EL PRESIDENTE: Buenos días señores delegados, comenzamos hoy nuestra quinta sesión de la Comisión I, les anuncio que ha sido ya distribuida la propuesta o el proyecto de resolución sobre el concepto revisado de seguridad alimentaria, moción que hizo en la segunda sesión de esta Comisión la delegación de Venezuela a nombre también de otras delegaciones. Esa notificación fue turnada a su vez al Comité de Resoluciones, el mismo que ha presentado la propuesta que ustedes seguramente tienen en sus manos.
Señores, la lista de oradores es la siguiente: Australia, Cuba, Tailandia, República Federal de Alemania, México, Francia, Países Bajos, Argentina, Congo, Corea, Polonia, Sudán, Nicaragua, Zambia, Chipre, y Pakistán.
Tiene la palabra la delegación de Australia.
G. MACKEY (Australia): The Australian delegation regards this as one of the very important items before this Commission.
We endorse the redefinition of the concept of food security as outlined in the Director-General's report to the Committee on Food Security and as subsequently endorsed by both the CFS and the Council.
Australia recognizes the importance of food security, particularly to food deficit developing countries.
We look forward to receiving early details of the Director-General's specific proposals on his proposed improvement to existing food security arrangements and on the practical steps he envisages being taken in the near future.
Australia agrees on the necessity of countries' adopting appropriate domestic policies and, where necessary, re-appraising and revising them in order to stimulate the food and agricultural sectors.
We agree that the FAO study on pricing policies has the potential to assist countries to identify where policy changes are needed.
We look forward to this item being discussed next year in the various regional conferences and we would certainly expect it to be a major focus in our own Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific.
I should like to make a comment on pricing policies. To be effective, they will have to encompass a much broader range of matters than is connoted by the word "price" alone. Prices will be effective in guiding production and the use of resources only if there are efficient and effective markets and market institutions both for input and output. Market institutions will need to be scrutinized and any impediments to their effective operation removed.
Australia forward to seeing the Director-General's findings on the further action that needs to be taken to enhance the future prospects of sub-Saharan Africa.
We endorse the objectives of cost effective solutions aimed at improving supply stability at the national level in all countries. We support the objective of improving the quantity and quality of diets for the chronically malnourished, including particularly improved access to food supplies by the poorest countries.
Australia has previously confirmed its support for the development of national strategies aimed at the short term and long term problems of the food sector. We continue to endorse the development of such strategies, whether they are called food sector strategies, national food security programmes or by some other name.
The strengthening of regional ties which can assist countries to improve their food security is supported by Australia. To this end, we welcome the establishment of the FAO Regional Commission on Food Security for Asia and the Pacific and the Action Committee on Regional Food Security by the Latin American Economic System. I would draw attention to the fact that Australia participated in the inaugural meeting of the Asia Pacific Food Security Commission earlier this year.
Australia has regularly endorsed the 10 million tonne food grain aid target, and will this year contribute 50 000 tonnes of grain to the IEFR.
We support the full replenishment of those IDA and IFAD resources. We have some questions about the Director-General's proposals for the liberalization of the IMF cereal import facility. We are certainly prepared to examine any specific proposals, but we feel that the IMF is really the appropriate forum for consideration of that matter.
Mr Chairman, you raised at the outset the matter of the resolution. I am not sure if I fully understood what you said on that, and I am unclear as to what the procedure is that is to be followed with that resolution. I would just register that we have some thoughts on possible amendments to the draft resolution. We could pass the text of our suggested amendments to the sponsors of the resolution, if that is the appropriate course to follow.
EL PRESIDENTE: Efectivamente señores, se ha entregado un proyecto de resolución para su estudio y consideración. De manera que si es factible solicito que se manifiesten en torno a ello y si es admisible dicho proyecto que también lo hagan saber.
P. ELMANOWSKY (France): Je me réfère simplement au sujet auquel vous venez de répondre et je désire demander une précision complémentaire.
Est-ce que vous voulez, dès ce matin, que l'on aborde la question de la résolution, ou au contraire est-ce que l'on ne pourrait l'aborder que cet après-midi? Ceci pour une raison très simple, du côté communautaire, nous avons déjà des amendements à présenter, mais ils sont encore à taper et à dactylographier; c'est pour cela que nous préférerions ne parler sur le sujet de la résolution que cet après-midi. Voilà.
EL PRESIDENTE: Agradezco mucho a la delegación de Francia sus comentarios.
Por supuesto, la idea de esta Presidencia es que cuanto más pronto podamos ultimar este asunto mejor. Es decir, que entre la sesión de ahora de la mañana y la de la tarde pudiéramos darlo por terminado, y de esa forma no tendríamos que discutir posteriormente sobre tal asunto.
Si la Comunidad, así como cualesquiera otros países pudiera presentar sus observaciones cuanto antes, sería mejor para todos, y de esta manera la discusión que pudiera celebrarse esta tarde en torno a sus observaciones podría estar ya organizada.
Les agradezco mucho su colaboración.
La delegación de Colombia pide la palabra también para una cuestión de orden. Puede hacer uso de ella.
Sr. BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Esta delegación apoya plenamente lo manifestado por el Sr. Presidente.
Estimamos que a fin de avanzar en nuestro trabajo, esta misma mañana, cuando se agote la lista de oradores, debemos iniciar el estudio del proyecto de resolución.
Estoy seguro de que los colegas de la Comunidad disponen de apoyo logìstico suficiente para preparar las propuestas que estamos dispuestos a considerar.
EL PRESIDENTE: Recojo con mucho gusto las observaciones de la delegación de Colombia y solicito de la Comisión que realice sus mayores esfuerzos para proceder en la forma que ha indicado.
G. MACKEY (Australia): Mr Chairman, I apologize for intervening again. May I suggest that the countries with amendments to suggest have them prepared and handed to the Secretariat so that you can introduce them for discussion specifically on the resolution at an appropriate time during the day.
EL PRESIDENTE: Quisiera hacer una observación a la Comisión, y es que desearía que las delegaciones que pudieran pasasen por escrito lo antes posible sus observaciones, a fin de que si podemos terminar con nuestra lista de oradores esta mañana a buena hora, pudiéramos entrar también a discutir este asunto hoy por la mañana, y por la tarde acordar las conclusiones respectivas.
Agradezco a todos su cooperación en torno a este asunto.
Concedo definitivamente la palabra, en espera de que no tenga que volver a interrumpirla, a la Sra. delegada de Cuba.
G. SOTO CARRERO (Cuba): Esta delegación de Cuba vive muy de cerca el tema de la seguridad alimentaria mundial y participa activamente en las reuniones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria de la FAO.
Como miembros del Consejo hemos apoyado también las acciones emprendidas por la FAO para tratar de resolver este acuciante problema.
Estamos muy de acuerdo, Señor Presidente, respecto a que este asunto merece efectivamente prioridad. Y naturalmente nuestra Organización, y en especial el Director General, le han dado y le están dando, tal prioridad.
Como bien se plantea en el párrafo 15 del documento C 83/20, el concepto ampliado y revisado de seguridad alimentaria mundial que ha propuesto el Director General, hay que considerarlo en función de los antecedentes de la evolución que se produce a partir de la crisis alimentaria mundial de los años setenta.
Como se recordará, la Conferencia Mundial de la Alimentación aprobó una serie de recomendaciones de máxima importancia para el logro de la seguridad alimentaria.
Las más importantes a nuestro entender se referían a la adopción de medidas para ayudar a los países en desarrollo a incrementar su producción de alimentos como mínimo en un 4 por ciento anual y al establecimiento de un objetivo de al menos de diez millones de toneladas de cereales al año en ayuda alimentaria.
Esto ha sido repetido tantas veces, Señor Presidente, que parece que hablamos de historia antigua, porque desafortunadamente esas metas no se han cumplido, y en la situación actual resultan absolutamente escasas.
Asimismo, numerosas otras medidas acordadas en diferentes foros internacionales, como el Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria, el Consejo de la FAO, el Consejo Mundial de la Alimentación y el ECOSOC, entre otros, en la práctica no se han aplicado, como se ha reconocido en el propio documento.
Todo esto, unido a que en muchos países no se ha cumplido internamente el papel que les corresponde en pro de la seguridad alimentaria, ha conspirado para que los progresos deseados hacia la consecución de una seguridad alimentaria en un sentido amplio no se hayan logrado.
Estimamos que efectivamente el incremento de la producción de alimentos, la estabilidad de los suministros y la garantía de acceso a los mismos -aspectos todos incluidos en el nuevo concepto de seguridad alimentaria propuestos por el Director General- son indispensables para lograr que la misma pueda ser considerada desde una perspectiva global y en un amplio contexto institucional.
En el párrafo 23 del documento que analizamos se plantean una serie de medidas concretas que, de ser cumplimentadas a escala regional, nacional e internacional, nos acercarían al cumplimiento de los objetivos propuestos, indicándose también la relación existente entre la seguridad alimentaria y muchas de las medidas contenidas en la Declaración de Principios del Programa de Acción de la Conferencia Mundial de Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural.
La delegación de Cuba reitera su apoyo al nuevo concepto de seguridad alimentaria y a las nuevas medidas propuestas, y recalca que uno de los principales objetivos inmediatos debe ser el enfoque integral del problema de la seguridad alimentaria en los países más pobres; y por descontado que damos nuestro apoyo a todas las medidas de estrategia referidas a los países africanos.
Esperamos que el Simposio que se celebrará en 1984 sobre nuevas direcciones en la consideración de las cuestiones de seguridad alimentaria mundial, regional y nacional, aporte aspectos decisivos para el logro de seguridad alimentaria, y sobre el desarrollo, tema sobre el cual tal vez la Secretaría pudiera darnos más información de la que aparece en el párrafo 85.
