A. F. M. de FREITAS (Brazil): I will base my comments on documents C 81/7 and C 81/7 (a) containing the reports on the audited accounts.
In the first place, my delegation wishes to compliment the World Food Programme for the good marks given to it by the External Auditor, for the financial reports and statements of 1979 and 1980. This fact proves once more the high standards of management which has characterized the World Food Programme, not only in the past, but also today.
A brief examination of documents C 81/7 and C 81/7 (a) shows that the Administration of the WFP has been able to maintain the right distribution of scarce resources among a multitude of widely different needs, each one of them fully justifying the required allocation. If we consider the question of emergency aid, on the one hand, and development projects, on the other, we will have to admit that emergency operations, even though unavoidable, have not prevented the Programme from giving its full attention to projects directed to the support of development. My delegation recognizes that either natural or man-made catastrophes are unforeseeable, and that therefore, no reasonable allocation of resources can be decided beforehand. But even in this respect, we wish to express our approval for the cautions and efficient way this question has been handled by the WFP.
My delegation would also like to express its satisfaction with the criteria maintained by Mr. Bernardo de Azevedo Brito, in the allocation of resources among projects proposed and approved for the developing countries. My delegation believes that the proportion of more than 80% of projects assigned to LDC and MSA countries is correct, and I wish to compliment the Executive-Director ad interim for the impartiality the Programme has been able to preserve under his competent guidance. My delegation would like, at this point, to express the hope that the Executive-Director ad interim may be confirmed in his present position, for the benefit of both the donor countries, which will continue to have at the head of the WFP an able administrator, and of the recipient countries, which see in Mr. Brito a man acutely aware of the problems and plights of developing nations.
Finally, my delegation would like to express again its support for the pledging target approved during the last meeting of the CFA.
R. MORBACH (Germany, Federal Republic of) (original language German): First I would like to thank-Mr. Brito, the Executive-Director of the World Food Programme, for his very detailed introduction.
The Federal Republic of Germany has always shown great interest in the work of the World Food Programme since it was founded and has always been willing to support it and to participate fully in its work. This applies both to the CFA it-self and to practical cooperation in projects and programmes in recipient countries.
The Federal Governement has supported the World Food Programme with regularly increased contributions to the regular resources. It realizes the need of cash contributions and meets with its contributions the requirements of the General Rules of the WFP. With a contribution of almost $36 million for the biennium 1981-82, the Federal Republic of Germany is one of the larger donors to the WFP, whose total volume of pledges is about $735 million. Despite the increasing economic problems and budget difficulties at home, the Federal Republic of Germany endeavours to make also in the future a significant contribution for the successful continuation of the work of the WFP.
As has already become apparent during the current biennium, where the target has not yet been reached to a level of 80 percent, the WFP will be faced with increased difficulties at a time of particularly limited funds for international cooperation to continue, or even expand the programme activities to the intended extend. Like other members of the CFA during the 12th Session in October, we expressed our doubts of the feasibility of reaching a pledging target of $1.2 billion for the biennium 1983-84. We hope that new donors and those with centrally planned economies as well will come forward and that those who are traditional donors who are able to do so will increase their contributions so that the aforementioned target can be reached which we, however, consider unrealistic.
I would like to mention here that in the Federal Republic of Germany we agree with the consensus in the CFA. Increasing costs and limited resources draw our attention particularly to the use of resources in line with the criteria set and, to an efficient implementation of the measures. These questions were therefore also discussed in detail at the 12th Session of the CFA.
As regards the project proposals approved by the CFA we welcome the large share of about 80 percent of approved project pledges designed for poor food deficit countries. Also the technical priority of likewise about 80 percent in terms of value for agricultural and rural development projects finds our support.
In the focus of the 12th session of the CFA was the discussion of a study on food emergency operations, experiences, conclusions and proposals. It became evident that not only the proposals need further discussion, but also questions of principle such as how to deal with longer-term refugee problems, the delimitation between emergencies and situations of recurrent, structural crop deficits as well as the application of food emergency operations in such cases are not yet clarified sufficiently.
The complex of questions of food emergency operations and their clear delimitation against specific development projects is essential for the future work of WFP. We await with interest the result of the consultations between the Executive Director and interested donor and recipient countries and the continuation of the debate.
We are very pleased that during the 12th Session of the CFA on the question of improving the International Emergency Food Reserve (IEFR) there was a general consensus that in the future joint pledging conferences will be convened with voluntary two-year pledges both for regular WFP resources and for the IEFR. This proposal shows the way towards a greater continuity and predictability of the IEFR and keeps it at the same time open to the greatest possible extent through the principle of voluntary action for contributions of new and flexible adaptations of traditional donors.
Here we should also point out the suggestions for improving the decision-making process on and for the implementation of food emergency operations which, inter alia, comprise the strengthening of the role of the CFA by setting up a small standing subcommittee to consult on emergency operations. Apart from speeding up and improving the process of implementation above all transparency and efficiency of the allocation decisions as well as the optimum coordination with the activities of other donors are the vital pre-requisites to strengthening the confidence and cooperation possibilities of the governments in donor countries.
As regards the sale of grain from food aid resources to cover the internal costs in the least developed countries no decision was taken at the October session of the CFA. This subject will be dealt with at the 13th Session in April 1982. As regards this question we clearly give preference to maintaining the principles of the WFP which have proved over other proposed solutions. Therefore all possibilities should be exhausted to improve the cash flow situation, namely that the contributions are in line with their share of cash resources and that other donors who are able to do so make or increase cash contributions.
M.M. MUGKOLWE (Kenya): I would like first of all to start off by complimenting or expressing our thanks and appreciation to Dr. Brito for the work that he has presented to us and the lucid information that he has given the Commission on the World Food Programme. We in Kenya feel this a very vital and important Programme for us, and also looking at the other regions of Africa and particularly when we have about 45 percent of the amount that has been voted for this coming biennium going to the most unprivileged areas upon the Continent, this is a word that we should be very grateful about.
I would also like to say that comprehending the ideals, objectives and goals of the WFP we wish to urge that the Programmed activities in developing countries be increased so that the poor and most needy can benefit even more. We are, however, concerned that these noble ideas or aims can be frustrated. This concern arises out of the fact that the resources of the Programme have not been fully met. For example; the target of an International Emergency Food Reserve of at least 500 000 tons of grain per annum has not been attained. Last month, the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes reiterated the need to strengthen this reserve. We cannot help calling for increased contributions to the reserve from both existing and new donors. We also appreciate the contributions from the OPEC countries and others who are thinking of increasing their shares, as mentioned by Colombia.
We wish to underline the international nature of such contributions and the need for the maximum possible flexibility. We support the idea of a pledging conference in the near future and hope that this Conference will also work out a just and acceptable insurance for the pledged contributions.
In this connexion, we hope that it will accept some legally binding arrangement. Still on this reserve, we wish to request donors that 30 to 40 percent of the International Emergency Food Reserve contributions should be in cash to facilitate speedy action.
On emergency operations, we commend the WFP’s recent comprehensive evaluation of the Programme’s Emergency Operation and endorse the recommendations made in the study. We wish in particular to underline our support to a partial shift ín WFP assistance from purely relief operations to development-oriented projects. Borrowing of foo ally or in a region near the emergency areas should be encouraged whenever possible, as this would reduce transport costs and even stimulate food production in the region. We support all measures to reduce the time lag between requests for food and delivery.
Finally, we commend the decision of the last month’s Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes and by the Council to approve the WFP target of $1.2 million for 1983-84.
M. ABDELHEDI (Tunisie) (langue originale arabe): La délégation tunisienne voudrait tout d’abord féliciter chaleureusement la FAO et le PAM pour le rôle déterminant que ces deux organisations jouent dans la lutte contre la faim et la malnutrition.
An nom de la délégation de la Tunisie, je voudrais en particulier féliciter M. Brito pour l’excellent expose qu’il a fait ce matin.
Les problèmes de l’alimentation et de l’agriculture préoccupent toute l’humanité; de la réussite des efforts entrepris par ces deux organisations dépend en grande partie le succés du développement économique et social. Cependant, on constate que, malgré les efforts déployés, l’aide alimentaire était et demeure un élément essentiel et primordial.
Il est inutile de rappeler ici l’éxperience considérable et lfefficacité acquise par le PAM en matière d’aide alimentaire. Cette organisation est aujourd’hui l’élément le plus valable de distribution de cette forme d’assistance.
Ma délégation se référant au point 14 de l’ordre du jour, voudrait exprimer son approbation quant à l’objectif de contributions volontaires aux ressources du PAM, objectif fixé à 1,2 milliard de dollars de contributions volontaires pour les deux années 1983 et 1984. Nous recommandons que la Conférence générale de la FAO approuve cet objectif. Cependant, la délégation de mon pays considère que cet objectif est un minimum. Elle demande instamment à la Communauté internationale d’oeuvrer de manière à éviter que cette aide ne soit diminuée car aujourd’hui le besoin de cette aide se fait sentir plus que jamais. En effet, si nous tenons compte des taux de l’inflation, nous constatons que le volume des ressources du PAM en valeur réelle n’aura pas enregistré la progression requise pour la période 1983/84; en fait ces ressources auront simplement été maintenues à leur niveau actuel, et ce volume d’aide risque de diminuer si l’inflation et les coûts venaient à dépasser 10%.
S.V. HAGEN (Norway): I will try my best to help you, Mr. Chairman, in making the debate as short as possible. My delegation just wants to reiterate the strong Norwegian support for the World Food Programme. As a major contributor to the Programme, the Norwegian Government has followed its activities closely, under the able leadership of the late Jerry Vogel and subsequently of Executive Director and Interim, Mr. Brito.
My delegation can pronounce itself in general satisfied with the work done by the Programme. My delegation would especially commend the Programme for keeping the administration costs at a relatively low level. The World Food Programme can count on continued support from Norway. The Norwegian delegation will, of course, accept the pledging target for 1983-84 proposed after lengthy deliberations in CFA and the Council. We do, however, confess that we find the target ambitious and that no doubt new donors will have to contribute significantly to the Programme if the target is to be set.- In this connexion, my delegation welcomes the recent contribution of US $25 million by the OPEC Fund which we consider as a breakthrough for the Programme. My delegation congratulates the Executive Director ad Interim and his staff and the director of the Research Management Division, Mr. El Midani, for the successful negotiations leading to this pledge.
The Executive Director ad Interim gave a detailed and well-formed introduction to documents 81/LIM/10 and 22. Of the many elements mentioned, let me only express the satisfaction of the Norwegian delegation for-the high proportion of the resources going to low-income food-deficit countries. We also welcome that WFP food purchases are increasingly made in developing countries. The efforts of the Programme to diversify its project designs to ensure greater compatibility with specific conditions of countries and regions are appreciated and should be strengthened.
Mlle M. MUSSO (France): Je voudrais d’abord remercier le Directeur Exécutif par Intérim, M. de Brito, de son exposé introductif qui nous a paru très complet et très instructif.
Je voudrais ensuite exprimer l’accord de la délégation française sur l’objectif de contribution du biennium 83-84 de 1.200.000.000 dollars, tel qu’il a été approuvé à la demière session du CPA du PAM, et tel qu’il est soumis à notre Conférence dans le projet de résolution.
Nous pensons que le niveau de cet objectif est justifié, eu égard aux besoins, et que, comme on l’a d’ailleurs déjà dit au CPA, ce niveau permet au PAM de maintenir son action à la hauteur actuelle en raison de l’augmentation des produits et services.
Nous sommes toutefois conscients des difficultés en raison de la préoccupante situation économique mondiale, difficultés que le PAM risque de rencontrer dans l’avenir, et nous demandons instamment aux pays qui ne participent pas encore au PAM, et essentiellement aux pays à économie centralement planifiée, de contribuer au budget du PAM et à la réserve alimentaire internationale d’urgence.
Nous nous félicitons de la contribution annoncée récemment par le Fonds de l’OPEP, car nous croyons que l’aide alimentaire et l’aide au développement en général doivent être le fait de la communauté internationale tout entière. Il nous paraît choquant de voir un certain nombre de pays se désolidariser quasi complètement de l’effort que les autres pays développés et que les pays en développement eux-mêmes consentent en vue de l’amélioration de la situation des agriculteurs du tiers monde et de la restauration des économies paysannes des pays en développement.
