CHAIRMAN: As much as we have a great amount of business to accomplish today, I want to express appreciation for the effort that was made yesterday to stay within the time limit. You have been very helpful and we have a very big agenda to get through today. The first speaker I would like to call is His Excellency Mr Kofoed, Minister of Agriculture of Denmark.
N. Anker KOFOED (Denmark): Our meeting takes place against the background of rather unfavourable natural and economic conditions. We live in a kind of paradox. Many industrialized countries face the need for reducing production as a result of too large resources in agriculture. At the same time developing countries must step up efforts to increase their production. The harvest this year has been below average in a number of Member States of importance for the world food situation. Therefore the state of food and agriculture looks a bit darker than when the Director-General published his report. Furthermore, the economic recession which existed at the time of the last FAO Conference still prevails.
The variations in crops from year to year and from one region of the world to another reminds us how dependent we are on the climatic conditions, even in technologically advanced countries. However, we should be careful to draw wide-ranging conclusions based on short-term changes. Reappraisal of concepts and approaches of world food security must take place in the light of prospects for the late eighties and the nineties and not under the impression of events during only one year.
It appears necessary to give high priority to assistance to countries in sub-Saharan Africa where projections of populations growth and of food production show growing deficits. We appreciate the initiative of the Director-General in calling a meeting focusing on African problems a few weeks ago.
We have a good basis for a reappraisal of the world food security concept in the report of the Director-General to the Committee on World Food Security. The report foresees three lines of attack - through production, stability of supplies, and access to available supplies. We accept both the concept and approach. The ideas in the report of the Director-General on the institutional framework in connection with world food security have been provocative. These ideas are still highly controversial because they infringe on the competence and mandates of existing international organizations. It is useful to provoke discussions but it is also important that we take the necessary time to consider the implications of new ideas which change the balance between existing institutions.
The economic climate in the world was rather gloomy at the time of the last Conference in 1981. That was the background for a situation in which a number of countries contributing substantially to the budget of the Organizaiton felt obliged to vote against the proposed rises in the costs. My own country voted for the budget but with considerable reluctance, as explained in a Nordic statement.
The economic situation is not better today, even if some recovery is forecast. For this reason we appreciate that the Director-General has prepared a budget better adapted to the present situation. We have noted the efforts made to rationalize and to utilize the resources of the Organization more efficiently. This is a process which most of the member governments of FAO, including my own, have been exposed to. As a responsible member of this Organization I am obliged to point to the wide area comprising expenditure on administration. There is an enormous development of new technology in this field of which the Organization is making some use. We have also noted with satisfaction that the budget is showing restraint in the allocations to administration and that the Organization will introduce more new technology. I welcome this trend since there is room for improvement in the Organization' s performance in the field of administration. With the reduction in funds allocated, combined with use of better technology, it will, in our opinion, be possible to bring about further improvements.
In this connection I have to point to the cumbersome recruitment system which FAO is making use of and whereby applicants to advertised posts are left for long periods before receiving a reaction to their applications. I hope that this area will benefit from a modernization process which could streamline the system and serve the Organization in maintaining the high professional standard for which we all wish.
What remains to be discussed after an acceptance of the level of the budget are the priorities given to the many different activities of the Organization. This will be the main theme for discussions in Commission II.
I would, however, like to mention a few areas where my Government' s views are not identical with the priorities given in FAO 's Programme of Work and Budget for 1984-85. The area of nutrition is one of the fundamental responsibilities given to FAO by its constitution. My Government, as mentioned earlier, is supporting action in relation to improving world food security. However, we feel that it is not enough to advocate and support increased food production. It is also very important to improve the nutritious quality of the food produced. FAO should, in our opinion, pay more attention to this aspect.
In 1977 a new system of FAO Representatives at the country level was introduced as the first step in a process of decentralizing FAO's activities at the country level. My Government supported this proposal, including the expansion of the system comprising an additional number of developing countries covered, at recent conferences. We did so to support the common wish to make FAO more action-orientated.
In connection with the expansion of the system of FAO Representatives my Government has on several occasions pointed to the possibility of a corresponding reduction of the allocations to FAO Regional Offices. May I propose that in view of the good country coverage now reached with the system of FAO Representatives, the Organization be requested to review the long-term purpose and role of its Regional Offices with the aim of bringing about a further decentralization at the country level. To secure the optimal use of scarce resources it is important also that member countries and officials in the international organizations are aware of possible overlapping in the work of the organizations. It is not very fruitful to use the time to compete on responsibilities and concrete tasks. Cooperation should be the key word.
According to reports received, I am obliged to state here that there is an urgent need for better cooperation between international organizations. There is also room for improvement in the cooperation between international organizations and national aid agencies. These improvements should be brought about in the Field, and certainly also at Headquarters. Since we are in FAO I will not hesitate to state that improvement in the cooperation between the agencies situated here in Rome is urgently needed.
My Government is strongly committed to support international development efforts. Unfortunately the resources are limited and we therefore spend considerable time and energy on discussing budget levels and programme priorities. I feel that marked improvement in utilizing the limited resources in a more efficient manner could be brought about by better cooperation.
An important part of the technical assistance activities of FAO is financed from official development assistance (ODA) in the form of voluntary contributions by donor countries either directly or through UNDP. We regard the technical assistance activities of FAO as extremely Valuable and I am therefore happy .to be able to say that following a general debate in Parliament this year, the Danish Government has decided to continue to maintain Danish ODA well beyond the 0.7 target set forth in the international development strategy. That decision will also allow Denmark to continue its high level of support of international development efforts in the area of food and agriculture, bilaterally as well as through contributions to international organizations.
Finally, Mr Chairman, I would like to turn to the World Food Programme. This Programme has grown to be the largest development programme in the UN system outside the world bank group, and it has managed to administer large quantities of food aid very efficiently with a minimum of administrative costs. The Programme continues to work as an action-orientated development programme with enough flexibility to adapt itself to changing circumstances. It has, thus, met the sub-Saharan African challenge with growing emphasis on development projects in Africa.
May this example be a good omen for the future of international cooperation in food and agricultural development in the world.
L.J. CASTAÑOS MARTINEZ (México): Deseamos felicitar al señor John Block por su elección como Presidente y por la eficacia v buen humor en la conducción del debate general . Extendemos este reconocimiento a los Vicepresidentes .
La Delegación de México ofrece una calurosa felicitación al Director General, Dr. Edouard Saouma, por la organización de la Conferencia y compartimos con él muchas de sus preocupaciones y propuestas contenidas en su declaración a la Conferencia.
Para la Delegación de México, es particularmente trascendente participar en este evento con tan nobles propósitos, en momentos de fuertes tensiones que amenazan la convivencia y la cooperación internacional.
La recuperación de la crisis y la recesión mundial que enfrentamos no se vislumbra como una mera reactivación económica, es imperativo modificar las reglas y orientaciones del sistema económico internacional actual que resulta injusto e inoperante. Es por ello que México lucha por un orden económico internacional diferente, con apoyo en un esfuerzo multilateral vigorizado con un enfoque de negociación global en las relaciones económicas del mundo.
Postulamos que Solamente en la paz, concebida no sólo como ausencia de guerra, sino como efectivo desarrollo economico con justicia, equidad y libertad en todas las naciones podrá avanzarse en el esfuerzo de seguridad alimentaria y atención a los problemas del hambre.
Destacamos aquí la trascendencia de los esfuerzos que realizan en Centroamérica: Colombia, Venezuela, Panamá y México como integrantes del Grupo de CONTADORA. Reiteramos los principios de derecho internacional que deben normar la actuación de los Estados y que México defiende permanentemente, como son entre otros, la libre determinación de los pueblos; la no intervención; la solución pacífica de controversias; la abstención de recurrir a la amenaza o al uso de la fuerza y el respeto a la integridad territorial de los Estados.
Las tensiones políticas a nivel mundial asi como la recesión económica que abierta o veladamertte atraviesan todos los países del orbe, hacen necesario fortalecer nuestras instituciones internacionales de carácter multilateral, Vemos con preocupación que la mayoría de estas organizaciones no hayan experimentado un crecimiento sustancial en sus presupuestos y se han visto condenadas a un estancamiento de sus recursos y programas. México, se opone aquí como en otros foros, al debilita-miento patente que han sufrido estos órganos de apoyo y entendimiento universal. Ante estas limitaciones económicas reconocemos ampliamente el esfuerzo que realiza el Director General de la FAO.
Por otra parte, apoyamos todo esfuerzo por la soberanía alimentaria y nacional y respaldamos, sin reservas, el concepto revisado y ampliado de seguridad alimentaria asi como las doce orientaciones generales para el reajusté agrícola internacional. Las implicaciones y trascendencia de estos conceptos y objetivos a nivel nacional, regional y mundial permiten esperar que se supere la inconveniente, desequilibrada y peligrosa situación prevaleciente.
Consideramos que el esfuerzo deberá desarrollarse en varios frentes, entre otros: la producción, la disponibilidad y el acceso y asistencia alimentaria. Esto no será suficiente si no profundiza-mos en atacar el problema de la pobreza, causa básica de la desnutrición, de la incapacidad productiva y de las manifestaciones de inconformidad Social.
Los problemas de hambre y desnutrición se relacionan a aspectos demográficos pero, sobre todo, básicamente a la desproporción en la distribución de la riqueza mundial y a la desigual distribución de la riqueza a nivel de cada país.
Vemos con creciente interés, los planteamientos y resultados de la Conferencia Mundial sobre la Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural, concepto y marco integral para combatir la pobreza en las áreas rurales. En México, recientemente, se ha elevado a la categoría constitucional, el concepto de desarrollo rural integral en el entendido de que los campesinos son los sujetos del desarrollo rural y su contribución a la producción agropecuaria y forestal debe constituirlos como los primeros beneficiarios
Nuestro país enfretita attualmente la crisis económica más seria de su historia moderna, en el marco de una situación mundial en transición, inseguridad e inestabilidad.
Para combatirla México ha promovido reformas a los principios normativos del desarrollo socioeconómico del país con la finalidad de establecer un sistema nacional de planeación democrática; en mayo del presente año, el Presidente dé la República puso en marcha el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo para el período 1983-1988.
La estrategia que se propone el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo es la de superar la difícil coyuntura económica nacional e iniciar cambios eséructurales que demanda la sociedad, sobre todo una distribución más justa de la riqueza generada entre los distintos sectores de la población y las regiones del país. Con la puesta en marcha de éste Plan, México aspira a recobrar la capacidad de crecimiento económico sobre bases que permitan la generación de fuentes de empleo, disminución de la inflación, uso racional de los recursos naturales y protección al medio ambiente, así como el fortalecimiento del mercado interno de productos y la estructuración de un aparato productivo con mejor capacidad de respuesta a las necesidades sociales básicas.
El Contenido rural del Plan Nacional de Desarrollo comprende cuatro políticas sectoriales básicas: desarrollo rural integral, agua, bosques y selvas y reforma agraria integral.
En el contexto de este Piati, recientemente también el Presidente de la República ha dado a conocer el Programa Nacional de Alimentación que se propone como objetivos generales: asegurar la consecución de los objetivos de soberanía alimentaria y el logro de las condiciones de alimentación y nutrición que permitan el pleno desarrollo de las capacidades y potencialidades de cada mexicano.
