I.MAJOR TRENDS AND POLICIES IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (continued)
I.PRINCIPALES TENDANCES ET POLITIQUES EN MATIERE D'ALIMENTATIONET D'AGRICULTURE (suite)
I.PRINCIPALES TENDENCIAS Y POLITICAS EN LA AGRICULTURAY ALIMENTACIN (continuación)

CHAIRMAN: The meeting is called to order. This morning we are still continuing with the agenda item 7.2 on the Critical Situation in Africa. We had exhausted the list of speakers on Friday, and this morning the Secretariat will respond to some of the points the delegates raised on Friday on this agenda item. I wish to give the floor to Professor Nurul Islam.

N. ISLAM (Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Policy Department): Thank you. In fact, Mr Chairman, I have no questions or comments to respond to on the basis of the debate on Friday. Of course, we in the Secretariat do appreciate and are grateful for the general and broad agreement of the distinguished delegates on the analysis contained in the FAO Secretariat document on the Critical Situation in Africa regarding both short-term food emergency and prospects for next year, its rehabilitation efforts, as well as the long-term problems of accelerating food and agricultural production in Africa. We are also grateful that the members have appreciated the efforts of the Director-General and FAO in all those three areas. Of course, the Secretariat has taken note of the details provided by the distinguished delegates in the course of their interventions, and of the efforts they have been themselves making in assisting African member countries in meeting their food problems. We also agree in general, and have also taken due note of the additional comments made by the distinguished delegates on the constraints, as they see them, on such long-term development aspects of the African food and agriculture sector as the high rate of population growth, problems of environmental degradation, the need for appropriate technology suited to African agro-ecological circumstances, appropriate national policy frameworks, a liberal trading environment, the debt problem, etc.

CHAIRMAN: I thank Professor Islam for his short comments on the points raised by the delegates. Now I will just attempt to make a short summary of the interventions on this agenda item. There was an extensive debate with interventions from 56 delegates from member countries and two observers from international organizations. One delegate who did not participate in the discussion asked that his written statement be incorporated into the Verbatim report, and the Chairman requested those who intended to make a statement on the Critical Situation in Africa but were too late, to submit their written statements to the Secretariat and they will be recorded as official interventions in the Verbatim reports.

The two full sessions lasted in total more than 7 hours on this agenda item. The meeting greatly appreciated the introductory statement by the Director-General which gave a concise yet broad summary of the situation in Africa, the scope of the problem, its origin, action taken to date and guidelines for future action; appreciation of the well-prepared and informative background documents prepared by the Secretariat; wide-ranging debate in which many African delegates described the situation in their countries and plans for the future, including assistance requirements; intervention by delegates from other regions supporting priority to African drought-affected countries and referring to assistance given by both developed and developing countries to Africa.

All delegates expressed their appreciation and full support for the untiring efforts by the Director-General and FAO in (a) first alerting the world to the extent of the emerging crisis through timely warnings by the Director-General and frequent reports by the Global Information and Early Warning System; (b) the refocusing of resources to permit the speedy introduction of rehabilitation projects; (c) the development of the much broader agricultural rehabilitation programme which received the full support of member countries.

The delegates expressed full support for all initiatives taken by FAO, OAU, UNDP and other international agencies, including formulation of a special programme for action of improvement of the food situation and rehabilitation of agriculture in Africa, the Special Emergency Assistance Fund for drought and famine in Africa and the OAU Special Emergency Fund. Delegates also expressed their appreciation for the in-depth study of agricultural and food problems in Africa and those by the FAO African Regional Conference.

Delegates stressed the important role FAO had to play in all the initiatives in preparation for the forthcoming UN General Assembly Special Session to consider Africa's critical economic situation. Many delegates expressed gratification for improvements in the situation in the affected countries in 1985 due to favourable weather conditions, and for the beneficial results of efforts made by African countries, the international community, governments, international organizations, NGOs, etc.

At the same time, delegates also strongly expressed that the problem was far from being solved. The crisis would recur, and it was necessary to remain alert and be prepared. Delegates agreed that it was necessary to develop and implement an effective plan of action to solve the long-term problems through appropriate structural measures.

Many delegates from African countries described specific structural, climatic and other problems preventing adequate progress in increasing food product ion and in their ability to feed their peoples, including increasing indebtedness, restrictions on access to markets for their exports and fair trade practices. A number of affected countries referred to the specific and serious problem existing in southern Africa.

Many delegates strongly stressed the urgent need to focus the highest attention on development and implementation of a longer term solution to the critical situation in Africa, which required maximum efforts by the African countries themselves and strong support from external sources, including governments and international government organizations, especially FAO.

The delegate of Congo , supported by many African delegates, informed the Commission that a resolution had been submitted to the Resolution Committee for formal clearance and would come to this Commission for consideration. The Committee is awaiting this resolution, which will be discussed at a later meeting.

Finally, most delegations expressed their sympathy and condolences to the delegate of Colombia for the tragedy that had struck that country.

I believe this is a summary of the main points discussed, but it will not determine what the Drafting Committee will decide to put in -their report. It is just a guideline.

I give the flobr to the delegate of Honduras .

Sra. R. ZUÑIGA (Honduras): En realidad, Sr. Presidente, Honduras pidió el uso de la palabra, no pidió que le incorporaran su intervención en las actas. No sé si tiene usted a bien, Sr. Presidente, concederme la palabra.

