EL PRESIDENTE: Distinguidos delegados, queda abierta la tercera sesión plenaria de los trabajos del Consejo. Deseo recordarles que en los últimos años la preocupación de la gran mayoría de ustedes por lograr eficiencias y ahorros en la Organización llevó, entre otras cosas, a subrayar un punto que era tratar de ser puntuales en el inicio y en el fin de las sesiones para evitar desperdiciar tiempo de interpretación. Desde luego, quienes están presentes, no deberían sentirse culpables de esta observación del Presidente Independiente del Consejo, pero creo que en futuras ocasiones, debemos ser consecuentes con nuestros propios principios y peticiones. Espero que el Consejo pueda continuar trabajando con toda puntualidad.
Distinguidos delegados, deseo hacerles una observación respecto del Calendario y la Orden del Día para hoy. Como habrán notado, se ha incluido en la Orden del Día para hoy el Tema 17, moviéndolo así de lugar y pasándolo inmediatamente después del Tema 11. La razón de este movimiento obedece a que el presidente del CCLM nos indicó su indisponibilidad para estar presente en el día jueves. Por eso es que hemos movido este tema para esta tarde. Yo creo, sin embargo, que el punto no merecerá mayores debates y discusiones de parte de ustedes y por tanto podremos resolverlo rápidamente. Si terminamos con el Tema 17 hoy en la tarde, continuaremos de inmediato con el tema 12.
Como saben ustedes, el día de ayer estábamos por concluir el Tema 6. Se había anunciado por algunas delegaciones que se iba a presentar un proyecto de resolución y seguramente aquellas delegaciones están todavía discutiéndolo. En el momento en que me lo entreguen, lo distribuiré a todos ustedes en los varios idiomas.
Franco GINOCCHIO (Italy): The Italian delegation would like, first of all, to thank the FAO Secretariat for having organized in Leipzig, the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, which has adopted a Declaration on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and a Global Plan of Action.
The Government of Italy would like to confirm its support for the Declaration and the Global Plan of Action as it is aware of the importance of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture for achieving food security for present and future generations. The Leipzig Conference has represented a main forward step towards the strengthening of the FAO global system for the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources which includes the Global Plan of Action and the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources. This revision is under way in order to harmonize it with the Convention on Biodiversity.
Now we endorse the report of the Fourth International Technical Conference, with the awareness that FAO and its Member Nations, will have to make further efforts for the implementation of the Global Plan of Action. In regard to this, we wish to underline the importance of the recommendations contained in paragraphs 20 and 27 of the report, in relation to the need to submit the outcome of the Conference to the main international forums and institutions, including the financial institutions, and to the need to utilize the funds contributed in the framework of Agenda 21 of UNCED in order to finance the follow-up actions of developing countries and countries in transition. Therefore, the outcome of the Leipzig Conference will have to be submitted to the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biodiversity and to the World Food Summit.
Italy, also attaches great importance to the Revision of the Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources and hopes that at the Third Extraordinary Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, further progress will be made with regard to the process of negotiations, particularly in relation to the farmers’ rights and access to genetic resources.
Finally, on behalf of the Italian delegation, I would like to thank the government of Germany for hosting the above-mentioned conference.
Srta. María Cristina FERRARI (Argentina): Queremos agradecer igualmente a la Secretaría, al doctor A. Sawadogo, al doctor M.S. Zehni y al señor M.C. Fowler, los esfuerzos desplegados para la realización de la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional sobre Recursos Fitogenéticos en Leipzig. Argentina participó activamente en los debates de Leipzig, atento la importancia que nuestro país le reconoce a los recursos fitogenéticos para la alimentación y la agricultura. Si bien hubo logros importantes en Leipzig, no creemos necesario una resolución del Consejo para aprobar sus resultados como lo proponen actualmente algunas delegaciones. Argentina entiende que las tareas de seguimiento para la aplicación del Plan de Acción y todas las demás actividades conexas deberán ser debatidas en el seno de la Comisión de Recursos Genéticos. No creemos que sea el Consejo la instancia adecuada para pronunciarse sobre estos particulares. Nos complace saber, que el Gobierno de la República Federal de Alemania, al que expresamos nuestra gratitud por el apoyo y la acogida brindada a la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional, ya haya dispuesto todo lo necesario para que el señor Francio Cefaita presente a la Cumbre Mundial de la Alimentación y a la tercera Conferencia de las Partes en Buenos Aires el Plan de Acción de Leipzig.
Como es de conocimiento, la República Argentina concede gran importancia a la reunión de noviembre de la Conferencia de las Partes que tendrá lugar en Buenos Aires y donde se debatirán temas importantes relativos a la agrobiodiversidad, derechos del agricultor, acceso y distribución justa y equitativa de los beneficios. Sin duda, los resultados de esa reunión servirán de importante aporte a la tercera reunión extraordinaria de la Comisión que se reunirá en diciembre en Roma.
Queremos finalmente, agradecer a los donantes sus esfuerzos financieros que posibilitaron el desplazamiento a Leipzig de los delegados de países en desarrollo.
EL PRESIDENTE: El delegado de Tanzania nos ruega inserir su discurso en las Actas de Verbatim para ahorrar tiempo. Muchas gracias señor delegado de Tanzania.
Fernando GERBASI (Venezuela): Muchas gracias señor Presidente. Yo no sé si es oportuno. El día de ayer anunciamos que teníamos la intención de introducir un proyecto de resolución relativo a los resultados de la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional sobre Recursos Fitogenéticos y la acción que se debería seguir aquí dentro de la FAO. Si fuera el momento, para mi sería sumamente grato introducir este proyecto de resolución.
Yo introduzco este proyecto de resolución en nombre de Burkina Faso y de Venezuela. Este proyecto de resolución, señor Presidente como he señalado, simplemente se refiere a la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional sobre Recursos Fitogenéticos y a sus conclusiones. Es un
proyecto de resolución compuesto de siete párrafos “considerando” y ocho “resolutivo”. Me voy a permitir señalar, en forma sucinta, el contenido de los principales párrafos y posteriormente, solicitaré a la Secretaría que lo reproduzca, lo traduzca a los otros idiomas y lo haga circular, con el fin de poder hacer las consultas del caso y con la esperanza de que sea adoptado por el Consejo.
Nosotros en primer lugar acogemos con satisfacción los resultados y la aprobación por parte de 150 gobiernos y 54 organizaciones, de la Cuarta Conferencia y la Declaración de Leipzig y del Plan de Acción Mundial para la conservación y utilización de los recursos fitogenéticos para la alimentación y la agricultura. En segundo lugar, señor Presidente, se acoge con satisfacción la decisión II, 15, de la Segunda Reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes del Convenio de Diversidad Biológica, Sistema Mundial de la FAO sobre la Conservación y Utilización de los Recursos Genéticos para la Agricultura y la Alimentación, que apoya específicamente el proceso iniciado en el seno de la Comisión de los Recursos Genéticos para la Agricultura y la Alimentación, mediante la convocatoria de la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional sobre Recursos Fitogenéticos y la aplicación de la Resolución 7/93 de la Conferencia de la FAO sobre la Revisión del Compromiso Internacional. Consideramos que las prioridades para la acción señalada por los gobiernos, por medio del proceso participativo dirigido por los países de la Conferencia Técnica Internacional, deben impulsar ahora al apoyo internacional a las actividades nacionales para la aplicación del Plan de Acción Mundial. Consideramos también, señor Presidente, que el Consejo debe reconocer que el Plan de Acción Mundial para la Conservación y Utilización de los Recursos Fitogenéticos, es un elemento importante en el proceso hacia la seguridad alimentaria mundial, y este hecho, debe contribuir de manera esencial a alcanzar los objetivos de la Cumbre Mundial de la Alimentación.
Tomamos nota de que la Conferencia Técnica Internacional recomendó que se publicara y actualizara periódicamente el primer informe sobre el estado de los recursos fitogeńéticos en el mundo, basado en la información del sistema de información directa mundial en apoyo del Plan de Acción Mundial progresivo.
Tomamos nota igualmente que el reconocimiento por parte de la Conferencia Técnica Internacional del Plan de Acción Mundial era un elemento importante del sistema mundial sobre los recursos fitogenéticos para la alimentación y la agricultura y podía ser una contribución fundamental para facilitar la aplicación del Programa 21 y del Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica.
Finalmente, tomamos nota asimismo de que la Conferencia Técnica Internacional reconoció por una parte que: la plena aplicación del Plan de Acción Mundial supondría un aumento significativo de las actividades actualmente en curso, así como la importancia de la contribución de las fuentes internas con inclusión de los sectores, tanto público como privado, y por la otra: reafirmó que, en virtud de los compromisos relativos a los fondos nuevos y adicionales adquiridos en el marco del Programa 21 de la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Medio Ambiente y el Desarrollo y por las partes en el Convenio Sobre la Diversidad Biológica, se deberían proporcionar fondos para financiar la aplicación del Plan de Acción Mundial por parte de los países en desarrollo y los países con economía en transición y pidió a esta Conferencia que se invitara a las principales instituciones de financiación a examinar los mecanismos de apoyo a la aplicación del Plan.
Entonces, la resolución aprueba el Informe de la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional. En segundo lugar, endosa el Plan de Acción Mundial y la Declaración de Leipzig. En tercer lugar, ratifica el acuerdo alcanzado por los gobiernos en esta Cuarta Conferencia, en el sentido de que el Plan de Acción Mundial se aplique como parte integrante del sistema mundial de la FAO para la Conservación y Utilización de los Recursos Fitogenéticos y que esto se haga con la supervisión y orientación de la Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos para la Alimentación y la Agricultura. En cuarto lugar, invita a la Conferencia de las Partes en el Convenio Sobre la Diversidad Biológica, a que adopte en su Tercera Reunión las políticas y prioridades del Plan para sus próximas actividades en la esfera de los recursos fitogenéticos para la alimentación y la agricultura, con inclusión de los programas y proyectos que se han de financiar por medio del fondo para el medio ambiente
mundial, como mecanismo financiero provisional del Convenio. En quinto lugar, invitamos a las organizaciones internacionales de financiación, particularmente el Fondo para el Medio Ambiente, el programa del PNUD del Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola, el Banco Mundial, el Fondo Común para los Productos Básicos, y los bancos regionales, a que adopten también las prioridades del Plan como orientación normativa en sus programas de financiación y préstamos y a que inviten a sus miembros a promover su aplicación y tomar parte en ella cuando proceda. En sexto lugar, invitamos a la FAO para que examine su capacidad de apoyo en la aplicación del Plan, la actualización periódica del informe sobre el estado de los recursos y el Plan de Acción Mundial progresivo, la supervisión en la aplicación del Plan y reoriente sus programas de trabajo y actividades en consecuencia. En séptimo lugar, se insta a los países que mantengan el impulso dado al Compromiso Internacional Sobre los Recursos Fitogenéticos para la Alimentación y la Agricultura, y completen su revisión en armonía con el Convenio Sobre la Diversidad Biológica en respuesta a la Resolución 7/93 de la Conferencia y que, establezcan un marco jurídico para la aplicación del Plan de Acción Mundial y una base financiera sólida. Finalmente, se insta a que la Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos para la Alimentación y la Agricultura en su Tercera Reunión Extraordinaria que tendrá lugar en diciembre de este año, se concentre en la Revisión del Compromiso Internacional y que se movilicen fondos en apoyo de la representación necesaria y adecuada de los países en desarrollo en estas negociaciones.