La participation de ces donateurs potentiels nous paraît indispensable en vue d’atteindre l’objectif et nous souhaiterions que la Conférence leur lance un appel pressant, afin de les mettre en face de leurs responsabilités, de leurs coresponsabilités devrais-je dire, dans la mise en oeuvre d’un système de sécurité alimentaire mondial et dans l’aide au développement rural des pays en développement.
Les donateurs traditionnels quant à eux feront, nous en sommes sûrs, tous leurs efforts en vue d’aider à atteindre l’objectif de l 200 000 000 de $.
La France pour sa part, après avoir quasiment doublé sa contribution pour 1982, continuera à augmenter sa contribution au budget ordinaire du PAM, afin d’aider à ce que l’objectif soit atteint.
Dans le même esprit de coopération, nous avons donné notre accord à l’établissement d’une conférence de contributions pour la réserve alimentaire internationale d’urgence, afin que le PAM puisse être mieux à même de répondre aux besoins d’urgence.
Certains diront qu’en acceptant cet objectif de 1 200 000 000, les membre du CPA, ont fait preuve d’optimisme. Peut-être sommes nous optimistes, mais l’espoir nous paraît être une des données fondamentales indispensables à l’action et à la réussite des entreprises humaines.
En outre, cet optimisme nous semble être le meilleur témoignage de la satisfaction exprimée par la to-talité des membres du CPA, satisfaction de l’action des fonctionnaires et des agents de terrain du PAM et de la contribution fondamentale du programme au développement rural des pays en développement et, en particulier, des pays les moins avancés.
Enfin, cet optimisme reflète la confiance que les gouvernements membres du PAM témoignent à M. Brito pour son inlassable activité, pour la compétence et le dévouement avec lesquels il dirige le programme, depuis le décès du regretté M. Vogel, dont nous saluons ici la mémoire. Nous apprécions la façon dont le Directeur exécutif par interim s’acquitte de la tâche qu’il a entreprise, et nous sommes sûrs qu’il continuera à l’avenir à s’en occuper à la satisfaction des pays membres du PAM.
Le sort du programme alimentaire mondial nous tient particulièrement à coeur. Son originalité, son approche spécifique des problèmes de développement en font un des meilleurs et un des plus efficaces outils de la coopération internationale, éloigné des stériles confrontations politiques et tout entier tendu yers l’assistance aux populations paysannes du tiers monde.
Nous souhaitons au programme et à M. Brito d’avoir plein succès dans leur action pour sortir les peuples pauvres de la planète du cycle infernal de la faim et de la malnutrition.
Md. ABDUL AZIZ PASHA (Bangladesh): At the very outset I would like to congratulate Mr. Brito, the Executive Director ad interim, for his excellent introduction to the subject under discussion.
As explained by Mr. Brito, and also in document C 81/LIM/10, the target of the current biennium is near to US$ one billion, and the proposed pledging target for the biennuim 1983/84 is $1.2 billion.
Taking into account the increased demand from the recipient countries, our country is one of the largest recipients of this programme. For the self-reliance in food production and also of the increased programme delivery of the WFP, the proposed increase for 1983/84 perhaps is the barest minimum.
In this connexion my delegation fully endorses the views of the delegate from India when he said that when a large amount could be spent on armaments, the small enhancement of the WFP target should not present any problemes, WFP being one of the most important international agencies for the alleviation of human suffering. My delegation therefore supports the Draft Resolution adopted in the last CPA Council for the pledging target of $1.2 billion for 1983/84, and urges the affluent donor countries to help reach the target.
My delegation also appreciates the persistent efforts made by the Executive Director to persuade the other international agencies and the affluent countries to be more generous to WFP.
In this connexion, my delegation expresses satisfaction for the US$25 million contribution by the OPEC Fund, and also thanks Austria and Spain for making voluntary contributions to the International Energy Food Reserve.
My delegation also extends thanks for the generous commitment to the contribution by Argentina, Australia and Italy to WFP, which will not only help reach the target, but will also exceed it.
As regards the cash resources for the programme activities, my delegation is of the opinion that at least one-third of the resources available should be placed in cash, which my delegation believes will give more flexibility and leverage to the effective programme delivery.
Y.A. HAMDI (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): The Egyptian delegation, having read the CFA report and having heard the excellent introduction that was made by Mr. Brito, who is the Director of the Programme, believes that the pledging target set for the WFP for the 1983/84 biennium of $1 200 million is a balanced figure, and we feel that this is the minimum vital, to remain at the same volume of food aid provided by the WFP.
Therefore my country has approved and continues to support the Resolution in Document C 81/LIM/22 as regards the pledging target for WFP.
My delegation supports the WFP activities. The idea aimed at diversifying the concepts of food-aid programmes so that food aid correspons properly to the needs of the developing countries. We also support the priorities and targets of the Programme, and we are satisfied with what the Programme has achieved and the way in which it is administered.
S. TAZI (Maroc) (langue originale arabe): La délégation de mon pays voudrait tout d’abord exprimer sa reconnaissance à M. Brito, pour la clarté de l’expose qu’il nous a fait ce matin. Nous sohaiterions de même féliciter le responsable du programme pour l’amélioration constatée dans les activités et pour les efforts qu’il déploie en vue d’assurer un équilibre entre les opérations relatives aux projets de developpement et les operations exécutées dans le cadre de l’aide d’urgence.
Le Maroc a suivi les discussions qui ont eu lieu sur le point objet du débat, c’est à dire l’objectif de contribution. Nous avons participé au débat au cours des 11ème et 12ème sessions de la Commission des politiques de programmes d’aide alimentaire et au cours de la dernière session du Conseil. Nous estimons que ce chiffre est un minimum, comme lront dit les délégues de Tunisie et d’Egypte, nous estimons encore plus que ce chiffre ne nous laisse pas une grande marge de manoeuvre, car il est base sur deux estimations. On estime que le niveau de l’aide alimentaire demeurera au niveau actuel ou qu’il augmentera peu au cours de l’année prochaine; de même ce chiffre est base sur une stabilité dans le nombre des cas d’urgence que connaît le monde.
C’est pourquoi nous considérons ce chiffre comme un minimum et un moyen terme entre ceux qui réclament une augmentation des contributions et ceux qui demandent leur maintien au niveau précédent. C’est done un moyen terme qui tient compte de l’augmentation des besoins et également de la situation économique mondiale actuelle, en particulier, des difficultés que connaissent certains pays donateurs.
De même, nous sommes favorables aux opérations tripartites compte tenu de leurs avantages: tout d’abord, l’achat de produits vivriers dans les régions proches; puis le fait qu’elles permettent de diminuer les frais de transport et d’acheminement de l’aide. En outre, elles contribuent à renforcer la collaboration.
Nous sommes également d’accord sur l’appel tendant a améliorer le niveau de contributions données en espèces ou sous forme de services, afin d’éviter que les frais relatifs au transport et aux services soient prélevés sur les ressources ordinaires du programme.
Nous exprimons notre inquiétude quant à l’augmentation du volume de l’aide alimentaire fournie à travers des systèmes bilatéraux, et nous partageons l’inquiétude exprimée par le délégué de la Colombie, qui a demandé qu’on accroise l’aide alimentaire multilatérale, en particulier à travers le programme alimentaire mondial, compte tenu des avantages que présente l’aide multilatérale.
Pour ce qui est de la réserve alimentaire Internationale d’urgence, nous avons entendu avec plaisir l’idée exprimée par M. Brito, concernant l’efficacité à donner à cette réserve. Nous avions l’espoir de parvenir à garantir cette efficacité à travers l’adoption de la première recommandation faite par le Directeur géné et par le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies, concernant la transformation de la réserve alimentaire internationale d’urgence en une convention ayant force de loi.
Si nous ne pouvons parvenir à cet objectif, nous aurions souhaité qu’on adopte la solution à moyen terme, préconisêe lors de la réunion du CPA relative à la transformation de la moitié de cette réserve en une convention ayant force de loi, et en maintenant l’autre moitié telle quelle. Cependant, il semble qu’on ne s’achemine pas vers cette solution. C’est pourquoi nous exprimons certaines réserves et souhaitons que le CPA, au mois d’avril 1982, étudie à nouveau cette question afin de parvenir à une solution qui soit plus en harmonie avec les besoins de nos pays.
D’autant plus que nous considérons que le caractère volontaire que nombre de délégations veulent maintenir en ce qui concerne l’aide alimentaire ne permettra pas au programme d’établir une programmation de ces activités alors que nous estimons que cette programmation est absolument indispensable.
Nous estimons que l’augmentation de l’efficacité des activités du programme, qu’il s’agisse de l’aide alimentaire ou de la réserve alimentaire internationale d’urgence, ne peut se faire séparément. A notre avis, elle est liée à l’amélioration qui doit être apportée aux dispositions relatives à la coopération, parmi lesquelles figure la Convention internationale sur le blé. Nous lançons un appel afin que cette Convention soit renouvelée et qu’elle comporte des dispositions ayant force de loi pour assurer l’efficacité de la réserve alimentaire internationale.
Je voudrais, en conclusion, dire que le Royaume du Maroc exprime sa profonde reconnaissance pour lfaide qu’il a reçue à travers le PAM et à travers lesinstitutions des Nations Unies cette année, aide qu’il a pu obtenir avec rapidité et qui lui a permis de surmonter une période très difficile due à la sècheresse qu’a connue notre pays au cours de la dernière campagne.
Mme PHAN THI MINH (Viet Nam): Nous pensons que le PAM fait partie des organisations des Nations Unies qui ont le mieux servi les pays en développement. Il a aide le monde à résoudre le paradoxe cruel que constitue l’accumulation d’énormes excédents agricoles invendables dans un petit nombre de pays développés, avec tout le gaspillage que cela comporte, tandis que la faim est le lot commun d’un nombre incomparablement plus grand de pays.
Le PAM, ce jeune homme de vingt ans, issu de la mere FAO et du père Nations Unies, avec les bons offices de sage-femmes comme les pays de mes voisins de gauche, est là pour servir en même temps les contributeurs et les bénéficiaires. Il les a bien servis durant ses vingt années de son existence. Il a aidé les pays développés à écouler environ 5 milliards de dollars de produits agricoles, et ces produits ont aidé 113 pays à réaliser quelques 1 100 projets de développement.
Le secrétariat du PAM, avec M. Vogel, que nous avons connu et regretté, avec M. Brito qui assume l’intérim, a fait preuve de beaucoup d’efforts louables, de courage et d’initiative.
L’aide importante accordée au Viet Nam, durant les trois premières années après la guerre, récemment le train de maïs du Zimbabwe qui a aidé ce pays à écouler ses excédents pour avoir des recettes en devises, “les Africains nourris par les Africains” comme vient de le dire M. Brito, est une preuve de cet esprit d’initiative.
Nous soutenons entièrement le Programme d’assistance au développement du PAM, en particulier les programmes d’aide des pays du continent africain en déficit alimentaire. Cette organisation, avec toute sa responsabilité dans la lutte contre la faim mérite qu’on cherche à la consolider, à l’améliorer et à empêcher toute tendance d’une utilisation perverse de ce système.
Nous p.ensons qu’une analyse franche, sans hypocrisie, sans fausse pudeur ou crainte de représailles, est nécessaire pour arriver à des améliorations adéquates.
Tout le monde est au courant du scandale qui a eu lieu au CPA 12 sur le projet du Viet Nam. Je m’abstiens de m’etendre sur le déroulement des faits et l’absurdité de cette scène: la colère indignée d’un grand nombre de membres du CPA, la consternation dans l’auditoire, l’embarras au sein du PAM et même la FAO, dans le personnel, la réaction de l’opinion publique dans les mass médias occidentaux, tout cela en dit déjà long.
Je m’abstiens aussi de profiter de cette tribune pour mener une contre-attaque politique, d’ailleurs bien justifiée, contre cette puissance qui a détruit mon pays.