Por último, Señor Presidente, esperamos que todos los organismos e instituciones internacionales que se ocupan de los problemas alimentarios coordinen sus esfuerzos a fin de evitar superposiciones de tareas, respetando como es logico, sus respectivos mandatos y esferas de competencia. Y también esperamos que se logre finalmente el progreso deseado para obtener el objetivo común de conseguir un sistema viable de seguridad alimentaria que incluya el concepto amplio y revisado que, repito, mi Delegación apoya sin reserva alguna.
Señor Presidente, mi Delegación ha estudiado la resolución sobre Seguridad Alimentaria que se nos presenta en el documento C 83/LIM/20, y estimamos de manera plena que es el mínimo que debe aprobar esa Comisión y la Conferencia misma sobre este importante tema.
La Delegación de Cuba, consecuente con la posición que ha mantenido con relación a la seguridad alimentaria, se adhiere a los copatrocinadores de la misma, y está dispuesta a cooperar al éxito de la resolución con las enmiendas que puedan ser propuestas por otros distinguidos delegados.
N. SRISURAK (Thailand): My delegation attaches great importance to document C 83/20 as a means of providing measures for an improved food security system. The document also highlights those food security problems which are very difficult to handle because of variations in the amount of food produced and in the price of food commodities. Moreover, the problem is made more difficult by protectionism. In this context, FAO and other international agencies such as GATT and UNCTAD should play a key role in making sure that no new tariff barriers are imposed on trading in food products.
In our opinion, to maintain food security one must take the following things into account - first, food production; second, the distribution of food commodities; third, that there is a fair price for the consumer, and the farm gate price must be taken into account in relation to increased production of food products, and fourth, the government's food policy must be carried out.
Food production is an integral and important part of food security, and is the first stage of socio-economic development. One must plan how to increase food production, taking into account, inter alia, people's needs. Our experience shows that for food production projects one must forecast, and such projections should begin at a low level. Rural people need guidance in expanding food production for domestic consumption. In this context, we must have integrated action from all the various agencies involved, which should work together in such a way that the various projects can be brought to a successful conclusion.
Food distribution is a key component of food security. One must remember that some areas are more suitable than others for producing food. Farmers can produce food for domestic consumption; they do not want to produce more food if there is no market in which to sell it. In this connection one must consider how best to produce food for those who need it at a reasonable price both for the buyer and the seller. At this stage we have to consider the various facilities such as transportation, storage, marketing, fair selling prices, and the means whereby the food can reach the market. We must plan well, and rural people must participate fully. If this is done, it is our hope that there will no longer be any food shortage for the poor.
E. SCHRODER (Germany, Federal Republic of) (original language German): The question of increasing world food security has gained increasing importance in the last few years at international level. Not only the agenda of the last session of the World Food Council in New York, and the motto of the last World Food Day which was held world-wide are clear signs of it. This was also reflected by the profundity and intensity of the discussions at the last session of the Committee on World Food Security. The proposals made by the Director-General of FAO in document CFS/83/4 have animated discussions considerably and have clearly broadened the approach to considerations. The Conference document C 83/20 represents an accurate report of the course and results of the Eighth session of the CFS. My delegation supports the approach outlined by the Director-General for a global and integrated solution. This broad approach which is in line with the basic principles of the cooperation of the Federal Republic of Germany with developing countries, an approach which endeavours to improve the food situation and food security through integrated measures of agricultural development. The most important element in this connection is - as has also been stressed by the CFS - to increase food production in the countries concerned. The Federal Government therefore, gives priority promotion to appropriate efforts by thè developing countries themselves which for example, through improving the agrarian structure and land tenure, training and extension, the making available of credit, cooperative organization and in particular, through more efficient methods of production, storage and distribution of agricultural products, make a specific contribution to an improved and more secure supply of food for all sections of the population. The Federal Government attaches particular importance to adequate producer prices, and to intensifying efforts to combat harvest losses occurring before, during and after the harvest. These national measures, forming the core element of an increased food security, and for which the national food strategies are a suitable way, must be supplemented both according to the proposals of the Director-General and also according to our own ideas by regional and also global measures. Regional measures offer themselves in particular in the case of joint storage, training, agricultural research and a swift exchange of food commodities in emergencies. Measures on a global scale are, inter alia, food aid, technical and financial aid and measures to promote trade.
In discussing the concrete measures suggested by the Director-General of FAO to enhance food security at a global level and in the institutional field, there were partly considerable differences of opinion at the last CFS session. Some of the misgivings and doubts which we voiced at that time on particular proposals in document CFS 83/4 continue to exist for my delegation. Some of the proposals made required further elaboration and clarification and hence were not discussed in depth. Thus, the CFS decided to ask the Director-General to submit a revised report for the next CFS session, focussing on areas in which early agreement appeared a possibility. This should not affect the elaboration and clarification of other proposals which could be pursued on a medium- and long-term basis.
My delegation recommends that this procedure decided on by the CFS and endorsed by the Council of the FAO at its Eighty-third Session be the procedure followed. We would be grateful to the Director-General if he could submit a new report to the next CFS session according to the above recommendations. In view of the requested detailed elaboration which will already contain technical details, we suggest this be drafted early enough to enable all relevant officers in the capitals to discuss it.
As regards the question of the draft resolution now available to us, my delegation may wish to speak again later on, but that is all for now.
R. GUADARRAMA SISTOS (México): La delegación de Mexico extiende su felicitación a la Secretaría de la FAO por la preparación de los documentos de base, y agradece asimismo al Dr. Islam por la precisa y sugerente presentación que hizo del tema.
El enfoque integral y globalizador del concepto de seguridad alimentaria mundial propuesto por la FAO favorecerá, sin lugar a dudas, el avance en el establecimiento de objetivos, diseño de estrategias, precisión en los mecanismos y acciones, así como en los compromisos que en materia de producción, disponibilidad y acceso de alimentos, se realizan a nivel nacional, regional y mundial.
Por los acuerdos recibidos en otras ocasiones y en otros organismos, y por considerarlo una sólida lógica y necesaria para la humanidad, nuestra delegación espera que esta Conferencia respalde y endorse el concepto de seguridad alimentaria mundial propuesto por el Director General.
Estamos, asimismo, con la delegación de Colombia respecto a que es incomprensible la resistencia de algunos países en la aceptación de la seguridad alimentaria, en vista de que también cancelan todas las otras salidas.
Sr. Presidente: para el logro de la seguridad alimentaria mundial, el nuevo concepto pone, adecuadamente, la prioridad en el nivel nacional y en el apoyo a la producción, suministro y acceso a los alimentos básicos, recomendando la reactivación de todos los recursos disponibles del país. Nuestra delegación considera necesario integrar las políticas de reforma agraria y desarrollo rural, así como las de conservación ecológica en las medidas nacionales propuestas para el logro de la seguridad alimentaria. Recomendamos también ir más allá de la producción, para tratar toda la cadena de actividades alimentarias.
México tiene amplia experiencia en este sentido, y recientemente ha puesto en marcha el Programa Nacional de Alimentación (PRONAL) dentro de su Sistema Nacional de Planeación, que tiene como objet ivo la seguridad alimentaria nacional y la soberanía alimentaria a través de la reactivación e integración adecuada y realista de las actividades de la cadena alimentaria. Podemos afirmar en este foro, que el esfuerzo de México por lograr su seguridad alimentaria está en marcha.
La seguridad alimentaria en el ámbito regional, pensamos que debe basarse en el principio de complementar actividades alimentarias entre los países de la región, a partir de criterios de equidad en el usufructo de dichas actividades, y eventualmente, en la creación de reservas alimentarias y los acuerdos de productos convenientes. Tal es el principio que norma el diseño de las estrategias regionales de desarrollo alimentario por parte del CASAR para América Latina, que apoyamos entusiastamente.
Nos unimos también a Colombia en cuanto a que somos nosotros los que más sabemos y nos interesamos en la continuación de reservas y mecanismos de seguridad alimentaria. Insistimos también en que la FAO apoye y convoque ese tipo de esfuerzos en otras regiones y subregiones del mundo.
La cooperación intra e interregional debe apoyar los esfuerzos productivos y de integración de las actividades alimentarias, el intercambio de insumos productivos y tecnologías, así como el complemento recíproco de los mercados para colocar excedentes que permitan la reactivación económica de las actividades alimentarias.
Deberá también contar con todo el apoyo de los gobiernos e instituciones internacionales. Es esta la forma más efectiva de promover el acceso de las poblaciones a los alimentos que requieren; la estabilidad de suministros se verá reforzada y no\sustituida. El establecimiento de sistemas de información regional respecto a cosechas, consumos y excedentes, y responsabilidades compartidas en la formación de reservas regionales son un complemento indispensable.
En el plan mundial, la seguridad alimentaria sólo es concebible con un esfuerzo de fortalecimiento agrícola y alimentario. En este terreno hay un gran avance en el tratamiento de la seguridad alimentaria mundial, al reconocerse que las dietas de las poblaciones de los países del mundo, no están compuestas por idénticos alimentos, y que éstos corresponden a particulares condiciones climáticas, agronómicas, económicas, culturales y aun históricas. Las diferentes dietas obligan a atender con igual prioridad la diversidad de alimentos que está acostumbrada a consumir la población de cada país, y por tanto, los sistemas de producción que lo permiten.
Reiteramos que el apoyo internacional para el logro de la seguridad alimentaria mundial será más efectivo en la medida en que se dirija a la reactivación de las actividades alimentarias a nivel local, pues ésta repercute directamente sobre el ingreso, y consecuentemente, sobre la capacidad de acceso de la población y de los países a los alimentos que requieren.
Debe impedirse, por tanto, la profundización del carácter asistencial de ésta y de los programas de ayuda y la creciente dependencia externa de alimentos. En este sentido, es imperativo resaltar la necesidad de apoyar el Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola para la segunda reposición de sus fondos.
Respecto al acceso, es importante subrayar que los países tendrán acceso a los alimentos que requieren, en la medida en que los produzcan o a través de sus exportaciones, obtengan las divisas para adquirirlos. En este último caso, insistimos en liberalizar los mercados y desmantelar las barreras proteccionistas, que afectan principalmente a los productos de exportación de nuestros países, principalmente de productos tropicales y el uso desleal que países y empresas hacen para competir con nuestras producciones y excedentes.