Señor Presidente, nosotros pensamos que es una Resolución importante y fundamental, cónsona con la acción que desarrollamos en la Cuarta Conferencia Internacional de Leipzig y con sus resultados; simplemente trasladamos las decisiones fundamentales de la Conferencia a una decisión del Consejo que es el órgano político de la institución y solicitaría por su intermedio, a la Secretaría, que por favor lo tradujera a los otros idiomas, lo circulara y creo entender, por lo que usted señaló ayer, que esta resolución-de adoptarse-se haría el último día, por lo que nos daría el tiempo suficiente para consultas del caso, y tanto la delegación de Burkina Faso como la nuestra están a disposición de las otras delegaciones para cualquier aclaración o conversación sobre esta materia.
Raphael O.S. MOLLEL (Tanzania): On behalf of the Tanzanian delegation to this 111th Council meeting, I would like to congratulate the FAO Secretariat, the various countries, institutions, NGOs, governments, host countries of sub-regional meetings, the Consultative Group Centres and in particular the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute for developing a sound proposal for the Global Action on Plant Genetic Resources.
Tanzania shares the responsibility in the outcome of the Leipzig document as it did participate in both the preparation of the country’s plant genetic resources status and in the Leipzig Conference.
I would, however, want to reiterate what has been aired by other delegates on the need for fairness and recognition of intellectual property rights between developed and developing countries in the transfer of Plant Genetic Resources given the current disparities in the use of modern biotechnology that is more advanced in developed countries than developing countries.
In Tanzania implementation of the Global Plan of Action for the conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture is being carried out through: our continuing ex situ planned and targeted collection of local and regional SADC plant genetic resources as part of the SADC regional programme of germplasm conservation; under the SADC Pilot Regional Programme that involves Tanzania and Zambia, Tanzania has just completed an in situ survey and inventorising of forage genetic resources and a report is under preparation; and in situ survey and inventorising of root crops is also planned with the collaboration of HTA and should be executed once funding has been obtained.
It should also be known that Tanzania has its National Plant Germplasm Conservation Centre and though my Government is continuing with its efforts to provide the Centre with the required
manpower and local facilities to enable it to operate. We request more donor support in terms of equipment and training of our manpower.
Finally, while current efforts are aimed at addressing Plant Genetic Resources, the Commission on Genetic Resources should consider instituting a similar process on Livestock Genetic Resources so as to adequately address the problems of hunger and malnutrition1.
Mohamed Said Mohamed Ali HARBI (Observer for Sudan) (Original language Arabic): Mr. Chairman, I would like to most warmly thank the Secretariat for the efforts deployed since the April meeting held in Rome and all the way to the Leipzig meeting. A meeting, which was a great success, where the delegation of Sudan contributed with other members of the Near East delegation.
Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture involved plants, animals, forests, fish and all this, is also based on our potential. This is why we are so interested in improving plant genetic resources and genetic resources of all kind. This to improve quality and yield. Research in the area of plant genetic resources can indeed lead to the creation of specie for microbial and pest control and this could help us spare pesticides, considering the negative impact of pesticides on the environment.
Science and research will allow us to find serial species that can help combat the tremendous heat which exists in some of our countries. This is why we have used our best endeavour in our Research Centre in Medani, to find a strain of wheat which is resistant to heat and would grow wheat in all seasons and not only in winter, as is the case now.
By, changing the name of the Plant Genetic Resources Commission to Commission on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture it is including animal genetic resources, fisheries and aquatic resources. This will allow us to deal with all of the problems which may arise in these other areas of genetic resources.
Mr. Chairman, the threats to the crop sector in our country are such that we have a great interest for the activities of the commission. FAO has given us assistance in this area and we have had very clear presentations on these subjects. We also hope that animal genetic resources may be improved to increase meat production, dairy production and the production of hides and skins and wool. We are interested in improving, therefore, all genetic resources and we unreservedly support this sector.
We must not forget the ethical aspects involved in the selection of genetic resources, if the aim of genetic resource banks is to improve species. I hope that, in the future, we shall not feel the negative impact of the importation of foreign strains. This could be a two-edged sword. I hope that FAO will control the genetic resources conserved by these banks. FAO, a specialized UN Agency in food and agriculture, must see to it that there is appropriate conservation and distribution of this genetic material.
I hope that animal genetic resources will meet with the same interest as plant genetic resources since agriculture, on the whole, incorporates plant genetic resources and animal genetic resources. I am certain that the Agriculture Department of FAO will attach all of the necessary interests to this matter.
Finally, we pay tribute to the efforts made by the FAO Secretariat in Leipzig and we congratulate Germany for hosting this conference.
__________1 Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request
Abdel Rahman ABDELHAFIZ (Observer for the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development) (Original language Arabic): In the name of Good, the merciful, the compassionate. delegates, ladies and gentlemen. At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for giving the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development a chance to attend the discussions concerning this crucial point, Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
We attach great importance to plant genetic resources because we are convinced that this sector will help quantitatively and qualitatively improve agricultural production. Our Organization, it its programme of work for 1997–98, has established a specific programme for genetic resources. We are ready to collaborate with FAO in this sector to attain our common goal, which is to improve productivity and achieve food security, in particular, in the Arab world and the world in general.
Riccardo MORANDINI (Observer for the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations): I have the honour to represent here IUFRO. We know that the Leipzig Conference decided not to include forest genetic resources in the present plan of action and it is not our intention to reiterate here the debate we had on this point in this very room during the preparatory meeting. We wish only to underline the importance of forest gene resources for the general development of agriculture and, especially, of rural people who often depend upon forestry for their livelihood, in terms of both food and economic resources. Our organization, which includes almost all modern research institutions dealing with forest research around the world, is ready to collaborate in any way with FAO in developments for the general improvement of forest resources and plant resources in general.
EL PRESIDENTE: No creo que es el momento para discutir el contenido de la resolución; lo que haríamos, como ha indicado muy bien el señor Embajador de Venezuela, es traducirla a los varios idiomas, circularla entre todos ustedes, y mi propuesta es, efectivamente, que la estudie el Comité de Redacción. En el Comité de Redacción todas las regiones están representadas y seguramente ustedes tendrán el tiempo suficiente para indicar cuales son sus puntos de vista respecto al contenido de dicha declaración. Eventualmente, el proyecto de resolución se transmitiría por el Comité de Redacción al Consejo en el momento de aprobar su informe y, en ese momento, se adoptaría la Resolución o se rechazaría, según ustedes lo decidan. Bien distinguidos delegados, si no hubiera otro comentario, deseo agradecer al señor Embajador de Venezuela y a la delegación de Burkina Faso por este esfuerzo y estamos pendientes de recibir el proyecto que ustedes someterán a consideración del Consejo.
M.S. ZEHNI (Director, Plant Production and Protection Division): I need not take much of your time, but let me first say that we in the Secretariat are very gratified by the supportive sentiments expressed by the distinguished members of the Council for the role of the Secretariat in the Conference. As several of you stated, this has been an example of the collective wisdom of many partners and so our role was really to facilitate things, but nevertheless we are gratified by your support.
Mr Chairman, we welcome the offer made by the distinguished delegate of the US Delegation to help and support our efforts in the dissemination of the information assembled as a result of the preparation for the Leipzig Conference and particularly the country reports, and we will discuss the details of how we proceed on that with them. Maybe I should mention that by now at least about fifty of these reports are available on the Internet in the languages in which they are produced, and we are adding the other reports to the Internet so they are available on request or through the Internet.
The distinguished delegate of Malaysia indicated the need for support of developing countries in assisting them in policy and legislation matters and we can assure him that we are foreseeing activities in that regard.
The distinguished delegate of Venezuela mentioned that the State of the World Report should be updated periodically to include new information, and I want to assure him that we are putting in place arrangements and mechanisms to ensure that this is done in an interactive and up-to-date way. The distinguished delegate of Italy referred to the need to convey the outcome of the Leipzig Conference to many fora, including international agencies and donor agencies as well as to the World Food Summit and to the parties to the Convention. As we indicated in the documentation in front of you, the Director-General has already communicated the outcome to over forty-five or fifty international organizations and donor agencies. As far as conveying the outcome of the Leipzig Conference to the World Food Summit, you will recall that the Commission itself made a recommendation in that regard. Mr Chairman, the Council is the one major meeting before the Summit because the Commission will meet after the Summit, so you may feel it appropriate that the Council make the proper recommendations with regard to conveying the messages to the Summit.
My last point. I am gratified that a number of delegates referred to enabling the participation of developing countries in the crucial negotiations of the Commission. I would stress that extra-budgetary resources are exhausted, and we are looking forward to the continuing support that we had from the generous donors before.
El PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias, Doctor Zehni. Parece que su respuesta ha motivado a varias delegaciones que desean hacer ahora uso de la palabra. Reconozco a Irlanda, Egipto y Estados Unidos. Tiene la palabra el distinguido delegado de Irlanda.
Aidan O’DRISCOLL (Ireland): I am taking the floor little bit late, but I wish to refer to the suggestion you have made about how the proposals from Venezuela and Burkina Faso on plant genetic resources, how that proposed Resolution should be dealt with.
You have indicated, Chairman, if I understood correctly, that this would be discussed first at the Drafting Committee and then subsequently the Council would return to it only at the point where we are adopting our report. I must say, Chairman, that we feel very strongly that the function of the Drafting Committee is to reflect the discussions of Council and not to anticipate them. For this reason we think it absolutely essential that, if there is to be a Resolution presented to this Council, time must be made available at Council to discuss it before any consideration by the Drafting Committee of our report.