Para implantar este programa se ha creado la Comisión Nacional de Alimentación y como expresión de reconocimiento; se instaló justamente este año en el Día Mundial de la Alimentación.
Congruente con los esfuerzos de la FAO, América Latina continúa trabajando en pro del desarrollo agropecuario, forestal y pesquero y de una mejor situación alimentaria y nutricionâl en la región. El Instituto Irtterameri&ano dé Cooperación para la Agricultura, el Sistema Económico Latinoamericano y la propia Conferencia Régional de la FAO para América Latina, se ha constituido en foros dinámicoá para él debate sustancial y la negociación fructífera.
En marzo del presente año, se constituyo el Comité de Acción sobre Seguridad Alimentaria Regional del SELA, entre cuyas actividades se encuentran la formulación de una estrategia alimentaria latinoamericana, la puesta en marcha de un mecanismo para promover activamente la cooperación técnica entre países miembros así como la promoción del intercambio comercial de alimentos y el establecimiento de mecanismos de protección alimentaria y de colaboración en casos de emergencia.
El pasado octubre, la Junta Interamericana de Agricultura aprobó la puesta en marcha del Programa Hemisférico de Seguridad Alimentaria dentro de las actividades del Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura, con lo que se demuestra la preocupación fundamental de la región de América Latina y el Caribe por coordinar esfuerzos en la lucha contra el hambre y la malnutrición.
Le preocupa a México la concentración de excedentes alimentarios en algunos países desarrollados y las implicaciones de una dependencia tan marcada de parte de la mayoría de las naciones. Las decisiones internas y unilaterales en pocos centros de decisión afectan, en estas circunstancias, las perspectivas no sólo de progreso o nutrición sino la supervivencia de decenas de millones de seres humanos.
Los países en desarrollo tenemos que buscar la soberanía alimentaria como fórmula para optimizar producción, asegurar disponibilidad y garantizar el acceso a la población de cada país. En este contexto resulta prioritario intensificar los esfuerzos de una mayor cooperación internacional, incluyendo el intercambio Sur-Sur.
Dentro de esta Conferencia, se debatirá el asunto que por su estratégico carácter para la agricultura ha requerido de toda nuestra atención durante los últimos años, me refiero al tema de los Recursos Fitogenéticos. Es indudable su importancia como insumo insustituible y perecedero para la obtención de nuevas variedades para la agricultura, induciendo modelos y formas de producción con consecuencias económicas y sociales sobre millones de campesinos en el mundo. Es este un tema que debe tener todo el apoyo científico-técnico necesario para que los responsables de la conducción de las políticas en materia agrícola alimentaria puedan tomar las decisiones que más convengan a sus pueblos.
Es por ello que México ratifica aquí, en la Sesión Plenaria de esta Conferencia de la FAO, su convicción de adoptar el principio de que los recursos fitogenéticos son patrimonio de toda la humanidad y de apoyar todos los intentos encaminados a asegurar el libre intercambio y disponibilidad de dichos recursos. Por eso, apoyamos el establecimiento de una normatividad internacional que permita el pleno uso de estos recursos, en beneficio de todos los seres humanos, sin restricciones de ninguna índole, así como el establecimiento de un banco internacional de germoplasma. Felicitamos y apoyamos por tanto al Director General en las propuestas contenidas en su magnífico informe.
No debemos olvidar que otra de las perspectivas alentadoras para mejorar la alimentación es el desarrollo de los recursos pesqueros, sobre todo, por el potencial existente en los países en desarrollo.
Es motivo de especial complacencia para la Delegación de México el anunciar que habremos de firmar en el período de esta Conferencia con el señor Director General de la FAO, el acuerdo de asistencia y cooperación para la organización del IX Congreso Forestal Mundial, a celebrarse en la ciudad de México durante el mes de julio de 1985, con lo que el Gobierno de México refrenda entusiastamente su interés de hospedar tan magno evento, orientado a destacar la contribución de los bosques, selvas y vegetación forestal de zonas áridas al desarrollo integral de la sociedad. Durante esta Conferencia será grato hacerles llegar a todos ustedes un documento preliminar de carácter informativo sobre este Congreso.
Al conmemorarse el vigésimo aniversario del inicio de actividades del Programa Mundial de Alimentos, deseamos expresar un especial reconocimiento a los esfuerzos orientados, en estos años, para brindar asistencia y ayuda alimentaria a millones de habitantes de los países en desarrollo expresando que este programa se oriente en forma creciente a los intereses de los países receptores y que sus estrategias se inserten en los planes nacionales de desarrollo.
P. DE KEERSMAEKER (Belgique): Monsieur le Président, de même que ceux de mes collègues qui m'ont précédé à cette tribune, je voudrais vous adresser les très vives félicitations de mon gouvernement et les miennes pour votre élection à la présidence de la présente session de la Conférence générale de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture. Permettez-moi de vous dire tous les voeux que je forme pour le succès de votre action.
Je voudrais de même dire au Président sortant la reconnaissance de la Belgique pour la manière exemplaire dont il a mené durant la session écoulée les travaux de notre Conférence. Je tiens également à rendre hommage à l'efficacité de la FAO dans l'aide aux pays en voie de développement et au dynamisme de son Directeur général, M. Edouard Saouma que je remercie chaleureusement de l'activité qu'il a déployée au service de l'Organisation. Je puis assurer au Directeur général qu'il peut compter sur la Belgique et moi-même pour le seconder dans sa tâche.
Enfin, la Belgique se réjouit de l'admission à la qualité de Membre de l'Organisation de Antigua-et-Barbuda, Belize, Saint-Christophe-et-Nevis et Vanuatu à qui elle souhaite cordialement la bienvenue.
Je me bornerai à exprimer quelques préoccupations qu'éprouve mon Gouvernement au sujet du problème de la lutte contre la famine et la malnutrition.
Tout d'abord, dans son rapport sur la production alimentaire en 1983, la FAO a indiqué que la production au niveau mondial est plus qu'encourageante, caractérisée par des records et des stocks suffisants pour nourrir la population mondiale. Cependant, on constate qu'une situation grave persiste dans beaucoup de pays en voie de développement surtout sur le continent africain. Il en résulte que le problème fondamental se situe dans la redistribution de disponibilités à ceux qui en manquent. Il en va de même au niveau des pays individuels où l'on voit souvent des disponibilités en céréales dans les régions productrices, mais des pénuries dans des zones moins favorisées. Ceci est un problème qui touche en premier lieu au niveau de développement du pays même.
Quoiqu'il en soit la faim dans le monde persiste et la situation reste préoccupante. Les causes fondamentales sont multiples et assez bien connues. Des remèdes ont été tentés à grande échelle sans pour autant renverser cette tendance d'aggravation continue.
Bien que l'aide alimentaire sous forme de fournitures de denrées essentielles soit un palliatif indispensable à court terme, elle ne reste qu'un remède insuffisant pour s'attaquer aux causes fondamentales.
Je crois qu'il n'y a qu'un moyen pour redresser cette grave situation de faim et de malnutrition : elle se situe à long terme. Il s'agit de coordonner tous les efforts en vue de déclencher un véritable développement rural autocentré se fondant sur la mise en valeur des ressources existantes et disponibles aux niveaux local, régional et national de chaque pays et s'orientant en priorité vers la satisfaction des besoins alimentaires nationaux. Dans le cadre d'une telle approche et tant que ses moyens le permettent, le Gouvernement Belge mène depuis plusieurs années une action en faveur de la lutte contre la faim dans le monde.
Tout récemment, sur l'initiative du Parlement Belge, mon Gouvernement a créé le Fonds de survie pour le tiers monde. Ce fonds vise à assurer la survie des personnes menacées par la faim, la malnutrition et le sous-développement dans des régions du tiers monde où l'on enregistre les plus hauts taux de mortalité dus à ces causes. C'est un objectif qui doit être réalisé d'urgence par adoption de programmes globaux portant sur des stratégies alimentaires et le développement rural intégré.
En outre, le Gouvernement Belge participe activement aux activités en faveur de la lutte contre la faim dans le monde tant au niveau mondial qu'au niveau européen par sa contribution à la mise en oeuvre de stratégies alimentaires dans les pays en voie de développement. Je ne voudrais pas manquer de me référer ici au rôle très positif joué par le Club du Sahel créé auprès de l'OCDE pour aider au développement des pays du Sahel et auquel la Belgique est étroitement associée.
Permettez-moi de vous fournir quelques chiffres qui reflètent l'importance que la Belgique attache au secteur rural comme moteur de développement : la part obligatoire de la Belgique dans le budget ordinaire de la FAO représente environ 1,5 pour cent, soit 2,6 millions de dollars en 1982. La participation belge, aux activités extrabudgétaires de la FAO s'est élevée à 8,2 millions de dollars en 1982, représentant environ 14 pour cent des montants fournis par l'ensemble des autres pays. Si on ajoute ces contributions aux activités du Programme alimentaire mondial et du Fonds international du développement agricole, l'aide de la Belgique se situe à quelque 20 millions de dollars pour l'année 1982.
Les programmes d'activités appuyés plus particulièrement par la Belgique se concentrent sur l'augmentation de la production vivrière et la préservation des récoltes complétées par un effort spécial pour la préservation et le développement du patrimoine agricole. Une attention particulière est réservée aux programmes de la vulgarisation pour l'utilisation d'engrais afin d'augmenter la production vivrière. Une contribution substantielle est affectée à ce programme pour l'exécution des projets dans six pays. La préservation des récoltes a été mentionnée à plusieurs reprises comme étant un thème de préoccupations particulières de mon pays. Il ne s'agit pas simplement d'une action isolée, mais qui s'inscrit dans un contexte plus vaste de facteurs qui affectent toutes formes de pertes alimentaires tant sur le plan de la production que sur le plan de la commercialisation.
Notre soutien continu au Programme d'assistance à la sécurité alimentaire en fait la preuve. La reconstitution de la préservation du patrimoine productif par des actions sur le plan de la lutte contre la sécheresse fait partie de ce plan pour améliorer la sécurité alimentaire. Les résultats fabuleux et le succès du projet de reboisement aux Iles du Cap-Vert en font témoignage et donnent actuellement des espoirs d'une application agro-pastorale dans des conditions climatologiques extrêmes.
L'application de techniques mises au point dans ce projet pourrait permettre d'assurer une production maximale de céréales auparavant tout à fait aléatoire. Augmenter le revenu du paysan et améliorer son alimentation font partie intégrante d'un développement rural autocentré, et s'inscrivent dans notre participation au Centre de développement horticole au Sénégal. Les résultats obtenus jusqu'à présent ont amené à doubler la production horticole en dix ans et à faciliter l'utilisation optimale des ressources naturelles disponibles dans certaines régions avec des conditions marginales pour l'agriculture.
La Belgique a l'intention de continuer sur ce chemin et d'appuyer pleinement les activités de la FAO qui visent plus spécialement le déclenchement d'un développement rural afin de permettre aux populations de se renforcer sur le plan de l'autosuffisance en alimentation. Cette autosuffisance pourrait être rendue accessible grâce aux applications des résultats qui sont actuellement obtenus par la technologie agricole dans les pays industrialisés, dans la mesure où ces techniques seraient adaptées aux systèmes de cultures traditionnelles des pays en voie de développement.