En este sentido, nos referimos a las intervenciones de varias delegaciones que han manifestado interés en profundizar en el estudio de empresas transnacionales para el diagnóstico adecuado y la formulación de políticas en la materia. Queremos poner a consideración de esta Comisión, la conveniencia de organizar un Seminario para analizar el papel desempeñado por estas empresas transnacionales.
Insistimos tanto en la estabilización de los suministros de alimentos y el establecimiento de reservas internacionales de alimentos que contemplen apoyo técnico, financiero y económico y su adecuada distribución geográfica, respondiendo prioritariamente a las necesidades de los países más necesitados. Apoyamos por eso, el fortalecimiento de las reservas de emergencia (RAIE) para que puedan cumplir con eficacia sus objetivos, teniendo presente la creciente necesidad de alimentos para refugiados.
Es indispensable apoyar el Plan de Acción sobre seguridad Alimentaria Mundial con las medidas propuestas dentro del nuevo enfoque de la seguridad alimentaria mundial. Esta delegación considera necesario hacerlo para dimensionar así, adecuadamente, las actividades referentes a las reservas de cereales, los programas de asistencia y los planes de autosuficiencia comprendidos en el PASSA, dejando así de contemplarlo como una medida provisional.
México busca el establecimiento de convenios internacionales de alimentos como los del trigo, azúcar y otros que contengan cláusulas económicas para la estabilización de los precios internacionales, tomando en consideración la constitución de reservas en la materia. Ello, indudablemente, favorecerá el reforzamiento del mercado internacional permitiendo mayor acceso a las exportaciones de los países en desarrollo.
El fortalecimiento de nuestro Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria es necesario para una mejor coordinación con el GATT y la UNCTAD en la materia. Es indudable el beneficio que nos reportaría la supervisión de los progresos en producción de alimentos y la ayuda concedida con ese fin, así como también el fomento a la cooperación económica y técnica entre los países en desarrollo y desarrollados. Miramos,con mucho interés, avanzar hacia el Convenio sobre la Ayuda Alimentaria.
Finalmente, la Delegación mexicana comparte la propuesta hecha por la delegación de Venezuela y apoyada por India, España y otras, para elaborar una Resolución en materia de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial, en la que se destaque el apoyo de la comunidad internacional a los esfuerzos nacionales en la materia, en vista de contar con el proyecto de resolución examinado por el Comité de Resoluciones el día de ayer, esta Delegación propone la discusión de la misma en el curso de nuestras deliberaciones.
P. ELMANOWSKY (France): Je voudrais simplement rappeler que la délégation française, lors du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire et lors du Conseil, a été amenée à examiner le rapport du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire et, conformément au paragraphe 43 qui figure dans le rapport du Comité de la sécurité alimentaire, je note: "Le Comité a adopté la notion élargie de sécurité alimentaire mondiale considérée dans une perspective globale et dans un ample contexte institutionnel." Nous acceptons ce texte. C'était le point de départ. A partir de là il y avait un certain nombre de mesures, d'une part au plan national, ensuite au niveau régional et enfin à l'échelle mondiale. Comme il ressort du document, nous acceptons les mesures au plan national; nous acceptons les mesures au plan régional. En ce qui concerne les mesures à l'échelle mondiale, comme il est rappelé dans le rapport du Comité, comme cela apparaît aussi dans le document C 83/20 qui sert de base à nos discussions, comme enfin M. Nurul Islam l'a rappelé dans son intervention de présentation et nous a signalé qu'au niveau mondial les différentes solutions qui ont été envisagées soulevaient encore des différences d'appréciation, que le travail restait à approfondir, que c'était une oeuvre de longue haleine compte tenu des vues différentes des uns et des autres, nous pensons qu'il est nécessaire que le Directeur général reprenne ces propositions, comme il s'y est d'ailleurs en quelque sorte engagé au mois de mars dernier lors de la réunion du CSA, et que nous en rediscutions ultérieurement. Nous lui faisons confiance sur ce point.
De même, en ce qui concerne les aspects institutionnels, nous considérons tous, je crois, que la question reste ouverte. Voilà essentiellement ce que j'avais à vous dire sur ce point. Tout ceci se traduira finalement par un projet de résolution que nous avons eu ce matin officiellement, pour lequel je vous ai déjà annoncé, dès le début de la séance, que la Communauté européenne aura quelques amendements à présenter. Je vous dis tout de suite qu'à mons sens ce ne sont pas des amendements de fond et que ce ne sont pas des amendements qui devraient soulever de grandes difficultés. Alors, dans le courant de la journée, nous pourrons vous donner ce texte et je suis même en ce moment en train de reviser de manière précise où doivent s'insérer, pour le texte français, les nouveaux mots et ceux qu'il convient de supprimer.
A. RUSSCHEN (Netherlands): Since this is the first time that my delegation has had the floor in Commission I, we wish to join previous speakers in congratulating you, Mr Chairman, on your election as Chairman of this Commission. I would also like to express the appreciation of my delegation to the Secretariat of FAO for the documentation prepared for the Conference, in particular those documents concerning the Agenda items covered by this Commission such as, for example, World Food Security.
Referring to the statement delivered by the head of the delegation of the Netherlands, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr BRAKS, in which special attention was paid to food security, and in addition to what has been said on the subject by the representative to the Commission of the European Economic Community on behalf of the Community and its Member States, allow me, Mr Chairman, to present the following observations as our contribution to the discussions in this Committee. As to the progress in the implementation of the plan of action to strengthen world food security, the Committee on World Food Security concluded at its Eighth session in April 1983 that the objectives have only partly been achieved. Although progress has been made, it is especially the low-income food-deficit countries that have difficulties in meeting their import requirements and there is still no guaranteed excess of these countries to their required supplies.
In his report to the Committee on Food Security and the Council, the Director-General has proposed a broadened and revised concept of world food security which was accepted by the Committee and the Council. Under this concept the ultimate objective of world food security is to ensure that all people, at all times, have both physical and economic access to the basic food they need. This broadened and revised concept needs an even more integrated approach to the food security problems in the countries concerned. The important components of this integrated approach are stock and pricing policy measures and also international financial and technical support. The revised concepts on world food security as it is presented in the present documentation, and has been presented already to the Committee on World Food Security, is welcomed and is supported by my delegation. We must, however, remember that it is generally recognised that the improvement of food security in developing countries is in the first place, a matter for those countries themselves.
To translate this approach into specific policies, programmes, and projects, the Committee on World Food Security has recognised that action will be needed on a wide front, including all factors that have a bearing on the capacity of both countries and people to produce or purchase food.
This action Mr Chairman, is seen as taking the form of specific measures at national, regional, and global level. As it is the common theme of the reports of the Director-General, the Committee on World Food Security and the Council that action at national level is the indispensable basis for improved food security, especially in the case of low-income food-deficit countries, I will concentrate in my intervention on food security at a national level, and the role that the FAO could play in this connection. This is the same approach, Mr Chairman, we gave to the Committee on World Food Security.
The concept of national food security programmes as introduced in the document, covers to a large extent national food strategies. This concept is now commonly known. Although there are long-term objectives, the measures to be taken in national food security programmes will be of a short- and medium-term nature. Such programmes are not just a list of projects but they contain policy measures in which the projects should fit. In the document it is suggested that the FAO can play an important role in existing food security risk countries, in designing and implementing the national food security programme. It is also suggested that the FAO would develop a strong diagnostic ability in the framework of a food security action programme, and that it would develop country project portfolios and act as a catalyst for aid commitments and for their coordination. We would like to support this new approach. In fact, also the present approach of the Food Security Assistance Scheme with which we have as a major donor now substantial experience. It is not only formulating projects and arranging for their financing, but it is supplying the already expert assistance to governmental institutions working in the field of food security. The Netherlands is financing a number of such instances. This type of assistance relates, however, to food security in a narrow sense. The interesting new approach will broaden the field of institutional support and would include more policy aspects and more production-oriented measures.
Mr Chairman, such a task is certainly not an easy one and it would require an increase in FAO's field capacity. Field capacity not in the form of staffing the field projects but on a more continuous basis. In fact, it would mean a strengthening of the FAO country offices with know-how in the different disciplines covering the broader area of the new food security concept. This would mean a further decentralization of activities and services from FAO Headquarters to the member countries, and in addition, a re-allocation of existing activities outside Headquarters. We do realize, however, that such new activities and set-up could only be taken up on the explicit requests of the recipient countries. But, we would certainly welcome such a development, provided that FAO would be able to furnish adequate teams of the required expertise in the different fields of food security.
To characterise the position of FAO once more in this approach, it is the role of a broker who is able to acquire the confidence of the recipient countries, the donor countries as well as of the multilateral donors. But, and this is an important question, what about the financial consequences of such an approach? As I pointed out before, such a new set-up would mean in fact, a decentralization of FAO, and therefore in our opinion should be financed from the Regular Budget. The priority of such a new set-up sould therefore be seen in relation to other rorms of decentralization which, perhaps, are less effective. Increases in the regular budget will not be acceptable in the foreseeable future. Of course, it is obvious that a new set-up could only be realized gradually. Bearing in mind that the reappraisal of approaches to world food security is in itself a gradual process which may well extend over several years. But, for a modest first step on the road to such a revised structure we feel that, given the extraordinary importance of the subject, the resources can be found, for instance through an initial voluntary contribution by donor countries. So far, Mr Chairman, the considerations that my delegation would like to make on the Director-General's report are as we gave them in April of this year in the Committee on World Food Security. May I repeat the questions we raised in the Committee on World Food Security which, according to my delegation, should be answered first: are developing countries willing to invite FAO to play the above-mentioned role?; equally important, is FAO prepared to take up the role in the new partnership with both recipient and donor countries in which real policy dialogue on food issues can take place; and is FAO prepared to make organizational adaptation which, in fact, would mean a decentralization of its activities; are the donors, both bilateral and multilateral, prepared
to accept FAO in this new role? We should have the answers to these questions before we know that we really can embark on this new undertaking which, in our opinion, could become the sixth point in FAO's plan of action. Thank you Mr Chairman.