Je voudrais parler seulement de trois questions préoccupantes:
1. la politique de la faim contre la lutte pour l’indépendance et le développement du tiers monde menée par certaines puissances contre le Viet Nam en particulier;
2. l’attitude pour le moins irresponsable de certaines puissances à l’égard du PAM;
3. nos réflexions sur certaines méthodes de travail.
Quant au premier point, la politique de la faim contre les pays du tiers-monde et le Viet Nam en particulier, dans cette enceinte on parle beaucoup de la lutte contre la faim, des mesures à prendre à l’échelle internationale, régionale et nationale. Mais il faut parler aussi des attitudes et des positions politiques qui entravent et menacent de détruire les résultats de cette lutte. Plusieurs pays, en séance plénière ou dans les Commissions, se sont élevés contre l’utilisation de l’aide alimentaire comme arme politique contre les pays du tiers-monde. Il faut aussi parler des politiques qui agissent dans le sens contraire. Nous εavons que grâce à son niveau de développement, et ses conditions naturelles particulièrement favorables, certaise puissance se trouve être encombrée d’excédents agricoles invendables vu le manque de devises des pays deravorisés. Le gouvernement de ce pays a pris une initiative géniale: une législation permet au gouvernement d’employer l’argent du budget national pour acheter des vivres, ces vivres invendables, et les donner en aide aux pays nécessiteux. Cela permet au gouvernement de ce pays de disposer, en dehors de son arsenal militaire, d’une arme redoutable pour les populations affamées du monde en développement: la nourriture. En plus du titre de puissance industrielle et militaire, on peut encore l’aρpeler “puissance alimentaire”. Récemment cette politique a été proclamée bien haut. On a proclamé la politique de restriction, de sélection, de renforcement des critères -sous-entendu critères politiques - en matière d’assistance au tiers-monde. On impose des conditions politiques, économiques ou même militaires aux pays sur le plan alimentaire, connaissant parfaitement les difficultés actuelles dans les pays déficitaires. On va continuer à abuser encore de l’utilisation de cet excédent de nourriture pour agir contre les pays nécessiteux.
Nous croyons de notre devoir d’apporter à la Communauté internationale quelques témoignages sur cette guerre de la faim qu’on mène actuellement contre le monde, et contre notre peuple en particulier.
L’ancien agresseur a bloqué nos avoirs en devises dans les banques sous son contrôle et actuellement il s’oppose systématiquement...
LE PRESIDENT: Mme le déléguée du Viet Nam, je voudrais vous rappeler que nous discutons actuellement du problème du PAM, et j’aimerais que l’on s’abstienne de considérations politiques qui ne sont pas entierement liées au sujet que nous discutons actuellement. Je vous prie de faire preuve de compréhension et je vous donne à nouveau la parole.
Mme PHAN THI MINH (Viet Nam): Actuellement, c’est à travers l’aide alimentaire internationale que ce pays agit pour utiliser la politique de la faim contre notre pays...
POINT OF ORDER
POINT D’ORDRE
PUNTO DE ORDEN
J. MOORE (United States of America): I regret very much interrupting this discussion but, as you said a moment ago, we are discussing a document before us and I find that the representative from Viet Nam is using this solely as a political platform, which I regret very much and which I think is totally inappropriate. I would appreciate it if she would follow your instructions.
Mme PHAN THI MINH (Viet Nam): J’en viens à la deuxième question: l’ingérence politique dans les affaires du PAM.
Avec la creation du PAM et la vocation des pays du tiers-monde en faveur de L’aide multilatérale, avec toutes les contraintes souvent graves que l’aide bilatérale comporte, cette puissance verse une partie de ses excédents au PAM. Elle est le plus grand contributeur. Mais elle ne laisse pas ses ressources devenir réellement multilatérales. On sait que la presque totalité de l’aide versée par cette puissance au PAM, même à titre d’urgence, est une aide donnée pour tel ou tel pays et non pas à tel ou tel pays. Même l’aide d’urgence est livrée sous une forme discriminatoire.
Le délégué de cette puissance souligne l’aide qui a été donnée aux réfugiés dans plusieurs pays, en particulier au Kampuchea.
Tout en manifestant notre soutien pour l’aide au Kampuchea, et aussi aux vrais réfugiés, je voudrais dire un mot sur l’aide apportée aux soi-disants réfugiés de ce pays.
Il estde notoriété publique que les vivres de cette puissance sont destinées à nourrir et à renforcer les débris de l’armée de Polpot qui, avec les armes fournies à profusion par la puissance qui les soutient, survivent, repassent la frontière pour troubler la renaissance de la population du Kampuchea...
POINT OF ORDER
POINT D’ORDRE
PUNTO DE ORDEN
J. MOORE (United States of America): I find this speech completely inappropriate. It does not pertain at all to the discussion and is totally political. I do not understand how it is allowed to continue to go on this way. The fact that the representative might have made a mistake and mentioned my country by name - and it was fairly obvious whom she was talking about from the beginning - I find totally inappropriate. I certainly wish that she would stick to the subject.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, the delegate of the United States of America.
Mme le délégué du Viet Nam, il y a un point d’ordre du délégué des Etats-Unis. Est-ce que vous pourriez vous limiter au sujet que nous traitons maintenant?
Mme PHAN THI MINH (Viet Nam): Monsieur le Président, je parle de l’assistance alimentaire du PAM aux différents pays. Je me permets de transmettre ici un message du Gouvernement populaire de la République du Kampuchea.
Nos amis du Kampuchea, qui ne sont pas encore représentés à cette Conférence, nous demandent de relever quelques détails qui figurent dans leur document qui a été distribué sur l’assistance aux réfugiés du Kampuchea en territoire voisin. On mentionne que dans les camps de HCR, le nombre de réfugiés diminue par suite du rapatriement volontaire, tandis que dans les autres, administrés par l’armée de ces voisins, le nombre de réfugiés augmente rapidement. La nourriture achetée dans ce pays voisin leur sera distribuée par le biais de l’armée du pays voisin.
En 1981, le rapport de l’aide alimentaire a fléchi en faveur de l’aide à ces camps de réfugiés par rapport à l’aide à l’intérieur du territoire. En 1982, tandis que l’assistance au Kampuchea proprement dit reste vague, on parle de 2 millions par mois et un mois de réserve pour ces pauvres réfugiés dans les camps administrés par l’armée.
Monsieur le Président, permettez-moi de conclure de cet état de chose qu’il y a un réel danger, sous couvert de l’aide multilatérale, qu’une politique de l’utilisation de l’aide alimentaire se pratique à travers le PAM à moindre frais et à moindre résistance de la part des contribuables, et cela est moins voyant pour le public international.
Nous voudrions joindre notre voix à celle de plusieurs délégués pour demander que l’aide donnée au PAM soit sans condition, sur une base réellement multilatérale.
Mais ce qui s’est passe récemment au CPA 12 nous met devant un aspect beaucoup plus grave de l’ingérence étrangère dans les activités du PAM. Cette même puissance a employé des mesures de pression, de marchandage et l’utilisation de certaines procédures de travail pour bloquer l’aide multilatérale du PAM dans un projet mal vu par elle, à savoir le projet du Viet Nam.
Dans la séance du projet du Viet Nam on assiste...
POINT OF ORDER
POINT D’ORDRE
PUNTO DE ORDEN
J. MOORE (United States of America): On a point of order, I do not know how long it is going to be permitted for this to continue. This is not CFA 12, we are not discussing projects; we are discussing particularly a document in the Conference with regard to the target for the next biennium. The speaker from Viet Nam continues to go back to the same subject, to cast aspersions on my country. Really I am getting enough of it and I hope the Chairman will do something about it.
CHAIRMAN: I have taken note of your statement, delegate of the United States, and I hope the delegate of Viet Nam will return to her subject. Thank you.
Mme PHAN THI MINH (Viet Nam):... dans la seance de l’examen du projet du Viet Nam, on assiste à un véritable veto d’une minorité contre un projet soutenu par la majorité des membres du CPA.
En d’autres termes, on peut dire que non contente de l’emploi de ses propres vivres comme arme politique, cette puissance essaie, à travers le PAM, d’utiliser les vivres d’autres pays...
LE PRESIDENT: Mme la déléguée du Viet Nam, je voudrais bien que vous vous en teniez au sujet que nous discutons maintenant.
Mme PHAN THI MINH (Viet Nam): Je termine en émettant quelques réflexions sur certaines méthodes de travail et de procédure. Le CPA travaille et décide par consensus. Le consensus est une notion très belle, c’est même la meilleure. Nous concevons parfaitement l’attachement des pays au consensus, mais comme les idées des membres du CPA sont diamétralement opposées, quand une nette majorité se prononce pour un-projet faut-il laisser une minorité abuser de la notion de consensus, pour bloquer l’approbation? A notre avis, une conception plus souple, plus juste, du consensus, qui a prévalu jusqu’à maintenant dans les activités du PAM, doit être appliquée dans tous les cas sans exception; la minorité des membres qui s’opposent à un projet émettent leur point de vue et s’abstiennent d’envoyer leurs vivres à ce projet. On doit laisser à la majorité favorable le droit de décider, comme dans toute autre organisation démocratique, les donateurs favorables envoyant leurs vivres au projet apprécié. Ainsi, on ne laisse print à une minorité, au nom d’un consensus, imposer sa politique à une majorité. Si cette conception juste du consensus s’avère inacceptable pour certains, il est préférable de passer franchement auivote.
Une dernière suggestion: la procédure demandant que la délégation du pays intéressé quitte la salle pendant la délibération et la prise de décision du Conseil mérite aussi une réflexion. Cette méthode n’a jamais été controversée dans le passé, parce que, sur les 1 100 projets présentés, aucun n’a été rejeté. Mais, après le cas sans précédent du Viet Nam, pourquoi ne pas laisser les délégués du pays auteur du projet entendre les commentaires, les appréciations ou les critiques sur leur projet? Pourquoi ne pas leur donner le droit de le défendre et d’éclaircir les questions en litige?
Il est à remarquer que, dans le cas du projet du Viet Nam, on n’a même pas donné la parole au Secrétariat pour qu’il fournisse des explications, comme pour les 1 100 cas précédents. Mais, pour revenir à notre proposition sur cette procédure, il nous paraît nécessaire et équitable de laisser les délégués assister et participer aux débats, comme on le fait au Conseil du PNUD ou de l’UNICEF par exemple.
Pour terminer, permettez-moi de remercier le Secrétariat d’avoir présenté notre projet au CPA/12. Nous louons chaleureusement l’attitude responsable de la grande majorité des délégués des pays Membres du CPA, en particulier de la Hongrie, de l’Inde, de Cuba, de l’Angola, de la Suède, du Lesotho, des Pays-Bas, du Danemark, de la France, du Kenya, du Sierra Leone, qui ont défendu les principes du PAM, qui ont appelé a l’impartialité, à la non-discrimination, à la sauvegarde du statut et de cet objectif du PAM, à la non-politisation de l’aide alimentaire.
R.E. STENSHOLT (Australia): We join with others in expressing our warm appreciation for the activities of the Programme as described for us today with clarity by Mr. Brito, the acting Executive Director. We too are happy to fully support the proposed target of $1.2 billion for the regular resources of the World Food Programme in 1983-84.
Australia has been and will continue to be a strong supporter of the World Food Programme. We contribute to all three windows of the Programme - regular resources, additional contributions under FAC and the IEFR - and have been able to increase substantially our support for each of these this year. We appreciate in particular the project orientation of the programme and believe that this has been a significant factor in ensuring continued support for the programme which relies on voluntary contributions. In fact, a feature of the CFA Meeting has been the in-depth discussion of project proposals. A further feature has been the imaginative problem-solving approach of the Programme and its officers which has been felt, for example, in regard to making optimum use of available cash resources, local purchasing of food, and in arranging transport.
We support the emphasis on development projects as well as appreciating the valuable role the Programme plays in providing emergency food aid. Certainly, emergency food aid needs are large and there is a need to ensure that the involvement and the response by all parties, particularly Member Nations or countries of the CFA, is both prompt and appropriate. In this context we look forward to the finalisation of the current review of emergencies at the next meeting of the CFA and its discussion of all the various proposals which have been put before it.