En effet, la science a fait des bonds spectaculaires et il serait souhaitable que l'on puisse transposer ces nouvelles méthodes de développement au profit des cultures tropicales; une de ces nouvelles méthodes est la culture in vitro des tissus végétaux où des succès importants ont déjà été mis à l'actif de chercheurs belges qui ont mis au point une méthode efficace de régénération de plantes entières à partir de cultures de cellules isolées.
Une seconde méthode extrêmement prometteuse consiste dans le développement de techniques industrialisées de multiplication des plantes in vitro. Les cultures de tissus d'une part, et la multiplication in vitro d'autre part, permettent d'espérer des résultats rapides pour la sélection et l'obtention d'une masse uniforme de plantes exemptes de maladie; ces méthodes seraient applicables par exemple aux cultures du café et de l'hévéa, après l'adaptation aux espèces et aux conditions écologiques locales.
Je cite également les progrès faits en matière de mobilisation de l'énergie photosynthétique en matière de médecine vétérinaire, mais sans entrer dans les détails.
Toutes ces recherches et tous ces résultats déjà obtenus relèvent de la biotechnologie que certains semblent découvrir aujourd'hui, et cependant toute la science agricole n'est que de la biotechnologie et celle-ci date de l'origine de l'humanité.
Monsieur le Président, Chers collègues, en face de ce potentiel scientifique de recherche agricole dont je crois qu'il ne cessera pas de se développer encore davantage au cours des années à venir, on ne saurait qu'être optimiste quant au succès de la lutte contre la faim et la malnutrition dans le monde.
Je voudrais enfin évoquer le rôle positif et constructif de la Communauté économique européenne dans l'aide aux pays en voie de développement qui a été mise en évidence tant par M. Pisani, Membre de la Commission de la Communauté Européenne, que par mon collègue Rocard, Ministre de l'Agriculture de France. Le temps qui m'est imparti ne me permet pas d'entrer dans les détails, mais je voudrais néanmoins souligner certains aspects essentiels de l'action de la CEE en faveur du tiers monde tels que la Convention de Lomé, le Système des préférences généralisées, les stratégies alimentaires qui vont être progressivement étendues à un plus grand nombre de pays sans oublier notre participation à la Convention d'aide alimentaire. La CEE est souvent accusée injustement de limiter ses importations en provenance de pays en voie de développement, alors qu'elle est en réalité le plus grand importateur de produits agricoles du monde.
La politique agricole commune de la CEE a assuré au sein de la CEE elle-même un développement efficace de son agriculture, ce qui a permis de garantir une quasi-autosuffisance alimentaire à ses populations en même temps qu'elle a apporté les moyens d'aider les pays démunis à faire face à leur pénurie alimentaire.
Voilà quelles sont les principales considérations et préoccupations de mon gouvernement à cette vingt-deuxième session de la Conférence générale. Je ne doute pas que grâce à l'esprit de conciliation, de réalisme et de volonté d'aboutir qui nous anime, des progrès substantiels pourront être realizes
T. YLAJARVI (Finland): Mr Chairman, on behalf of the delegation of Finland, I have the honour to express our most sincere congratulations upon your election as Chairman for the Twenty-second Session of the FAO Conference.
My Government looks upon the biennial FAO Conference as an important focal point for reviewing the global food and agriculture situation as well as for looking ahead which actions should be taken to improve the world food situation, including the world food security, the conditions of agriculture producers and rural people in general.
In today's world, full of various international crises, it is of utmost importance, that the member countries give to the FAO and other United Nations Organizations their strong support.
During the last few years the world has been going through a very serious economic recession with a heavy impact on both the developed and the developing countries, especially, on the least developed countries.
Although improvements in the economy of some important developed countries have taken place this year, the world economic outlook still remains extremely uncertain.
As far as the world food situation is concerned, the picture since our last Conference has been both good and bad. On the positive side one must mention the good harvests in 1981 and 1982 and the fact that carry-over stocks of cereals are at present at a high level.
However, in many low-income food-deficit countries and in most African countries, the food situation has even deteriorated. Last year cereal production per capita fell in 33 out of 69 low-income food-deficit countries, whilst in 24 of them the volume fell as well. Africa is, indeed, in a very grave shape which seems to get worse. Therefore, it is very appropriate that FAO's activities will be concentrated even more on this continent. It is tragic that in addition to natural catastrophes, like drought, also man-made political disasters like the difficult problem of refugees worsen the food situation.
Mr Chairman, going over to the important issues on the agenda of our Conference, I would like firstly to state my Government's firm support to this Organization. In our view, FAO is working hard and successfully in a multitude of ways to tackle the problems of food and agriculture especially in the developing countries.
The main item on the agenda of this session, of course, is the next biennium's work programme and budget. My Government has studied carefully the Director-General's proposal for Programme of Work and Budget for 1984-85, and with some comments which we are going to present later in Commission II, I can state that we are ready to support the Director-General's proposals and welcome the stringent saving measures. In this connection, I would like to refer to some points in the work programme which we consider of special importance.
We are very satisfied to note that the follow-up of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development has received enough attention in the proposed Programme of Work and Budget. More resources have been allocated to the sub-programmes dealing with agricultural education, extension and training, agrarian reform and land settlement, rural institutions and employment as well as women's role in agricultural production and rural development. This we warmly welcome and appreciate that a special report on WCARRD follow-up is on the agenda of this Conference.
On our agenda there is also for the first time another important topic for discussion, namely Food and Population. We are of the opinion that it is particularly opportune that the FAO Conference should discuss the FAO's study at this time, because an International Conference on Population is to be held in August 1984 as a follow-up to the World Population Conference of 1974. We think that a research subject of this nature falls very naturally to the sphere of competence of. the FAO. The findings of this study will assist the developing countries in planning their national food strategies and policies and they are also helpful in the determination of international development strategies and policies.
The Finnish Government also supports the emphasis on research and technology development in the work programme and the establishment of a new Research and Technology Development Division.
Another important point which has not been mentioned specifically on our agenda is the protection of the environment. I want to express our deep concern about the risks of pollution of soil, forests and watercourses. We propose that FAO strengthens its activities in this field in cooperation with other UN agencies. I am referring specifically to the problem of acid rain which is a great concern for us all. According to the Director-General's proposal for the next Programme of Work and Budget a report of the state of natural resources and the human environment of food and agriculture will be prepared for the Latin American and Caribbean regions as well as for African, Asian and Pacific regions. We hope that a similar report will be prepared for the European region as well.
I would like to say a few words about the Field Programmes of FAO. It is really very regrettable that the present biennium has witnessed a marked downturn. As the Director-General states in the Review of Field Programmes, this is a most worrying development in view of the deteriorating food situation of many developing countries and the mounting challenge of food security.
This unfortunate development is a direct result of a falling off in the flow of contributions to UNDP, the largest single source of allocations for FAO's field projects. On the other hand, Trust Fund delivery has continued to expand compensating partly the decline in UNDP allocations. My Government, in accordance with its foreign policy, maintains its full and firm support to the United Nations system as a whole. In our development assistance policy the multilateral aid plays an important role. We have been able to increase our contributions and pledges to such UN-organizations and programmes as FAO, WFP, IFAD and UNDP. Parallel to that we have increased our bilateral aid as well, thus maintaining the upward trend of our total development assistance. I am happy to note that we are planning to intensify our efforts in the field of food aid and international agricultural research.
Permit me to conclude by a few remarks on forestry which is of great economic and environmental importance in my country. Knowing by experience how much wise management of existing forest resources and good planning of the utilization of forests can contribute to the welfare of the national economy, I have considered with great concern the alarming results of the FAO/UNEP study on tropical forests. The rapid regression and degradation of the tropical forests presented in the study is no doubt a serious threat to the living conditions for people in many rural areas. In our view this matter deserves urgent attention by governments and the tropical forest situation should be monitored and updated continuously by joint FAO/UNEP efforts.
Mr Chairman, last but not least, I have the pleasure, on behalf of the Government of Finland, to extend our warm congratulations and welcome to the new member countries of FAO: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Saint Cristopher and Nevis and Vanuatu.
G. CASTRO GUERRERO (Colombia): Señor Presidente, Señor Presidente Independiente del Consejo, Señor Director General, señores Ministros, señores Delegados y Observadores:
Vivimos una época particularmente difícil. Los problemas que afectan la producción de alimentos, denunciados en todas las Conferencias anteriores, están muy lejos de resolverse y siguen obstaculizando los esfuerzos que vienen haciendo nuestros gobiernos, por mejorar los niveles de alimentación de nuestros pueblos.
Los precios reales de la mayoría de los productos agropecuarios, después de haber descendido en los últimos años a los niveles más bajos desde la época de la postguerra, se mantienen excesivamente bajos y continúan sometidos a una excesiva inestabilidad.
Asimismo los países desarrollados importadores de materias primas han intensificado las medidas proteccionistas, agravando las trabas al comercio exterior de nuestros países, mientras la exportación subsidiada de sus productos, tanto agrícolas como manufacturados, distorsiona y reduce artificialmente el mercado mundial en un proceso incontrolado que condenamos.
Al mismo tiempo, la deuda externa de los países del tercer mundo, excede la increíble suma de seiscientos mil millones de dólares, comprometiendo gravemente la capacidad de importación de los bienes que requieren nuestros países para su crecimiento.
Estos factores externos negativos, sumados a los propios problemas de cada Estado, perturban los sistemas de producción en la mayoría de los países en desarrollo. Sus manifestaciones son claras y bien conocidas: desaliento de la empresa productora y un incremento mayor de las importaciones de los alimentos, al tiempo que se reduce la demanda de nuestras exportaciones. Todo lo cual conduce forzosamente a la escasez y a los altos precios internos de los alimentos, con todas las secuelas de desestabilización política y social.
Es así como la agricultura sigue sometida al omnímodo arbitrio de quienes disponen de recursos, tecnologías y climas privilegiados, sin importarles el enorme desequilibrio y la falta de equidad existente en esa situación.
Una nueva concepción más equitativa del desarrollo, de las relaciones comerciales y de la cooperación entre todos los países, es la única forma de lograr tasas de crecimiento más aceleradas y de hacer posible un mayor aprovechamiento de nuestros recursos naturales. Además, es el único medio de contribuir a la seguridad alimentaria y a la paz mundial, dentro de un nuevo orden economico internacional.
En ese marco como angustioso que inquieta hoy a todos, hay que situar la función de una Organización como la FAO, el foro más idoneo en el sistema de las Naciones Unidas, para celebrar debates como éste y del cual esperamos que surjan recomendaciones dirigidas a mejorar la situación alimentaria mundial.
Para el Gobierno de Colombia es muy grato reconocer cómo la FAO ha venido intensificando sus eficaces servicios en este campo, cada vez de manera más práctica y positiva con notables beneficios para nuestros Estados.
Asimismo apoyamos el Programa de Cooperación Técnica, que se ha convertido en un valioso instrumento de asistencia operativa, con efecto multiplicador que se refleja en la promoción, identificación y preparación de proyectos prioritarios.
También reiteramos el apoyo a la política de descentralización de la FAO, a través de las oficinas regionales y en los países. En Colombia tuvimos el privilegio de establecer la primera oficina con representante propio de esta Organización en América Latina y el Caribe. Esa oficina de la FAO ha sido muy útil en nuestro permanente contacto con la Organización y ha contribuido considerablemente a estimular mejores servicios y una asistencia cada vez más eficaz.