Furthermore, it is necessary that the timing of the discussion should be such as to permit adequate consultation with capitals. Obviously, many delegations do not have here their experts in this area and therefore it will be necessary to allow sufficient time for that consultation to take place. As I say, Chairman, I think this is an extremely important point, I do not think it is possible to simply refer the Resolution to the Drafting Committee and proposed, and I must ask you therefore to make the appropriate time available during Council at a time which allows delegates the opportunity for prior consultation with their capitals.
Adel Mahmoud ABOUL-NAGA (Egypt)(Original language Arabic): Mr. Chairman, forgive me for having arrived at this meeting rather late. I was attending other meetings aimed at preparing for the World Food Summit.
I should like to add the name of my country to Burkina Faso and Venezuela as joint sponsors of the draft Resolution being referred to. We are convinced of the importance of what we were doing in Leipzig, of what we achieved there, and this is one of the most outstanding achievements of our Organization over the last ten years. I think we should crown the Leipzig Conference with a resolution which would lead to implementation of the results of that Conference.
Adding to what was said by the representative of Ireland, I think that we should study the text of the draft Resolution before passing it to the Drafting Committee. We support your suggestion that we have a working group which could deal with the draft Resolution before it is adopted by Council.
E. Wayne DENNEY (United States of America): We have a few things we need to sort out here. One, clearly, is that if we are going to adopt a Resolution we need ample time to send it back to our capitals and to have some response which will precipitate some further discussion, but a major question for us is the purpose that it would serve.
On hearing a summary of its contents--or its proposed contents--from the Ambassador from Venezuela, it appeared to us that many of these items would have been covered elsewhere in the report itself. So the resolution appears to be substantially duplicative of what you would typically find in the report of the Council on this item, and so the reason for it is not at all clear to us.
Rather than moving too quickly towards setting up an ad hoc working group to talk about its contents I think further discussion needs to take place regarding what its purpose, what its need is. There has been no disagreement regarding the tremendous achievements accomplished at Leipzig and we should be able to capture that in a few paragraphs in the Report of the Council rather than going through the resolution mechanism.
That is our preliminary thought, having heard what the Ambassador from Venezuela told us.
EL PRESIDENTE: Según he entendido la discusión, la razón del proyecto de Resolución y, como ayer les dije, en este sentido, soy parcial porque yo considero que es importante que haya algo más que una mera recolección de hechos en el informe, es darle un lugar destacado a la adopción, al endoso que le da el Consejo, de un informe de una conferencia que fue particularmente difícil en su negociación pero exitosa en sus conclusiones. El proyecto de resolución, según lo ha planteado tanto el Embajador de Venezuela como el Representante de Burkina Faso y el de Egipto, busca darle un lugar, una posición destacada a los trabajos de este Consejo porque, como ustedes saben, la Conferencia de Leipzig no tiene una facultad mandatoria sobre la FAO o sobre los órganos rectores, son los órganos rectores los que tienen que endosar, adoptar, acoger esas conclusiones e instrumentar o dar indicaciones para su instrumentación.
Se puede hacer a través del informe o se puede hacer a través de una resolución. Por lo que he entendido, pienso que ustedes mismos deberían estar de acuerdo, es simplemente dar un lugar destacado a la forma en que el Consejo endosa las conclusiones. El contenido de la Resolución lo desconozco en sus detalles, eso lo pueden ustedes estudiar, pero a estas alturas yo no puedo rechazar un proyecto de resolución. Estoy obligado a recibirlo y entonces someterlo a consideración de ustedes a través de cualquiera de esos dos mecanismos: o el comité de redacción o un grupo de trabajo. Parece que la fórmula que prefieren ustedes es un grupo de trabajo, por tanto, les convoco a que revisemos el proyecto en un grupo de trabajo y para darles tiempo que sea el día lunes de la próxima semana. El lunes encontraré pues, el tiempo para que un grupo de trabajo restringido y representativo, pueda revisarlo.
Fernando GERBASI (Venezuela): No era nuestra intención ni es nuestra intención generar un debate entorno a un proyecto de Resolución que hemos presentado en esta ocasión. Creemos que es necesario por una parte que el texto se estudie, se lea con atención, sin embargo me complace mucho la intervención del señor Representante de los Estados Unidos porque yo coincido plenamente con él. En realidad aquí no ha habido ningún punto de discordia, solamente ha habido reconocimiento de la labor de la Cuarta Conferencia Internacional. Todos hemos reconocido la importancia de lo que adoptó esa Conferencia. Todos hemos reconocido el papel futuro de los resultados de la Conferencia. Pues bien, usted lo ha señalado con toda claridad, la intención también de este proyecto de Resolución es que el Consejo de la FAO destaque ese hecho, lo destaque como lo merece porque fue una Conferencia que requirió mucho trabajo, mucho proceso de negociación,
de entendimiento, de buena voluntad y que en definitiva sus resultados serán sumamente útiles no solamente hoy sino en el trascurso del tiempo.
Ahora señor Presidente, estoy totalmente de acuerdo con usted de que se haga un grupo de trabajo, simplemente, le solicitaría que comenzara a funcionar el martes. Lamentablemente el lunes por otros motivos es imposible estar presentes en Roma, y yo creo que es importante que siendo el autor de este proyecto de resolución yo participe en ese proyecto y en ese grupo de trabajo.
Alan AMEY (Canada): I think all delegations here are agreed that the Leipzig report is a great accomplishment. We all endorse it; there is no question about that. I think we all would like to see the report publicized and we would like to see the actions adopted. I think there is no discord on that.
However, my greatest fear at this point is procedural. I am afraid, in listening to the report, that there might be a great duplication in the content and the report itself. At this point it is not entirely clear what the value added is, in other words, what new things would come from this that has not already been achieved. I think Mr Zehni indicated that the report had already been sent to over 50 international organizations and bilateral donors. So I am really in a quandry at this point because on the one hand we want the Leipzig work endorsed and promoted, but at the same time is this the proper way to go about it? My greatest fear is that first of all we are drawn into a question of substance, in which case I endorse the recommendation of the delegate from Ireland that this resolution receive a full and complete debate within Council. I think that would be necessary, I do not believe the Drafting Committee itself can accomplish that.
Secondly, I am afraid that, given the outline of the Resolution I have heard, we might be drawn into a repetition of all the debates in Leipzig.
My final point is that we are under great pressure for an efficient and effective utilization of our resources here. The translation time is precious, our time is precious. Is this really the best use of our time at this point? Basically what I am saying is that we endorse Leipzig entirely, but I am very worried about the value added of this exercise of a Resolution at this time. I am afraid it may be very expensive in terms of our time and really not accomplish what the drafters had hoped to achieve. So I would plead with other delegates to consider this and perhaps we could debate this further.
EL PRESIDENTE: No se preocupe usted, distinguido delegado, veremos la forma en que no haya duplicaciones y encontraremos la manera también de ser eficientes. Yo se que el Consejo está avanzando rápidamente y seguramente dispondremos de tiempo para que, sin utilizar a equipos de interpretación adicionales, tener la oportunidad de discutir ésto en un grupo de trabajo. Ese sería entonces el mecanismo para tratarlo eventualmente en el Consejo en pleno, al final, en el momento de la adopción de su informe; se lo vuelvo a repetir que no puedo en este momento rechazar un proyecto de resolución que ustedes mismos lo han visto y que ha sido presentado de manera formal a esta plenaria.
David SANDS SMITH (United Kingdom): I share some of the perceptions raised by my colleague from Canada. Knowing there were long negotiations at Leipzig before agreement was reached, I fully agree that it is appropriate that this Council should welcome and endorse those achievements.
I am somewhat cautious of going further than that because I have a fear that if we go further than welcoming and endorsing overall what has been agreed, as agreed, we could get ourselves into difficulty. If we produce something which picks up on certain elements, that would be dangerous ground I suspect. If we highlight one thing, somebody else will say something else needs to be highlighted. So my general feeling is that we need to welcome and endorse, and we need to do so
wholeheartedly, but I do have a very great concern that we do not reopen things, that we do not get ourselves into a long debate.
It seems to me, in any case, that we need to look at the text of what is being proposed and only when we have looked at the text can we seriously consider whether this would be something that would cause people serious difficulties. If it does cause people serious difficulties, at that stage I think they need to say so, I think we need to be clear about it. Then we know that we are into a difficult area which would have to be discussed in Council. Mr Chairman, that does not help you a very great deal but those are my thoughts at this point in time.
EL PRESIDENTE: Yo se que muchos tienen una preocupación similar y podríamos seguir hablando de ésto. Yo las he recogido. Entiendo su preocupación pero ésta no la podemos prever, no la podemos prejuiciar, tenemos que tener el texto en frente de nosotros y a partir de él ver si se confirma lo que usted ha dicho de que haya algunos temas que son complicados, algunas cosas que se destacan y que no se debería, pero ustedes van a tener tiempo de corregirlas si es que ese es el caso. Pero para qué adelantarnos en algo que de todas maneras vamos a hacer en un grupo de trabajo y finalmente en el Consejo en pleno el día 10 de octubre. Observo que hay otras delegaciones que desean hacer uso de la palabra. Yo no quiero extender los debates. No es posible a estas alturas decir que no vamos a discutir un proyecto de Resolución. El proyecto de Resolución va a ser entregado, va a ser distribuido y circulado, y va a ser trabajado en un grupo que se reunirá, como veo ahora, el día martes de la próxima semana, y encontraré con la Secretaría el tiempo, y consultaré con ustedes las modalidades para discutir dicho proyecto y eventualmente someterlo a la consideración de la plenaria el último día. Pero yo creo que las cuestiones que podrían haberse planteado están planteadas, y yo les suplico que ya no continuemos con este punto. Vamos a trabajar mejor.
Dennis GEBBIE (Australia): I take note of the points you have just made so I will be very brief. Just let me say that we fully endorse the comments made by both Canada and the United Kingdom.
Srta. María Cristina FERRARI (Argentina): Bueno, Australia en su brevedad anticipó también lo que Argentina quería decir, pero además Argentina quiere manifestar una preocupación más. El tema de los recursos fitogenéticos para la República Argentina es un tema altamente sensible. La República Argentina participó activamente en la Conferencia de Leipzig, se hizo un informe, pero sin embargo seguimos reiterando la necesidad de que las discusiones de todos esos temas respeten grupos abiertos de trabajo. Las representaciones restringidas, lamentablemente, preocupan a la República Argentina. Nosotros en estos temas queremos defender personalmente nuestros intereses.
