in mechanism would also minimise redundancies in the national and international collection of these resources and should result in increased international cooperation and exchange of germplasm. More importantly, it will remove the fear of developing countries that their ideas, knowledge systems or genetic materials will be patented or misappropriated without payment.

Lastly, Mr Chairman, we would like FAO to assist member countries in the development of viable and effective national policies and legislation in relation to the conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources.

Aidan O’DRISCOLL (Ireland): I have an extremely brief statement.

I would like simply to underline the importance of the outcome of the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources and, in particular, the commitments we have all undertaken to implement the Global Plan of Action. The main objective of the Plan must be to enhance world food security through the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources, while promoting the fair and equitable sharing of benefits. We acknowledge that the Global Plan of Action must be implemented as an integral part of the FAO Global System for the Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources and in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is the most appropriate body through which national governments can monitor the overall progress on the implementation of the Plan of Action. We and, I believe, our partners in the European Union, are ready and willing to actively participate in its work next December.

YUAN HAIYING (China) (Original language Chinese): Thank you, Mr Chairman. After the unswerving efforts of all delegates from all countries, the 4th International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources adopted the Leipzig Declaration and Plan of Action. We would like to take this opportunity to thank once again the FAO Secretariat and the host nation, Germany, for their great efforts.

The Chinese Delegation believes that the two documents, particularly the Global Plan of Action, will help all countries to strengthen their efforts in the protection and utilization of plant genetic resources, is conducive to international cooperation among all countries and will promote food security in the world.

The Leipzig Declaration and the Global Plan of Action have both been included in the report of the 4th International Technical Conference and, as all other countries, we recommend that Council approve the Report of the above-mentioned two Conferences. China will earnestly implement this Global Action Plan. At the same time, we take this opportunity to appeal to the international community once again to increase their financial and technical support in order to protect and utilize plant genetic resources, to translate the agreement on paper in Leipzig into actions in our endeavours to protect and utilize plant genetic resources, and to the protection and utilization of plant genetic resources so as to contribute to the development of food and agriculture in the world.

Pedro PINTO DA SILVA (Portugal): Distinguished Delegates, the Portuguese Delegation recognizes the importance of the Global Plan of Action within the Global FAO System for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for the conservation and sustainable utilization of these resources as essential for food and agriculture, in particular, for the food security of present and future generations, and wishes to express its commitment to take the necessary steps to implement the Global Plan of Action (GPA) in accordance with its national capacity.

By establishing long-term national coordination structures, we wish to strengthen the integration of institutional and community efforts, namely by the Government, the farmers, the breeders, the public research institutions, the private sector and the non-governmental institutions, in order to better cope with our obligations of conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources and, in addition, to cope with our obligations to the global effort through regional and international cooperative action. We recognize the need for an adequate follow-up of the GPA with future refinements, including other sub-sets of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the correct allocation of the existing resources to a detailed portfolio of projects to implement the Plan.

Finally, the Portuguese Delegation urges the CGRFA to finalize an agreed text with IU as an invaluable document for the full implementation of the GPA.

In addition, the Portuguese Delegation sees this truly wonderful effort on plant genetic resources and respect for biodiversity in a larger context of a global effort that endeavours to respect and protect the heritage of cultural diversity of all peoples.

Cengiz AYSUN (Turkey): Mr Chairman, I take the floor to present the Turkish views on the report of the Second Extraordinary Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources.

The views of Turkey on the matters and articles to be pronounced during the Global Plan of Action were expressed and finalized during the Second Extraordinary Session of the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, in Leipzig, Germany, 17 June 1996. Therefore, for our part, we are in agreement with the articles set out in that Plan, except for, first of all, that Turkey is not willing to establish the safe duplication of its own plant genetic resource material in any other country. Safe duplications are being set up by an institute in Turkey.

Turkey is not willing to regenerate its own plant genetic resource material outside the country. Turkey is not willing to store plant genetic resource material voluntarily at regional and international levels. On the other hand, if the necessary financial support is made available, the country has the appropriate sub-structure to store other countries’ material.