D. WHITE (Argentina): Al ser ésta la primera intervención de mi país en esta Comisión, permítame felicitarle por su designación. Es para mi delegación muy grato verle a usted dirigiendo nuestros debates.
En segundo lugar, quisiera manifestar nuestro reconocimiento a la Secretaría por haber elaborado un documento tan objetivo. Decimos esto porque además es una excelente síntesis de las partes sustanciales del documento que debatimos desde hace casi un año en el Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria, refleja muy bien el consenso logrado en esta oportunidad y en el 83° período de sesiones del Consejo. También queremos dejar constancia de su realismo en el tratamiento de los temas en que no hubo acuerdo.
La posición de mi país es bien conocida. En cuanto evento internacional se trató el tema y hemos apoyado este nuevo enfoque. Para los que no han asistido a la reunión plenaria, debido a que cubren las labores de esta Comisión, deseo comentarles que nuestro Secretario de Agricultura, máxima autori- dad de mi país en la materia, también se refirió en este sentido al nuevo concepto ampliado de la seguridad alimentaria mundial en su intervención del día de ayer.
Antes de referirnos al proyecto presentado por Venezuela, que apoyamos, quisiéramos tratar algunas cuestiones del documento C 83/20.
Nosotros otorgamos gran importancia a las medidas regionales para mejorar la seguridad alimentaria. Perdone mi insistencia, pero estimamos que es una buena ocasión para referirnos nuevamente al CASAR, es decir Comité de Acción para la Seguridad Alimentaria Regional en el ámbito del SELA.
Quisiéramos que en el informe de esta Comisión quedara destacada esta experiencia de cooperación Sur/Sur como un esfuerzo de, por el momento, 12 países de América Latina y el Caribe en pos de una autosuficiencia alimentaria dentrode unmar comásamplio quees justamentelase guridade conómica regional.
Dentro de este orden de ideas es de agradecer doblemente a la FAO sus planes de trabajo conjunto con el CASAR y por participar en el Programa de Cooperación Económica entre Países en Desarrollo.
No es el caso referirnos aquí a los avances del CASAR, ya que pensamos que esta experiencia será analizada produndamente en Bucarest al tratarse el capítulo de agricultura y alimentación del Programa de Acción de Caracas, esto será en febrero del año próximo y luego lo haremos en el Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria.
También quisiéramos referirnos a un punto en que el anterior período de sesiones del Consejo llegó a un acuerdo tal como se señala en el párrafo 48 cuando se dice que "una de las principales bases para establecer la seguridad alimentaria era un comercio de exportación libre y en expansión."
Esta es una cuestión básica para garantizar el acceso a los suministros de alimentos y también lo es para el crecimiento y desarrollo de los países exportadores de alimentos.
Apoyamos en este sentido que se estudie la manera de liberalizar el acceso a esos servicios de financiación de importaciones de cereales del Fondo Monetario Internacional y compartimos la idea de que se amplíe a una serie más amplia de productos básicos e incluso de insumos agrícolas.
Proponemos además que las operaciones realizadas con la utilización de este servicio del Fondo Monetario Internacional, sean efectuadas con productos básicos e insumos provenientes, prioritaria- mente, de países en desarrollo.
Esperemos que el Director General tenga en cuenta esta propuesta al continuar examinando el tema.
Decíamos al principio de nuestra intervención que el proyecto de resolución presentado por Venezuela era muy bueno. Es sensato, realista y permite seguir trabajando en forma objetiva y de manera coordinada en todos los organismos que tienen diversos grados de competencia en la cuestión.
Por lo tanto, queremos darle apoyo y expresar nuestra confianza en que sea aprobado sin dificultades.
J. NGOULOU (Congo): Pour commencer mon propos, je tiens à vous adresser mes félicitations les plus sincères, à vous qui avez accepté de diriger les travaux de notre Commission qui, aujourd'hui, traite sous votre haute responsabilité de la question fondamentale de l'humanité tout entière, à savoir la sécurité alimentaire dans son nouveau concept.
Mes remerciements vont également à l'endroit du Professeur Islam pour son travail très laborieux.
Le concept élargi et révisé de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale, proposé à notre examen, m'amène, à la lumière de la conjoncture économique globale du monde qui aujourd'hui affecte la plupart des pays à faibles revenus et à déficits alimentaires, à m'appesantir sur un certain nombre de faits non moins importants.
En effet, l'objectif ici défini du concept de la sécurité alimentaire - à savoir production stabilisée et accès aux approvisionnements - passe par un réaménagement des structures politico-économiques des pays en développement.
A mon humble avis, chaque pays en développement doit bâtir son plan de développement agricole en mettant l'accent sur les produits vivriers de première nécessité, en vue de parvenir dans un avenir relativement court à une autosuffisance alimentaire.
C'est là que se situe la volonté politique dans l'optique de la croissance de la production vivrière; ces pays doivent aussi mettre en place des mesures incitatives à l'augmentation de la production. Je sais combien nos pays en développement ont du mal à développer leur secteur alimentaire. La conjoncture extrêmement aiguë dans laquelle nos budgets subissent les plus graves contraintes mondiales, nous obligent à réduire considérablement le volume de nos investissements dans l'ensemble des secteurs vitaux de notre économie.
C'est ici que j'en appelle à l'aide bilatérale et multilatérale, pour un apport en moyens financiers et en assistance technique des pays nantis aux pays démunis. Je suis de plus en plus convaincu que si une attention toute particulière n'est pas apportée en direction des pays pauvres dans les formes d'aide visées plus haut, l'avenir de la sécurité alimentaire sera sombre. Les pays développés détiendront dans leur majorité les plus grosses réserves céréalières et les pays en développement, pauvres, seront de plus en plus démunis. Et la faim fera son chemin dans ces pays.
Monsieur le Président, les mesures préconisées dans ce nouveau concept par le Directeur général de la FAO dans ce document 83/20 reçoivent notre entière satisfaction et nous attendons les études sur les politiques des prix que réalise la FAO. La nature importante de la sécurité alimentaire dans le monde m'amène à formuler le souhait de voir cette activité intégrée dans le programme quotidien de la FAO. Je vous remercie Monsieur le Président.
SE-IK OH (Korea, Republic of): First of all, I would like to extend my congratulations to you on your election to the Chairmanship of this Commission.
And I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Secretariat for its excellent preparation of the document C 83/20.
As mentioned in the documents C 83/2 and C 83/20, food production in many developing countries is insufficient. The storage facilities, foreign exchanges to finance additional food imports, and the food aids to needed countries are also inadequate.
Moreover, some meteorologists predict that world food production would be decreased with the unexpected changes in the weather conditions we frequently have nowadays.
In this context, I believe we cannot over-emphasize the importance of world food security, and I especially accentuate some aspects in relation to this.
Firstly, the Government of the Republic of Korea fully recognizes and implements the national food stock policies in order to safeguard the national food security position.
I am pleased to report to this Commission that now we operate a national food reserve system of 1.4 million tonnes of food grain to improve our readiness to meet acute and large-scale food shortages. We have also tried to improve the infrastructures by repairing storage facilities and by expanding some of our harbour facilities including harbour elevator systems.
Secondly, I would like to support the position that it is quite necessary to firmly establish regional level cooperative bodies that can indeed provide food security.
Therefore, I would like to suggest that the FAO future works should place more emphasis on such programmes, and that we should devote ourselves to producing some more actions in this field.
Thirdly, as correctly indicated in the documents, there remains a special need for concentrated assistance to the low-income food-deficit countries. This is a matter of high priority, although the world economy is in recession and the countries are all in a quite difficult situation financially.
Under the present conditions, in my view, the food aid and the financial assistance could be made differentially, according to the regional level needs. The accommodation of funds should take into account the conditions of food supply and demand and development capacities.
Fourthly, the Government of the Republic of Korea is in position to fully support the Director-General's view that the concept of "World Food Security" should be explained. In the past, many countries carried out their food supply and demand policy mainly with reference to grains and the production aspects. But now, many kinds of crops, such as tubers, root crops and beans, especially, are available as a substitute for grains cultivated.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that a world-wide collective assistance system for food supply and demand stabilization is necessary to save millions from starvation and malnutrition.
Our "Plan of Action on World Food Security" should be developed to the point of being a concrete, positive plan. The world waits on our judgement in terms of action, not words.
Z. GROCHOWSKI (Poland): Mr Chairman, the problem of world food security has been discussed in several international fora since 1974. It will shortly be ten years since discussions have been started, and the practical results achieved are certainly short of expectation. We consider all FAO initiatives in this matter very timely and useful, as they brought the problem of food security to the attention of governments, scientists and the general public. The importance of this issue is now generally recognized and a number of governments have taken at least initial steps towards assuring food supplies in cases of natural disasters. The ensuing discussions have been instrumental in the identification and clarification of a number of intricate problems encountered, both on the national and international level.
The status of complete food security has never existed as yet and we doubt that it can be achieved in a short period of time. The dependence of man on the vagaries of weather and results of natural calamities will be extremely difficult to eliminate. However, in our opinion all efforts directed to this end should be continued and supported.
The proposal of the Director-General calling for a reappraisal of concepts and approaches is fully supported by my delegation. It will probably be a long process requiring time and effort before something will be achieved. Still, we feel it is worthwhile to analyze all possible angles, and to keep this matter before the eyes of governments.
We do not have any specific solutions in mind, but we would like to express our opinion on two aspects of the problem now under discussion. Firstly, we doubt whether it will be possible to obtain at present a guarantee of the exporting countries to supply grains to needy countries at a special price. This issue might possibly he discussed and if agreed to, incorporated in a New International Grain Agreement, if and when it will be concluded.