EL PRESIDENTE: Haré consultas con cada región para observar qué delegación está interesada en participar en dicho grupo de trabajo. No le voy a excluir por principio, distinguida delegada. En vista de que este tema va a ser tratado en un grupo de trabajo y no por el comité de redacción, quizás es también conveniente que no cerremos este tema de la Orden del Día, que lo dejemos abierto y volvamos a él en un momento ulterior la próxima semana. De todas maneras y para adelantarles cual es el estado de cosas y resumir un poco los debates de esta parte del Tema 6, voy a permitirme hacer un breve resumen. En primer lugar, que los debates sostenidos entorno al informe de la Cuarta Conferencia Técnica Internacional sobre los Recursos Fitogenéticos fueron acogidos por el Consejo en pleno, que expresó su satisfacción por el proceso participativo dirigido por los países y por los resultados de dicha Conferencia. Con ello el Consejo endosó unánimemente el informe de la Conferencia, incluyendo el Plan de Acción y la Declaración de Leipzig y la recomendación de publicar el Estado Mundial de los Recursos Fitogenéticos. Al respecto algunas delegaciones indicaron que presentarían un proyecto de Resolución para darle un lugar destacado a este endoso y transmitir a través de ello las indicaciones necesarias para una ulterior acción. Algunas delegaciones indicaron que una Resolución no era necesaria para acoger el informe.
El Consejo ha reiterado la recomendación de la Conferencia Técnica de que el Plan de Acción se aplicase como parte integrante del sistema mundial de la FAO en armonía con el Convenio de Biodiversidad y que los gobiernos, a través de la Comisión de Recursos Genéticos para la Agricultura y la Alimentación, supervisarían y orientarían los progresos realizados.
El Consejo ha estado de acuerdo en invitar a la Conferencia de las partes del Convenio de Biodiversidad Biológica a utilizar el Plan de Acción Mundial como guía para sus prioridades y políticas en materia de recursos fitogenéticos para la agricultura y la alimentación. Se estuvo también de acuerdo en que la rápida conclusión de las negociaciones para la revisión del Compromiso Internacional Sobre Recursos Fitogenéticos, que responde a la resolución CF 7/93 de la Conferencia, permitiría dotar al Plan de Acción de un marco jurídico y de una base financiera sólida. También se consideró que la Tercera Reunión Extraordinaria de la Comisión de Recursos Genéticos debería concentrar sus actividades en la negociación del Compromiso Internacional.
Se ha reiterado la importancia de la participación de todos los países en las negociaciones del compromiso, se ha agradecido a los donantes por haber permitido con fondos extrapresupuestarios ampliar la asistencia o mantener una asistencia amplia en los trabajos de la Comisión y se hizo un nuevo llamado para proporcionar con los extrapresupuestarios con el fin de facilitar la participación de los países en vías de desarrollo en la Tercera Sesión Extraordinaria de la Comisión que tendrá lugar en diciembre próximo de este año y la Séptima Sesión Regular en 1997.
Bien, el informe es solamente indicativo. Como ustedes saben el Comité de Redacción tendrá la oportunidad de estudiar su informe e indicar la manera en que se presentará a consideración del Consejo.
Marco António DINIZ BRANDAO (Brazil): Thank you, Mr Chairman, and thank you very much for your summary.
For the record, I would like to inform you that there are parts of your summary with which we do not agree.
EL PRESIDENTE: Distinguido delegado del Brasil, me puede indicar con qué parte del informe no está usted de acuerdo.
Marco A. DINIZ BRANDAO (Brazil): Since you have asked me to be more specific, Mr Chairman, we do not agree with the comments regarding the Conference of the Parties and the Third Session, where you said that the Council was in agreement and suggested to the Conference of the Parties that the Plan of Action should guide the actions of the Conference of the Parties in this regard. We are also not in agreement with the comments that you have made regarding the relationship between the Plan of Action and the International Undertaking.
I may have missed something but these are the main two points.
EL PRESIDENTE: Bueno yo pensé que estaba recogiendo, en buena parte, lo que han endosado ustedes respecto de la Conferencia de Leipzig pero allí hubo un consenso en este sentido y pensaba yo que había sido transmitido a este Consejo y el Consejo lo había adoptado, pero no quiero entablar un diálogo ahora entre usted y yo, no voy a permitirlo. Esto se va a transmitir al Comité de Redacción y el Comité de Redacción va a tener la oportunidad de hacerlo. Mi informe o mi resumen, como les he dicho, es solamente indicativo y de ninguna manera se lo impongo al Consejo.
Dejamos el tema, entonces, abierto. Yo no se si hay alguna otra aclaración de parte de la Secretaría. Les quiero decir que no quiero terminar esta parte del tratamiento del tema 6 con una nota aparentemente pesimista. Creo que debemos estar todos muy satisfechos y muy contentos con
los resultados de Leipzig y con derecho de que el Consejo los ha acogido de manera muy entusiasta. Creo que hay un trabajo importante de aquí en adelante y que ha habido una enorme cordialidad y solidaridad en cuanto a la importancia de darle toda la atención a estos temas.
Sin clausurar el tema 6 y esperando la reunión de un grupo de trabajo el día martes de la próxima semana pasaré, entonces, al Tema 11 de nuestra agenda que son la revisión de los ajustes al programa de labores y presupuestos 1996–97.
EL PRESIDENTE: Deseo destacar a la atención del Consejo que le damos la bienvenida y nos congratulamos de contar con la presencia de la Presidente del Comité del Programa que presidiera también la Sesión Conjunta del Comité del Programa y de Finanzas en su reunión de septiembre.
Como ustedes saben, la Conferencia, a través de la Resolución 8/95, delegó al Comité del Programa y de Finanzas que en su reunión de mayo de 1996 tuviera la importante responsabilidad de aprobar los ajustes al Programa de Labores y Presupuesto para 1996, inicialmente sometido por la Secretaría dentro del nivel que la Conferencia determinó de 650.000.000 de dólares. El 110° Período de Sesiones del Consejo que tuvo lugar inmediatamente después de la Conferencia, dio una línea general y determinó algunos criterios específicos para este propósito, invitó a los dos Comités del Programa y de Finanzas para informar sobre el tratamiento de ese tema al Consejo e inmediato posterior.
Por tanto, la Presidente del Comité del Programa que está ahora presente nos informará sobre la importante labor realizada tanto en mayo como ahora recientemente en septiembre. Los informes de las reuniones de mayo de los dos Comités se encuentran en el documento CL 111/14 y las posiciones conjuntas de ambos comités en los párrafos 1.1 a 1.11. También la posición de los respectivos Comités de Finanzas y luego de programa lo pueden encontrar en los párrafos 2.8 a 2.21 para el de programa y 3.11 a 3.21 para el de finanzas. Yo considero que la Secretaría de la FAO debe ser elogiada por haber logrado cumplir con este cometido tan difícil y en tan breve tiempo y también por haber logrado llevar a cabo economías importantes en sus programas y en actividades técnicas. También considero que los ahorros permitieron como ustedes pueden observar, evitar que la FAO tuviera que sacrificar una parte importante de sus actividades y absorver la reducción neta del presupuesto para este bien. En la reunión de septiembre, los dos comités recibieron el informe de avance sobre la ejecución de los ajustes aprobados en mayo del Programa de Labores y Presupuestos 1996–97 sobre los que el Presidente del Comité seguramente deseará informarnos.
Como el tema inmediato posterior al 11, es el tema 12 de nuestra Agenda, que también comprende los informes de ambos comités y del Comité del Programa, yo desearía también invitar al doctor Bommer a que haga una presentación general si así lo estima pertinente, para evitarle una ulterior alusión al respecto. No se si esa sería una forma para facilitar el trabajo del doctor Bommer o quizá desea nada más tratar el tema 11, pero en fin se lo dejo a usted, está en sus manos.
D. BOMMER (Chairman, Programme Committee): Thank you very much, Mr Chairman. I think I am completely in your hands with regard to what item I should speak on but I am happy to provide you with some introductory remarks on item 11, which is an important one, as you refer to, and you made actually yourself the necessary introduction. I wanted to add here that I speak also on behalf of the Chairman of the Finance Committee, who unfortunately cannot be here today in the Council meeting, therefore I have undertaken to introduce this item.
As you have seen in the Report, both Committees in the joint meeting in May appreciated the presentation made by the Director-General and know that the proposals were broadly responsive to the guidance given by the Council. A major portion of the savings were made either through efficiency improvements or through reductions in administrative areas. In fact, most of the total amount, which arrived close to 70 per cent, was from these areas. Both Committees regretted, at the same time, it recognized, that it was not feasible to fully protect all the technical and economic activities.
Both Committees, as well as the preceding 74th Session of the Programme Committee and the 84th Session of the Finance Committee, considered the proposals in some depth. The Committees endorsed the organizational changes, including the restructuring of the Sustainable Development Department, the streamlining of functions hitherto covered by the Publications Division and the abolition of the Office for External Relations. It noted the abolition of over 200 posts, many of which were incumbered, and urged that the situation be handled in a humane manner in line with the Rules and Regulations of the Organization: probably one of the most difficult tasks to be done.
The Council specifically requested, as did both Committees, at its 110th Session, the report on this application of criteria to which you have referred, Mr Chairman, in the review of the technical and economic activities and its proposed adjustments. The Secretariat applied a set of criteria which were broadly consistent with those established by the Council, and noting that there were technical difficulties in applying the same criteria to all levels of the Programme, from elements up to the major programme level, for instance, outputs versus the programme objectives. The Secretariat noted that this issue would be explored further in a paper on a new programme model, which we discussed later on in the Programme Committee, in our September Session. I will therefore address the subject further in this connection.
Considering the net reductions proposed for the technical and economic programmes, individual members of both Committees identified areas where they particularly regretted that such reductions had been necessary and expressed the hope that it would be possible to restore resource levels in future biennia. A proposal to better protect Chapter 2 by shifts from Chapters 3 and 4 did not find majority support.
In conclusion, the Committee, Mr Chairman, felt that due to the special circumstances of the adoption of the budget level for this biennium by the last Conference, the document presented by the Director-General represented reasonable compromise and, on behalf of the Conference, approved the financial adjustments as proposed by the Director-General.
Then at the joint meeting, as you said, Mr Chairman, the Committees received a progress report on the implementation of the adjusted Programme of Work and Budget. They took note of some difficulties involved, understandably, in the process of adjustments. They were satisfied with the measures taken by the Director-General and the progress made in the implementation of the adjusted Programme of Work and Budget. They requested that the next progress report, in our April 1997 Session, should better reflect measures taken to address the human-related issues, with the adjustment in staffing, and to provide extra figures related to cost savings of the various items.