Turkey, having a sub-structure of international standard to store its own plant genetic resource materials, is against sending its material abroad to restore and/or duplicate it.

Now I come back to criticism of some articles of the Global Plan of Action from the Turkish point of view. The distribution of plant genetic resource material in Turkey is on a free exchange basis within the framework regarding agreements. Turkey is fully aware of conservation matters. Several applications arising from external conservation conditions, gene banks, tissue culture, etc., are performed properly. However, high technology conservation means such as DNA are lacking. For requirements such as technology transfer, training and financial support would appear to be a necessity. Besides external conservation, Turkey has also initiated institutional activities.

Now I am going to present Turkish points on the reports of the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources held in Leipzig.

The views of Turkey on the matters and articles to be pronounced in Leipzig Declaration were expressed and finalized during the Second Extraordinary Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the 4th International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, held in Leipzig, Germany, on 17 June 1996. Therefore, for our part, we are in full agreement with the articles set out in the Declaration. Matters relating to the collection, conservation and utilization of the plant genetic resources of Turkey can be summarized as follows.

The storage facilities and conditions in gene banks within each agricultural research institute are suitable to conserve plant genetic resource materials for short-, medium-and long-term storage, in accordance with international standards.

Replication and regeneration of the material with insufficient seeds, following the results of periodical emergence and tests carried out on collections stored in the gene bank, in accordance with international standards, are performed regularly under their original and/or similar biological conditions.

Characterization, evaluation and utilization activities on the material carried out on various crops have just started and have been completed on others.

I think, I must summarize the last point as agreements on developments, which could benefit and be shared by the Turkish farmers and Government on breeder and patent rights pertinent to cultures developed or being developed through plant genetic resources originating from Turkey, should be implemented.

E. Wayne DENNEY (United States of America): The United States participated fully in both the Commission’s Extraordinary Session in April and in the June International Technical Conference in Leipzig. We have a few comments on both meetings.

While the Commission served primarily as a negotiation session for Leipzig, it did address other matters that merit Council attention. The Commission offered numerous suggestions regarding future reports on the state of the world’s plant genetic resources. Many of these are noted in paragraph 10 of that report. We believe that the Commission should provide more specific guidance to the Secretariat before the next State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources report is prepared. While there has been considerable attention paid to the Global Plan of Action, and at least some attention devoted to the State of the World Report, the vast amount of information contained in the 158 country reports have been virtually ignored by Member Governments. We know that the Secretariat relied heavily on these reports in preparing the two global documents for Leipzig but Member Governments have not had the same privilege; thus, we recommend that the

Secretariat explore ways of providing these country reports to Member Nations, preferably in computerized form. The United States is willing to assist the Secretariat in this effort.

The Commission also briefly addressed the on-going process of revising the international undertaking in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity. The United States recognizes the value of the discussions that have already taken place in this regard, as reflected in the third negotiating draft, but we believe that having the working group prepare a simplified draft, which addresses scope, availability and the concept of farmers’ rights, would help narrow the focus for subsequent Commission negotiations.

Turning to the Technical Conference in Leipzig, we believe that its results represent a milestone achievement. As the Director-General noted, it was a unique and historic event for the international community and a major turning point in international efforts for the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources.

Mr Chairman, these are precisely our sentiments. The Conference may not have answered all the questions, nor accomplished enough to satisfy everyone, but it fully achieved what the project set out to do. As a strong supporter of this total effort, the United States believes that endorsement of the Leipzig Declaration and adoption of the Global Plan of Action for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization is something the Secretariat and FAO members can be justifiably proud. We want to again acknowledge the fine work of Dr Cary Fowler and his excellent staff for orchestrating this effort, and the German Government for hosting the event. We are pleased to hear that the outcome of the Leipzig Conference will be communicated to both the Third Conference to the Parties on the Convention on Biological Diversity in Buenos Aires and, of course, to the World Food Summit. However, we are not sure that a Council Resolution on this subject is necessary.