With regard to emergency resources we are pleased that the IEFR target looks like being reached this year, thanks to the numerous contributions by both new and traditional donors. We also believe that the generous response of donors to specific appeals has played a large role in raising the level of the IEFR in recent years.
Furthermore, we welcome the emergent consensus on the holding of a biennial pledging conference for the IEFR jointly with that for the regular programme resources of the WFP and, hopefully, the first such joint one will be held next March. We believe that this could serve to strengthen appropriately the IEFR mechanism and ensure a continuous flow of resources.
Finally, with regard to both the target for the current biennium and the new target proposed for the 1983-84 biennium, we appeal to both traditional and particularly to all potential donors to make every effort to ensure that the targets are reached.
Ms. J. SZANTO (Hungary). First of all let me express our appreciation to Mr. Brito for his excellent introductory remarks on the activities of the programme.
On behalf of the Hungarian delegation I would like to state that Hungary is in full agreement with the pledging target of WFP for the period of 1983-84 outlined in the document before us. In the light of the deliberations performed at the Plenary it is obvious that the demands for food aid are ever upgrading and the requirements for assistance are big challenges from developing countries. On the other hand, donor countries have been unable even this year to accomplish our present pledging target. Nevertheless it is obvious that more pledges are needed in order to meet our objectives.
Hungary appreciates the activities and effects of WFP and has always taken an active part in the work of the CFA. I would like to assure the Secretariat that we will give our fullest support to its endeavours in the future as well. Therefore my Government has decided to raise its contribution to the programme by 10 percent by the first of January 1982. WFP is the best authority where pledges and resources have been used and channelled to those places where disasters and calamities struck or where they were destined for social and economic development. Acknowledging the success of WFP in accomplishing the expectations from developing countries, here I would like to make a further comment on one of the outcomes of the last CFA meeting. As is clear to many delegates the approval of a project for a country has been postponed until the following spring session of the programme, which in our view was not justified. The Secretariat was not able to defend its standpoint in the debate and could not respond adequately to the minority of the CFA members who were against the approval of this project on a so-called technical basis.
If wehere all agree that WFP works on a humanitarian basis merely well-based technical criticism should be accepted as to the projects for approval according to the criteria laid down by CFA for development projects. Integrity and continuity of the activities of WFP depend upon whether we can keep free food aid from any political condition. That country is a low-income food deficit country. Their development plan has been severely hampered by a series of natural calamities. There is only one WFP project in operation at present which is to be completed early next year. We very much hope that this project will be finally approved by CFA at its spring session next year.
Finally let me tell you that Hungary has faith and trust in WFP and again my delegation would like to assure you that Hungary endorses the proposed target of US $ 1.2 billion for the biennium.
WANG SHOU RU (China) (original language Chinese): First of all I would like to thank Mr. Brito for the concise and clear introduction he has given on the subject.
The World Food Programme and the CFA have done excellent work in the past two years. In the activities they have not only taken care of the emergency needs of disaster-stricken areas in the world but have also continued to stress on supporting the development of agricultural production in poorer regions.
At the regional level, the real needs of food-deficit developing countries have already been met and particularly those of some African countries. We believe this is a correct policy for the distribution of food aid.
Practice has already proved that fruitful results have been obtained from the work. Therefore we fully support the work done in the past two years.
As for the pledging target for the biennium 1983-84 the Chinese delegation has already stated its position very clearly in the past sessions. We believe that as the food security situation in the world is still precarious, we think that the World Food Programme’s tasks are of still greater importance. Therefore, full guarantees should be given to its resources. It is for this reason that the Chinese delegation endorses the draft resolution.
M.A.M. IBRAHIM (Sudan): The sudan delegation is fully convinced of the importance of the aid given by the WFP. We think it is a vital aid for the developing countries, whether this is development aid or emergency aid. This morning we heard the excellent introduction given by Mr. Brito, the Executive Director A.I. of the World Food Programme, during which he revewed aid given to developing countries by the World Food Programme during 1980-81. The Sudanese delegation would like to express its satisfaction at the activities of the World Food Programme not only during the last biennium and but also during the last twenty years because this Programme has been worthy of the task entrusted to it.
We would like to thank the countries who have contributed to World Food Programme. Without their generosity the Programme would not have been able to acquit itself of its task so well.
We support the Pledging target for the next biennium contained in the draft resolution of document C 81/LIM/22 and so that this does not remain simply a pious hope, we would turn to donors and potential donors asking them to increase their contributions so that we can reach the target of $ 1 200 million.
J.P. WARNIMONT (Belgique): Le point de l’ordre du jour que nous examinons me donne l’occasion de réaffirmer une fois encore que la Belgique a toujours appuyé et continue d’apρuyer pleinement l’action du programme alimentaire mondial en faveur du développement.
En effet, la spécificité du PAM réside essentiellement dans le fait qu’il canalise l’aide alimentaire sur des projets précis de développement rural. En outre, l’appui que la Belgique apporte au programme est essentiellement justifié par la qualité de la préparation et la rigueur du suivi des projets qu’il présente.
Ainsi que le signale le document C 81/INF/10, en 1981, 34% des ressources en produits du PAM ont été consacrées aux opérations d’urgence. Cela représente un accroissement considérable au cours des dernières années. Si l’énvolution devait se poursuivre à ce rythme, la raison d’être principale du programme pourrait être mise en question. En effet, le PAM ne courrait-il pas le risque de voir ses activités faire double emploi avec celles d’autres organisations des Nations Unies dont le mandat spécifique est de porter assistance aux réfugies. Ce point nous paraît très important. Tout en comprenant la misère physique et la détresse morale des réfugiés auxquelles il faut remédier, il faut malheureusement constater que les ressources qui leur sont nécessaires sont perdues pour le développement à long terme du pays d’accueil.
Un autre point que souhaite soulever ma délégation a trait au problème du prolongement après plus de 10 ans de certains projets du PAM. Et il nous semble, à cet égard, que dans la majorité des cas les bénéficiaires devraient, après ce laps de temps, avoir la possibilité de prendre eux-mêmes en charge la poursuite de ces projets. Faute de quoi, le risque existe de voir s’instaurer une sorte de routine dans l’assistance fournie.
En ce qui concerne le problème des coûts de transport mentionnés au document C 81/7(a), ma délégation voudrait indiquer qu!elle comprend parfaitement que, dans certains pays, les frais de transport intérieur puissent causer des problèmes de coûts. Mon pays ne se croit pas favorable à la vente partielle des produits du PAM pour couvrir ces frais. L’expérience qu’a la Belgique de ventes semblables montre qu’elles ne sont pas sans danger. De plus, finalement, il peut revenir moins cher de prévoir lors de la préparation initiale du projet une contribution spéciale en espèces ou des aménage-ments en matière de transport.
En ce qui concerne les paragraphes 23 à 30 du même document, C 81/7 (a), ma délégation souhaiterait connaître pour queues raisons des ressources importantes tirées des projets n’ont pu être réutilisées rapidement au profit des activités du programme à un moment où celui-ci insiste auprès des donateurs pour qu’ils accroissent leurs contributions en vue d’atteindre les objectifs fixes.
Finalement, je voudrais signaler que, pour la premiere fois depuis que mon pays soutient l’activité du PAM, la Belgique a demandé à celui-ci d’acheter des vivres dans des pays africains en vue d’aider les autres pays africains et qu’elle compte poursuivre ces achats triangulaires dans l’avenir. Nous pensons que c’est là une forme adéquate de coopération.
SRA. DRA. M. IVANKOVICH DE AROSEMENA (Panamá): Deseamos iniciar nuestras palabras agradeciendo al Director Ejecutivo Adjunto, la brillante y clara presentación que ha hecho de este tema. Programa Mundial de Alimentos/Naciones Unidas/FAO. Durante la celebración del último período de sesiones del Consejo, mi delegación apoyó los objetivos y prioridades del Programa y el objetivo de promesas de contribuciones de 1 200 millones de dólares para los recursos ordinarios del PMA para el bienio 1983-84.
Consideramos que este objetivo es el mínimo absoluto necesario para poder mantener después de 1983, los niveles actuales de entrega de alimentos del PMA, tornados de los recursos del Programa, como lo expresa el párrafo 26 del documento en discusión. Por las características del Programa que concentra sus esfuerzos en mejorar las condiciones de vida en las zonas rurales más deprimidas, destinando alrededor de un 85 por ciento en proyectos en desarrollo en países de bajos ingresos y déficits alimentarios, consideramos que la meta propuesta de 1 200 millones de dólares es el mínimo justo, como lo expresó el Sr. Brito en su exhaustiva exposición.
Por lo tanto, ratificamos el apoyo, nuestra delegación, al proyecto de Resolución que se nos presenta; y para finalizar, deseamos expresar nuestro reconocimiento a la magnífica labor que viene desarrollando el Director Ejecutivo adjunto al frente de este importante Programa. Esperamos verlo próximamente como Director Ejecutivo en propiedad.
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Mrs. I. L. PERTUNNEN (Finland): In spite of the tremendous work of WFP during its nearly twenty years’ existence there are hundreds of millions of people all over the world who do not regularly reach the desired daily minimum calories and protein intake and that suffer from hunger or malnutrition. When participating in efforts to improve this gloomy situation we see that there should be a systematic linkage between food aid and aid to agricultural development. Food aid should not turn consumers away from products which are or can be produced domestically.
WFP’s proposed pledging target of $1.2 billion for the biennium 1983-84 is based on annual delivery rate of 1 million tons including the anticipated 300 000 tons per year to be provided under the FRC to maintain a current level of deliveries. My Government is supporting this target and will do its best to carry out its share to assist WFP to reach the set goal.
However, we would like to see that new donors give their support to help WFP in handling the acquisition and especially the ever-increasing cross-ocean transportation costs, which may be in many cases twice, even three times, more to the developing countries than to the developed countries from the source of supplies. The lack of sufficient freight, port, handling, storages and other transportation facilities may well hamper the adequate functioning of the food aid system.
Finland is now joining IEFR on a more regular basis and our contribution to it will be additional to our pledges to the WFP. We hope that this will be the common practice in this context so that WFP could keep at least the suggested levels of these two programmes.
We also appreciate the efforts of a large number of countries, including some of the LDC countries, which have taken in substantial refugee populations in spite of the economic difficulties they themselves are facing. WFP’s role in providing food aid to these people is therefore of crucial importance. In a spirit of burden-sharing the international community could not cease to support those in need.
With these words Finland is supporting the Resolution which was submitted to the Conference for approval.
J.L.F. BUIST (United Kingdom): We are grateful to Mr. Brito for the very comprehensive statement that he made and especially for the very encouraging facts that he gave us about the geographical distribution and the size of the programme. His explanation of the distribution of resources between the three differenct channels accruing to the World Food Programme was particularly clear and I thought disposed very thoroughly of a good many points that seemed to be raised by the Vietnam delegation. On geographical distribution generally, it seemed entirely right to us that so high a share should go to African and to other low-income food deficit countries. On this we agree with the Kenya and the Norwegian delegations.
During our presidency of the Community Britain has taken the opportunity to make an informal comparison of experience between Member States of various international agencies through which we channel our food aid and I am glad to say that we found general recognition of the special role of the WFP. This is already reflected in the interventions that other Member State delegations have made during this debate.
We agree with Morocco that the continued rise of multilateral food aid shown in the documents is a very satisfactory trend. But there is increasing concern in Britain and in the Community generally about the need to deploy food aid more effectively to reinforce not just investment by developing countries in food and agricultural production but also their attempts to establish the righ policy and administrative framework which has been extensively discussed and widely agreed during the Conference. We are sure that the World Food Programme will also bear these points in mind.
I noted the remarks of the United States delegation about emergencies and I am sure that they will equally be followed up.
More generally, the Community and its Member States have made special efforts to assist the IEFR and we also support the double-pledging solution now reached in relation to the IEFR and the WFP. These points have already been highlighted elsewhere in the Conference, but not I think in this Commission.
We endorse the views of the Netherlands about the ability of the WFP to secure better coordination amongst the different food aid efforts and also to handle food aid of other donors. We have used the programme extensively and have found this arrangement very satisfactory.