Secondly, we feel that as long as food supplies are used as a political weapon, self-sufficiency in food is of paramount importance. Therefore, efforts to increase indigenous crop production and to reduce dependence on imports, should be continued and strengthened. We might add that we have undertaken important decisions aimed at the implementation of this policy in my country.
Finally, I would like to mention that FAO activities in the field of food security carried out through FSAS, are in our opinion highly commendable and should be continued and expanded.
H. MOHAMADI (Sudan) (original language Arabic): Thank you, Mr Chairman, for giving me the opportunity to comment on this important topic relating to Progress in the Implementation of the Plan of Action to Strengthen World Food Security - Re-appraisal of Concepts and Approaches, contained in document C 83/20. I should like to concentrate in brief, in order to save time, on the revised and new concepts and approaches which have been proposed as a natural result of the many drawbacks and the modest positive developments that have been achieved since 1974, these have been referred to in paragraphs 1-15 in the document under discussion.
Here it is necessary, first of all, to commend this good, honest and responsible initiative undertaken by the Director-General, and we should like to congratulate him in this respect.
There is a near consensus in accepting the expanded concept of world food security and its clear and precise objectives, as was clear from the deliberations of this Committee so far, and the deliberations in the Council and in the CFS. Therefore, we can reflect it in the proposed draft resolution.
Likewise there is near consensus on the general specific measures that can be taken at national and regional levels, though we would rather see the Organization undertake more detailed studies and specify more specific guidelines for each region in relation to its conditions in order to support regional food security and to discuss these guidelines in regional conferences in 1984.
As for the measures proposed on the global level, which must never be neglected, so far as their direct impact on both national and regional levels is concerned, such measures have led to divergence in points of view, although, despite the fact that this divergence might be temporary or of an institutional nature, we can consider this as a healthy phenomenon to reach better means and ways in order to achieve the objectives which have been agreed upon in order to implement the standard world food security concept.
Therefore, the delegation of the Sudan thinks that there is nothing against undertaking detailed studies in order to crystallize and clarify these measures and to carry out consultations about them, especially relating to security, ensuring stability of supplies on the global level, and to take coordinated measures. We hope that the International Wheat Agreement would be undertaken and would be signed. As for the measures relating to the International Food Emergency Reserve, the delegation of the Sudan endorses the proposal of the Director-General relating to exchanging views in the CFS and to studying the matters related to food reserves and to locating them in strategic points to be used in emergency situations. This study might alleviate the doubts that were aired in the CFS, in addition to the consultations relating to food aid and proposals in order to improve the Food Aid Convention which is scheduled to be renewed in 1986.
We can achieve an agreement on all the proposed resolutions and more studies and reviews on the measures proposed by the Organization relating to the Programme of Action, the Fund and a Compact for World Food Security.
The delegation of the Sudan endorses the expansion of the terms of reference of the CFS instead of creating new organs, together with closer cooperation among all international organizations working in this field, and this is called for not only on this issue but on all the activities of the Organization at all levels.
Finally, Mr Chairman, the delegation of the Sudan endorses what has been said by the distinguished representative of Lebanon.
N.E.MUMBA (Zambia): Allow me, Mr Chairman, to say a few words on this very important topic. Much has already been said by many delegations. It is, therefore, not my intention to repeat what they have said. Nonetheless, the Zambian delegation supports the widened concept of world food security as proposed by the Director-General.
We wish to pay tribute to the Director-General for this revised concept of world food security. We particularly welcome the idea that food security should not cover grains only. It must cover all types of food, including tubers and pulses, because in some areas these are important foods.
World food security would be meaningless if the food was not made easily available to the poorest of the poor. It is important to ensure, therefore, that the food is well spread throughout the world.
We wish also to pay tribute to those who have prepared document C 83/20. This document is well written and is very clear.
Lastly, I wish to say that Zambia supports the resolution to pursue further the question of a new concept on world food security, together with the necessary measures to be taken.
H. ZANNETIS (Cyprus): Being members of both CFS and the Council, the Cyprus delegation has closely followed all discussions relating to Progress in Implementation of the Plan of Action to Strengthen World Food Security - Re-appraisal of Concepts and Approaches and the proposal of the Director-General to strengthen the CFS. All these discussions are well summarized in document C 83/20, for which I would like to commend the Secretariat.
The new concept on world food security has since April 1983 been supported by the Council and ECOSOC and has been stressed by a lot of speakers both here and FAO and in other fora. I believe that hardly anyone would not agree that the ultimate objective of world food security should be to ensure that all people at all times have both physical and economic access to the basic food they need. This should not be merely a wish. Positive and drastic measures should be taken to increase production, especially in the low-income food-deficit countries, along with measures to ensure stability of supplies. The ability of needy people to have access to available food should also be ensured.
In order to facilitate the foregoing, measures should be taken by individual countries themselves, but coordination is also important between countries of the same region and on a global level.
In his report on world food security to the CFS in April 1983, the Director-General has made a number of suggestions in general terms aiming at the establishment of a world food security system. These suggestions refer to the establishment of an FAO Food Security Action Programme, the establishment of a World Food Security Fund and a World Food Security Compact. We agree with the importance of, and the necessity to undertake, such measures, and we look forward to seeing the specific proposals of the Director-General which will be submitted to the CFS in 1984 on these items.
During the discussions in the CFS in 1983 and later in the Council in June 1983, this delegation gave its support to the proposals of the Director-General to strengthen the CFS within its terms of reference. We agree with the suggestion that the Committee should play a more central role in the food security system, as outlined in paragraph 64 of the document under review. We do not believe that this role contradicts or interferes in the work of other specialized bodies or organizations. We underline, of course, the need for close cooperation and coordination with these institutions with a view to avoiding duplication of tasks and waste of resources.
EL PRESIDENTE: Voy a proceder a la lectura de la lista de delegados que desean hacer uso de la palabra, que es bastante extensa: En primer lugar Pakistán, y después, Finlandia, Somalia, Canadá, Jordania, Sri Lanka, Camerún, Turquía, Malasia, Uruguay, Guinea, Nicaragua, Dinamarca, Peru, República Popular Democrática de Corea, Nueva Zelandia, Indonesia, Malí, Venezuela, Suecia, Marruecos, Emiratos Arabes Unidos, Suiza y Mauritania.
Como ven los Sres. Delegados, vamos a enfrentarnos a un largo debate.
Tiene la palabra la Delegación de Pakistán.
A.M. QURESHI (Pakistan): First of all, I would like to congratulate the Secretariat on the presentation of an extremely lucid and succinct document bearing on the revised concept of world food security.
We have carefully studied the document presented before us. My delegation welcomes and endorses the revised concept of world food security to achieve the ultimate objective of ensuring that all people at all times have both physical and economic access to the food they need. This concept has also been endorsed by the World Food Council at its Ninth Ministerial Session and the ECOSOC at its second regular session in 1983.
Our approach at the national level is already in line with the broadened concept. We have given incentives to farmers by improving the infrastructure for irrigation, transport and storage, better farm management, a stronger support service for research, extensions input delivery, credit and marketing. Efforts are also being directed to maximizing the productivity of the farmers and to providing employment in rural areas for the landless. A systematic set of measures has been introduced for meeting the shortfalls in cereal crops by building up food reserves, and to improve the income of consumers so they may be able to purchase their required food grains.
We, in Pakistan, have not only augmented our food production for domestic consumption, but have also built sizeable reserves for national food security. It may be of interest to you, Mr Chairman, that through the Islamic Laws of Zakat and Ushr we have further improved the accessibility of the needy and poor to the basic food they need. Comprehensive lists of such needy people are prepared by the committees constituted at grass-root level.
We also endorse regional and sub-regional cooperation to promote and give an impetus to global food security. This cooperation will also foster support for national efforts. We not only strongly supported the. creation of the Regional Commission on Food Security for Asia and the Pacific Region, but have actively participated in its first meeting held recently in Bangkok. My delegation is of the view we should strive to strengthen the establishment of a food security system not only at regional and sub-regional level, but also within the framework of the Organization of the Islamic Conference member countries. Besides, due emphasis also needs to be placed on the diversification and expansion of intraregional trade collaboration in the production and distribution of inputs and the sharing of research facilities, joint water management, and cooperation in training and expansion. These are only a few of the areas in which regional cooperation can be strengthened. There could be many more.
On a global level, of vital significance is the political will and determination to evolve and practically implement a viable food security system. My delegation is of the view that urgent and sincere steps need to be taken to achieve the 10-million tonnes target set for the IEFR with a financial window. We would also like to see an early replenishment of the IDA and IFAD resources. The declining trend of the UNDP funds also requires to be reversed. The IMF cereal-lending facility needs to be liberalized. We deeply appreciate the steps being taken by the Director-General of FAO in mobilizing support for the alleviation of hunger in Africa, and to increase the accessibility of food-deficit countries to the basic food requirements.
In conclusion, as regards the proposed resolution on world food security, we support its adoption and hope that. it will elicit unanimous support. It is my confident hope that we will examine it with an open mind and carry on our discussions in a pragmatic and constructive fashion.
A. LUTZ (Finland): Since at the last meeting of the CFS held in April this year we had the opportunity of commenting fully on the Director-General's Report on World Food Security, we would like at this juncture to dwell on world food security in very general terms.
Firstly, we wish once more to thank the Director-General for his very comprehensive report in which all the essential elements of world food security have been mentioned. We welcome the general acceptance of the new concept of world food security which, we think, rests now on more solid ground.
The first objective of the new concept is to ensure to all people at all times both physical and economic access to the basic food they need. As national governments and international organizations we must see that famine and malnutrition are eliminated. Only after that will we have food security. The fight against famine and malnutrition is a tremendous task.
According to the FAO estimate, about 10 percent of the total world population of 4 600 million can be considered severely malnourished. Only after solving this problem can we talk about securing adequate food supplies at all times for all people, so let us begin by helping the less privileged of the world. Their case should be tackled first. We should first determine the areas where famine exists and which are the areas prone to famine. Information is already available in this respect, but not enough. Therefore, we would like to see set up by this Organization a nutrition unit linked tightly to the planning of the action programme for world food security. The next step would be to define methods to alleviate suffering and to prevent its reappearance.