From the 158 country reports, the 12 sub-regional reports and regional meetings, the comprehensive assessment contained in the global State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources report, we know the strengths and the deficiencies that exist in managing plant genetic resources in every region and virtually every country of the world and the mini-recommendations for corrective action. The Global Plan of Action, while not providing specific project proposals, gives us a good umbrella framework from which to proceed. The development of such a strategic document would not have been possible without the well-planned, scientifically-based, country-driven approach that we embarked on together some three to four years ago.

The Global Plan of Action offers remedies dealing with ex situ and in situ conservation, sustainable utilization, institutional development and capacity building. In our view, no one area is more important than another; it depends on the specific needs of a country or a region. While the Global Plan of Action does not provide a detailed finance and implementation plan, it does note the wide range of existing funding mechanisms that provide resources to endeavours relating to plant genetic resources. We look forward to seeing the refined cost estimates that the Secretariat will make available to the Commission’s working group prior to its December session. Future Commission sessions will have to make recommendations on how the Global Plan of Action will be financed and implemented, but Commission members must have a better insight into the range of current activities and their associated costs.

The Leipzig Conference brought together 150 countries and numerous international and nongovernmental organizations to debate actions necessary to stem the loss of plant genetic diversity essential for food and agriculture and, in particular, world food security. In his address to the Conference, Director-General Diouf made a strong plea to more fully utilize plant genetic resources to raise the yields of major food crops, which would enhance our likelihood of feeding three billion more people by the year 2025. We agree with the Director-General: with limited ability to expand land area and a decreased reliance on chemical fertilizers, utilizing our plant and

animal genetic resources will be the prime mover behind future productivity gains. It is important, in our view, that the Council highlight this point and, more importantly, that this message be communicated to the World Food Summit.

Finally, Mr Chairman, FAO, in collaboration with other institutions, will have to devote more of its resources to the many actions which are required to follow up to Leipzig and to fully support the Commission in its future work. Within FAO, the Plant Production and Protection Division, which includes some staff from the Secretariat that managed the Technical Conference, should be the focal point of the essential work that must be done. We trust that the Director-General will take this into consideration as he begins to formulate the Organization’s next Programme of Work and Budget.

Marco António DINIZ BRANDAO (Brazil): First of all, we would like to congratulate FAO for the important achievements of the Leipzig Conference. In particular, I would like to make special reference to the efforts undertaken by the FAO staff, especially by Mr Cary Fowler and Dr Zehni and their staff, wisely guided by Dr Sawadogo. We would also like to thank the Government of Germany and the people of Leipzig for the reception they gave us and the arrangements provided for the Conference.

Mr Chairman, bearing in mind the high level and the high quality of the Delegations present in Leipzig, we understand that the outcomes of Leipzig are not to be discussed but rather to be supported by this Council. We are very happy to support the results of Leipzig in its entirety: the Report, the Leipzig Declaration and the Plan of Action. We think it is important that the Council recognizes the importance of the Leipzig Conference, in particular how the results of Leipzig will advance the cause of the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. We also believe, Mr Chairman, that the Council should adopt the outcomes of Leipzig and transmit them to the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for appropriate action.

We think it is now incumbent on the Commission to continue the processes started in Leipzig, to further develop the subject and to consider any outstanding issues. In particular, special attention should be given to the follow-up process regarding the implementation and financing of the Global Plan of Action.

In general, we would prefer to avoid substantive debate on the matter in the Council but, for the record, I would like to point out that our views in some cases are similar to those expressed by Malaysia and that we reserve our position on some statements made by other Delegates in this matter.

Alan AMEY (Canada): Please allow our delegation to express its pleasure with the results of the Leipzig Conference on Plant Genetic Resources. FAO, in cooperation with Germany, is to be congratulated for convening and organizing this very successful meeting.

Since countries have adopted the Leipzig Declaration and Global Plan of Action on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture at the Leipzig Conference itself, there appears to be no need for Council to readopt or reapprove them as we, like other countries, have said we do not wish to reopen discussions on the consensus gained. There have been suggestions on resolutions, there have been suggestions on agenda for the December meeting, but Canada feels strongly that this is not the place to redebate the agreements reached. Like the USA, we feel this is not the place for a resolution at this stage.