I should particularly like to welcome what was said by Mr. Brito about the purchase of grain in other developing countries, including especially Zimbabwe. As he knows, we have informally urged this on the
WFP Secretariat for some time, and we are very pleased by their response.
With these few remarks I would like to say that we also support the Resolution.
M. SALAMEH (Syria) (original language Arabic): I would like to congratulate the World Food Programme on the success achieved in its activities in the interests of the poor and the needy. We also wish to congratulate Mr. Brito on his introductory remarks and for the work that the WFP has been carrying out. We also wish to support the pledging target for 1983-84 of $1.2 billion. We should always support increases if they are in the interests of the people.
After having heard the other delegate’s comments on the volume of food aid I would like to offer a few remarks on the losses incurred by the WFP during the distribution of this food aid and its delivery to beneficiaries.
As you know Mr. Chairman, there are two aspects to food aid for it is provided either in kind or in cash. I would like to add to this a third aspect: the state in which this food aid reaches the recipients.
I believe Mr. Chairman that securing this aspect which deals with the quality of food aid is of the responsibility of FAO and WFP. This can only be achieved by means of food control system, using detailed analysis to control the nutritional elements whether natural or added through industrialization, packaging, marketing or storage etc. The control of quality through the experience acquired and by means of special equipment, is fully in line with FAO’s and WFP’s role.
Developed countries which provide food aid are also developed from a technical standpoint and they can control the food quality. These countries have at their disposal laboratories, equipments and legislations etc., so they can impose standards on manufacturers and can thus closely control the foodstuffs used by their own consumers They should thus also safeguard the health of the countries to which they provide assistance. The quality of food aid is a complementary factor to food aid. Know-how and technology is very advanced in this area and the FAO and the World Food Programme could be the arbitrators between the developed donor countries and the recipient developing countries to implement food control technology. We should not allow manufactures to perform at will, but their commodities should be up to food standards.
In the addendum to document C 81/7a on Food Waste, some foodstuffs were considered completely wasted. For example, the loss in maize was 100%, in legumes 48.5%, in wheat flour 47.6% and soya mix 31.2%.
All the foodstuffs could have served as animal feed. Contrary to the expected, the loss percentage was higher than in perishable foodstuffs such as vegetables, fruit and meat.
One could draw the conclusion that this low quality foodstuff was sent out because it had been rejected for consumption in developed countries because of their stringent control system.
This is why I have stated and I reaffirm the need for recipient developing countries to set up a strict control system to ascertain that food aid received is in conformity with nutritional standards and consumer habits and tastes.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, there can be no food security unless quality and quantity are ensured.
A.C. ARCINIEGA (México): Las actividades desarrolladas por el Programa Mundial de Alimentos son ahora estimadas en la Comunidad Internacional no sólo como un necesario recurso para atenuar el hambre, sino como un instrumento eficaz en la promoción del desarrollo de los países mas pobres. El carácter multilateral del Programa, la importancia de los recursos que maneja, las mejoras que ha introducido en la planificación y en la administración de los proyectos hacen del PMA una de las instituciones mas efec-tivas que hayan sido creadas para ayudar a los que sufren hambre.
Hemos estudiado con atención los documentos que se refieren a la situación financiera del Programa, incluídos los estados de cuentas y las observaciones del auditor externo. Felicitamos a la Dirección del PMA por la información tan detallada que nos ha proporcionado al respecto. Sin embargo, no deseamos hacer observaciones sobre aspectos particulares porque nos parece que el Programa se ha manejado eficientemente, si tenemos en cuenta las múltiples limitaciones que padece. Algunas de las deficiencias que se señalan en los documentos corresponden a la carencia de personal suficiente y al limitado volumen de los recursos que se manejan en cada proyecto. No por ello se deben abandonar los esfuerzos para mejorar la administración, con miras a optimizar los objetivos que se persiguen.
Fortalecer el Programa es un claro imperativo. Por ello Mexico se adhiere al proyecto de resolución en el que se establecen los 1 200 millones de dólares como objetivo de promesas para el bienio 83-84. Nos congratulamos del aumento en el objetivo propuesto, porque, aunque sabemos no será suficiente para satisfacer totalmente las necesidades, ni aún en el caso de que se alcanzara plenamente, reconocemos la gran importancia que tiene el que la Conferencia, a igual que el ECOSOC adopten la resolución y avalen al Programa, reconociendo la gravedad de la situación alimentaria en el mundo.
No podemos omitir nuestro reconocimiento a los donantes que en fecha reciente han anunciado nuevas aportaciones. Son ellos los que mantienen vivos los principios por los cuales se constituyó el Programa y que lo animan desde el principio. Nuestra delegación se une a las felicitaciones de los distinguidos colegas que dirigieran al Director Ejecutivo Adjunto, señor de Azevedo Britòs, por el eficaz desempeño de sus labores en un período que sabemos ha resultado especialmente difícil y esperamos que en el futuro, con su dirección, el Programa pueda seguir fortaleciéndose, mejorando su administración, afirmándose siempre, aun cuando se analicen las cuestiones más difíciles y controvertidas, como una verdadera institución multilateral. Muchas gracias.
A.G. NGONGI NAMANGA (Cameroon): Mr. Brito, the Executive Director ad interim gave an excellent introduction to the item under discussion. The World Food Programme, as pointed out by most delegations who have preceded me, is a very efficient organization. This efficiency is a reflection on the strong leadership of the organization.
My delegation finds the priorities of the World Food Programme to be of great relevance to the needs of developing countries. The thrust of WFP project is aimed at increasing food production in the low-income food-deficit countries and thereby make these countries self-realiant. The concentration of 45 percent of WFP’s resources in 1981 to African countries which are facing grave problems is an indication of the responsiveness of the World Food Programme to the needs of the poorest of the poor. However, we do regret that over one third of WFPτs resources are being devoted to emergency aid. This is due to the failure of the IEFR to attain its target of 500 000 tons. We trust that means will be found of assuring IEFR a regular flow of resources so as to free WFP regular resources for development projects.
The Cameroon delegation strongly supports the triangular transactions now being undertaken by WFP. We note with regret that WFP’s pledged resource targets are hardly ever reached. As we all know, these pledges are voluntary, so any amount of aid actually contributed is to be appreciated. But there is no need to set targets except if we intend to attain them. We are heartened that 75 percent of the resources for the present biennium have already been contributed. We hope that potential donors who are in a position to do so will follow the example of OPEC, Austria and Spain. Existing donors can also emulate the example of Argentina, Australia and Italy. We are particularly happy to hear the pledge of France who has doubled her contribution to WFP, and also Hungary has just made a statement pledging a 10 percent increase of her resources as from January. All of these efforts may assure the attainment of the $ 1 billion target for this present biennium.
The Cameroon delegation supports the WFP resource target of 1.2 billion for 1983-84. We recognize that this will further tax existing donors, especially during these difficult times. However, we hope that the good record of WFP, especially in targeting most of its programmes to the poorest of the poor and its very low overhead costs, will justify the extra sacrifice required. It is indispensable that new donors should come forward to take up their share of the challenge to foster development in the hard-pressed countries of the world.
R.W.M. JOHNSON (New Zealand): We have made our vіexýs known at the Twelfth Session of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes which has only very recently been held. I shall therefore be quite brief.
New Zealand has always strongly supported the WFP as an efficient distributor of food aid. New Zealand was therefore happy to raise its contribution to the Programme by 12 percent this year. The Programme is playing a vital role by directly assiseing and stimulating economic and social development in recipient countries as.well as meeting emargency food needs. We endorse the aim of maintaining a proper balance between these two different types of operation.
As regards the target for 1983-84, New Zealand joined the consensus at CFA 12 in endorsing a total pledging figure of $ 1.2 billion. The target is something to be aimed for, and we hope that the Programme’s efforts to seek an increased number of contributing countries will be successful, particularly as we believe there could arise seaious programming difficulties in the years ahead if the gap between achievement and the target were to become persistent and too wide.
On one general point, the WFP is very much an operational body, and we hope that the further discussions which will take place in the Committee will not decrease its operational efficiency.
Finally, the New Zealand delegation places a high value on the work of the Committee on Surplus Disposal and its aim of ensuring that food aid does not disrupt and destabilize local markets through the irregular and harmful disposal of surplus stocks. We believe that increased trade in food will be a very important factor in solving world food problems by encouraging local production and thus facilitating economic growth where the need is greatest.
K. CHOUERI (Liban) (Langue originale arabe): Etant donné que de nombreux orateurs qui m’ont précédé ont déjà parlé de la plupart des points que je comptais aborder, étant donné que nous avons exprimé clairement notre opinion au sujet du PAM lors de la quatre-vingtième session du Conseil qui s’est tenue avant la présente Conférence, la délégation de mon pays se joint aux délégations qui ont appuyé ce Programme couronné de succès et fort Ъien géré.
Ma délégation, tout en remerciant les donateurs pour leur généreuse contribution qui est un exemple de la coopération internationale constructive, appuie le projet de Résolution relatif aux objectifs de contributions pour le biennium 1983-84 et demande l’adoption de cette Résolution par la Conférence pour permettre au Directeur général de la FAO et au Secrétaire général des Nations Unies d’inviter à la tenue d’une conférence sur les contributions pour la réalisation de ces objectifs.
E. TIZOL (Cuba); Queremos decir, que parece que hay dificultades con la traducción al español ya que las ultimas intervenciones no las hemos escuchado en el idioma español.
Señor Presidente, queremos expresar ante todo nuestro agradecimiento al señor Brito por su brillante introducción y a la Secretaría por la calidad del documento que presenta bajo la referencia C 81/LIM/10.
Nuestra delegación considera que la aspiración del Programa Mundial de Alimentos de alcanzar el obje-tivo de promesas de contribución de 1200 millones de dólares para los recursos ordinarios en el bie-nio de 1983-84 es una cuestión justa y posible y cuenta, por lo tanto, con nuestro respaldo y total apo-yo.
De acuerdo con lo expresado por el señor Brito de manera muy acertada, este objetivo propuesto es equili-brado y representa el mejor compromiso entre lo deseable y lo que es posible. Esto constituye el mínimo absoluto necesario para poder mantener después de 1983 los niveles actuales de ayuda alimentaria del PMA.
Consideramos también muy justo el señalamiento hecho de que se hace necesario que se presenten nuevos donantes. Felicitamos en este sentido el aporte hecho por los nuevos donantes.
Por último, nuestra delegación desea expresar su apoyo a la resolución 1/80 que aparece en el documento C 81/LIM/10, la cual concuerda plenamente con las aspiraciones expresadas por los países en desarrollo y por nuestra delegación en múltiples ocasiones anteriores.
No quisiéramos concluir nuestra intervención sin hacer una mención de apoyo a lo manifestado por la delegación de Vietnam en cuanto a evitar por todos los medios que determinados países utilicen la ayuda alimentaria como arma política.
CHAIRMAN: I am sorry for the technical hitch, and I hope it has been acted upon.
H. CARANDANG (Philippines): I shall be very, very brief. The Philippine delegation would just like to endorse the pledging target for the voluntary contributions for WFP resources for the biennium 1983/84 of $1.2 billion, and the Draft Resolution. We believe the pledging target represents the best compromise between what is desirable and what is possible.
Taking into account the great needs of the developing countries which continue to increase as the overall economic situation of some developing countries continues to deteriorate, we hope the pledging target will not only be reached but even surpassed so as to allow an increase in the programme deliveries.
We note with appreciation the substantial new contribution made recently by the OPEC Special Fund, the significant contribution by Argentina, Australia and Italy, and the first contributions of Austria and Spain.
L. SMITH (Barbados): On behalf of the Barbados delegation, I would like to reiterate our support for the Draft Resolution and for the pledging target of $1200 million for the biennium 1983/84.
We have noticed that this is a very effective, direct and worthwhile Programme from which my country has had some benefit. We note with pleasure that some member countries such as Australia, Argentina and Italy, as well as Spain and Austria, have recently made significant contributions to the Programme. My delegation hopes that new contributors will shortly come forward with additional pledged contributions so that the target level can be reached in early 1982.