The Committees were informed of developments in the various areas of identified efficiency savings, including on travel costs and new arrangements which had been implemented or initiated
for cost recovery of technical support services from projects. They welcomed the updated statistics on the use of new partnership agreements and observed the practical difficulties involved in implementing these. They requested more qualitative assessment of the use at future meetings.
Finally, the Committees were satisfied that the information provided, particularly on income prospects, confirmed the feasibility of full implementation of the US $ 650 million budget, as approved by the Conference.
EL PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias doctor Bommer por estas notas introductorias del tema a propósito del trabajo que se ha realizado en el Comité de Programa y de Finanzas en sus reuniones conjuntas y por separado. Creo que este Consejo debe felicitarles a usted y a través de usted también a los miembros de ambos comités por la labor realizada que le ha permitido a la Organización continuar con sus trabajos eficazmente.
Bien, doy la palabra a ustedes, que quedan invitados a hacer comentarios.
Nasreddine RIMOUCHE (Algérie): Monsieur le Président, prenant la parole pour la première fois, permettez que mes premiers mots soient pour vous dire à quel point nous sommes ravis de vous voir présider notre Conseil, et exprimer également nos félicitations chaleureuses à M.Bommer, Président du Comité du Programme, pour son excellent exposé préliminaire. J’ai le grand plaisir, en tant que membre du Comité du Programme, de lui dire ma plus haute appréciation pour la somme considérable d’engagements, de persévérance et de compétence qu’il a investi dans la conduite des travaux de ce Comité.
Monsieur le Président, la délégation algérienne qui a pris part aux travaux du Comité du programme et aux réunions conjointes, et qui a déjà fait part de son point de vue, s’identifie pleinement au contenu du rapport du Comité du Programme et des sessions conjointes, objet de l’examen et ce, dans le cadre du point 11 sur les ajustements du Programme de travail et budget 1996–97. Je ne vais pas être très long mais je vais m’arrêter sur certains points importants. A l’heure de l’examen par le Conseil de la mise en oeuvre des critères d’ajustements du Programme de travail et budget, et après son adoption par cette même instance, il est réconfortant de constater, comme le souligne amplement le rapport, que les différentes recommandations d’ajustements portant tant sur le programme que sur le budget, ont connu un début d’application prometteur et une rationalisation judicieuse des activités. Cependant, il n’en demeure pas moins que l’atteinte des objectifs du Programme de travail et budget pour 1996–97 demeure incertaine en raison de l’insuffisance manifeste des ressources et du problème de liquidité dans lequel se trouve confrontée l’Organisation depuis plusieurs années.
A ceci s’ajoute le retard constaté dans l’application de ce Programme de travail. L’espoir est de garantir son application intégrale dans les délais fixés. Le fait même qu’il n’ait pas été possible de protéger des activités techniques et économiques de l’Organisation revêtant une importance pour les pays en voie de développement et qui figurent dans le Programme de travail et budget initial, justifie et entretient la préoccupation de ces pays. Parmis ces activités nous citons, à titre d’exemple, le développement de l’élevage et des productions laitières, la protection intégrée et lutte contre les ravageurs, la gestion des ressources en eau, la nutrition des plantes et le développement de la recherche et de la technologie. A cet effet nous tenons à rappeler que ces programmes devront être parmis les activités primordiales de l’Organisation durant le prochain biennium. Il est néanmoins rassurant de constater que le Programme de coopération technique a été épargné, et la Division du Centre d’investissements renforcée. Ce faisant, la délégation algérienne tient une fois encore à réitérer son plein appui aux mesures prises pour les ajustements au Programme de travail et budget, ainsi qu’aux rapports intérimaires.
James W. SCHROEDER (United States of America): The United States participated fully in the discussions of the joint sessions of the Programme and Finance Committees, which approved the Director-General’s amended Programme of Work and Budget for 1996–97 which accommodates the Conference Budget Resolution.
No country can be fully satisfied with either the decision on the budget level or the items selected for cuts. But today’s fiscal realities will, we believe, make negative nominal growth budgets commonplace in the future. We expect future budgets of the United Nations and its specialized agencies to generally follow this policy. Our views on this matter will be further elaborated as we commence discussions of FAO’s 1998–99 Programme of Work and Budget next January.
While we were able to join consensus on the revised Programme of Work and Budget for the current biennium, we, as the previous speaker from Algeria noted, would have preferred fewer cuts in the technical and economic programmes and more in the development services area. We believe that FAO’s normative programmes are its strength and the fundamental basis for its future operations. We recognize that this is a very general statement and clearly we do not subscribe the same value to all normative or field programme activities but, in general, the United States believes that FAO’s comparative advantage lies in its normative work.
With this overview, we have several specific comments relating to the adjustments which are being implemented. Of the programme areas which were essentially protected in the adjustment, we are particularly pleased with the high priority accorded to the Global Information and Early Warning System, Codex Alimentarius, the Secretariat for the International Plant Protection Convention, Integrated Pest Management, the World Agricultural Information Centre, Women in Development and Animal Genetic Resources. We also support the reinstatement of the sub-programme on Post-Harvest Management. We would like to have seen FAO’s Forestry Department protected to a greater extent. Having a Technical Cooperation Programme that is three times as large as Forestry does not reflect our relative sense of priorities. We are also a bit perplexed by the reduction in Food and Agricultural Information and work of the Global Perspectives Unit. FAO has a strong comparative advantage in both of those areas.
In the personnel area, many positive steps are being taken, including the reduction of selected posts, down-grading of posts, hiring more junior people and doing more outsourcing. We are convinced that with prudent management, FAO’s role as a centre of excellence in food and agriculture within the UN system, will be strengthened, not eroded, with these changes.
The United States is pleased that FAO has begun to look at ways to achieve efficiency savings by cutting travel costs, shortening meetings, and reducing or eliminating publications. While the Director-General has already implemented several actions in this regard, we believe more can be done. Using the Internet to transmit data, information, studies and meeting documentation, appears to be a logical move that will have an immediate impact, not only to enhance savings, but to distribute information on a more timely basis. Like all FAO Member Nations, the United States wants to maximize the impact of FAO’s programmes within increasing resource constraints.
As we implement the current Programme of Work and Budget and begin to prepare for the next one, we need to continually think of ways to make our Organization more efficient, effective and responsive. Perhaps FAO has programmes and sub-programmes that are outdated or no longer valued by its Members. Perhaps the Secretariat spends too many resources on servicing a multitude of meetings instead of directing, and directly assisting, Member countries.
We believe that these, and other ideas, need to be explored by the Programme and Finance Committees when they are deliberating on the 1998–99 budget outlined next January.
Y. HATA (Japan): On Agenda Item 11, I just meant that as PWB was to start this afternoon Japan would like to reserve its comments until this afternoon.
EL PRESIDENTE: Espero que efectivamente no terminemos en la sección de la mañana. Le ofrezco no cerrar el tema para permitirle a usted que su delegación hable esta tarde.
H. Pradeep RAO (India): At the outset I would like to thank Dr. Bommer for his very concise introduction to the work of the Secretariat and the Programme and Finance Committees, which has been submitted to us in the form of Council documents CL 111/14 and CL 111/15.
It is a matter of considerable gratification that the Secretariat has managed to make a major step forward in the question of achieving savings. As Dr Bommer pointed out, seventy per cent of the savings are from efficiency savings and in administrative areas. We realize that it would not always be possible to protect fully the technical activities. The distinguished delegate from Algeria has already enumerated some of these areas which are of specific and special concern to us.
I would also tend to agree with the observation of Dr Bommer that there is a very important dimension, namely the human dimension, when it comes to carrying out a review of organizational structures. A number of posts have been abolished and it would be necessary to keep this angle in mind.
We are hopeful that the same efforts and the drive to achieve administrative efficiency will generate additional savings which could be used to strengthen activities which are of concern, especially the technical and economic activities.
Christophe KIEMTORE (Burkina Faso): Comme les autres délégations, je voudrais tout d’abord féliciter M. Bommer qui nous a offert une présentation fidèle des travaux qui se sont déroulés au sein du Comité restreint. Permettez-moi dans ce contexte de me référer plus particulièrement au Secrétariat et surtout au Directeur général pour l’efficacité de leur action qui a abouti à l’adoption des propositions de réajustments du Programme de travail et budget, travail qui s’est déroulé dans un contexte assez contraignant. Nous aimerions ici notifier notre satisfaction pour l’efficacité et la manière dont ils ont conduit ces différents travaux.
Par ailleurs, permettez-moi de revenir sur un aspect peut-être de forme. J’aimerais apporter une précision qui me semble très importante. On se souviendra que, pour la première fois, le Conseil a permis au Comité restreint d’approuver des documents en son nom. Il faut se souvenir que les paragraphes pertinents du rapport du Conseil prévoient d’autoriser le Comité restreint, dans le cadre du Comité conjoint, d’approuver au nom du Conseil. Cela signifie que les réajustements budgétaires ont déjà été approuvés et je crois que c’est un élément important qu’il faut souligner ici. Cela dit, le Comité restreint, au cours de sa session d’approbation, a fait un certain nombre de commentaires très pertinents qui figurent dans tous les paragraphes auxquels vous avez fait référence. Ma délégation estime que c’est maintenant au Conseil d’entériner cette approbation dont il n’est plus question d’approuver les réajustements puisqu’ils ont déjà été approuvés en son nom. Il nous semble que tous les commentaires et suggestions ou préoccupations que les Etats Membres du Conseil pourraient formuler à ce stade ne seront peut-être pas pris en compte mais pourront l’être dans le cadre des exercices de programmation ultérieure donc dans le Programme de travail et budget 1998–1999.
Voilà ce que je voulais dire pour que nous nous entendions sur les différents commentaires qui pourront être reçus au prochain Programme de travail et budget. Ceci étant, ma délégation voudrait réitérer son appui à un certain nombre de paragraphes qui figurent dans les documents à l’examen et notamment les paragraphes 16 et 17 du rapport de la Session conjointe du Comité du Programme et du Comité financier.
EL PRESIDENTE: Efectivamente, como usted ha indicado, la Conferencia delegó en los Comités del Programa y de Finanzas la aprobación de los ajustes al programa de la Organización en virtud del presupuesto aprobado por la Conferencia de 650.000.000 de dólares. En la ocasión en que se reunieron en mayo, ambos comités aprobaron los ajustes presentados por el Director General con las modalidades que los comités le dieron, y en la reunión de septiembre, como ha indicado el doctor Bommer, se hizo un examen del progreso y de la forma en que tales ajustes habían sido llevados a cabo. Este Consejo, claro, lo que tiene que hacer es endosar los informes de los comités sobre este punto y tomar nota de la situación del estado en que se ejecutan esos programas a partir de la aprobación de ambos comités del Programa de Labores para 1996/97.