Por otra parte, el Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola (FIDA), es una agencia de las Naciones Unidas que está prestando importantes servicios de crédito a los pequeños y medianos agricultores. Preocupa, sin embargo, el estado actual de los recursos de este Organismo y será necesario poner en práctica toda la voluntad política para que se cumplan los compromisos, morales y legales, adquiridos al acordarse la primera reposición y para seguir adelantando, con ánimo positivo, las negociaciones para la segunda reposición.
Igualmente aplaudimos al Programa Mundial de Alimentos y agradecemos los aportes que viene haciendo en favor de la mejor alimentación de algunos sectores vulnerables de .la población colombiana.
En nuestro país la producción y el comercio de alimentos nos preocupan sobre manera, entre otras razones, porque el sector agrícola es la base de nuestra economía. La contribución del sector agropecuario al producto interno bruto es del 23 por ciento; el 35 por ciento de la población aún vive en el campo; el 25,8 por ciento de la misma deriva sus ingresos de la agricultura y la ganadería; y la contribución a la generación de diviáas de estos sectores varía entre el 68 y el 75 por ciento.
El actual Presidente de Colombia, Belisario Betancur, es consciente de esta situación y ha aceptado el reto de concederle a este sector primario de la producción la prioridad y el dinamismo necesarios para convertirlo en un factor de desarrollo y mejoramiento social.
En este orden de ideas, el gobierno adoptó el plan de desarrollo denominado "CAMBIO CON EQUIDAD", entre cuyos objetivos está la formulación e implementación del programa nacional de uso de tierras, aguas y recursos naturales, con énfasis en la función social de la propiedad. La tierra debe pertenecer a quien la trabaja.
Señor Presidente: vivimos en un mundo interrelacionado y nuestras propias acciones tendrán muy poco efecto si no logramos una mayor colaboración, a nivel mundial, para eliminar el proteccionismo, que como lo expresara el Presidente de Colombia Belisario Betancur en la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas constituye "una de las expresiones más injustas de discriminación".
No es posible que la comunidad internacional siga indiferente ante el crecimiento del proteccionismo, sin que reaccione contra aquellos países que por medio de ese sistema deplorable estrangulan las economías de ios países en desarrollo.
El Tercer Mundo asiste impasible a una tremenda paradoja: hay excedente de alimentos concentrados en unos pocos Estados y la distribución de los mismos es tan injusta, que llega hasta conformar el hecho triste y doloroso de que en los países industrializados los animales comen mejor que los seres humanos en muchos países en desarrollo.
Sin ninguna consideración social ni humana, con absoluta indiferencia por la suerte de millones de personas que padecen hambre y malnutrición, los Estados que poseen esas grandes reservas manipulan la situación alimentaria mundial, a través de congelación de áreas de producción, subsidios y todas las formas de subvención, de tal modo que son ellos, sólo esos pocos países, los que determinan las leyes de la oferta y la demanda y regulan las existencia y los precios.
También debemos referirnos en este debate a la tendencia existente en algunos países a reducir las contribuciones e incumplir compromisos adquiridos con organismos internacionales y desplazar esa asistencia al campo bilateral, en el cual es posible seleccionar los beneficiarios, con criterio discriminatorio, y obtener así dividendos particulares. Esta Conferencia debe reiterar su más pleno apoyo a la validez y a la importancia insustituible de la cooperación multilateral.
Quiero reiterar el aprecio positivo de nuestro país por la FAO. Esta Organización tiene que seguir realizando una importante labor en beneficio de todos los Estados Miembros, particularmente en favor de los países menos adelantados con bajos ingresos y déficit de alimentos.
En los próximos años será indispensable fortalecer adecuadamente los programas y presupuestos de la FAO, a fin de que pueda cumplir la tarea fundamental de eliminar el hambre y la malsnutrición en el mundo.
Colombia, con nuestro propio Presidente Belisario Betancur a la cabeza, a través del "Grupo de CONTADORA", está seria, sincera y solidariamente comprometida en la búsqueda de la paz en Centroamérica. Pensamos que a la base de la difícil situación que padecen nuestros hermanos latinoamericanos de Centroamérica están los problemas económicos, sociales y humanos, cuya solución sólo podrá obtenerse con una paz estable, que garantice protección y seguridad a las fuerzas productoras, particularmente en el campo de los alimentos.
Señor Presidente: en nombre del Gobierno de Colombia felicito a usted y a los tres Vicepresidentes por su elección para dirigir esta Conferencia. Estoy seguro de que bajo su Presidencia, esta reunion adoptará recomendaciones y directrices que permitirán a la FAO seguir correspondiendo a la confianza que le hemos otorgado todos los Estados Miembros.
Igualmente, deseo destacar la personalidad recia, inteligente, capaz, competente y carismatica del señor doctor Edouard Saouma, Director General, a quien la sociedad colombiana está vinculada por gratísimos y cercanos nexos de afecto. A nombre de mi país felicito al Director General y a sus colaboradores por la forma excelente y eficaz como llevan a cabo sus altas y nobles funciones.
Para concluir, quiero dejarles el mensaje fraternal y amistoso del pueblo colombiano, que tiene irreductible vocación Tercermundista. En nombre del Gobierno de mi país hago un llamado a todos los representantes de los países asistentes a esta Conferencia, para que aporten una verdadera voluntad política -real y decidida- en favor del Tercer Mundo, cuyos intereses, aspiraciones y derechos legítimos aún se siguen desconociendo.
DIRECTOR-GENERAL: It is an honour for me and for this Organization, to welcome to its General Conference, His Excellency President Jaafar Mohamed Al Nimeri, the President of the Democratic Republic of Sudan.
President Nimeri is well known to all of us. He is one of the historic great leaders who have left their imprint on the present state of their countries. He pursued his struggle until he was chosen in 1969 as the Head of the Revolutionary Council and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Minister for Defense. In September 1971, and in the wake of a plebiscite he was elected as the first President of the Democratic Republic of the Sudan. In the following year he was unanimously elected President of the Sudanese Socialist Union by the First General National Conference. He was re-elected to this high office in 1977 and in 1980. He was also re-elected as President of the Republic in 1977.
In 1978 President Nimeri was elected by the OAU as its Chairman.
I seize the opportunity of the presence of His Excellency President Nimeri to recall with appreciation all the human stands taken by His Excellency when he opened up his country in order to host hundreds of thousands of refugees without setting any restrictions, ties or conditions, but out of his concern to alleviate their suffering and not to leave them as preys of poverty and disease. The Democratic Republic of the Sudan, which represents one of the biggest countries in the African continent is characterized by huge agricultural and natural resources and the whole world looks to the Sudan as a potential for the provision of food resources to a big part of it.
I have personally witnessed the development surge for which the Government of President Nimeri works on all levels especially in the field of agriculture. I am happy that the FAO is contributing to various development projects in the Sudan and in the planning for future projects.
I have the honour to invite, on fcebalf of this Organization, His Excellency President Jaafar Mohamed Al Nimeri, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Sudan, to deliver his speech which will be a source of inspiration to many of the activities of your Conference.
H. E. Jaafar Mohamed AL NIMERI (President of the Democratic Republic of the Sudan) (original language Arabic): In the name of God, most Gracious most Merciful. God said in the Quran: "For seven years shall ye diligently sow as your wont: and the harvest that ye reap, shall leave them in the ear, except a little, of which ye shall eat.
Then will come after that seven dreadful years which will devour what ye shall have laid by in advance for them, except a little, which ye shall have specially guarded.
Then will come, after that a year, in which the people will have abundant water, and in which they will enjoy their food".
Mr President, Mr Director-General, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, may I, at the outset, say how gratified I am to address this august assembly. Let me also congratulate you, Mr President, on your brilliant election to your high office. I am sure you will continue to preside over the deliberations of this important session of the FAO Conference with your proven competence and unswerving dedication to the noble goals of this Organization.
May I also take this opportunity to express our deepfelt thanks to the Director-General, who has, over the years, as Executive Head of this universal Organization, guided its affairs with singular ability, high-minded devotion and unfailing courtesy.
I now have the privilege of addressing what may be rightly termed as the World Parliament of Food and Agriculture. But was there such a Parliament in the past? Even fifty years before the FAO was established in 1945 the answer was that there was no international body or forum, to deal with the acute problems of persistent hunger, outright famine and chronic malnutrition in the world. These were matters which fell squarely within the domestic jurisdiction of each State. This was not a cynical assessment, but the real fact of the matter. The International Institute of Agriculture, created in 1905, was essentially a body for the mere publication of statistical and other information. And the Convention establishing it placed no obligations in questions of policy upon States adhering to it. It is true that the League of Nations attempted, during the thirties, to make the problem of nutrition an international issue. But that attempt was to no avail: for the League of Nations was not an organization endowed with universality, and anyway it soon became defunct. Only in 1945, as we all know, was a breakthrough in this respect made in the comity of nations, when the Constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations came into force. For the nations adhering to it expressed their determination "to promote the common welfare by furthering separate and collective action on their part for the purposes of raising levels of nutrition and standards of living of the peoples under their respective jurisdiction securing improvements in the efficiency of the production and distribution of all food and agricultural products, bettering the conditions of rural populations, and thus contributing towards an expanding world economy".
These are lofty goals but they are within our reach, if we have the political will and the practical imagination to pursue them.
I would venture to say that the FAO has more or less lived up to its obligations. Over the four decades, since its inception, the FAO has conceived policies at once imaginative and practical, has initiated and taken action within its competence and has solidly contributed, within its means, to alleviate the plight of the hungry and the poor of the world.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, though a viable international machinery to promote food production and agriculture, can only be and accomplish what the powers that be will allow it to be and accomplish. Be that as it may, we in the Sudan, in Africa and indeed all over the Third World take special pride in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. We attach great value to its work and activities, which in no small measure, have helped our countries and peoples. It is often said that the United Nations, the parent organization primarily concerned with questions of peace and war or, if you like, with the maintenance of international peace and security, is a reflection of the international scene, the interplay of conflicting ideologies and the divergence and convergence of interests. That is likewise true of every organization in the United Nations spectrum, though with variant shades and stresses. That may be so, but we are further told that we are not yet in the Ideal City. And that Utopian tendencies and goals must be discarded. This we refuse. It was cynical and defeatist adage of the League of Nations. The League faltered during the inter-war period, helplessly witnessed the first world economic depression and haplessly collapsed before the second World War, which brought "untold sorrow to mankind" on a global scale.
Since the establishment of the United Nations system, including the FAO, the world has changed in a manner and on a scale unprecedented in man's history. With the twilight of the movement of self-determination and the advent to statehood of the Third World countries, international organizations have acquired a degree in universality hitherto unknown.
Since the end of the Second World War a process of rapid change with global repercussions, unparalleled in history, has immensely accelerated. It embraces all aspects of human activities, whether in industry or agriculture, transport or communication, science or technology. International politics has also changed, in that political forces interact upon each other throughout the world. The world economic organizational structure has become so interdependent, to the point that it is now elusory for any power to exercise any effective national control in agriculture, industry, or commerce. The world has shrunk and is shrinking. In one word, we are living in one world as never before. The question now arises: can the membership of the United Nations system shrink from their responsibilities to pursue policies for the safeguard of international peace and the promotion of the common welfare of man, among as within nations?
I believe that in this context the membership of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has a crucial and all-important role to play. I will confine myself to some matters within the competence of the FAO, and, perhaps mutatis mutandis, in cooperation and in consultation with other concerned agencies.