Since the basic reason for malnutrition is poverty, lasting effects can only be achieved by eliminating poverty. The WCARRD programme of action is therefore crucial for the alleviation of poverty and we would like to stress its importance also in relation to world food security.
Finally, I reiterate the importance we place on the clear division of labour between the organization and programmes in the United Nations system in dealing with this complex issue. Every effort shoud be made to avoid duplication of work or rivalry between the international institutions. There is plenty of room for coordination and all forces should pull together to fight against hunger in the world and to work for world food security.
On this subject, we agree in principle with the draft resolution, but we think that "the fight against famine and malnutrition" should be included. Therefore, I propose that paragraph 3 a) should read: "to give priority to efforts to fight against famine and malnutrition, to increase food production in the developing countries," - and then the paragraph carries on. I will leave it to the Resolution Committee to find the right words in the right place, but I think this is a matter we should keep in mind.
M. HERSI BAHAL (Somalia): Mr Chairman, I have to congratulate Dr Islam for the outstanding presentation of this important topic, namely World Food Security, before us. The concept of world food security should be viewed against the background of the millions of people who are not fortunate enough to have the basic necessities of life.
Our delegation views with the utmost appreciation the effort made by the Director-General in framing an improved world food security system which would result in a global approach in combatting hunger and malnutrition.
In the last two decades the problem of food and hunger has been the main preoccupation of international communities. While the FAO Plan of Action in increasing food production has brought tangible results by way of research activities, the fight against pests and locust invasion and the improvment of the local support institutions, no breakthrough is yet in sight in increasing the yields of major food crops, particularly on the African scene.
It is the view of the Somalia delegation that efforts should be exerted in suitable applied research programmes on irrigated and rainfed crops. The implementation of appropriate research activities, coupled with the extension service, along with market incentive programmes for the farmers would break the present impasse in food production.
In the course of modernizing our agriculture, we cannot turn the clock back in resorting to traditional methods at a time when the social values of our farmers in using modern techniques have changed for the better. In this regard it is important to acknowledge the scarcity of foreign exchange in procuring the essential materials and equipment for agricultural development.
I would like to express my Government's gratitute to the Government of the United States of America for the use of the Commodity Import Programme in which provisions for the purchase of farm inputs and essential spare parts for farm machinery are made available.
I think this is a classic example where a rich country has devised an action programme aimed at helping a country with a shortage of foreign exchange.
Lastly, our delegation shares the views expressed in the draft resolution submitted by Venezuela, Bangladesh, India and Mexico.
N.C. MACDONNELL (Canada) : Food security remains a vitally important subject. The record of the last decade shows that some progress has been made. At the same time we still have a long way to go before we can ensure that, in the words of the Director-General, "all people at all times have both physical and economic access to the basic food they need".
This is why we were able to endorse the revised concept of world food security at the Eighth Session of the CFS. We particularly welcome the emphasis on production and distributional or access aspects of the concept, and we are heartened by Professor Islam's statement in his introduction yesterday that action at the national level is the basis for world food security.
We have long believed that the key to food security lies in developing countries increasing their food production capacities with the active support of the international community.
We are pleased that a large number of other delegations have expressed similar views. There appears to be a broad consensus on measures to be taken at the national level.
Regional efforts are certainly worth considering, especially when they complement and support activities at the national level. We would echo the remarks of some delegations that care must be taken to ensure the cost effectiveness of regional efforts, especially reserve proposals. At the international level the CFS considered a wide variety of proposals, and there were considerable differences of opinion, I recall. I do not propose to repeat the comments which my delegation made at that time, but I would note that we have serious concerns about proposed changes to the IEFR, the prepositioning of stocks, preferential prices, and the proposed Compact and World Security Fund. At the same time, we fully support efforts to enlarge the IEFR and ensure adequate replenishments of IDA and IFAD.
An issue of major importance is the access which countries can obtain at the international level, in other words their ability to buy any necessary food imports. I would like to second the comment of our Indian colleague who said yesterday that trade liberalization is the key here.
I would like to comment briefly on some of the institutional questions which have been raised. We are prepared to examine proposals to strengthen the CFS within its existing terms of reference. However, we would not wish to see changes which would encroach on the mandate or terms of reference of other institutions active in the food sector.
We believe that all the international agencies and institutions involved in food issues must cooperate closely and coordinate their work in order to attain maximum effectiveness. Nonetheless, we believe strongly that this must be done by the institutions operating strictly within their respective mandates, in order to retain coherence within the overall system.
Finally, I would like to echo the comments of other delegations in urging that the follow-up which the Director-General may propose be concentrated on matters where a consensus has already been reached, or where it appears likely in the near future. This will allow for the most productive use of our time and give our work a manageable focus.
I would just like to note that we have already submitted an amendment to the proposed draft resolution to the Secretariat.
T. NASSAR (Jordan) (original language Arabic): From the beginning we did not expect that all the proposals of the Director-General woul enjoy unanimous approval by the CFS during its deliberations on these proposals in its session held in April 1983. We expected the same when the Report of the Committee was referred to the Council of the Organization afterwards. The reason behind this is that these proposals were general in nature, therefore the discussions on these proposals, either in the CFS or in the Council, were also of a general nature.
In addition to this, the majority of the members of the CFS are also members of the Council of the Organization. It is natural that the Director-General of the Organization, together with the Secretariat, have mentioned on more than one occasion that the purpose of submitting these proposals is to put them for general discussion and not to take definitive resolutions regarding the proposals.
Nevertheless, we consider that the results of these discussions in the Committee and the Council were generally positive and there has not been at any time any definitive rejection of any of these proposals. However, there have been some queries and questions.
Among the positive phenomena, we find that the members of the Committee and the members of the Council have welcomed and endorsed the new concept of world food security. They have endorsed measures that countries individually can take in this respect. They have also endorsed some measures which can be taken on the global level, and all these are undoubtedly positive phenomena which should be referred to.
The approval by the Committee, the CFS, and the Council of part of the proposals of the Director-General of the Organization is not an end in itself, but it is a beginning in the right direction. Therefore we believe that the Director-General of the Organization should be encouraged to follow up the implementation of these proposals and he is called upon to submit clarification, further and new information on the other proposals which did not enjoy unanimity in the CFS and the Council, in particular relating to the Programme of Action on World Food Security.
For the Conference to adopt a resolution in this regard would indoubtedly strengthen the efforts of the Organization, considering it a pioneering international organization in the UN system.
The delegation of Jordan would be pleased to be among those delegations adopting such a resolution, bearing the following in mind:
Firstly, to welcome what has been agreed in the CFS and the Council regarding the new concept of world food security and to authorize the Director-General to undertake follow up measures.
Secondly, to urge international organizations and donor governments to provide assistance to developing countries in order to formulate and implement their own programmes of food security, taking into consideration the assessments by the Organization and the World Food Programme of the particular needs of these countries.
Thirdly, to request the Food and Agriculture Organization to continue providing its assistance to developing countries in the formulation of their measures for food security, either on a regional or sub-regional level.
Fourthly, to request the Organization to provide detailed information and clarification to the CFS so that it can be deliberated on in its forthcoming session regarding proposals on which the Committee has not yet reached a consensus.
Fifthly, to urge donor countries and other countries as well to provide additional assistance in cash and in kind to the following programmes: prevention of food losses; international emergency food reserves, and the food security assistance scheme.
Sixthly, taking into consideration the fact that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is the pioneering international organization in the field of world food security and that it assumes a leading role in this respect, the Conference may urge international organizations and institutions concerned to cooperate and coordinate their actions with the Organization in order to avoid duplication or contradictions, because this will do harm not only to these organizations, but also to the developing countries.
In conclusion, I would like to extend my thanks to the Secretariat for the preparation of this important document under consideration which is characterized by precision and clarity. I would also like to thank my colleagues who have spoken before me, because their observations generally have spared me going into a lot of detail.
Likewise, I took the opportunity of asking for the floor for the first time in this committee to extend my congratulations to you Mr Chairman, and to the two Vice-Chairmen, and we wish you all success in guiding the deliberations and we pledge our full support in this respect.
EL PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias señores, les ruego que nos permitan que en estos momentos el señor Delegado de Perú haga su declaración en vista que es Vicepresidente de la Plenaria y tendrá qu asistir en pocos momentos a dicha sesión.Demaneraquesiustedeslotienenabienledarélapalabra al señor Delegado del Perú.
J. GAZZO FERNANDEZ-DAVILA (Perú): Agradezco la deferencia especial que han tenido todos mis compañeros de delegaciones en concederme este privilegio, pero es que estoy un poquito atareado como Vicepresidente por eso me he pegado esta esca pada.
Quiero ante todo facilitar al Sr. Presidente por lo acertado de la conducción del debate, que ya le es característico, y a toda la Mesa. Este tema es verdaderamente interesante, siempre me ha fascinado y creo que los problemas realizados para la ejecución del Plan de Acción para reforzar la Seguridad Alimentaria tiene gran relación y concatenación con una serie de conceptos.
Hace muchas décadas que venimos hablando del fantasma del hambre y de la malnutrición en el mundo. Si bien hemos tratado de controlarlo y de dominarlo, debemos reconocer, con toda lealtad, que se ha hecho mucho, pero se ha logrado muy poco. Esto quisiera decir, quizás, que hasta ahora no ha tenido la orientación adecuada y que debería revisarse sus bases filosóficas.