We take note that the FAO Conference, the World Food Summit and the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, amongst others, will be informed of these positive results and that follow-up activities will be carried out by the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for

Food and Agriculture. I support Ireland in the view that this Commission for Genetic Resources should be a forum for a substantive debate on these items. The Commission on Genetic Resources also has before it the important task of successfully completing the revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity. In acknowledging the progress made in previous negotiating sessions, our Delegation supports the Commission’s recommendation and the US observation that the Commission consider a simplified draft text at its next session in December. In order to provide better focus, in addition to the FAO Secretariat’s work in responding to the Leipzig Conference’s request to refine cost estimates for implementing the Global Plan of Action, sources of financing should be identified as these will be useful contributions to these discussions on financing the global system as a whole.

Fernando GERBASI (Venezuela): Yo quisiera al igual que otros oradores, en primer lugar, felicitar a la Secretaría de la FAO por los éxitos alcanzados con respecto a la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional sobre los Recursos Fitogenéticos. Pero quisiera también agradecer, de manera muy particular, al Gobierno Alemán, por su hospitalidad y por el apoyo, la capacidad de compromiso y la voluntad política que desplegó en la persona del Subsecretario de Agricultura el Dr. Franz-Josef Feiter, que presidió nuestros trabajos y, que sin lugar a dudas, fue un elemento esencial en la búsqueda del consenso.

Ciertamente, fue una Conferencia difícil, donde iniciamos con posturas muy divergentes, pero la buena voluntad de todas las partes permitió, señor Presidente, aprobar por consenso el Plan de Acción Mundial para la Conservación y Utilización Sostenible a los Recursos Fitogenéticos para la Agricultura y la Alimentación y, determinar también, las actividades prioritarias a desarrollar en este plan, las cuales mi país hace completamente suyas. Nosotros sí consideramos importante que el Consejo adopte el informe de la Conferencia; es tradicional y es normal que el Consejo lo haga y, por eso apoyamos esa postura, y pensamos señor Presidente que es, esencial de que el Plan de Acción, sea un instrumento, parte integral del sistema global de la FAO, en harmonía con el Convenio sobre Diversidad Biológica y, que su seguimiento sea llevado a cabo por la Comisión de Recursos Genéticos tal como fue planteado. Igualmente, corresponderá a la Comisión de Recursos Genéticos, señor Presidente, revisar el Informe Sobre el Estado de los Recursos Fitogenéticos en el Mundo e, irlo adaptando a las nuevas informaciones que se puedan ir recabando.

Señor Presidente, sobre los otros aspectos de la Conferencia, sobre todo los fínanciamientos, no quisiera pronunciarme en estos momentos, creo que son cuestiones que tendrán su oportunidad de debate, pero, ciertamente la única manera de incrementar el plan, es poniendo en ejecución las recomendaciones que sobre esta materia se hicieran en la propia Conferencia. Ahora el próximo mes de diciembre tenemos la tercera Reunión Extraordinaria de la Comisión de Recursos Genéticos y considera mi delegación, que es esencial y fundamental, que aprovechemos este momento positivo que estamos viviendo en materia de recursos fitogenéticos para que continuemos en una forma intensa y dedicada en la Renegociación del Compromiso Internacional.

Señor Presidente, mi delegación sí considera que estos elementos y otros pueden ser parte de una Resolución que el Consejo adopte y, que se pronuncie sobre ella, en la cual endose el Plan de Acción, por lo tanto no reabro un debate sobre su contenido sino al contrario hace suyo ese contenido y, consideramos que ésto sería el reconocimiento mayor que se le podría hacer al éxito de la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional.

El PRESIDENTE: Efectivamente, como usted lo ha mencionado, que este tema es para debate y decisión. El Consejo debe decidir si endosa y acoge el informe, los informes, tanto de la Comisión como de la Conferencia Internacional Técnica. Les recuerdo que la Conferencia Internacional Técnica no tiene un mandato sobre la FAO y sobre sus órganos rectores. Estos, deben autónomamente, decidir si acogen, si endosan el informe allí producido, para dar instrucciones, entonces, a la Organización para llevar a cabo los programas, las actividades, las adecuaciones administrativas que respondan a la implantación del Plan Global dentro de los trabajos de esta

Organización. Esto es una necesidad. O decidimos endosarlo o decidimos rechazarlo. Pero el Consejo tiene que tomar una postura al respecto.