First and foremost we have the agonizing problem of world hunger, I will not delve into the dreadful statistics of which you are well aware. Suffice it for me to cite that 870 million people in the world are under-nourished or threatened by famine; and that 40 000 small children are struck by death or disability every day because, of lack of food. How can such a sad and pathetic state of affairs be justified in this day and age, when the world, we are told, enjoys food abundance on a scale unattained before? Last October the Director-General reminded us with regret that the pledge made some nine years ago in the World Food Conference that by 1984 child hunger would be eradicated, will not be honoured.
At the root of the world food crisis are different causes; some man-made and others related to natural catastrophe. The crisis is further aggravated by the population explosion, engulfing many Third World countries, especially in Asia.
The problem of the deterioration of the terms of trade has been debated at international forums for over a decade. In simple words: the problem is that the developing countries are getting less for whatever they export in primary goods, and paying more for whatever they import by way of goods and services. The drastic rise.in the price of oil following the two oil shocks of 1973 and 1979 has been passed on conveniently by the industrialised countries to the developing countries to, as it were, foot the bill. In the meantime, the developing countries, in order to survive and to maintain the minimum momentum of their development effort, have had to incur more and more foreign debts. Some of them, in order to meet their foreign debt commitments, embarked on the production of so-called cash-crops, to the detriment of the traditional food producing sector. The North/South dialogue is now at a deadlock, because of the intransigent positions taken by the industrialised countries, in violation of the rules of fair play, good faith and international morality. It is not right for the strong to persist in doing harm to the weak unjustifiably. This is a man-made problem and can be solved by mutual accommodation, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations must make a contribution in the matter.
Within the general framework of multilateral exchange of opinion, a South/South dialogue must commence with a view to identifying fields of common action and mutual interest in economics, commerce and technical cooperation.Such a dialogue is by no means a substitute to that existing between the North and the South.
In the heyday of industrialisation, it was regarded in developed and developing countries alike that industrial development per se was the essence and measure of overall growth and national progress, with the result that agriculture and food production were given a relatively low priority. The deterioration in the prices of agricultural products has also given rise to an exodus of young persons from rural areas to urban centres in pursuit of an elusive "better deal", thus weakening the vitality of the countryside and destroying the equilibrium of society. How can we make the countryside as attractive to young people as before? Can we create productive jobs in rural areas? The FAO of the UN should continue to intensify its efforts in this serious problem-area.
In this connection we urge that the international institutions mandated to promote food production, such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme, be afforded increased resources and allocations to enable them to meet their tasks to combat hunger and malnutrition.
Mr President, a grave natural disaster is now besieging Africa. It is the twin-phenomenon of drought and desert erosion or desertification. The distinguished delegates are fully aware of the technical and scientific implications of this phenomenon. Let me just say that the rate of desert encroachment on our fertile and arable land in Africa is between 4 and 5 kilometers every year. This relentless destruction of our resources and subversion of our environment must be stopped. That is why the Inter-African Socialist in its last meeting in Khartoum issued, only a week ago, "The Khartoum Appeal". In that document the Inter-African Socialist endorsed my proposition to alert and focus the attention of the international community on this most insidious threat to the very existence of man, his environment and patrimony in Africa. The document calls for a concerted and emergency action by all international and regional organisations in unison with governments, with a view to arresting desert erosion and coping with the difficulties ensuing therefrom. May I therefore invite the FAO to play a leading and vigorous role in this effort. The FAO has and can acquire the technical and the other wherewithal to do the job.
However, Africa is not only afflicted by drought and desert erosion. Certain parts of it are ravaged by military hostilities, destabilisation and civil strife. In one part of Africa, military campaigns have been raging for years and years, and the end of the tunnel is not yet in sight. A scorched-earth policy has brought about devastation, carnage, famine and an incessant exodus of innocent men, women and children seeking refuge and security in the Sudan. I must apprise the Conference of the tremendous and intolerable pressures and demands exerted on our economy, food supplies, social services and security by an ever-increasing number of refugees. Nonetheless, we are according them the right of asylum in conformity with international law, and are doing our best to alleviate their Dlight, sharing with them what we have, in a spirit of African solidarity and' the brotherhood of Man. It is true that international aid to the refugees in the Sudan has been forthcoming; but one wonders whether it is commensurate with the magnitude of the problem.
Mr President, the Sudan has been blessed by Almighty God with many gifts. We have expansive and extensive fertile and arable land, abundant water-resources and rainfall, and sunshine throughout the year. Since the dawn of history, the Sudan has been a country with a vocation for agriculture, and longstanding traditions in farming and irrigation. We have big agricultural projects. An important water infrastructure of dams and canals has been, over many years, built and is being maintained and extended. Since the advent of the May Revolution, we have built roads and bridges, where almost none existed before. An infrastructure of transport and communication, the very lifeblood on any viable economy, is being maintained and extended. Failing such an infrastructure whatever we do or attempt to do would be like ploughing in the sea.
In the Sudan the adage is agriculture and more agriculture. That is why we have given high priority to agro-industrial projects in cotton, sugar, hides, oil-seeds and the like.
The components of national development in the Sudan are: agriculture, livestock and agro-industry. Our development model offers flexible formulae of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Governments, international and financial institutions and private capital; with no preconceived notions, rigid dogmas or chauvinistic tendencies. The laws governing investment in agriculture, industry or services provide solid guarantees and good incentives, in respect to every investment, be it national or foreign, public or private.
The Sudan has contracted bilateral treaties with some foreign states, whereby we offered legal guarantees and safeguards in favour of investments whether public or private against any arbitrary or unilateral measures. For instance, on 17 February 1974, we concluded a treaty with the Swiss Confederation in the matter. We stand ready to conclude such agreement with any state which so desires.
I have perused with interest some of the FAO documents, and have noted that there are some references to the all-important problem of disarmament. For instance, the Director-General has observed in his address on the occasion of the Third World Food Day last October, that the total military expenditure of Member States of the United Nations amounting to 700 billion dollars yearly is more than 30 times the total development aid governments' allocations to alleviate the economic and social difficulties of countries of the Third World. In 1980 military budgets of the developing countries themselves amounted to approximately 115 billion dollars. He alluded to these two statistical facts as examples of the anomalies and contradictions in our world. The hotbeds of poverty and hunger are the hotbeds of tension and war. And the Declaration of Philadelphia of 1944 proclaimed that poverty anywhere was a threat to prosperity everywhere. One wonders: Whither the World? May I offer a salutary reminder from our not-too-distant past. Salvadore de Madariaga wrote a book in 1929 entitled "Disarmament". In it he said: "The world is one. It must be thought of as one, governed as one, kept in peace as one. And if it goes to war, it goes to war as one - i.e. against itself".
I thank you for your attention. May Allah's peace and blessing be upon you all.
Applause
Applaudissements
Aplausos
CHAIRMAN: Mr President, you have honoured us with your presence. You have inspired us with your address endorsing, in your own words, the noble goals of the Food and Agriculture Organization. Certainly, you are aware that there are more than one hundred ministers of agriculture attending this Conference - a "summit of agriculture", if you will.
The production of food and fibre for mankind - food and fibre, a fundamental necessity of life - is indeed the noblest and most prestigious of our national responsibilities and, as the Director-General said in his introduction, you have served us as a source of inspiration. May I express our sincere appreciation to you on behalf of all the agricultural leaders in this forum.
Now we have some agricultural leaders who have asked to say a word or two, and I call first upon the delegate from Lebanon.
A. ABDEL-MALEK (Lyban): La delegation du Liban a l’honneur de se joindre à d'autres delegations pour souhaiter la bienvenue à Son Excellence Jaafar Mohamed Al Nimeri, Président de la République démocratique du Soudan, à cette Conférence générale de la FAO. En fait, son discours vraiment historique peut être considéré comme un plan d'action qui sera suivi dans 1'avenir, précisément pour développer les projets économiques et agricoles dans tous les pays, et surtout dans les pays en développement. Nous ne pouvons que remercier le Directeur général de la FAO, qui, en invitant le Président Nimeri, nous a donné la possibilité de faire la connaissance de Son Excellence en personne et de pouvoir l'écouter. Nous avons été véritablement émus de 1'entendre. Nous souhaitons à Son Excellence pleine santé et plein succès à la tête de la République démocratique du Soudan. Nous souhaitons au Directeur général santé et prospérité pour qu'il puisse poursuivre et maintenir ces contacts et inviter d'autres grandes personnalités à visiter la FAO et à s'adresser à cette Auguste Assemblée car cela consolide les efforts déployés par l'Organisation afin de faire face aux problèmes vitaux auxquels se trouvent confrontés les peuples du monde entier.
T. RAISON (United Kingdom): Mr President, I am particularly delighted to express very great appreciation to His Excellency President Nimeri on behalf of the member countries of the European region. I am particularly delighted because of the UnitedS Kingdom's close connections with the Sudan and our substantial support for the development of the Sudan. Perhaps I should say that I speak as a development minister rather than an agriculture minister. His Excellency's speech was a most interesting and wide-ranging one and it covered very many important subjects. I note, for instance, with great interest, his words on such vital matters as the grave problems of desertification, the cruel drought and the need to make life in the countryside such that it will attract people back to it.
His Excellency spoke of very many other important topics and I am sure we are all most grateful to him.
ACHMAD AFFANDI (Indonesia): Your Excellency, on behalf of the Member Nations of the region of Asia, I have the honour and privilege to express our most sincere appreciation and thanks to His Excellency Jaafar Mohamed Al Nimeri, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Sudan for having honoured the FAO Conference with his esteemed presence at this Twenty-second Session.
We are further deeply grateful indeed for the inspiring address His Excellency has just given. We are sure that the many valuable matters and views conveyed by His Excellency in his address will guide this Conference in the three weeks of deliberation, and further contribute to the success of the Conference and the achievements of our common objective of ensuring food security for mankind as a whole and improving the standard of living of our millions of farmers and fishermen in the developing world.
L.J. CASTAÑOS MARTINEZ (México): El Grupo Latinoamericano y el Caribe se siente honrado por la presencia del Jefe de Estado del Sudán. Nos estimula su exposición, y su mensaje claro para fortalecer a la FAO y, en general, sus reflexiones testimoniales que compartimos, sobre la paz, el desarme y la desertificacion.
Con su asistencia le da usted, Sr. Al Nimeri, relevancia a esta Conferencia. Conocemos y admiramos los esfuerzos que realiza para alcanzar la soberanía alimentaria y su lucha contra la marginación en las zonas rurales. El Grupo Latinoamericano y el Caribe se une a esta felicitación general al distinguido Presidente Al Nimeri y le desea, junto con el pueblo de Sudán, y en particular con los campesinos, lo mejor.
P. DE KEERSMAEKER (Belgique): Au nom du groupe des pays européens je crois être l'interprète des sentiments de gratitude et d'admiration pour les paroles inspirées qui ont été adressées par Son Excellence Nimeri, Président de la République démocratique du Soudan.
Avec raison Son Excellence le Président Nimeri a attiré l'attention sur les changement drastiques qui se sont produits depuis la fondation de la FAO, sur la gravité croissante que reflète aujourd'hui le problème de la faim dans le Monde et les conséquences, en général, de la carence du développe‐ment intégré rural, ainsi que de l'insuffisance des moyens mis en oeuvre.