Por suerte nuestro Director General, Dr. Saouma, con la sabiduría y dinamismo que le caracteriza, diría que ha encontrado la brújula, que ha encontrado la orientación buscada, pues sus nuevos conceptos de seguridad alimentaria están teniendo un efecto alertador que hemos notado, ha despertado conciencia y está inclusive cambiando actitudes, y podríamos decir que se ha vuelto en un nuevo dogma. Nuestro ilustre Embajador de Venezuela ante la FAO, Dr. Hernández Carabaño había hecho un comentario en un libro que publico en el 80 que se llamaba "Seguridad alimentaria: un reto a la democracia". Resulta, señor Presidente, que si bien, a menudo, nuestros países se esfuerzan tremendamente en aumentar sus áreas agrícolas y su productividad en algunos productos agropecuarios para los cuales la ecología del país, debido justamente a sus ubicaciones geográficas, como lo son la longitud, la altitud y la latitud, les otorgan considerables ventajas económicas comparativas sobre otras áreas productoras del mundo. Estos países, principalmente, son países del tercer mundo y hacen un gran esfuerzo para aprovechar estas características ecológicas especiales para producir algunos productos agrícolas de características de clima subtropical y tropical. Sin embargo, nos preocupa mucho que algunos países desarrollados se esmeran en producir sustitutos naturales y/o sintéticos, usando incluso las tecnologías más sofisticadas, y estos productos sintéticos o sustitutos naturales compiten en el mercado mundial con nuestros productos agrícolas, obligándonos a usar estas áreas de las cuales nos han desalojado para la producción de otros cultivos, para los cuales no tienen actitudes agroeconómicas nuestros países, empujándonos hacia el uso irracional de nuestros recursos.
Mi país fue autosuficiente alimentariamente hasta la colonia y sólo debido a la occidentalización exagerada de sus hábitos alimentarios y al abandono justamente de sus principales cultivos alimenticios autóctonos, se ha vuelto tremendamente dependiente, perdiendo en cierta medida, justamente, su seguridad alimentaria que depende hoy largamente de la importación de una amplia gama de productos alimentarios que crean serios desbalances en nuestra balanza de pagos al no tener nuestros productos agrícolas, ni nuestros productos mineros, ni nuestros productos metálicos, ni nuestros productos pesqueros los precios justos internacionales que fueron proyectados cuando se concertaron la mayoría de las gestiones de adecuamiento externo, que hoy al no obtener los precios originales están afectando grandemente a la capacidad de pagos de nuestros países. Creo que el caso del Perú es el caso de la mayoría de los países del Tercer Mundo .
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Para terminar, quisiera ilustrar que la dinámica política de nuestro actual Ministro de Agricultura, el Ingeniero Juan Carlos Hurtado, ha hecho más eficiente la utilización de cuatro institutos descentralizados que ha creado en su Ministerio. Esto ha permitido eliminar cuestiones burocráticas al poder ejecutar estos institutos los programas en el campo, sin autorización adicional de ningún dispositivo ministerial. En el aspecto de seguridad alimentaria que es muy importante, señor Presidente, hemos creado las reservas nacionales alimentarias, pero las hemos basado en tres grandes componentes: primero, reservas transitorias, que aseguran a la población un abastecimiento mínimo de 90 días, de los 6 principales alimentos básicos que constituyen la canasta alimentaria popular, preferiblemente a base de productos locales si los hubiera, o si no proporcionando oportunas importaciones, y de la canasta de alimentos básicos cuando existan en el país. Segundo, se ha creado una reserva ampliada permanente de otros productos alimenticios adicionales a aquellos de la canasta popular, y de aquellos productos autóctonos para los cuales se tienen actitudes de producción con ventajas comparativas. Tercero, hemos creado unas reservas coyunturales con participación de todas las componentes del proceso productivo, o sea del Estado, los productores y comerciantes otorgándose créditos suficientes, oportunos y blandos a través del banco agrario del país.
Yo creo, señor Presidente, que este tema que estamos tratando es tan importante que se debe sintetizar en tres acciones como bien se dice: la producción, la seguridad de los suministros y el acceso a los recursos disponibles. Podemos decir que si bien es una declaración teórica, justamente hay muchos factores manejados por los países desarrollados que se oponen al cumplimiento de estos tres prefijos, porque en la producción hemos visto que apenas producimos exitosamente la caña de azúcar en condiciones económicamente comparativas, sale la fructuosa del maíz, salen los famosos sorgos ataríficos de climas templados y entonces, prácticamente, nos prestan dinero para mejorar las fábricas de azúcar, y después nos ponen un sustituto, lo cual indudablemente es un arma de doble filo.
De manera que podemos decir que indirectamente se oponen a que nuestra producción sea racional, usando el suelo para su ecología.
La seguridad de los suministros también es muy incierta porque son muy grandes las oscilaciones de precios en el mercado, y el famoso convenio del trigo sigue siendo un saludo a la bandera, porque hasta ahora no se ha logrado llegar a él.
La cuestión del acceso a los recursos disponibles es algo vergonzoso. Es muy triste que cuando hay tanta hambre en el mundo precisamente a algunos países les sobren alimentos. Y esto, señor Presidente, no le hace ningún honor al ser humano.
Algunos países como el nuestro no tienen la producción agrícola necesaria para atender a sus necesidades. Disponemos de algunas materias primas y de ciertas producciones determinadas, que antes nos permitían adquirir alimentos y bienes de equipo. Citaré un ejemplo dramático.
Hace quince años, con el valor de la exportación de 35 toneladas de azúcar se adquiría un tractor. Pues bien, hoy día, necesitamos exportar 90 toneladas de azúcar para pagar el mismo tractor.
Es evidente, señor Presidente, que en el orden internacional hay algo que no camina y que es necesario hacerlo andar, porque no se trata exclusivamente de países desarrollados o de países en vías de desarrollo, se trata de toda la humanidad.
Estoy seguro de que los países van a revisar sus políticas y de que son conscientes de que lo que he expuesto es la pura realidad.
El PRESIDENTE: Voy a leer la lista de oradores: Sri Lanka, India, Camerún, Túnez, Malasia, Uruguay, Guinea, Dinamarca, República Popular Democrática de Corea, Nueva Zelandia, Indonesia, Malawi, Venezuela, Marruecos, Suecia, Suiza, Emiratos Arabes Unidos, Mauritania, Nigeria, Mozambique, Nicaragua.
Esta mañana hemos indicado que convendría que se enviaran por escrito a la Secretaría los comentarios de las distintas delegaciones en relación con el Proyecto de Resolución sobre el concepto de seguridad alimentaria.
A la vista de que varias delegaciones han hecho entrega por escrito de sus comentarios -Australia, Finlandia y Canadá- y por otra parte que Venezuela, India, México y Bangladesh son las delegaciones que promovieron dicho proyecto de resolución, esta Presidencia estima que podríamos proponer que se estableciera un grupo de contacto entre estas delegaciones y, por supuesto, aquellas otras que desearan participar también.
Esto con objeto de que por la tarde tuviéramos ya algunos comentarios organizados en relación con esta importante materia.
¿Hay algún comentario que hacer al respecto? ¿Alguna otra delegación quisiera unirse a este grupo de contacto?
En ese caso esta Presidencia suplica a las siguientes delegaciones en principio, que tengan a bien reunirse a la mayor brevedad para que hoy por la tarde podamos tener un avance para la discusión del proyecto de resolución sobre el concepto de seguridad alimentaria.
Voy a dar lectura de las delegaciones que en principio han de formar este grupo de contacto:
Australia, Francia, Finlandia, Canadá, Venezuela, Bangladesh y México.
¿Alguna otra delegación desea unirse a este grupo de contacto?
Las delegaciones de Indonesia y de los Estados Unidos de América también manifestan su deseo de formar parte del grupo de contacto.
Bien, Señores, pedimos a estas delegaciones que se reúnan al finalizar los trabajos de esta quinta sesión y se pongan de acuerdo para el debate que deba tener lugar antes de que termine la sesión de hoy por la tarde, y puedan presentar oportuna y organizadamente sus comentarios.
N. V. K. WERAGODA (Sri Lanka) : We have gone through this document C 83/20 under consideration in relation to the subject of food security. The Sri Lanka delegation is happy to endorse the contents of this document and support the proposed course of action in ensuring World Food Security.
When the negotiations for setting up a New International Grains Agreement failed in spite of repeated efforts in February 1979, the interim proposals to have a Five-Point Plan of Action to promote World Food Security made by the Director-General of FAO was recognized by both the developed and developing countries as the only positive proposal made so far to avert a repetition of this crisis. This was quite evident, as 72 countries, both developed and developing, have adopted to date National Cereal Stocks policies. Similarly, 16 countries have adopted stock practices which will make it possible for them to achieve some of the objectives set out in the International Undertaking agreed to by countries in 1974, but these measures fall short of the main target of maintaining minimum safe levels of basic cereal stocks for the world as a whole. They do not replace National Food Security programmes as such.
It is in this context that we welcome the proposals made by the Director-General of FAO in connexion with the new concepts of world food security which had been considered by the Committee on World Food Security at its Eighth Session and also by the FAO Council at its Eighty-third Session held this year. It is true that the subject of world food security should receive high priority at a world forum of this nature. However, we should not forget the fact that the most appropriate and effective measure of security would be at the national level. It is for that reason the Sri Lanka delegation, whilst endorsing the contents of the document, would like to emphasise National and Regional Food Security. Achievements on National Food Security rest largely on National Food Strategies. Our experience has shown that it is very necessary to adopt appropriate domestic policies to boost production. Price policies is an effective instrument in providing the necessary incentives for higher production. Also, the provisional necessary infrastructures for farming communities to deliver the goods help in increasing production. It is in this manner that we can achieve that which we consider the most important Resolution adopted in the World Food Council, namely, the developing countries should organize themselves to increase food production by at least 4 per cent per annum. I am happy to say that Sri Lanka has been able to keep to this target during the last six years.
It is also necessary to explore the possibilities of regional cooperation in ensuring food security. As you are aware, Mr Chairman, the Asian Region has already taken the initiative in this matter. Whilst talking of food production, it is also necessary to emphasise the stocks. Insofar as carry-over stocks are concerned, for the last six months we have been talking about a figure of 21 per cent of stocks being available, but we now learn that these stocks will be reduced to 17 per cent within a year. If this is so, I think we have to be cautious, otherwise the system of World Food Security we are going to build up will encounter serious problems.