We have listened with interest to the Executive Director of the WFP concerning some of the criteria set out for WFP assistance. We would, however, wish to learn a little more from him of the general criteria for cessation of assistance for non-emergency food aid. We would wish to know whether this is based on competing needs or on some performance characteristics of the recipient countries, and whether this emergency food aid will be a predetermined level.
M. ZJALIC (Yougoslavie): La délégation de la Yougoslavie voudrait tout d’abord exprimer sa satisfaction pour la gestion du PAM et son efficacité dans l’execution des projets de développement et des operations d’urgence.
Nous regrettons que l’objectif de contribution du PAM pour l’exercise en cours, fixe à 1 milliard 200 millions de dollars, n’ait été atteint que pour 75 pour cent. Nous avons pris note avec une satisfaction particulière des nouvelles et importantes contributions fournies au PAM récemment.
L’objectif de contribution propose pour la période 1983-84 represente un accroissement nominal de 20 pour cent et un minimum nécessaire si l’on veut que le Programme puisse maintenir le niveau de livrai-son après 1983.
Mon pays annoncera une augmentation de sa contribution pendant la prochaine Conférence des contributions et nous espérons que les donateurs traditionnels et tous les pays en mesure de le faire foumiront des contributions suffisantes pour atteindre l’objectif fixé et le dépasser.
Ma délégation exprime son plein soutien aux objectifs de contribution et au texte de la Résolution pro-posé par le Conseil.
M. PHOOFOLO (Lesotho): My delegation is highly indebted to Mr. Brito for his concise and succinct introduction on this Agenda Item. We are pleased to hear that all efforts will be taken to improve and identify shortcomings in the World Food Programme emergency operations, especially in the area of shipments to recipient countries.
Our delegation supports the Resolution enunciated in Document C 81/LIM/22, and endorses the proposed target of $1.2 billion pledged for the 1983/84 biennium, though it may not be sufficient to meet demands.
We are thankful to the OPEC countries for the considerable contribution they have made, and we wish to join the previous speakers in urging other countries to make additional contributions to the Programme in order to assist drought-striken countries and some countries facing emergency situations as the result of other natural calamities and man-made causes.
We further welcome FAO/World Food Programme endeavours to minimize the discouraging effects of food aid in agricultural production, the dampening effects of such aid on local commodity prices, and unfavourable changes in consumption patterns.
My delegation also applauds for reasons already submitted by our colleagues the mobilization of food supply from developing countries to meet emergency needs; of neighboring countries.
We echo the plea made by the delegate of India that the World Food Programme should emphasize the creation of infrastructure necessary for increased agricultural production. In this connection, we would like to impress upon recipient countries that they should ensure project continuity even after aid termination. Discontinuity of some food aid projects, on road construction and construction of soil conservation structures has resulted in disastrous erosion of otherwise fertile cultivatable soils in any country.
Finally, we support the World Food Programme in its entirety anci wish to state that too much emphasis on bilateral rather than on multilateral food aid might jeopardise achievement of World Food Programme objectives.
M.A. GUEVARA MORAN (El Salvador): Seré sumamente breve. Deseamos primeramente felicitar al Sr. Bernardo de Azevedo Brito por la brillante y clara exposición realizada.
Sr. Presidente, la delegación de mi país desea apoyar firmemente el proyecto de resolución 1/80 “Obje-tivo de promesas al PMA” para el período 1983-84” que asciende a 1 200 millones de dólares, manifestando, al mismo tiempo, que considera dicho objetivö como el mínimo indispensable para hacer frente al grave problema del hambre que abruma a muchos países del mundo.
Consideramos que la ayuda que proporciona el PMA es vital para los paises en desarrollo en general, por lo cual deseamos recalcar la importancia que reviste el cumplimiento del objetivo de promesas fijado para el bienio 1981-82, así como también el cumplimiento del objetivo de promesas propuesto en esta oportunidad.
Asimismo, deseamos instar vehementemente a los países contribuyentes para que realicen todos los esfuerzos necesarios a fin de cumplir con las promesas de ayuda, con lo cual se estarán dando pasos firmes para la solución del problema alimentario en el mundo.
Reafirmamos nuestra felicitación al Sr. Bernardo de Azevedo Brito, Director Ejecutivo A.I. del PMA, por la meritoria labor desarrollada al frente de tan importante Programa, y albergamos la esperanza de que sea confirmado como Director Ejecutivo del mismo, lo cual redundará en beneficio de los paises donantes, como beneficiarios.
M. SAMBA (Congo): Je tâcherai d’être bref et de ne pas revenir sur certains aspects déjà abordés per mes prédécesseurs.
En ce qui concerne le Programme alimentaire mondial pour le biennium 83/84, dont l’objectif de contributions propose par le Comité des politiques et programmes d’aide alimentaire, se situe à 1,2 milliard de dollars, la délégation congolaise appuie cette proposition. Cependant, elle estime que cet accroissement des ressources ordinaires du PAM de 20% par rapport au niveau actuel représente véri-tablement un seuil strictement minimal eu égard à l’augmentation prévisible des besoins en couverture alimentaire à l’échelle mondiale, pendant la période considérée, notamment dans les pays en développment à croissance démographique accélerée.
De même, elle soutient fermement l’orientation prise par le PAM de privilégier l’allocation des ressources aux actions structurelles de développement sur toute autre opération de type conjoncturel. Cela, en particulier, dans le domaine de l’agriculture et du développement rural.
C’est pourquoi la délégation congolaise saisit cette occasion pour lancer une fois de plus un appel aux pays qui contribuent au fonds du PNUD afin qu’ils consentent un effort financier plus important pour l’elevation de ses ressources. En effet, pour nous, ce programme est, comme le PAM, d’une importance décisive dans le processus de développement agricole et rural, done pour l’autosuffisance alimentaire, dans les pays en développement.
D.R. SHARMA (Nepal): First of all I would like to congratulate Mr. Brito for his comprehensive and clear statement this morning. I agree with him that food aid is not the panacea for solving the food deficit conditions of the food deficit countries. This is a fact which the beneficiary countries like ours should understand fully, and I believe it is understood in the same spirit.
I am confident no country would like to come on the world platform requesting food aid, and as far as possible would not like to depend on others, but one is bound to do so under certain natural compulsions. Because of so many unavoidable reasons the recipient countries are compelled to ask for food aid.
At this age of international cooperation it is but natural that countries seeking help when needed look toward external assistance. We feel that donor countries of WFP fully realize this situation and are ready to come forward to help suffering humanity by contributing whatever they can toward feeding the hungry man, and at the same time help WFP in the accomplishment of its target.
I would like to recollect the world situation and the expenditure that is being incurred in armaments, as cited by the delegate of India in the morning session.
International efforts to save mankind from hunger and starvation, we feel, are bound to be most effective, the channelling of food aid through WFP, which we consider to be the food arm of the United Nations System, has been very effective.
My delegation is confident that recipient countries are working toward self-reliance, and the food aid that is provided by WFP has enhanced this process. The idea as put forward by Mr. Brito in his remarks this morning that the food aid be used primarily for development projects has been well recognized.
My delegation has been very much impressed by the work of WFP. Though Nepal is capable of producing a major part, of its requirements of food grain, it has been difficult for us time and again fully to meet the needs of the people in the entire kingdom because of the difficult geographical situation which creates insurmountable transport difficulties. Also, we are fully dependent on the vagaries of nature, which I am afraid is not always kind and beneficial. This is where the food aid programme can help us in developing our capacity to help ourselves, even against the cruelties of nature.
We are most grateful to the WFP for the assistance that it has provided to us during the drought period. It has been a very timely help to us. We are also grateful for WFP assistance in so many other development projects. This year we had severe floods in different parts of the country where crops and property worth millions of dollars and precious human lives were lost. We had been working to relieve the drought-stricken people, and a new problem of rehabilitating flood victims has fallen on our shoulders.
Here again I should like to express our high regard for WFP and the belief my delegation has in the leadership of the Acting Executive Director, Mr. Brito.
My delegation fully supports the proposal that is before us recommending the target of 1.2 billion dollars for the years 1983/84.
M.P. KANGA (Angola): Le PAM est l’une des organisations qui collaborent avec mon gouvernement depuis l’accession de mon pays à l’indépendance, en raison de son caractère d’aide aux pays en développement; nous le considérons comme l’une des institutions les plus efficaces.
L’assistance reçue du PAM est considérable en termes économiques, mais il est juste de reconnaître que la situation particulière que vit mon pays depuis l’accession à l’indépendance est telle que l’aide du PAM est indispensable pour son développement économico-social.
Les conditions dans lesquelles se trouvent nos compatriotes, victimes des agressions continues du regime inhumain de l’Afrique du Sud et de la sécheresse, sont l’une des principales préoccupations du gouvernement de la République populaire d’Angola. C’est la raison pour laquelle l’aide du PAM a toujours été appréciée par notre peuple et nous le pouvons exprimer ici que nos vifs remerelements.
Le nombre des réfugiés et des déplacés a sensiblement augmenté ces derniers jours, et l’aide du PAM pour les programmes d’urgence nous est très nécessaire, mais l’accent doit toujours être mis sur l’augmentation de l’aide aux projets de développement.
Ma délégation appuie l’objectif de contribution de 1,2 milliard de dollars pour les ressources ordinaires du PAM pour 1983/84, que nous considérons comme un objectif minimum. C’est avec satisfaction que nous avons appris les nouvelles contributions à la RAIU plus particulièrement celle des fonds de l’OPÉP, de l’Autriche et de l’Espagne.
Ma délégation appuie la résolution concernant les annonces de contributions au PAM pour la période 1983/84, avec l’espoir que cet objectif ne sera pas seulement atteint mais dépassé.
O. LUCO ECHEVERRIA (Chile): Mi delegación apoya la meta de contribuciones de 1 200 millones de dólares para el bienio 1983-84 y confía que se logre oportunamente para que así se pueda elaborar un programa de actividades eficientes y cuya relación costo/beneficio sea razonable.
Causa satisfacción a mi delegación que de los envíos totales de unos 1,3 millones de toneladas, el 66 por ciento sea para proyectos de desarrollo y el 34 por ciento para operaciones de urgencia, pues este 66 por ciento significa que se están creando posibilidades de independencia en los países favorecidos.
Deseo aprovechar, además, esta oportunidad para felicitar al Sr. Director Ejecutivo Interino del PMA, por la buena y completa información inicial que nos brindó; confío que pueda continuar por mucho tiempo dirigiendo los destinos de esta importante agencia internacional.
S. AABERG (Sweden): I should like to start by saying that all projections indicate that food aid will still be needed for a long time to come. Food self-reliance is a far-away goal for many countries. In some countries food production per capita is actually falling. Similarly, it seems likely that emergencies of different kinds will not disappear.
While there is a clear long-term need for food aid, we should constantly bear in mind the difficulties and potential dangers inherent in all forms of food aid. This type of assistance possibly demands an even more careful identification, plannig and implementation than most other assistance efforts. Food aid can never be a solution to the real problems involved, neither should it be used as an excuse for putting off necessary internal decisions like giving price incentives to local producers or introducing land reforms and other structural measures.
This having been said, we feel that experience has also shown that food aid used in the context and in a careful manner can produce very beneficial results. Here I talk about the World Food Programme. This organisation has an impressive record over the past. There have been successes, and there have also been mistakes and failures. This is, in our opinion, inevitable in a complex area like food aid. On the whole, the record is something the Programme can be proud of.
What the Swedish government views as particularly encouraging is the openness and the frank exchange of ideas between the Secretariat and members in the CFA. There is a constant search for new and better ways of utilizing food aid. Lessons are gradually being learned, and this is how it must be. The search for improvements must be carried on with an even greater force in the future if food aid is to be successfully defended against outside criticism.
For these very reasons, we are particularly pleased with current attempts to introduce innovations and imaginative new ideas in WFP activities. I am thinking of, for example, the regional approach, highlighted this morning by the Executive Director. Efforts of that kind can open up completely new avenues for the utilisation of food aid. We strongly support the WFP maize train operation undertaken in Zimbabwe and similar examples of triangular transactions.