Nous avons surtout entendu son appel urgent à la nécessité d'une coopération gratuite entre les pays et entre les secteurs publics et privés. Je puis assurer à Son Excellence le Président Nimeri que son appel a été entendu par mon pays et par les pays faisant partie du groupe européen.
A.S. SABALLY (Gambia): Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, Honourable Ministers, ladies and gentlemen, I feel highly honoured and privileged to express, on behalf of the African Group, our sincerest appreciation to His Excellency Jaafar Mohamed Al Nimeri, President of the Democratic Republic of the Sudan for the most inspiring statement he has just made. The great and impeccable qualities of President Nimeri have eloquently been spoken of by the Director-General of FAO and I certainly do not intend to go back to it. I only want to say that those of us from Africa are extremely proud to have President Nimeri here with us. As we continue our discussions we should reflect on the right ideas that President Nimeri has presented to us. President Nimeri has amply highlighted the food situation in the developing countries, especially in Africa. We sincerely hope that your message, President Nimeri, will be heard and will guide the Conference for the rest of the period we have in Rome. I thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN: The President will be departing now. If you will remain in the room, we will continue the Conference upon his departure. I shall turn the Chair over to the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources from Cyprus to proceed with the statements.
J F. PEÑA DIEZ (España): Señor Presidente, Señor Director General, distinguidos Delegados, Señoras y Señores :
Deseo ante todo, expresar mi sincera felicitación al Presidente de este 22o Período de Sesiones de la Conferencia, Señor Block, Secretario de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos de América.
Quiero también dar mi enhorabuena a los Representantes y Delegaciones de los nuevos Estados Miembros de FAO, así como a los agraciados con los premios Sen y Boerma, uno de los cuales ha sido merecido por un español, el Sr. Calvelo, que como experto trabaja para la Organización.
He de dedicar una mención muy especial al ex Canciller Dr. Bruno Kreisky, por la importante disertación que ha pronunciado en memoria de MC Dougall, a cuyas iniciativas y sugerencias me adhiero sin reservas.
Mi delegación ha escuchado con el máximo interés la Declaración del Director General, y compartimos su preocupación por el perceptible deterioro de la Solidaridad Internacional, debido a la crisis económica y a otros factores. Todo ello retrasa sy cuestiona la cooperación al desarrollo, en el momento en que se agudiza y hasta se hace dramática la necesidad de ayuda de toda la Comunidad Internacional para muchos países.
Creemos en una solidaridad real, no de palabras, sino de esfuerzos, para realizar reformas prácticas intersectoriales e internacionales.
Señor Presidente, deseo hacer una afirmación concreta al inicio de mi exposición: España asiste a esta Conferencia con preocupación y con espíritu de superación respecto a los problemas que afectan al mundo. La recesión economica que padecen las naciones incide con caracteres más dramáticos en los países en desarrollo, y solo con un espíritu de generosa colaboración podrán superarse sus efectos negativos.
La FAO es la Organización de las Naciones Unidas que nos posibilita un conocimiento amplio y profundo de la situación y problemática de la agricultura, alimentación, pesca y montes, lo que permite a los Gobiernos compartir sus experiencias en estos sectores.
En el curso de la Conferencia Mundial de la Alimentación celebrada en 1974, se definió el concepto de seguridad alimentaria, estableciéndolo como uno de los objetivos fundamentales de la Comunidad Internacional. Con el transcurso del tiempo se ha conseguido una mayor experiencia, por lo que creo oportuna la propuesta del Director General en el sentido de ampliar el concepto de seguridad alimentaria, incluyendo todos sus múltiples componentes y dimensiones, marcándose un objetivo final: "Asegurar a todas las personas el acceso material y económico a los alimentos básicos que necesiten".
Señor Presidente, España, testigo de excepción de dos de las zonas del mundo más castigadas por el hambre y la insuficiencia alimentaria, Africa e Hispanoamérica, observa con preocupación la progresiva falta de alimentos en esas zonas, a las que tan ligada está por lazos históricos y económicos y trata de colaborar, dentro de sus posibilidades,'a paliar esta situación.
Nuestra ayuda, además de la aportación directa de alimentos en momentos de emergencia, trata de orientarse a la creación de infraestructura que posibilite el uso adecuado y pleno de sus inmensos recursos potenciales. Muchos países en desarrollo se han beneficiado de nuestra experiencia y nuestros técnicos en aprovechamiento de recursos hidráulicos para regadíos, de nuestros sistemas de lucha contra la desforestación y la aridez, de nuestra investigación aplicada a la agricultura, de nuestros sistemas de capacitación agraria que este año ha merecido ser premiado de forma especial en la persona de un español que desarrolla sus trabajos en Hispanoamérica.
Nos parece prioritaria la lucha contra el hambre y vemos complacidos que se trabaja para ello en determinadas áreas concretas, que pueden garantizar en parte la alimentación del futuro; me refiero al informe del Director General sobre Recursos Fitogenéticos que presenta a la Conferencia.
Estamos firmemente convencidos de- que la independencia de los pueblos sólo es efectiva cuando va unida a la capacidad de producir sus propios alimentos y somos conscientes de que los Recursos Fitogenéticos constituyen la materia prima necesaria para la producción de los mismos tanto en el presente como en el futuro. Es por ello que mi país da a este tema una importancia capital y considera que se trata de un problema de seguridad alimentaria y que debe ser función prioritaria de la FAO garantizar y asegurar la libre disponibilidad del Germoplasma.
En 1979, mientras España ostentaba la presidencia de esta Conferencia, la delegación de mi país solicitó la creación de un Banco Internacional de Germoplasma al servicio de todos los pueblos. Esta propuesta fue recogida en el proyecto de resolución 6/81 presentado por México y aprobado en la XXIa Conferencia de la FAO en 1981. En la presente Conferencia este tema se tratará en profundidad en la discusión del documento del Director General sobre Recursos Fitogenéticos. En él se recoge la oferta generosa y abierta de España de poner nuestro banco de germoplasma bajo la jurisdicción y el control del sistema de las Naciones Unidas. Esta es la expresión de una voluntad política de abrir camino al establecimiento de una red internacional de colecciones básicas de germoplasma que en el marco de la FAO, garanticen la libre disponibilidad y uso de los recursos fitogenéticos.
Consideramos por tanto fundamental que con el debido respeto a los intereses nacionales se llegue a un acuerdo negociado que permita institucionalizar, en beneficio de todos, las relaciones internacionales en dicha materia.
Señor Presidente, en relación con la CMRADR (Conferencia Mundial sobre Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural) es de esperar que las políticas nacionales intensifiquen sus esfuerzos hacia un mejor aprovechamiento de sus recursos, incluyendo aquellos parcial o totalmente sin utilizar.
Las acciones de la ayuda internacional han de ser dirigidas primordialmente a la asistencia técnica, estableciendo programas de desarrollo agrícola y rural, conjuntamente con planes y proyectos concretos de capacitación y extensión agraria que permitan un crecimiento rápido en la producción, con la participación de los agricultores en los problemas que les afectan.
El desarrollo de los programas debe proporcionar las necesarias oportunidades de formación a todos los que pertenecen al mundo rural y muy concretamente a la mujer y a los jóvenes de ambos sexos. En este sentido he de señalar que España se ha ofrecido como sede para la celebración en 1986 de la Sección del Grupo de Trabajo sobre "La mujer y la familia agraria en el desarrollo rural", siendo uno de los objetivos del Gobierno de mi país el asentamiento y formación de agricultores jóvenes.
Señor Presidente, el Gobierno español está prestando una atención extraordinaria a los problemas del desarrollo y a todos los proyectos y esquemas internacionales de cooperación económica y tecnica. En este sentido se está elaborando una Ley de Cooperación, para su envío a las Cortes, que servirá de marco jurídico para una mayor y mejor canalización de recursos hacia los países en desarrollo.
Quiero ahora referirme al Programa de Labores y Presupuesto valorando positivamente el que se haya limitado a un crecimiento del 0,5 por ciento durante el bienio, considerando oportuna la reducción de los gastos administrativos en favor de los programas técnicos y económicos. Los asuntos concretos a exponer por nuestra delegación serán tratados en la Comisión que estudiará los mismos.
Comprendemos y damos gran importancia al fomento de la investigación que es la base de gran parte de los programas técnicos de la FAO, y apoyamos por tanto la creación de una nueva Dirección de Fomento de la Investigación y la Tecnología.
En la línea anteriormente citada mi país participa activamente en la Comisión Europea de Agricultura y en la Conferencia Regional para Europa, colaborando, entre otros asuntos, en las redes de Investigación Cooperativas, cuyos trabajos y resultados deben ponerse'a disposición de todas las naciones y en especial de los países en desarrollo.
La interdependencia entre los países, exige medidas que permitan conseguir los objetivos del Reajuste Agrícola Internacional en la dirección que marcan las orientaciones que se proponen como acciones a nivel nacional e internacional.
Señor Presidente,la necesaria actualización de estas orientaciones, debe permitir una formulación de las mismas aceptable para todos los países Miembros o incluso no Miembros de la Organización.
Reconozco los esfuerzos que la FAO viene dedicando al sector forestal, tanto en materia de producción e industrias forestales, como en los campos de la defensa de los bosques tropicales y otros más, que contribuyen al desarrollo rural. Pienso, no obstante, que debería prestarse mayor atención a la restauración de los recursos forestales, en áreas como la del Mediterráneo, donde dichos recursos son esenciales para proteger el medio ambiente y evitar la desertificación.
Mi país participa intensamente en la preparación de la Conferencia Mundial de Pesca, a la que concede una gran importancia, teniendo en cuenta las conclusiones que de ella se obtengan.
Considero que la FAO debe seguir alentando la transferencia de tecnología pesquera a los países en desarrollo, mediante la constitución de empresas pesqueras conjuntas, o en el contexto de acuerdos de cooperación que favorezcan el desarrollo integral de la actividad pesquera extractiva y comercial, así como programando la formación profesional y las técnicas de mercado.
De esta forma el nuevo orden jurídico de los mares en materia de pesca se irá haciendo efectivo en beneficio de los estados ribereños, contribuyendo a resolver el déficit alimentario y evitando perjuicios excesivos y desequilibrios estructurales, de difícil solución a corto plazo, en los países con flotas tradicionales de pesca a distancia.
Señor Presidente, la actual política de "cambio" del Gobierno de mi país en relación a la agricul‐tura, montes, pesca y alimentación, se basa en la creencia de la capacidad de las personas de todos estos sectores para mejorarlos con una participación más activa.
Mi país sufre las consecuencias de la crisis económica y energética, así como de los problemas del paro; conoce dificultades debidas a la sequía y a la pobreza en ciertas zonas rurales donde existen bolsas de subdesarrollo.
Pero contamos con una voluntad política para ayudar a reformar las estructuras; aumentar los rendimientos y las producciones; apoyar la capacitación, investigación y tecnología y facilitar un mayor acceso al crédito. Todo ello dirigido en especial a las cooperativas así como a las pequeñas y medianas explotaciones, teniendo muy presente la participación de los jóvenes agricultores y de la mujer.
Queremos que nuestras experiencias y esfuerzos puedan ser útiles a otros países y estamos abiertos a colaborar para ello, dentro del marco de actuaciones de la FAO con una mayor cooperación.