Alan AMEY (Canada): Canada supports the adjustments to the Programme of Work and Budget for the biennium 1996–97, which were requested during the last Conference. As we in Canada can well testify, it is no small matter to cut over US $ 50 million from the budget and still maintain the majority of programmes.
As for the programmes that Canada supports, we may have some minor disagreements for some of the items that were scaled back but the overall package was acceptable. The publication of ratings, according to the criteria advanced by the Council, was of benefit to aid in the transparency of the exercise.
Notwithstanding the above comments, Canada, like the United States, is disappointed that the forestry budget was cut at all, since it is the smallest of the three technical departments. Forests are high on the international agenda and do not receive sufficient allocations under the FAO budgets. These types of normative programmes point the way forward for FAO and we endorse their continuation and expansion.
Finally, we would like to endorse the report of the Programme Committee, specifically paragraphs 2.8 to 2.21 on the adjustments to the Programme of Work and Budget and the joint meetings of the Programme and Finance Committees.
Adel Mahmoud ABOUL-NAGA (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): Allow me to begin by expressing our sincere thanks to Dr Bommer, not only because of the excellent introductory statement he has made on behalf of the Programme and Finance Committees just now, but we also wish to compliment him on the excellent way in which he has carried out the work of the Committees with Mr Khan.
A splendid job was done on this Item of the Agenda. This is to be expected in an international organization where the interests of various countries may not always agree but where the joint aim of us all is to reach a consensus. This is precisely what we managed to do, thanks to the joint meeting of the two Committees. Those two joint meetings enabled us to give our approval to the proposals made by the Secretariat and the Director-General, not because these simply satisfy all our interests but because this does represent compromise, a realistic acceptance for us all.
Of course, during this Council session, I wish once again to reiterate the salient aspects of the debate held on this crucial matter. We all expressed our congratulations and our thanks for the various savings achieved as a result of improved efficiency in governance. We did, however, regret the fact that it was not possible to protect all the various economic and technical activities of the Organization. We expressed the firm hope that these cuts would only be temporary and that as soon as possible we would obtain resources from either the regular budget or extra-budgetary resources, resources which would enable us to provide further protection for these economic and technical activities.
The two Committees have noted net cuts in certain programmes, especially in extension, livestock development, integrated production and management of water resources. We are convinced that
these savings cannot have an immediate effect because the application of such savings calls for a certain amount of time.
Attention was drawn to the need to reduce the negative affect of these measures -- these cuts -- the negative effect on FAO’s activities. Indeed, that is why I wish to remind you that we approved these adjustments because they represented a reasonable compromise, it being understood that varying interests, differing interests, of Member countries existed. This of course would be in the context of the budget accepted by the general Conference, a budget level which was not entirely acceptable to all concerned.
Fernando José MARRONI DE ABREU (Brasil): Yo quisiera, en primer lugar, felicitar al doctor Bommer por el difícil trabajo y labor que realizó al frente del Comité del Programa, para ajustar el presupuesto de la FAO en este momento que todos esperamos que sea pasajero.
Yo quisiera hacer dos breves comentarios: el primero, es en cuanto al espíritu y al objetivo de la FAO. Brasil está entre los países que creen que las actividades normativas son parte de la actividad y el objetivo de la FAO. Hay otras actividades que son igualmente importantes y relevantes, entre las cuales, por ejemplo, podríamos citar la cooperación técnica en el dominio de la alimentación y la agricultura. La FAO es reconocida como la organización que domina esta área, y no vemos porqué deberíamos disminuir la acción y el presupuesto de la FAO para esas actividades. Brasil también está entre las delegaciones que creen que es importante que se hagan esfuerzos, para que la contribución de los países se ponga al día de manera que la FAO no enfrente los problemas que estamos enfrentando en este momento. Yo creo que si todos los países hiciéramos un esfuerzo en ese sentido, el doctor Bommer no hubiera tenido la difícil tarea que tuvo en el Comité del Programa, así como en el Comité de Finanzas.
David SANDS SMITH (United Kingdom): We are convinced that the future strength of FAO depends both on its efficiency and on its effectiveness. We believe this means building on FAO’s strengths in its areas of comparative advantage, particularly where there are major problems of world food and agriculture and helping to find solutions. Against this background, we welcome the work that has been done in adjusting the Programme of Work and Budget and see this as a valuable stepping-stone in the process in strengthening our Organization.
Raphael O.S. MOLLEL (Tanzania): As this is my first intervention since the beginning of this Council meeting, my Delegation would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and all those who have been elected to Vice-Chairmanship of this meeting.
I would like to thank the Secretariat for the presentation of documents CL 111/14 and CL 111/15. My delegation would like to join the Programme and Finance Committees in commending the Director-General for the measures he has advanced in putting forward and implementing the adjustments to the Programme of Work and Budget for 1996–97, following the guidance of the 110th Session of the FAO Council.
While we support and believe the cost cuts were based on priority setting and efficiency, we feel the downward cost adjustments to the technical cooperation and the technical and economic programmes will limit FAO’s capability in programme implementation as well as deny members, especially those of us from developing countries, the necessary development services.
My delegation, however, supports the abolition of the Office of External Relations and the restructuring of the Sustainable Development Department.
My delegation would like to request that FAO continue the review and assess the implementation of the adjusted Programme of Work and Budget with a view to ensuring efficiency as well as the impact of the adjustments on the FAO staff. We would also like to request, as far as possible,
flexibility of transfer of any savings between programmes, if need be, in the cause of the implementation.
Dieter LINK (Germany): My Delegation prefers to intervene only once on the main topic: programme, budget, financial and administrative matters.
My delegation appreciates the efforts made by the Programme and Finance Committees and, of course, by the Secretariat itself, to adjust the programme of work to the reduced budget available for this biennium. This effort is well reflected in the Report of the Committees’ September Sessions which, however, reached us only very late. Although my Delegation shares the general concern over inevitable cuts in technical programmes, the Organization must face reality. This means implementation of a reduced Programme of Work on the basis of the financial resources available for the development and application of criteria as decided by the 110th Council Session for the Programme Adjustment, approved by the appropriate procedure. Therefore, my Delegation welcomes a conclusion by the two committees so that the 1996–97 Programme of Work can be carried out as planned.
When comparing the percentage shares of the seven budget chapters adjusted- I refer to the tables 1.11 of document CL 111/14-one can realise that the Secretariat has indeed produced a reasonable compromise which hurts the technical and economic programmes and the TCP programme less than the General Services, which now account for somewhat lower shares, whilst Chapters 2,3 and 4, after adjustment, have the same share as before or even somewhat higher shares of the total budget.
With regard to the management review, my delegation is pleased to see that the indispensable methods underway will ultimately contribute to attain one of the objectives of the review initiated after the 106th Council Session---decentralization and reinforcement of activities outside headquarters.
My delegation agrees with the Committees’ judgement that the grading of posts should be approached with caution. Although the employment of lower graded, younger professionals brings some relief, the required higher level must be safeguarded where the rank and priority of concrete programmes may demand it.
Since the 28th Session of the Conference, the Secretariat, the Finance and Programme Committees and Member Nations have been working quite intensively to open up possibilities for savings and higher efficiency in governance. This process is still underway and what has been attained so far is promising. My country endorses streamlining efforts in governance as proposed.
Concretely, my delegation favours the existence of one body for fertilizer problems. The FAO/UNESCO/ILO Joint Advisory Committee on Agriculture Education could be dropped to avoid duplication. The Third Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific, related to animal health and production, plant protection and food security is apparently a viable body that needs to be retained.
The review of FAO’s Statutory Bodies and Panels of Experts, as reflected in document CL 111/12, is under way. It shows effective need for economy. My delegation agrees with the general approach chosen for the review: reduce the activity of bodies or abolish those bodies that have not met, or have only met sporadically over a longer period; concentrate on those bodies that are of importance for priority programmes because complex technical problems are involved; FAO to have a normative function in order to allow a sound exchange between member countries and good coordination between FAO and other UN Agencies.
In view of the very likely disappearance of ECE’s Committee on Agriculture, the European Commission of Agriculture (ECA) must be maintained and should be open to European countries
which are not members of FAO. In its future work, the ECA should try to absorb some of the problems covered by the two joint working parties that will end their activities due to lack of funds.
With regard to Panels of Experts, my delegation favours the idea of a close control of their active life and their dissolution when their work has been completed. Speaking of costs, my delegation would like to suggest that, wherever possible, meetings of small bodies should be in one or two languages only, to save funds, otherwise needed for interpretation and translation. My delegation would have liked to see this review presented in a tabular format to allow a better overview of the problems.
Germany agrees with the procedure proposed for the Review.
José ROBLES AGUILAR (México): Como lo ha señalado reiteradamente mi delegación, hubiéramos preferido no haber entrado en este ejercicio de reducciones y ajustes al Programa de Labores y Presupuestos. Sin embargo, a la luz de los niveles de presupuesto aceptado por la Conferencia, se ha tenido que enfrentar esta situación. En este contexto reconocemos, no obstante, que el ejercicio realizado por los Comités del Programa y Presupuesto y que hoy se somete a este Consejo, se ha realizado en base a los criterios que este Consejo había sugerido; particularmente, respecto al hecho de que las mayores reducciones se hicieran en las áreas de incremento de la eficiencia. Un aspecto que queremos destacar en este sentido, y al que se han referido varias delegaciones, es el relativo a la función normativa. Si bien esta parte mandatoria de la FAO es importante, consideramos que la parte relativa a la función de cooperación técnica reviste una importancia fundamental y que debe, en la continuación de este ejercicio, ponerse bastante atención.
Respecto a la continuación del ejercicio de racionalización queremos señalar el hecho de que para nosotros es importante, en cuanto a la revisión de los órganos de la FAO, que se mantenga la estructura actual fundamental establecida por los propios documentos básicos de la Organización, y en relación a los órganos que serían objeto de una revisión y evaluación en la próxima fase, consideramos que se debe ver, a la luz de todos los elementos, de los diferentes impactos, y no analizados exclusivamente desde una perspectiva estrictamente económica; creemos que tiene que verse también desde una función política, social, en la que los órganos respectivos de la FAO también den sus opiniones; es decir, los comités técnicos deberían pronunciarse también antes de que se tome una decisión sobre cualquiera de estas propuestas.
Ahmad RUSLI JOHARIE (Malaysia): Malaysia supports the adjustments to the Programme of Work and Budget that had been undertaken by the Director-General of FAO since it has been widely accepted by the Programme Committee members. Nevertheless, we would like to express our view that the reduction in implementation of field programmes, especially in developing countries, should be temporary in nature until the financial situation of FAO improves. These programmes should then be reinstated.