From the foregoing, it should be obvious that the Swedish government has great confidence in WFP. This is demonstrated, inter alia, through our contributions to the Programme. Our regular pledges to WFP, our contributions to the Food Aid Convention and IEFR, channelled entirely through the Programme, together make Sweden one of the major contributors to the World Food Programme. The Swedish government has chosen WFP as the channel for its food aid, firstly, because of our high regard for the competence and efficiency of the programme and, secondly, because we support the multilateral institutions. We believe that food aid is an area especially well suited for multilateral channels, both because of the various destinations and complexities involved and also because multilateral food aid should be void of any political measures and does not, therefore, create a recipient’s dependence on a single donor.
In that context we are happy to note that the advantages of the multilateral channels are being increasingly recognized by donors. We appeal to both existing and new donors, in the food aid area to give further consideration to the possibilities of their contributions to the World Food Programme.
This goal has a special relevance to the Food Aid Convention. Even a minor increase in the proportion of Food Aid Convention - at present barely 5 per cent - channelled through the World Food Programme could have a major impact on WFPs resources position during the present biennium.
Quite naturally, WFP is involved in both development projects and in emergencies. The role of WFP is quite clear in both cases. Of course it will be desirable if more resources could be devoted to development work. Present circumstances have, unfortunately, prevented this. Consequently, we do not quarrel with the share going to emergencies since we believe that the World Food Programme has a very important role to play as the multilateral channel and coordinator of food aid in emergencies.
Likewise, we should like to commend WFP’e emphasis on food self-reliance projects in a broad sense and the priorities accorded to the poorest people in the poorest countries.
I should like to add that the programme has been able to maintain and increase ever more complex activities while keeping down administrative costs to roughly 5 per cent of total deliveries. This is, to our mind, a remarkable achievement.
As to emergencies, these are presently under intense discussions in the CFA. We welcome the proposed shift from emergencies to development assistance whenever feasible. The Swedish government has taken an active part in these discussions, and we expect to be fully involved also in the future as regards the follow-up to the discussions during the last month’s CFA session about further improvements in the emergency procedures, including consideration of the role of the Comittee itself in this process.
In this connection we very much welcome the agreement in principle reached on the convening of a joint WFP/IEFR conference. We are ready to consult on this matter whenever requested.
In our view, an IEFR pledging conference constitutes an important step forward. It is indeed gratifying to note that, through voluntary contributions, the IEFR will this year for the first time attain its 500,000 tonnes target. This augurs well for the pledging conference.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, I should like to give our full support to the 1.2 billion dollar target and the resolution before us. This may be an ambitious goal in present circumstances. Nevertheless, it is necessary. Whether it will be achieved or not depends to a large extent on the chances of attracting new donors. As stated before, the total WFP resources position will also depend largely on FAC contributions. New Food Aid Convention donors and more WFP channelling are of critical importance. Through the Swedish regular FAC and IEFR contributions we shall certainly continue our strong support for this programme.
G. OLIVEIRA (Guinée-Bissau): Je serai crès bref. Je voudrais tout d’abord féliciter M. de Brito pour le brillant exposé qu’il nous a fait on matin sur les nouveaux objectifs du PAM. La délégation de Guinée-Bissau, ayant pris connaissance que les objectifs de contribution du PAM ont été de 20 pour cent, à savoir 1,2 milliard de dollars pour les années 1983-84, tient à exprimer sa satisfaction.
Mon pays bénéficie de l’aide du PAM pour les programmes d’urgence comme pour les programmes de développement rural touchant les coucres les plus défavorisés. En conséquence, nous exprimons notre total appui au projet de résolution on contribution pour la période 1983-84 et prions les Etats Membres donateurs de ne ménager aucun effort our que l’objectif prévu soit atteint.
KYO-EUN KIM (Korea, Republic of): First of all, I should like to thank Mr. Brito for his excellent introductory remarks on the subject under review. The Government of the Republic of Korea fully supports and endorses the target of $1.2 billion for the WFP pledges for the period from 1983 - 1984 and the draft resolution for the Conference mentioned in Document C 81/LIM/10. My Government is very happy to note that in 1981, out of the total new commitments for development projects, about 85 percent went to low-income food-deficit countries and about 80 percent was directed to projects in support of agricultural production and rural development.
The Korean Government is also satisfied with the fact that the WFP food purchases were being increasingly made in developing countries to stimulate development and foster cooperation among developing countries. In this regard on behalf of my country I would like to express appreciation of the WFP’s efforts.
AMIDJONO MARTOSUWIRYO (Indonesia): I wish to thank Mr. Brito for his detailed and lucid introduction of the subject under discussion which gave us a clear picture of the progress made by the WFP in the performance of its duties. Since the very outset, Indonesia has always been a strong supporter of the Programme and will continue to lend its support. The Government of Indonesia always does its utmost to contribute more to the success of the Programme. Being aware of the growing need for food aid and taking into account also the present national food resource level, the Government of Indonesia has decided to make an additional contribution to the Programme in the form of foodstuffs, namely corn and mung beans.
My delegation is very satisfied to observe the progress made and the increase in the use of food aid for development. In the opinion of my delegation this cannot be interpreted to mean that the Programme does not pay full attention to emergency operations. A slight decrease in emergency food aid must be regarded as a reflection of the success of food aid for rural development and agricultural development.
Due to the success of its development, national governments are in a position to overcome emergency situations and, if they still need food aid from the Programme, the volume or size of food aid should be less than before.
My delegation appreciates very much the triangular transaction and hopes that it can be further expanded. We do understand that this transaction will stimulate development not only in recipient countries but also in countries which are in a position to sell the commodities needed, to strengthen cooperation among developing countries and to ensure the efficient operation of food assistance itself.
I must endorse the statement made by our distinguished colleague from India - if my recollection is correct - that there are various types of famine such as income famine in developing countries. The national governments concerned of course have fought as hard as they can and I understand that FAO and WFP have rendered their assistance in combatting those famines. I wish FAO and WFP could pay particular attention to the elimination of income famine of rural people who are, in fact, the poorest among the poor. In the case of Indonesia, it refers to the group of people who have been resettled in a new area. If they succeed in producing food and other agricultural products, they might slowly go on to produce surpluses. However, they will face the problem of channeling their products to the market. This problem exists in the resettlement area in my country.
My delegation appeals to WFP and to FAO that food aid for development should also include provision for establishing market infrastructure, namely farmer cooperatives, in resettlement areas.
With regard to the pledging target for 1983-84 of $1.2 billion, my delegation is of the opinion that though there is an increase of 20 percent as compared with the last biennium target, the level is still a very modest one and it must be considered as a minimum target. Hence, my delegation supports the. draft resolution as contained in the document under discussion.
M. MORIMOTO (Japan): First of all, I should like to congratulate and thank Mr. Brito for his excellent introductory statement and also express appreciation for the WFP’s good performance of activities. My Government is one of the keen supporters of WFP and has in fact recently increased its normal pledging in IEFR contribution year by year. Furthermore, a substantial amount of food aid to the refugees and displaced persons in the world was additionally made by my Government through WFP. My Government will continue to support the activities of WFP.
Finally, my delegation supports the new biennium pledging target of $1.2 billion for 1983-84 and hopes that the other countries in a position to do so can participate and also contribute in order to achieve the new target.
S. PRACHIMDHIT (Thailand): First of all, my delegation would like to express its appreciation of the excellent presentation of the topic under discussion by Mr. Brito, the Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme. Having considered the draft resolution in Document C 81/LIM/10 regarding the target for the World Food Programme pledges for the biennium 1983-84, the Thai delegation fully supports the target as proposed.
In my delegation’s view, the proposed target fixing at $1.2 billion would be appropriate for the effective continuation of World Food Programme activities throughout the world. In this connexion my delegation would like to point out that the distribution of food aid in every possible form should be based on the equitable principle, taking into account particularly the urgent need and emergency situation in various parts of the world.
My delegation attaches considerable importance to the aid to refugees and displaced persons for which the volume of aid should not be reduced, for humanitarian reasons they should receive more attention from the international community.
M. ARAFAH (Jordan) (Original language Arabic): I would like to mention three points here. First of all I would like to thank Mr. Brito for his very lucid explanations. I would like to thank the donor countries for their present and future contributions to the WFP and thirdly, Jordan supports the target of $1.2 billion for the 1983-84 biennium.
We hope that we can now look at projects for feeding animals because breeding is part of the resources of the inhabitants of the developing countries.
K. GADIS (Grèce): Je serai également très bref. Je voudrais surtout souligner l’importance que ma délégation accorde aux objectifs annoncés par le Directeur exécutif par intérim, M. Brito, dans son introduction révélatrice, et cela pour deux raisons.
Tout d’abord, parce qu’ils constituent un mécanisme contre la famine et la malnutrition dans le monde. D’ailleurs ces objectifs visent la bonne exécution et le développement des infrastructures dans les pays les moins favorisês. C’est pourquoi la Grèce contribuera de tous ses efforts au Programme alimentaire mondial.
Je saisis cette occasion pour affirmer qu’à la prochaine Conférence des contributions, le forum le plus approprié, mon pays fixera le niveau de sa contribution.
Ne croyant pas que le soutien le plus fort s’exprime par les phrases les plus longues, je me permets simplement de confirmer le plein appui du gouvernement grec aux objectifs du PAM pour les années 1983-84.
A. LOUCA (Cyprus): I would also like to join the other speakers and congratulate Mr. Brito for his excellent introduction on the subject. I would also like to congratulate the whole staff of the World Food Programme for the high efficiency with which they run this Programme. Cyprus very much appreciates the value of this Programme and has been one of the beneficiaries and is very grateful for all the assistance she has received from this Programme. We are strong supporters of this Programme and we fully endorse the draft pledging target of $1.2 billion for the year 1983-84.
F. D’ALMEIDA (Bénin): Je serai très bref, parce qu’à ce stade de la discussion je crois que tout a déjà été dit. Je voudrais simplement ajouter ma voix au concert de celles qui m’ont précédé pour donner mon appui total à la Résolution qui nous est proposée.
J’en profite pour complimente. M. Brito pour le dynamisme et l’intelligence avec lesquels il donne de nouvelles impulsions au PAM.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie Monsieur le représentant du Bénin pour la déclaration la plus condensée de cette séance (continue en anglais).
May I now invite the Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme to comment on the points raised during the debate?
B. de A. BRITO (WFP): I think the first observation I should make at the end of this long debate is that we in the Programme are particularly grateful for all the expressions of support the different delegations made during their interventions. I think that your debate proves once again that the World Food Programme is an organization within the UN system which provides effective assistance to the developing countries.
I was particularly pleased with the fact that practically all the delegations which spoke supported the pledging target proposed by the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes and already endorsed by the FAO Council. As many of you have said, this is a minimum target. It is an ambitious target at the same time, but it is a minimum target. The achievement of this target, as I mentioned in my initial intervention, is vital for the carrying out of extremely important development support and emergency operations in the coming years, and therefore I feel that this debate is the best omen for the pledging conference which is now scheduled for early March 1982, probably March the 2nd, to be a successful conference.
Many comments were made on the criteria for the allocation of resources and the way the World Food Programme has been trying to adjust to new realities and new demands. I must say that in the Programme, and I can speak for my colleagues on this point, are proud of that. We have been trying to adjust the Programme to the realities of the eighties to bring food aid in line with what effectively is needed as a developing tool at this point. I was particularly pleased by the fact that full support was given for the concentration of resources on priority countries. There is poverty and poverty; some people are more poor than others and we must recognize this, and I think the priorities which the Programme is following reflect this very simple fact.
I was also particularly pleased to hear the support for our effort to move, together with recipient countries and following their priorities, more and more in support of food production. We feel, and I personally strongly feel, that food aid should be a measure for increasing self-reliance, a step in the direction of self-reliance, otherwise it does not make sense, except, of course, for emergencies The fact that you supported the strong concentration of development food aid for the support of production is a great encouragement for us, and I think a great encouragement also for those people in the recipient countries who are planning the utilization of assistance received from us, from this Programme, in a way to support food production.