Deseo terminar estas palabras exponiendo mi más firme convicción de que las conclusiones que se obtengan de los trabajos de este período de la Conferencia, contribuirán a lograr una convivencia más justa y equilibrada en el mundo.
Debo alentar sus esperanzas en los ideales que perseguimos; en mi país sabemos que a veces esos ideales se van convirtiendo en realidad.
Muchas gracias Señor Presidente.
JOHNG-MOON PARK (Korea, Republic of): We are gathered here again to review the overall developments and perspectives of the world food and agricultural situation, to open the discussion of the major issues related to the expulsion of hunger and poverty from the globe, and to make a decision on the FAO's Programmes of Work and Budget in 1984 and 1985.
In the year of the next Conference, we will celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the foundation of FAO. One can hardly underestimate the contributions and achievements of FAO over 38 years to the lofty goal of promoting human welfare through "Freedom from Hunger", However, I am obliged to point out that we are still faced with the unsolved tasks to battle against, namely, the ever-existing hunger and malnutrition at the global level.
Some developing countries are suffering from hunger and poverty mainly due to the lack of enough flow of financing, technology and information to utilize their agricultural production potential, while some other parts of the world are in excess of food production. Major natural resources are in use for maximizing a few endowed nations’ own purposes rather than truly improving the welfare of mankind.
Taking into account the importance of promoting international and regional cooperation to cope with these problems, I hope that this Conference can prove to be a constructive forum to exchange views and experience between Member States.
In the Republic of Korea, high level economic growth has been sustained since 1962, when the first 5-year economic development plan was launched. Accordingly, I am pleased to report to this Conference, that we have got out of the vicious circle of poverty which prevailed up to the early 1960s.
In the agricultural sector, a remarkable increase has been made in food and agricultural production, and especially a sound foundation for accelerating the rural development has been established in rural economy, due to the Saemaul Undong, an integrated rural development movement indigenous to Korea,
Despite continuous population growth and decreased land, self-sufficiency in rice and barley, the two major food grains in Korea, has been attained since 1975, by improving new high-yield varieties and by introducing new technologies. Rice production, in particular, recorded high-level yields of 5.4 million tons in 1982, about 30 percent higher than that of 1972. The production of fruits, vegetables, fish and meat, the demand for which tends to rise along with the income growth, has also increased sharply. Consequently, the change in food consumption patterns to high-quality food increased the people's height by more than 3 cm. during the past decade.
The average growth of agricultural production amounted to 3.1 percent annually during the last two decades. The average household income of farmers in 1982 was $6,104, more than six times higher than that of 1972.
Under the on-going fifth 5-year economic and social development plan which began in 1982, my government put stronger emphasis on social development for the betterment of equity, and on the promotion of fair-trade in market economy. In line with the above-said plan, rural development policies are coordinated to give higher priority to improve the welfare standards of rural life.
In the process of Korean agricultural development, each farmer's efforts based on the spirit of self-help, diligence and cooperation have played an important role. In fact, the Saemaul Undong, or new community movement, is considered to be one of the most effective approaches in solving rural problems.
Nevertheless, I could hardly fail to underscore the precious contributions to the agricultural developments in Korea made by the international organizations such as FAO, and also by the various types of bilateral cooperation both in financing and technology transfer.
In view of the foregoing considerations, the Government of the Republic of Korea believes that it is quite necessary to share its experiences and technologies with other developing countries.
Since the latter half of the 1970s, we have offered training programmes to high-level policy makers, agricultural experts, and field projects staffs from developing countries, in such fields as crop cultivation, sericulture, agricultural cooperatives management, irrigation and farmland development, policy planning and implementation, and the Saemaul Undong.
In addition, the Republic of Korea has associated itself with the FAO/TCDC programme for irrigation and farmland development and is running a centre for agricultural technology training in the agricultural cooperation agency. It is in this context that we support the position of FAO that the Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries and the Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries programmes should be strengthened through enlargement of assistance from developed countries.
According to FAO reports, the carry-over stock of cereals is expected to reach a high level, but more than half of the total stock is being held by a few countries, and a number of developing countries are lagging dangerously behind in achieving food security for their growing population.
It is regrettable to observe that even though the world community•has exerted a great deal of effort and invested resources under the initiative of FAO during the last decade, the results have not matched our expectation.
The Korean Government is of the opinion that not only the expanded assistance of FAO and developed countries, but the expansion of technical cooperation among developing countries and economic cooperation among developing countries together with the continued and intensified efforts of developing countries themselves are necessary to ease food shortage. In this connection, we hope that the pledging target of U.S. $1.35 billion set by the world food programme for the biennium 1984-1985 can be achieved.
With regard to the proposed Programme of Work and Budget of FAO 1984-85, my delegation observes that it has been desirably formulated by cutting down programmes and costs of relatively low priority on the one hand, and expanding programmes and expenditures of high priorities in order to meet urgent needs of low-income food-deficit countries on the other hand. My delegation wishes to reconfirm that the Korean Government will support the Director-General's plan for the work programme and budget for the next biennium.
My delegation also reconfirms its continued support for the plan of action to strengthen world food security, and is willing to accept the wider concept of food security. The Republic of Korea has implemented various food policies for a three-month food reserve system. This system notably includes development of an integrated food demand-supply stabilization scheme in which the concept of staple food is expanded to include vegetables, fruits, fish and meat, beside cereals.
Further, I hope that the draft agreement and international undertaking on plant genetic resources, as well as the establishment of a pioneer gene-bank under the auspices of FAO, will be reviewed favourably at this Conference. Genetic resources are a common heritage of mankind. Consequently, they should be collected, preserved, utilized and exchanged for the coexistence and common prosperity of all human beings.
I wish to pledge the full cooperation and willingness of my delegation to contribute to the great success of the Twenty-second Session of the FAO Conference.
DATO' ABDUL MANAN OTHMAN (Malaysia): I would like, first of all, to take this opportunity on behalf of my delegation, and on my own behalf, to congratulate you on your election as Chairman of the Conference. We deem it a privilege to have you as Chairman at this session, for we believe that your wide personal experience and prestige will facilitate the success of this Conference.
Similarly, I would also like to congratulate the three Vice-Chairmen on their election.
In addressing this august body today, my delegation is conscious of the fact that we are still facing difficulties as a result of the world economic recession. The world economic crisis in the recent past has threatened all countries, both developed and developing, but, as always, in such crisis, it is the developing countries that are the worst hit. Though today the crisis is somewhat abated, the signs of full recovery are still modest. There is still great uncertainty, especially among the developing countries whose meagre resources make it difficult to sustain an acceptable standard of living. While the crisis was destructive to the developed countries, it was, to say the least, disastrous to the developing countries.
Malaysia, Mr Chairman, Sir, is a small country, which is struggling hard to find its own place in the sun. With a relatively small population and rather limited resources, it is, nonetheless, our desire to make the best of whatever resources we have for the benefits and welfare of our people. The agricultural sector continues to be the prime contributor to our economy, and the future growth of the country would well depend on the progress made in it. Like most other developing countries, we depend on our agricultural exports for foreign exchange earnings with which to finance our development. As with other countries in a similar situation, we are always buffeted by the violent fluctuations in the demand of our products. These fluctuations are often serious with negative consequences on the farmers who produce these commodities. While it is our hope that such fluctuations in price and demand for our commodities would be reduced or eliminated altogether, it is apparent that the free market system of the world had been manipulated to the extent that it has brought us to the present crisis. Under this difficult economic condition, developing countries have to make adjustment, however painful it may be at times, to accommodate the current economic disorder. Thus, Malaysia has, in recent years, in response to the deteriorating terms of trade, to cut certain level of development expenditure in line with the country's export earnings. But, having regard to the importance of the agricultural sector's contribution to the country's GDP, the government still maintains an allocation of 27 percent of the total national expenditure for agriculture.
Having said that, I feel duty bound, in consonance with the majority of the member countries, to state Malaysia's concern over the slow progress achieved in the implementation of the Declaration and Plan of Action of the new international economic order. So much has been said in various international fora, and so much hope has been raised in the developing countries. We cannot but be greatly disappointed to note that in spite of all priorities professed by world leaders, very little indeed has been achieved in a way that may and can overcome the problems of poverty and food shortages in the world.
A global policy and strategy is no doubt necessary. It provides the framework within which Member Nations could formulate their national policy. But, the reality of the situation did not make a global strategy very effective. The diversity and intensity of factors, demographic, economic, physical and climatic, and the stage of development of developing countries, make it necessary for member countries to search for a more effective approach. In this connection, regional and sub-regional strategies have shown to be. the more successful policy option. This potential for regional and sub-regional strategy and cooperation should be fully exploited.
Much efforts have been taken by international agencies, like FAO, and national governments in the field of agricultural production; but the gains thus far secured would count very little in terms of trade earnings until certain structural changes are effected on the present unequal trade relations between developed and developing countries. Malaysia lends its voice in support of those developing countries which depend on agriculture for their export earnings, and suffer as a consequence of the existing inequitable trade relations.
The situation in the international commodity trade has, in fact, been made worse lately by the growing tendency among the developed countries to impose more and more trade barriers. Many agreements made in GATT and UNCTAD, designed to stabilize world trade, had been ignored. In fact, there has been an increasing trend towards a growing disregard for international rules and guidelines. We cannot but stress here that the growing tendency towards inward looking and protective trade policies among the developed countries has the potential of leading the whole interna‐tional economic system along a direction that has dire consequences.
The proposal of the European Economic Community to impose a consumption tax on oils and fats, except butter, including vegetable oils, is an example on the part of the Community, to ignore the principles and guidelines of the international agreement and the firm assurance made at bilateral level. We have but to continue to express our deep apprehension and disappointment at the new turn of events. In view of the far-reaching consequence of the new proposals on the well-being of the vegetable oil exporting developing countries, my delegation sincerely appeals to the governments of the individual Member States of the EEC to stop the proposal from being accepted and implemented.
On the global scale, Malaysia, along with the vast majority of Member States pleads the wisdom and understanding among the developed countries in this regard, and reverse the course they are now undertaking and proceed to return to the concept that we are all partners in this great venture on this planetship.
Looking at the food and agricultural situation in the world today, though there has been encouraging developments recently, the prospect for complete food security is still far from real. We will continue to experience the paradox in which many developing countries will continue to live in the shadow of hunger and famine while there is plentiful supply of food in the world. Hunger seems to continue to exist in the face of abundance.
Malaysia expresses its great sympathy and sorrow to the less fortunate member countries whose ill fortune in food production has been brought about by a number of distabilizing factors, including the aberration of climate and the cruelty of nature.
I assure distinguished delegates that we understand the impact of this tragedy fully, since Malaysia, too, is not self-sufficient in food production. Malaysia still depends on food imports by policy design and will continue to do so as long as we can finance this food import. Malaysia is, perhaps, a little more fortunate in this regard that her agriculture had been able to sustain the country's development thus far.
Even though there had been one breakthrough after another in food and agricultural development, we still find today more hungry people than ever before. There is still the feeling of disappointment and also doubt over the present approaches towards food and agricultural development. In view of the increasing complexity and sophistication, there is, therefore, the need for more realistic and pragmatic approach to food and agricultural development taking into account the changing needs and conditions today.
Malaysia has embarked on the process of industrialization. While industrial development is gaining momentum, and industrial economy has become the principal outlet, focus and attention continued to be given at the same time and with the same emphasis to the development of the farmers, fishermen and the livestock rearers. It was with them we began development, and today they are still a major concern to the Government.