Dennis GEBBIE (Australia): We welcome the important work of the Programme and Finance Committees. Difficult as adjustment to some of the cuts in the budgets will be, we believe that these cuts are necessary and they need to be seen in the light of the significant cuts that are being made in the budget of many of our Member Nations.
There must be a focus on what FAO does best, that is those areas where its comparative advantage lies. The available resources must be addressed to those priority programme areas which address the real problems of world food and agriculture. Many of these were mentioned by the United States, for example. We think it is inevitable that resources will need to be diverted from lower priority areas, including support services.
Adel Mahmoud ABOUL-NAGA (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): I apologise for speaking again but I would like to respond to what was stated by the representative of Germany. In the
positive and constructive suggestions he made in his statement, he mentioned that meetings should be held in only one or two languages. This is a very sensitive matter for many countries speaking languages other than French or English. This is why I believe that if this measure is adopted by the Secretariat, it will raise great difficulties on the part of the group and I hope that this decision will not be taken.
Wilberforce SAKIRA (Uganda): Uganda has noted with regret that the areas which we think are extremely important, especially for developing countries, received most reductions. The problem areas which are of concern to us are water management, development of research and technology, plant nutrition, integrated pest management (IPM), extension and training and, lastly, livestock and dairy development.
Like the Finance and Programme Committees, we hope the cuts which you have made will be temporary. We believe there will be a need for fiscal budgets to adequately cater for these important areas.
Lastly, our delegation supports the proposal to abolish the Division of External Relations.
Nasreddine RIMOUCHE (Algérie): Je n’espérais pas intervenir, mais je crois que ce qui a été dit par le Représentant de l’Allemagne en ce qui concerne l’utilisation d’une seule langue ou de deux langues dans les différentes réunions est une option qui pourrait être négative pour les résultats des travaux de ces réunions. Par ailleurs, cet objectif pourrait ne pas être réalisable et même compromettrait la participation de certaines délégations à ces réunions. D’autre part, je dirai que la FAO agit de la sorte en ce qui concerne les conférences régionales. Pour les réunions intergouvernementales, l’utilisation des langues officielles est importante si l’on veut atteindre les objectifs et les résultats qu’escomptent toutes les réunions au programme.
Dieter LINK (Germany): Yes, I would like to clarify. I said meetings of small bodies and of course it can be decided. We have this situation quite often in which we have to negotiate in small bodies and it is, of course, up to all Members if they agree but it could be a point of savings. I did not ask to introduce German as a language also. I thought it is better to try and decrease not increase costs, therefore this is a proposal which has, in each case, to be discussed and should not be generalized. I fully agree that in bigger meetings all languages have to be translated but in meetings outside of Rome sometimes it may be possible even to restrict. I am totally aware that there are principles which cannot be touched and should not be touched. We are fully in agreement with this.
EL PRESIDENTE: Estoy seguro que uno de esos idiomas podría ser el árabe y el otro, desde luego, el español.
A.M.M. SHAWKAT ALI (Bangladesh): I join my colleagues here in appreciating the work done on which elaborate discussions have already taken place so I would like to be very brief in my statement.
I fully endorse the statement made by our Australian colleague to concentrate on areas which are of comparative advantage for FAO. In this regard, I notice that in paragraph 2.1.3 certain areas are identified and these areas are those relating to the key issues of global interest particularly pesticide, plant protection and genetic resources. I would also like to add that, for my country, the area of post-harvest reduction or post-harvest loss, how to reduce the loss is an area of critical concern. We estimate that about ten percent of the gross production is what we lose during the post-harvest stage. If it can be brought down to five percent the same area of land can produce a higher quantity of grains and that, we believe, will contribute to what we often refer to as sustainable development because that will put lesser space on other lands.
The second point that I would like to make is the future of FAO. In the context of localization of the economy, especially, the continued trust on private sector growth, I do not see that intergovernmental organizations like FAO will have a lesser role to play. On the other hand, I strongly believe that inter-governmental organizations like FAO will have to re-invent itself and assume a greater role in terms of dissemination of technological ideas and policy dialogue between the private and public sectors and provide more particularly the leader support that developing countries would need in the process of this transition to a new economic order.
I also stress the need for FAO’s continued strengthening of information gathering and dissemination of the same information to the Member Nations because timely and correct information, if made available to the Member Nations, they can get it as a policy import for their respective countries. There was some reference to cost savings in terms of, among others, cutting down publications. I would rather say that we should not aim at cutting down publications, we should rationalize publications and we would believe that publications which are of importance, which are relevant for the Member Nations, must be published and made available.
Finally, Mr Chairman, one of the particular areas that we, from Bangladesh, would like to stress upon is the question relating to the impact of privatization, especially, fertilizers. We have experienced that it has brought salutary effects but there are also other effects which are of concern to us. This relates to the current trend of unbalanced use of fertilizers which severely impinge crop productivity.
I hope in these areas we will continue to receive the advice and guidance from FAO.
YUAN HAIYING: (China) (Original language Chinese): Mr Chairman, I thank Mr Bommer for his introduction of this Agenda Item. China finds itself in agreement with the report for the adjustments to the Programme of Work and Budget for 1996–97. We wish to seize this opportunity to clarify two points. Firstly, we hope that FAO may continue making savings without reducing the efficiency of its work. Secondly, we also hope that economic and technical activities may be fully maintained, or at least maintained to the maximum.
The projects which will be temporarily suppressed, such as training programmes and disease prevention and other programmes such as water management, for instance, still remain extremely important areas for developing countries. Therefore, we hope that FAO will adopt energetic measures to compensate for the negative effects of such reductions and when resources are replenished, we indeed hope that these programmes will be restored. We also support the proposals made by Algeria and Egypt concerning working languages, that all the official languages of the Organization be preserved as working languages of the United Nations.
Mrs. Rosmalawati CHALID (Indonesia): Let me express, first of all, our appreciation to Mr Bommer for his introduction to the Agenda Item under discussion.
Indonesia would like to reiterate its support to the continuing efforts undertaken by the Director-General to improve and enhance efficiency and the effectiveness of the work of Member Countries of FAO. Indonesia would also support the adjusted Programme of Work and Budget in order to achieve efficient work of the Secretariat.
Cephas GOODING (Barbados): My delegation wishes first of all to express its gratitude to Mr Bommer for the very excellent work which he has done in introducing this topic. It would also wish to acknowledge the achievements of the Programme and Finance Committees as well as the FAO Secretariat, in seeking to comply with the directions given by the Conference.
Mr Chairman, my delegation recognizes that a great deal of resources are needed if FAO is to carry out its mandate effectively, that is why we considered it remarkable that it was possible to realize a
reduction in the original budget of just over US $ 50 million and still provide the programme coverage which we have. Nevertheless, we trust that in the future it would be possible to strengthen those programmes which are considered critical in helping developing countries to increase their food security. In this connection we wish to highlight the contents of paragraph 1.10 of document CL 111/14. In concluding, therefore, we wish to lend support to the adjustments to the Programme of Work and Budget for 1996–97.
Aidan O’DRISCOLL (Ireland): My delegation would wish to applaud the efforts of FAO to live within its means by improving efficiency. We think that the efforts of the Programme and Finance Committee in this regard are to be commended. Decisions on reductions are never easy but are useful discipline for any organization.
FAO is not alone in having to submit to this discipline. National administrations and other international organizations have had the same experience in recent years. We agree with those Delegations who have said that the Organization should concentrate on those areas of work where it enjoys a comparative advantage. In this regard we think it important that in the progress of seeking efficiency improvements we do no damage the Organization’s core competencies.
I must, therefore, express my delegation’s concern at the weakening of FAO’s capacity in meat and dairying. I need not stress the critical role played by livestock and livestock products in a great many developing countries and also in some developed countries, including my own. It is clearly critical that FAO recognize this area as a high priority in its work. Nevertheless, Chairman, I wish to express my delegation’s support for the total package of measures that are now being implemented but we do realize that it is difficult to accord all priorities their proper place.
Finally, Chairman, I am also glad to know that efforts continue to reduce the costs of FAO meetings. We feel a great deal can be done to reduce the cost, improve the efficiency and shorten FAO meetings. We hope that this issue will be pursued vigorously.
Suresh Chundre SEEBALLUK (Mauritius): Mr Chairman, any cut in budget is always a very painful exercise and it is not one that can be undertaken without creating some unhappiness here and there.
Nevertheless, my delegation wishes to compliment the Director-General for the savings that have been generated through efficiency improvement. However, we should like to express our concern to the cuts in the Technical Cooporation Programme. These cuts will surely affect FAO’s capability to do what it is expected to do. We only hope that these cuts will be temporary and that the next budget will commit appropriate funds to the Technical Cooperation Programme.
My delegation wishes to support the views expressed by the distinguished delegate from Brazil and request Member Countries to make their contributions on time. This, I am sure, will save the Director-General from the agony of having to maintain such budgetary cuts if we can.
Pinit KORSIEPORN (Thailand): Very briefly, Thailand fully supports the Director-General’s effort in cutting costs of the administration of the Organization. We believe these cuts are necessary. However, the adjustment of the Programme of Work and Budget for 1996–97 budget for field programmes should not be reduced from the previous biennium.
Lastly, we also urge our Member Nations to pay their contribution on time.
Horacio SOARES (Cap Vert): Je serai très bref dans mon intervention. Je voudrais tout d’abord remercier M. Bommer pour l’excellente présentation qu’il a faite des travaux et, également le Comité pour le remaniement du budget qui, à mon avis, mérite une approbation de tous les membres. Néanmoins, certaines remarques très importantes sont à faire, comme vient de le signaler
notre collègue, le remaniement du budget n’est pas une chose facile. Il est vrai qu’il faut mettre à profit les moyens financiers à notre disposition et, malheureusement, nous n’en n’avons pas en ce moment. Néanmoins, il faut tenir compte que notre but vise à construire un monde meilleur où tous les peuples puissent vivre de la meilleure façon possible. C’est dans ce contexte que la délégation du Cap Vert voudrait attirer l’attention sur un certain nombre de points qui lui semblent très importants. Pour ce qui est des questions de ressourcement, c’est un point auquel les programmes futurs doivent apporter une attention prioritaire et, également, celles concernant l’élevage et la protection des végétaux. Aussi, faut-il dire qu’en ce qui concerne les Programmes de coopération technique très importants du moins pour les petits pays comme le Cap Vert, nous aimerions souligner un autre aspect signaficatif de ces programmes PCT qui peuvent jouer un rôle très important. La FAO peut fournir un soutien aux pays dans la conception et la mise en oeuvre des programmes de politiques stratégiques et de développement à moyen et à long terme. Dans ce contexte, j’espère qu’à l’avenir on trouvera une meilleure façon pour permettre à la FAO d’accomplir ses tâches le mieux possible.