A reference was made to disincentives. I must say that this question of disincentives was recognized right at the beginning of our history. The Programme was created precisely in order to eliminate disincentives from food aid. The idea of project aid is precisely to avoid disincentives to production. That was the basis, our origin, twenty years ago. Precisely because of the need to avoid disincentives we look for clear development objectives, well-defined beneficiaries, looking into the conditions prevalent in an area tosee if food aid can be provided in an effective way without causing negative consequences. This is the very reason for our existence and because of that I strongly believe in project food aid and the World Food Programme. Gradually, little by little, we are increasing our activities and this brings me. to the point of resources. I indicated that this year $510 million were committed to development projects. This is in fact a record, with the only exception of the year 1976, when the Programme was replenishing a very depleted pipeline of projects after a crisis. Therefore we see a clear trend of growing activities in support of development.
I must say also, and this debate clearly recognizes the fact, that we are faced with more emergencies. This is not our choice. However, the Programme is trying to respond as much as we can to those critical situations of people whose lives may depend tomorrow on the assistance we give today, and it is therefore so important that our emergency operations be not only developed but further improved in efficacy.
Before continuing on resources perhaps I should go back to one point related to criteria and methods of operation which was made by the representative of Barbados. He raised a very interesting question, when to terminate a project of food aid. Well, it is not a simple question. You terminate a project in many ways; you terminate a project of food aid when you accomplish its objectives. You terminate a project of food aid, in extremely rare cases, when you come to the conclusion that food aid is not the best tool to achieve the objectives which were aimed at. That is another very understandable reason to
terminate a project. We can terminate a project also for the very simple reason that the food situation in the country has changed. We can terminate a project, for instance, a supplementary feeding project, because the government feels it is already in a position to replace our own supplies. There is no general rule. I can only tell you, and those who work closely with the Programme know very well, in each project summary and in each plan of operations, there is a clause indicating how the succeeding phase should take place and in principle how the government should take over afterwards. The idea is always of an interim assistance while it is needed. That is the principle.
Coming back to the question of resources, I would say that the issue of competition is rather theoretical. I made reference to last year with 66 percent for development, 34 percent for emergencies. I think all of us agree that if we can use food aid as investment to promote production that is better. All of us.agree also that when there are calamaties of larger proportions, obviously, more will go to emergencies. There is no way out. In 1974/75 when in the Indian sub-continent there were special difficulties even among development projects, certain projects were phased out and interrupted and other projects were accelerated; why? For the very simple reason that when a special need comes, special situations occur, you have to react in an intelligent and rational way and therefore I would say that it is too hypothetical to speak about competition in this connexion.
I also would say that the best protection for development activities of the Programme as far as resources are concerned is to ensure that the IEFR, which is the specific arrangement made to cover emergency requirements, is properly filled. The fact that this year, for the first time, we reached the 500 000 tons target, is extremely positive. Right now we have still a balance of resources out of the $45 million of the regular resources allocated for emergencies. Well, with additional contributions for the IEFR we have better hopes, not only of keeping to the level of $45 million for emergency allocations, and no more, from our regular resources, but also even of preserving a balance which ultimately would be transferred to the regular resources of the Programme. Therefore I want to make it clear that, by responding to the IEFR, we are also protecting the development activities of the Programme and therefore this is again, to some extent at least, a false dilemma.
Some delegations referred to the cash question and I would like to fully endorse their concern for a need to provide the Programme with adequate cash resources.
The Programme is a food programme. However, we need cash to transport the food. Transport costs are high, as you all know. We need cash also to pay for the internal subsidy in the least developed countries and this subsidy is absolutely essential for those countries to run WFP-supported projects. And of course we need cash for our administrative needs. I must say on this last point that we are particularly proud of the fact that barely over 5 percent is used out of our resources in overheads and administration. This is a record and we are proud of this record. Even with the new administrative budget which the Committee on Food Aid approved a few weeks ago we are still under 6 percent for overheads, and this I believe is an achievement.
Some comments were made by the delegate of Syria on the quality control of food. Perhaps the first remark I should make is that we are not a technical agency, we are a programme which provides food for investment in development or for emergencies. So the larger issue of quality control of food is obviously not of our direct concern. However, I can assure delegates that in all cases quality controls are made of each cargo supplied to the Programme, both at the point of loading and at the point of unloading. Therefore all precautions are taken to ensure that adequate and proper food is supplied to WFP-supported operations.
Reference was also made to losses. Here again I would say that every dollar lost, every minimum fraction lost in quantities of food, is a very bad thing. However, we have also to understand that in moving food in large quantities sometimes a loss is unavoidable. Whoever deals with the movement of cargo, food grains and even worse, other kinds of foodstuffs, knows that a certain level of losses is unavoidable. The fact that the World Food Programme has an average of something like 0.5 percent of pre-c.i.f. losses is extremely good, viewed by those who deal with these matters and know the problem involved. However, I still repeat, every dollar lost is very bad and we should obviously try to avoid losses as much as possible. Naturally there is also an element of cost there. In some cases we must also take into account the fact that we are moving cargoes long distances, with problems of humidity, problems of defective transport conditions, and therefore we are not just speaking of moving cargoes from Rotterdam to another European port, we. are moving cargoes in specially difficult conditions and, even worse, when we are speaking about inland transportation.
Purchase: I was particularly pleased by the extent of support of the delegations for the policy of increasing purchase. Obviously this is tied to the cash available to us. The Zimbabwe operation is a good example of a successful operation and the simple fact that Zimbabwean maize is reaching destinations as far as Dakar and up to Mali, on competitive conditions, shows that this can be done to the advantage
of all. I am very happy with the support that you give to my colleagues and myself on initiatives of this kind. I think this is the right way that we should be moving.
Sales: One delegation made comments on the need to avoid sales of commodities. I must say that the sale of commodities was a very special arrangement under special conditions and made as an experiment. It will be reviewed by the next CFA, April 1982, and the only reason for going into that arrangement on an experimental basis was because we/were short of cash. But still I can assure delegations here that all care is taken to ensure that there is no negative effect either in normal trade patterns or in production conditions for the recipient countries.
Emergency operations: Several delegations indicated support for an effort to improve emergency operations supported by the World Food Programme. This is, as I think everybody here knows, a question which the Committee on Food Aid is dealing with. The CFA has dealt with it in the last two sessions and will continue to do so in 1982 at the Spring Session of the Committee. As I mentioned in my statement, improvements are possible and we need the cooperation of all parties concerned. We in the Secretariat are doing our best to cut short the time of delivery, to make in many ways our response more effective. In some cases problems are insurmountable. In most cases also it is absolutely essential that we have the cooperation of both donor and recipient countries.
Coordination of food aid in emergencies is absolutely vital, and I must say that the World Food Programme has been trying to provide this coordination whenever requested, whenever conditions suggest that it is needed. The case of the large emergency operations in Somalia, Pakistan and other areas is a good example of that coordination of that coordinating role of the World Food Programme as far as emergency food aid is concerned. I must also say that in trying to improve conditions of our emergency operations we must take extreme care to respect the independence of the Secretariat. You have a Secretariat which assesses requests, processes them, in this case under the authority of the Director-General of FAO, and it would be very detrimental if arrangements instead of moving into faster action in fact detracted from that. I do not want to go further on this point for the simple reason that the CFA will be discussing this matter in April, but I make the point, I want to be extremely clear on that, that the improvements should be in no way to the detriment of the speed of the response by the World Food Programme, in this case under the authority of the Director-General, nor should they be to the detriment of the independence of the Secretariat to assess conditions and requirements. This is extremely important.
IEFR: As all of us know, we are extremely close to a consensus on the way to improve the International Emergency Food Reserve by adopting the procedure of a pledging conference. It is possible, I hope, that consensus will finally be reached before next March. If that happens it will also be possible to have at that time a joint pledging conference for the regular resources of the Programme and for the IEFR. According to instructions I received from the Committee on Food Aid, I an undertaking consultations in this respect to assess if such a consensus exists at this time. I believe that the procedure of a joint pledging conference represents a step ahead in providing a larger measure of assurance for increased resources for emergencies.
A reference was also made here during our discussions to one particular project discussed in the Committee on Food Aid a few weeks ago. This project was prepared by World Food Programme staff. I am responsible for the recommendation of that project. I presented that project to the members of the CFA because I thought it was a good project. I continue to believe that it is a good project. The CFA discussed the project and decided to continue discussion at the next session. In the light of that I feel that I should not make further comments on this specific point except for the fact that I presented a recommendation on the basis of my best judgement of what was a good project and I still think it is a good project.
Reference was made also to one particular emergency operation in South-East Asia and the criteria utilized there. I must say that the United Nations system as a whole, and the World Food Programme as part of it, in extremely difficult conditions tried in that case to provide emergency assistance strictly on a humanitarian basis where it was needed, and with whatever controls were possible, as is usual with any emergency operation. We feel that this approach was the right one, and therefore I must say that my own assessment of our participation in that particular emergency operation is that we performed our duty under extremely difficult conditions, and we apparently will be called to continue to perform that duty, still under extremely difficult conditions.
I think I have covered, if not all, most of the questions raised during your debate. We are approaching now a pledging conference. This pledging conference will determine to a large extent our future, the future of the projects which we are operating in more than 100 countries. I very much hope that governments in making their decisions on what to pledge will take fully into account that this Programme tries to help the really poorest people of the world. Even in the very poor countries, we are not in coastal areas, we are not in areas of easy access. We are in the rural areas, we are where really the difficulties are the greatest. I very well know that the resources are limited, but I very much hope that the fact
that this Programme is so much attuned to the needs and requirements of the really poorest people of the world will be taken into account in the decisions made by governments on the level of their pledges.
I am confident, Mr. Chairman, perhaps because I am an optimist, I am confident that we will have a successful pledging conference. With your blessing, with the support of this Conference, I believe, as I said this morning, we will be launching our effort for the pledging conference in the best possible way.
CHAIRMAN: I thank you, Mr. Brito, for this excellent explanation and these comments.
F. ANBOOL (Yemen, People’s Democratic Republic of) (Original language Arabic): I would like to congratulate Mr. Brito, the Executive Director ad Interim, for his introduction this morning of the Programme’s activities. We in Democratic Yemen consider the World Food Programme to be one of the important organizations for developing the agricultural sector and rural areas in general. The Programme provides small-scale farmers with the necessary facilities to increase their agricultural output and to provide adequate food supplies. We are grateful to WFP for its efforts to combat the effects of natural disasters such as drought or floods over the past few years. Mr. Brito’s efficient directorship is due to his in-depth knowledge of the real problems of developing countries. My country’s delegation therefore firmly supports the pledging target of $1.2 million set for WFP’s regular resources. This amount is a reasonable one to enable WFP to meet the demands of the developing countries for food deliveries. This in turn can enable developing countries to achieve self-sufficiency in food production. Our delegation also supports the Draft Resolution of the Pledging target for WFP.
V. BEAUGE (Argentina): Hemos escuchado con mucha atención la intervención final y el resumen ofectuado por el Dr. Brito y deseamos felicitarle por ello. Coincidimos plenamente con los conceptos que él ha expresado y con el resumen que ha efectuado de las deliberaciones que han tenido lugar en esta Comisión sobre el tema.
Como sugerenciaadicional desearíamos reiterar nuestro deseo, también expresado por otras delegaciones, de que se le conceda la mayor atención a las actividades de cooperación entre países en desarrollo, que tienen lugar en el marco de las tareas del PMA.
CHAIRMAN: That now brings us to the end of this afternoon’s debate. We had 53 countries participating in the debate on the World Food Programme, 44 of them this afternoon. Many countries commended the World Food Programme on its operations both in the field of development and emergency operations. Delegates confirmed the substantial multiplier effect the World Food Programme operations are having and welcomed new operational approaches.
All speakers stressed the importance of establishing for the two years 1983-84 a target for voluntary contributions of 1.2 million, of which not less than one-third should be in cash and/or services in aggregate.
And a final remark: I think there was overall endorsement of one of the funadmental principles of the World Food Programme, that is, food aid has to be an instrument to assist countries on their way to self-reliance.
With these words, distinguished delegates, I conclude this afternoon’s debate.
The meeting rose at 18.10 hours.
La séance est levée à 18 h 10.
Se levanta la sesión a las 18.10 horas.