When we emphasise National Food Security and self-reliance, it is also pertinent to note that there are some countries that just cannot meet these requirements due to no fault of their own. The reasons are very often beyond their control. Food aid has to be harnessed in such circumstances. In ensuring food security, it is also necessary to provide adequate facilities for timely distribution and availability of food to the needy. It is often said that in certain countries, food is available but the needy do not have the purchasing power to procure it. It is like the torments of Tantalus.
It is in regard to this situation that the Sri Lanka delegation makes special reference to the Director-General's proposals in paragraph 55 of document C 83/20. As borne out in the discussions which took place in the CFS and the FAO Council, it may be necessary to have further discussions to clarify some of the measures, but we wish to emphasise that while further deliberations may be necessary to clarify issues, they should not be prolonged, because the need for a nationally-.agreed— upon-plan of action is vital and cannot be postponed. We were led to this ever-present danger as far back as 1974 in the wake of the severe food crisis. We have delayed long enough, almost a decade. What is urgently required is for us to take some concrete action to fully avert a repetition of the events that took place in 1974. We are not out of the woods yet.
The majority of the delegates in the Plenary have quite rightly drawn our attention to the precarious situation prevailing, in Africa particularly. Africa is not the only continent. There are many pockets of such crises in Asia and Latin America, though the extent of the seriousness varies from country to country. The Sri Lanka delegation also takes this opportunity to state that we endorse the draft resolution provided to us on the subject this morning.
I wish to end by referring to the concluding remarks in document C 83/20 which reads : "At present, cereal stocks are high and prices are low. There is little awareness of the urgent need to build a more effective global system for food security. Yet postponement of decisions would be a serious mistake." I hope we will not commit this serious mistake.
A.G. NGONGI NAMANGA (Cameroon): Mr Chairman, since this is the first time my delegation has taken the floor in this Commission, permit me to congratulate you on your election to the Chair. I am confident that you will direct our deliberations in a most effective manner and that we shall reach some concrete conclusions.
I wish also to congratulate the two Vice-Chairmen who were elected to assist you.
The Cameroon delegation requests your permission, Mr Chairman, to make a few comments on Document C 83/2, the State of Food and Agriculture, before discussing the document before us, since we have not had the opportunity to do so as we were unavoidably occupied, but our comments will be brief on that document.
Document C 83/2 is a very well-prepared document. It is much better than similar documents presented to previous sessions of this Commission in that it has moved from just broad generalities to specific critical situations affecting the different developing regions.
On sub-Saharan Africa, this delegation wishes to join those which have spoken before to deplore the current situation and ask for immediate concerted efforts on the part of the international community to overcome the food emergency. In this connection, the Cameroon delegation applauds the serious efforts made by the Director-General of FAO to bring this critical situation to the attention of the international community and his untiring efforts to raise additional food aid, financial and technical resources for the benefit of the most seriously affected countries of Africa. The generosity of donors is greatly appreciated, and we urge those in a position to do so to make additional voluntary contributions to the IEFR or bilaterally to meet the urgent needs of some 22 African countries.
The current situation in Africa is the result of the inability of African countries to meet the challenges of the weather and plant and animal diseases through the development of appropriate technology. Its solution requires both emergency action and a long-term programme to build up the capacity of the sub-Saharan countries to tackle the complex problems associated not only with agricultural development but also relating to general economic development.
Let me make a few last comments on document C 83/2. The serious outbreak of rinderpest in Africa is a major threat to the livestock industry of the entire continent and other regions. This delegation endorses the recommendations made by the Eighty-fourth Session of the Council on the modalities of execution of a Pan-African rinderpest campaign. We are confident that the Director-General will, in conjunction with the heads of other concerned agencies and African governments, take all necessary action to launch the Pan-African rinderpest campaign in the near future. We do hope that the valuable emergency assistance FAO has been giving through TCP will be continued.
It has come to our attention that some delegations have already made comments in Commission II on the inappropriateness of Regional offices. We would like to say that this delegation does not share that view. How do we tackle the problem of rinderpest without regional action? Or the problems of desertification or those of regional food security schemes?
Having said this, this delegation is of the opinion that the African regional presence of FAO could be made both functional and more effective than is the case presently, especially if one takes into consideration language problems, the great distances to be covered and the diversity of the sub-region.The Cameroon delegation urges the Secretariat to reflect on these issues and make some proposals to the next Regional Conference.
Now, turning to document C 83/20, the Cameroon delegation wishes to congratulate the Secretariat for an excellent document summarizing the debate which took place during the Eighth Session of the CFS.
The concept of food security is probably as old as organized human society. Man has always strived to ensure that he has enough to eat not only today but also tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. The methods used to attain this noble objective have changed over time, and as times have changed, the need to review and redefine the concepts and modalities has increased.
The Cameroon delegation therefore welcomes the Director-General's study which reviewed and reappraised the concepts and approaches to World Food Security. The Cameroon delegation supported the revised concept at the Eighth Session of CFS, and we reiterate our support here. We urge that this Commission should support the revised concept, which has three elements: a) physical availability of supplies through higher production; b) stability of supplies through national and international preparedness measures; and c) economic access to food supplies.
The Cameroon delegation reiterates its support of the measures at national and regional levels as approved by the Committee on World Food Security and endorsed by the Eighty-third Session of the FAO Council. On the global measures, this delegation supports those aimed at 1) strengthening the IEFR and raising the target to some 1 million tonnes; and 2) suggestions made on trade issues which would improve and stabilise the export earnings of developing countries. We of course realise that the details of trade issues are better handled in GATT and UNCTAD.
On the institutional implications of the Director-General's report discussed by the Committee on World Food Security, this delegation supports the strengthening of the role of the Committee on World Security within its current terms of reference, and that other concerned institutions, be they of the UN system or not, should continue to make positive contributions towards the search for world food security without undue duplication.
I should like to make a few final remarks on future action. The Cameroon delegation supports the Council decision calling on the Director-General to work out more details on ideas such as a Food Security Compact, Food Security Action Programme and World Food Security Fund. We look forward to discussing these issues at future sessions of the Committee on World Food Security and at the next session of the Conference.
Finally, Mr Chairman, the Cameroon delegation reiterates its support for a special programme for Africa, an idea which was approved by the Committee on World Food Security at its Eighth Session and endorsed by the Council at its Eighty-third Session. It is only through a concerted action over a long term that the food security situation of Africa can be substantially improved. We look forward to discussing the follow-up report at the Ninth Session of the Committee on World Food Security.
R. SENTÜRK (Turkey): Mr Chairman, allow me to start by congratulating you and the Vice-Chairmen on your election and by expressing our compliments to Mr Islam for his excellent introduction to this important agenda item.
We realise that the global food situation has turned out to be different in these days relative to that which prevailed in the 1970's. Production of major cereals has reached a record level resulting in accumulation of reserves even above the level required for world food security.
We observe with concern, however, that major increases in production have been achieved in food surplus developed countries, while the food situation in developing countries has further deteriorated due to low level of production increase, as opposed to high population increase. Also, decreases in the foreign exchange earnings of the developing countries have led them to face a critical situation of weak demand for food commodities which caused large stocks in the major food-producing countries.
In order to find a solution for this unbalanced situation among the developed and developing countries, we believe that new arrangements on international agricultural trade can play an important role for the benefit of both sides.
Apart from this, my delegation believes that the food security situation should be handled at both national and regional levels.
Here I would like to point out that during the discussion at the World Food Security Committee meeting in April 1983, the definition of food security outlined by the Director-General has to be considered as an appropriate and comprehensive approach. Developing countries have to carry out the necessary arrangements in order to facilitate the collective self-reliance in food commodities among themselves. In addition to these arrangements, international support should be made available for cooperative arrangements among developing countries in the field of regional food reserves.
It is in this context, Mr Chairman, that my delegation greatly appreciates and supports the new programmes proposed by the Director-General, Mr Saouma, aimed at the strengthening of FAO’s role in providing international assistance to developing countries within the framework of food security.
EL PRESIDENTE: Señores delegados: Como he anunciado, se solicitó la creación de un grupo de contacto integrado por los siguientes países de los que me voy a permitir dar la lista a continuación: India, Bangladesh, México, Australia, Finlandia, Canadá, Francia, Colombia, Venezuela, Indonesia, Estados Unidos de América y Grecia a nombre de la Comunidad Económica Europea. También Kenya solicita estar en el grupo de trabajo, así como Malasia.
Les ruego que no se apunten más porque, de otra manera, vamos a tener que estar todos presentes, y entonces vamos a convertir el grupo de trabajo en la propia Comisión. Mientras menos delegaciones haya mejor. Lo que se busca es representatividad y eficiencia.
En relación a la hora y el lugar de la reunión, la Secretaría me informa lo siguiente. A las 14.30 horas se puede disponer del Salón de la India, pero en este caso, la reunión sería sin interpretación; lo subrayo, sin interpretación. Si los señores delegados estuvieran de acuerdo o fuera posible que fuera sin interpretación, se celebraría a las 14.30 horas. Me indica la delegación de Francia que no sería posible, y en ese caso, la reunión se podría celebrar a las 17.30 horas de hoy, en la tarde, en el lugar que nos anuncie la Secretaría. Y en ese caso, por supuesto, habría interpretación.
Entonces, proseguiremos hoy, a las 14.30 horas, con la siguiente lista de oradores: Malasia, Uruguay, Ghana, República Popular Democrática de Corea, Nueva Zelandia, Indonesia, Malí, Venezuela, Marruecos, Suecia, Suiza, Emiratos Arabes Unidos, Mauritania, Brasil, Nigeria, Mozambique, Nicaragua y Kenya.
Señores delegados; se suspende esta quinta sesión de la Comisión I y nos vemos a las 14.30 horas.
The meeting rose at 12.40 hours
La séance est levée à 12 h 40
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.40 horas