Sra. Ana María NAVARRO ARRUE (Cuba): Le saludo a usted y también saludo la presentación hecha por el doctor Bommer y todos los esfuerzos realizados por él al frente de los Comités del Programa y las acciones conjuntas que se hicieron entre Programa y Finanzas con relación al Programa de Labores y Presupuesto de la Organización. No es fácil hacer una reducción tan drástica de los programas de la Organización en un momento en el que se palpa una urgente necesidad de parte de nuestros países, en su ejercicio por encaminarse correctamente hacia un desarrollo económico sostenible, que alivie los acuciantes problemas de atraso, falta de acceso, en fin, obstáculos que exacerban el flagelo del hambre, hecho que tiene permanente prioridad en la FAO y, concretamente, en la Cumbre Mundial sobre Alimentación.
Mi país, señor Presidente, al igual que otros países que me han antecedido, tuvo a bien aceptar esta reducción tan drástica atendiendo solamente a los acuerdos que de consenso se aprobaron en la pasada Conferencia. En aquella oportunidad, nuestra posición frente a este ajuste, fue de que era inaceptable esta disminución o reducción, y que sólo podíamos aceptarla si este hecho era pasajero o provisional. Saludamos, no obstante, los esfuerzos realizados por ambos comités, como le decía anteriormente, en tratar de acomodar de la mejor forma nuestras prioridades, que como usted conoce, las de los países en vía de desarrollo, están plasmadas de la importancia que le damos a poder tener una mayor asistencia de la FAO y a fortalecer el Programa de Cooperación Técnica de la cual otros países ya la han planteado. Por supuesto, este ajuste afecta a otros programas que esperamos, no minen ni reduzcan la ya precaria capacidad de la FAO.
Apoyamos el hecho de que se mantengan las estructuras actuales de la Organización y que otra propuesta de cambio no se haga basada solamente atendiendo a los impactos económicos y financieros, como bien planteó el delegado de México.
Apoyamos también los planteamientos de Egipto y Argelia en base a que la Organización atienda las necesidades de tener en cuenta nuestros idiomas para una mejor expresión dentro de los órganos que están establecidos dentro de la Organización.
Apoyamos también la atención, con prudencia, de la reducción de funcionarios dentro de la Organización y abogamos por que se tenga en cuenta la capacidad profesional en cada caso, a fin de evitar climas de inseguridad dentro de la casa, que no ayudarían en este dramático proceso que hacemos frente en estos momentos.
Por último señor Presidente, no debemos olvidar los aspectos positivos que la Cumbre Mundial sobre la Alimentación dejará a la FAO. Es por ello que esperamos que en breve, este ejercicio pueda ser enmendado y se dote a la FAO con la necesaria voluntad política y económica de recursos e instrumentos necesarios para que funcione con eficiencia y amplitud.
N.F.C. RANAWEERA (SRI LANKA): My Government, reluctantly, has to agree to the adjustments that have been made in these two programmes. We recognized that while it has become necessary, that these reductions are needed, it is with concern that we accept them.
The areas that are to be cut, namely, extension and training, livestock, dairy development, IPN, water management and plant nutrition, are essentially basic towards any agricultural development programme either in the medium or the long term. While in the short term these cuts might be acceptable, it is with concern that we hope that action will be taken, as soon as possible in the future to revive and to renew these cuts. Unless some of these things are replaced in the short term, the medium term effects of some of these cuts to the agricultural development programmes in our countries would be rather heavy and could be even disastrous. It may be necessary to spend far more to revive these programmes than what we have now.
Mohamed Said Mohamed Ali HARBI (Observer for Sudan) (Original language Arabic): In the name of God the Compassionate the Merciful, thank you Mr Chairman. In brief and as an observer and as a member of the Finance Committee representing the Near East region, I would like to second the previous speakers in paying tribute to Dr. Bommer and Mr. Salim Khan and the Administration as a whole of the FAO, under the supervision of Mahboub El Haq, because they have actually facilitated our work during the joint meeting.
Mr. Chairman, please allow me to announce my full support to what has been said by the distinguished representative of Egypt and Algeria with regard to languages. As you are well aware, Arabic is one of the official working languages of the United Nations so why should we be so harsh on Arabic in a direct or indirect way. As a matter of fact, in a lecture on WAICENT and with regard to the languages that will be used in this network, it has been mentioned that English, French and Spanish will be introduced into this network. When we asked why those three languages and how about Arabic, he said that this could be possible but we are constrained by some financial difficulties and the opinion of the donor countries.
I am submitting this to your august Council and we hope that Arabic will be treated equally as is the case with other languages whether the meetings are big or small, big seminars, small seminars, conferences. What is important, Mr. Chairman, we have to be democratic and we have to respect the peoples speaking Arabic.
Humberto MOLINA REYES (Chile): No quisiera iniciar o abrir un debate, pero quisiera eso sí, hacer algunas reflexiones sobre el tema de fondo que se analiza en este momento.
Se han mencionado recortes presupuestarios, argumentando que dichos recortes han mejorado la eficiencia o la eficacia. Quisiera plantear algunas reflexiones sobre estos conceptos.
La eficacia o la eficiencia, señor Presidente, están básicamente relacionadas con lo que se determina el negocio o misión de una organización. Es decir, si uno hace recortes presupuestarios no necesariamente esas disminuciones presupuestarias van a transformarse en un ahorro en el mediano o en el largo plazo. En otras palabras, cuando se desea reiniciar esas actividades, a mediano o largo plazo, significan un mayor costo para la Organización el volver a poner en vigencia dichas iniciativas.
En otras palabras, señor Presidente, lo que yo quiero apuntar es que es necesario iniciar un esfuerzo de reflexión para determinar cual es el negocio, cual es la función o la misión fundamental de la Organización, porque a partir de ello debemos estar dispuestos a financiar todas las acciones que ese negocio o esa misión signifique.
Participo con la opinión dada por el distinguido Representante de Cabo Verde, en el sentido de que hay ciertas actividades que no son desarrolladas por otras organizaciones y que están dentro del
ámbito neto de la FAO, y que entiendo que los recortes presupuestarios sean necesarios de realizar, pero no olvidemos que parte de esas funciones no van a ser realizadas y significa que en un mediano plazo van a tener un mayor costo.
La segunda reflexión, señor Presidente, referida al mismo tema, es que los reajustes presupuestarios en cualquier organización, incluso en la empresa privada (se ha mencionado una tendencia moderna del Outsourcing, una tendencia que se que está utilizando muchísimo en el sector privado, no necesariamente puede ser la mejor o la única solución para ese ajuste presupuestario); pero en definitiva, lo que decía es que, cuando se define una política de reajuste presupuestario hay que incluir las inversiones necesarias para optimizar la eficiencia de la organización o el negocio de que se trate. En otras palabras, el recortar presupuestos o personal se traduce, en definitiva y muchas veces, en un aumento de los gastos y no una disminución del presupuesto. Quería aportar estas reflexiones, señor Presidente, porque creo que es importante que nos avoquemos a estudiar una propuesta realista en que se consideren en una política de mediano y largo plazo las menores disponibilidades que eventualmente pueda tener la Organización.
Es cierto que se pueden utilizar técnicas modernas para mejorar las comunicaciones entre los Estados Miembros y la Organización, pero también creo que hay ciertas realidades en países en vías de desarrollo que no están en condiciones de asumir esas nuevas tecnologías; por lo tanto, en algunos casos es necesario continuar con los mismos métodos que se tienen. Eso hace que es necesario definir este esquema del mediano y largo plazo.
Pedro PINTO DA SILVA (Portugal): The delegation of Portugal wishes to thank Dr. Bommer for his clear and succinct report. We are pleased that programme cuts were made while minimalizing the reductions in technical positions. As to the medium and long range future plans for FAO, we envisage FAO’s main vocation as a normative one. Indeed it is our belief that future challenges in agriculture and food will require an FAO that is a world centre of excellence in prospective thought. Thus, FAO must reacquire its leadership position in all facets of agriculture, in particular, in areas like environmental degradation where the world will face losses that will be irreversible, or that will be so costly to recover that they will be no longer feasible.
This said, the delegation of Portugal sees also the clear and present usefulness, as well as pressing needs for field based development activities. However, our outlook is mainly positive in that, within a foreseeable future, development of countries in particular in Africa, will come to parallel that achieved in so many countries in Asia. Thus, we feel that it is imperative that FAO retains and sharpens its normative capacities where it has established a long and distinguished record to prepare for challenges that we all will soon and acutely face.
Kiala Kia MATEVA (Observer for Angola): En premier lieu, je voudrais féliciter au nom de ma délégation M. Bommer pour la brillante présentation des différents documents. Monsieur le Président, mes propos ont déjà été exprimés par les différentes délégations qui m’ont précédé. Mon Gouvernement voudrait appuyer les ajustements proposés par le Directeur général. Comme les Comités du Programme et financier que ma délégation félicite en passant, mon pays regrette les réductions dans les différents domaines indiqués au paragraphe 1.6. J’exprime les mêmes préoccupations que le délégué de la Thaïlande, et appuie tous ceux qui ont parlé sur le Programme de coopération technique. Comme vous savez, mon pays est en train de panser ses blessures de la longue guerre, et a donc besoin de cet appui pour résoudre ses difficultés, graduellement, jusqu’à la paix totale. Enfin je profite de cette opportunité pour appuyer l’intervention des délégués du Chili et du Cap-Vert.
Mansour Mabrouk SEGHAYER (Observer for Libya) (Original language Arabic): I will be as brief as possible.
First, my delegation would like to pay tribute to Dr Bommer for his excellent presentation on the report of the joint meeting of the Finance and Programme Committees.
My delegation supports the proposals of the Director-General without any reservation with regard to the budget adjustments for the biennium 1996–97.
However, my delegation would like to stress the importance of maintaining the economic and technical activities that serve the interests of the Member Nations of this Organization.
Mr Chairman, I shall not be lengthy, but I would like to support what has been said by the distinguished representatives from Egypt, Algeria and the Sudan with regard to the use of the working languages in this Organization. I do support you, Mr Chairman, in what you have said in terms of holding meetings once in Arabic and once in Spanish. We have no objection to that.
The meeting rose at 12.40 hours
La séance est levée à 12 h 40
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.40 horas