Christophe KIEMTORE (Burkina Faso): Je voudrais revenir sur ce que vous venez de dire. La plupart des délégations ont fait leurs appréciations sur ce document, mais ma délégation a noté un point important qui est le fait que les travaux de négociation aient été très difficiles et il faut éviter de revenir sur des discussions déjà négociées. Ma délégation est tout à fait d’accord avec cette façon de voir les choses. C’est pourquoi nous pensons, et nous l’avons dit au début, que le Conseil devrait entériner ces décisions sous forme de résolutions, et nous avons aussi demandé que, pour que cela puisse se faire, nous revenions sur ce point demain.

Le Secrétariat ou un petit groupe pourrait essayer de tenir compte de ces éléments importants, mentionnés par certaines délégations, et voir comment le Conseil pourrait entériner le rapport de la Conférence sans réouvrir les débats, ce qui serait une base concrète des discussions, et les délégations pourraient peut-être s’entendre plus facilement. Je vous demande donc, qu’avant de revenir sur ce point, une proposition concrète soit faite tenant compte des craintes et contraintes exprimées par certaines délégations qui demandent que les débats ne soient plus réouverts sur les questions importantes.

El PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias distinguido delegado de Burkina Faso por su propuesta; creo que es muy sensata. Usted tiene razón, el Consejo no se está proponiendo, y yo no lo permitiría eventualmente, reabrir un debate sobre los temas que han sido discutidos y que de manera tan delicada, permitieron llegar a un consenso, sobre todos los tres aspectos resultantes de la Conferencia Internacional Técnica sobre Recursos Fitogenéticos. Pero sí, el Consejo debe, quizás, felicitarse de esos resultados y darle una relevancia al hecho de que ese esfuerzo se va a traducir en una acción definitiva y clara en esta Organización.

Yo creo con usted, y me permito, en este caso sí ser parcial, que el Consejo debe darle cierta relevancia a los resultados de una Conferencia tan importante y tan exitosa como ésta, particularmente, por lo que implicó en términos de negociaciones. Si ustedes proponen un instrumento como una resolución, yo lo distribuiría y el Consejo eventualmente determinaría si ésa es la forma, en que quiere apreciar y endosar los resultados de la conferencia técnica y de los trabajos de la comisión. Por lo pronto, este asunto vamos a posponerlo hasta el día de mañana, cuando quizás algun grupo de países estén en posición de presentar una propuesta que luego revisaríamos. No creo que debemos precipitarnos respecto de si es la forma final o no, para endosar estos temas, pero creo que sí, es una propuesta importante que el Consejo debe tomar en consideración.

Distinguidos delegados, en virtud de que algunos de los Miembros del Consejo que me habían pedido hacer uso de la palabra no se encuentran ahora en la sala y que otros más solicitaron hacerlo el día de mañana, voy a suspender esta tarde nuestra sesión; veo que ha pedido hacer uso de la palabra el distinguido delegado del Reino Unido.

David SANDS SMITH (United Kingdom): I note that certain delegations are proposing to put forward a draft Resolution. Might I ask that we all have plenty of time to look at it. As far as my delegation is concerned, we do not have the relevant expertise here and it would mean that we would have to telephone London and consult before we could take a position.

El PRESIDENTE: Por lo que he escuchado, de quienes intentan producir un instrumento de este tipo, éste no tocaría los temas fundamentales en cuestión, simplemente, acogería los resultados de la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional. Pero en fin, veamos lo que nos proponen y, espero que el día de mañana les podamos a ustedes distribuir, en algún momento, este proyecto que eventualmente será discutido al adoptar el informe del Consejo, de manera que tendrán ustedes tiempo suficiente para estudiarlo aquí en el Comité de Redacción y luego al adoptar nuestro informe.

The meeting rose at 17.30 hours
La séance est levée à 17 h 30
Se
levanta la sesión a las 17.30 horas

2 October 1996

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