The recent record of some countries in Asia testifies that industrialization could begin from modernized agriculture. We rejoice at their success and take heart that with a similar level of determination and sacrifices we, too, can hope to attain similar success.
Touching now on the role of Economic and Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries, we find that over the last twenty years of the movement's history, there had been a number of resolutions adopted which have received international support. What perhaps needs more attention now is the need for implementation of these resolutions - the need for quick action.
Malaysia fully subscribes to the concept of ECDC and TCDC. Over the years, Malaysia has, with its own efforts, acquired experience and expertise in certain development fields. We believe that some of these experiences might be relevant to other developing countries. We would like to share whatever little we have and know with other developing countries in the spirit of ECDC. We hope also that other countries would similarly respond to the movement's aspiration, so that one day developing countries would proudly have a place in the international community.
In saying all these I am conscious of the fact that it is not my role to lecture to this very distinguished gathering on the merits and demerits of certain development policies. It is my understanding that the greatest benefits any member can derive from an organization such as FAO are the opportunities the organization gives us to study from each other's experiences, successes and failures. It is left to us to avail ourselves of the opportunities commensurate to our own level of needs, and with the assistance from international community to strive for the ideal that we hope to achieve.
It is, Mr Chairman, in this spirit that I expressed my views, with the sincere hope that with courage and determination we can help bring about hope and aspiration for a better life in the future, particularly in the developing countries.
I. TESU (Roumanie): Monsieur le Président, veuillez me permettre de me joindre aux personnalités qui m'ont précédé à cette tribune, en vous adressant, au nom de la délégation roumaine, les félicitations les plus sincères pour votre élection à la fonction de Président de la 22ème Conférence générale de la FAO.
Je suis persuadé que sous votre direction, avec l'appui des membres du Bureau auxquels j'adresse aussi des félicitations chaleureuses pour leur élection, et avec la contribution active et constructive de toutes les délégations participant à la Conférence, ses travaux seront comblés de succès.
J'adresse en même temps la bienvenue aux nouveaux membres de notre Organisation : Antigua-et-Barbuda, Belize, Saint-Christophe-et-Nevis et Vanuatu.
Les travaux de la Conférence générale se déroulent dans un moment où l'humanité se voit toujours confrontée à une série de problèmes d'une particulière complexité, dont la solution est décisive pour le progrès de l'humanité tout entière, pour la garantie d'un climat de paix, de sécurité et d'entente entre les peuples du monde.
L'un de ces problèmes est celui représenté par l'accentuation de la crise économique mondiale, ayant des implications directes sur l'économie des pays en développement, lesquels, dans les efforts soutenus qu'ils font pour leur développement économique, rencontrent les plus grandes difficultés.
Quoique la situation de 1'agriculture et de l'alimentation ait enregistre certains progrès, la faim, la malnutrition et la pauvreté restent quand même des problèmes non encore résolus dans nombre des pays du monde, dans des circonstances où, annuellement, sont dépensés des centaines de milliards de dollars pour l'armement et pour le perfectionnement des moyens de destruction.
C'est pourquoi la Conférence générale de notre Organisation, laquelle s'est affirmée au long des années par la responsabilité qu'elle a su assumer dans le domaine de l'alimentation et du développement agricole, est appelée à trouver des solutions nouvelles et efficaces afin de combattre le sous-développement, à promouvoir une politique d'aide et de coopération, objectifs majeurs exprimés d'ailleurs avec beaucoup de clarté et de conviction par le Directeur général Edouard Saouma, à l'occasion de la célébration de la Journée mondiale de l'alimentation de même que par le message vibrant lancé dans la déclaration prononcée à l'actuelle Conférence.
Monsieur le Président, ainsi que nous l'avons fait noter dans d'autres occasions, la Roumanie retient qu'une solution viable et durable du problème alimentaire, la garantie à longue échéance de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, résident essentiellement dans la prise de mesures concrètes et efficaces pour le soutien du développement de l'agriculture en vue de l'accroissement et de la diversification de la production agricole. La réalisation de cet objectif réclame l'élaboration et la mise en pratique par chaque pays d'une stratégie propre de développement de l'agriculture, comme partie intégrante de la stratégie générale du développement socio-économique.
Certes, Monsieur le Président, l'expérience de mon pays, de même que celle des autres, démontre que la réalisation de l'objectif de l'accroissement de la production agro-alimentaire, du développement général de l'agriculture, ne peut pas être conçue sans une mobilisation extrêmement forte des efforts propres de chaque pays, sans l'utilisation d'une manière efficiente des propres ressources matérielles et humaines.
Persuadée que le propre effort constitue le facteur déterminant dans la réalisation des objectifs du développement national, y compris dans le domaine de l'agriculture, la Roumanie retient en même temps qu'une contribution à cet effort, qui peut et doit porter à l'accélération de l'essor de l'agriculture en général, surtout dans les pays en développement, passe par la mise en oeuvre sur le plan international d'une large coopération entre tous les pays, tant sur le plan bilatéral que sur le plan multilatéral, sur des bases équitables et réciproquement avantageuses.
Nous pensons, Monsieur le Président, que pour le développement de cette collaboration, une contribution parmi les plus importantes peut être apportée par la FAO et par d'autres organismes internationaux spécialisés. Comme nous l'avons déjà mentionné, nous retenons qu'il est nécessaire de trouver et de convenir, lors de la présente Conférence, de nouvelles mesures et actions afin d'amplifier la participation des organisations internationales à l'appui des efforts faits par les pays en développement, visant à l'accélération du développement de leur agriculture.
Permettez-moi de souligner l'importance particulière que pourraient, avoir l'élaboration et la mise en pratique par la FAO, en collaboration avec d'autres organisations internationales, avant tout la Banque mondiale et le Fonds international pour le développement agraire, d'un ample programme à longue échéance pour le développement et la diversification de la production agricole, conformément aux besoins spécifiques des pays en développement, programme dont le lancement avait déjà été proposé par la Roumanie lors de la précédente Conférence générale.
Evidemment, la mise en pratique des mesures nécessaires pour l'application d'un tel programme réclame de disposer d'un volume important de ressources matérielles, financières avant tout. Leur garantie est, à notre avis, tout à fait possible à condition qu'il existe la volonté politique nécessaire, en premier lieu de la part des Etats développés.
Dans ce sens, une source de la plus grande importance serait représentée par la diminution des dépenses militaires, lesquelles, comme nous le savons tous, ont atteint des niveaux très hauts. Comme la Roumanie l'a proposé aussi à l'actuelle session de l'Assemblée générale de l'ONU une baisse de 10-15 pour cent seulement de ces dépenses apporterait la garantie de ressources très importantes, dont une partie pourrait être utilisée pour le soutien des pays en développement, en vue de l'accroissement de la production agro-alimentaire.
Monsieur le Président, permettez-moi de faire maintenant quelques précisions concernant le Programme de travail et budget pour la période 1984-85. A notre avis, les propositions présentées par le Directeur général Edouard Saouma reflètent sa préoccupation de réaliser une concordance toujours meilleure entre l'activité de l'Organisation et les besoins actuels de l'agriculture des pays en voie de développement, d'affecter une proportion toujours croissante des ressources FAO aux activités destinées directement au soutien des pays en voie de développement. Dans ce sens, nous avons vu l'élargissement des programmes spéciaux tels que le Programme pour la coopération technique; le Programme pour la sécurité alimentaire mondiale; les programmes et les projets visant à l'approfondissement de la coopération entre les pays en voie de développement et d'autres pays.
Quant à l'activité au niveau regional, nous retenons que celle-ci correspond aux problèmes spéci-fiques de chaque zone. En tant que pays européen, la Roumanie est intéressée à encourager le développement de la coopération économique et technologique entre les pays d'Europe dans le domaine de l'agriculture et de l'industrie alimentaire, aux niveaux bilatéral et multilatéral. Dans ce sens, nous avons en vue la thématique relative au développement des systèmes d'irrigation, d'assèchement, de lutte contre l'érosion du sol et de conservation des ressources d'eaux; à l'amélioration et la production de semences de haute qualité; à la mise en pratique de programmes communs concernant l'échange d'expériences, d'informations, de personnalités de la science et de spécialistes, en vue de connaître réciproquement les résultats obtenus par la recherche scientifique et par la pratique, pour leur mise en application en tenant compte des conditions spécifiques des pays respectifs.
Dans ce sens, nous nous adressons à la Communauté économique européenne, aux Divisions communes FAO/CEE, pour qu'elles appuient la réalisation de ces objectifs qui peuvent faire l'objet d'actions de coopération à la fois entre les pays d'Europe et les pays en voie de développement situés dans d'autres zones géographiques.
Permettez-moi de souligner à ce sujet le fait que la Roumanie élargit sans cesse sa collaboration économique et sa coopération dans le domaine de la production, de même que la coopération technique-scientifique, dans les domaines de l'agriculture et de l'industrie alimentaire, avec nombre de pays en développement.
Mon pays est décidé à amplifier et à diversifier encore plus à l'avenir la coopération avec ces Etats, considérant que par des efforts communs, à travers une large collaboration entre eux, les pays en voie de développement peuvent solutionner beaucoup de problèmes ,auxquels ils se voient confrontés.
C'est la conviction de la Roumanie que le problème de l'alimentation, ainsi que tous les grands problèmes auxquels le monde d'aujourd'hui est confronté, qui engendrent l'instabilité économique et politique, des phénomènes de crise, des états de tension, ne peuvent être solutionnés que par l'action conjointe des peuples, ayant pour but d'instaurer un nouvel ordre économique international, appelé à garantir un développement plus rapide des pays retardés, à amener le progrès général.
Je désire mentionner ici que la Roumanie participe activement aux actions promues par la FAO et qu'elle continuera à y participer aussi à l'avenir, afin d'apporter la contribution nécessaire à la réalisation et à la mise en pratique des programmes que la Conférence approuvera.
Nous avons bénéficié de l'aide de la FAO dans la réalisation de quelques projets en Roumanie. En même temps, la Roumanie a participé, par l'intermédiaire de spécialistes roumains experts de la FAO, à la réalisation de programmes dans quelques pays en développement de l'Afrique, de l'Amérique latine, visant au développement de la production de semences, à l'octroi d'assistance technique, et exprimons notre intérêt constant de participer à la mise en pratique et au déroulement de certains programmes de la FAO dans les pays en développement.
Dans ce contexte, nous informons la Conférence du fait qu'au mois de février de l'année prochaine, Bucarest, la capitale de notre pays, sera l'hôte de la réunion du "Groupe des 77" ayant pour objet l'alimentation et l'agriculture.
A cette occasion, on examinera l'état de la réalisation des actions entreprises et on élaborera des recommandations visant au renforcement de la coopération dans ce domaine.
Pour conclure, je voudrais souligner que, tenant compte de notre conviction profonde que les problèmes auxquels le monde se trouve aujourd'hui confronté dans le domaine de l'alimentation et de l'agriculture imposent la participation active et directe de tous les Etats, la Roumanie est décidée à apporter sa contribution au côté des autres pays pour trouver des solutions viables et durables à ces problèmes.
The meeting rose at 13.00 hours
La séance est levée à 13 h 00
Se levanta la sesión a las 13.00 horas