CHAIRMAN: We have appealed to the delegates as we are running behind time. If it is an intervention on the Critical Situation in Africa, would the delegate of Honduras submit a written statement to the Secretariat? If we open the debate other delegates will also ask for the floor. There are others who have not submitted a written statement to the Secretariat.

Sra, R. zUÑIGA (Honduras\): En tal caso, Sr. Presidente, creo que debería modificarse el párrafo en que se dice que una delegación pidió que se incorporara su intervención. Se podría decir que por razones de tiempo se le solicitó que entregara su intervención.

CHAIRMAN: I thank the delegate of Honduras . That will be included in the final record of this agenda item. Honduras will be included as having requested the statement to be included in the verbatim report. Is that all right with Honduras ?

Sra. R. ZUÑIGA (Honduras\): Es por ganar tiempo, Sr. Presidente, que acepto esto en principio, pero no me agradaría que apareciese que no intervine porque no quise, sino porque no se me concedió la palabra.

CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Mrs HOANG THI CU (Viet Nam): First of all, on behalf of our delegation I wish to express our condolences to the people of Colombia on the recent catastrophe and deeply hope that with their utmost efforts and the help of the international community, the Colombian people can soon overcome this most difficult situation.

The delegation of Viet Nam would like to express its thanks to the Director-General for coming to this Commission to introduce the subject himself, despite his very heavy schedule.

The situation in Africa has been of grave concern to us for a long time now. Document C 85/20 is the overall economic picture of the African countries. " I need not say any more. As a low-income and food-deficit country, from our own experience we understand the difficulties of our African brothers and sisters. As many delegates in this room have pointed out, the present critical economic situation is a consequence of hundreds of years of colonial rule in the past and of the unfair international economic order at present.

LE PRESIDENT: Je voudrais d'abord accueillir le Directeur général qui nous a rejoint et je voudrais donc vous rappeler que maintenant nous en sommes arrivés au point 10: "Adoption du pacte mondial de sécurité alimentaire", donc le document C 85/23. Je voudrais maintenant inviter le Directeur général à prendre la parole.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL: Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the last two years have witnessed, as seldom before, the tragic paradox of hunger in the midst of plenty. Famine has stalked the Continent of Africa and hundreds of millions remain malnourished in all parts of the developing world, while the affluent nations struggle with burdensome food surpluses. The African crisis in particular underlines the urgency of establishing a truly effective system of world food security.

This is not an unattainable mirage. Food security is almost within our grasp.

Through a series of sustained efforts, we can reach the ultimate objective of ensuring that all people at all times have both physical and economic access to the basic foods they need.

The World Food Security Compact which is before the Conference, and whose adoption has been recommended by the FAO Council, is designed to foster a moral commitment to make such an effort. The Compact, Mr Chairman, crystallizes a set of feelings which I believe are widely held throughout the world. This has been amply shown by the magnificent response of the man in the street to the crying needs of Africa. Such feelings should be channelled towards constructive action to strengthen the basis of food security and not only towards providing emergency relief in the face of a major crisis.

The Compact is a reaffirmation of the principles for which we strive, not FAO alone, but all people of goodwill. It is the culmination of efforts by FAO over thè past decade. It started with the International Undertaking on World Food Security, adopted by the Conference in 1974. When in 1979 it proved impossible to incorporate some of the most important aims of the Undertaking in a new International Grains Agreement, I launched the Five-Point Plan of Action on World Food Security. This was unanimously approved by the Conference and endorsed by the World Food Council and the United Nations General Assembly.

In 1983 we undertook a reappraisal of concepts and approaches which led to the adoption by the Conference of the broader definition of world food security. The Compact is based on those broader concepts, and deals with three inter-related aspects - expanding production, increasing stability in the level of supplies, and ensuring access to food by the poor. The Compact does not involve any new commitments, financial or legal, and remains strictly voluntary in nature and in its adoption. It calls for action by governments, organizations and individuals. All have roles to play in the process leading to the establishment of an effective food security system. The contributions they can make are briefly suggested in the text.

Let no one underestimate the importance of action by individuals. Just last week, President Soeharto brought news of a gift of 100 000 tonnes of handmilled rice, the result of a remarkable initiative by Indonesian farmers. What could we not achieve if parallel action were taken on a wider scale by individual farmers in the richer lands of the world?

The famine in Ethiopia has also inspired initiatives of extraordinary generosity and great impact. I am thinking in particular of how an individual musician, Bob Geldof, was able to promote the Live Aid concert. This not only raised a great deal of money, but was also a spectacular and moving display of solidarity with the victims of hunger.

There have been a number of authoritative expressions of support for the idea of a Compact. I shall mention only two which have been made in the course of the present Conference.

During his homily in the Mass celebrated in Saint Peter's just two Sundays ago to mark the 40th Anniversary of FAO and the United Nations, His Holiness Pope John Paul II expressed himself strongly in favour of the proposal.

Last Thursday we heard His Excellency François Mitterrand of France give the idea his whole support.

On the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of FAO, as we renew our dedication to the cause of freeing the world from hunger and malnutrition, it is surely appropriate for the international community to make a moral commitment to strive for world food security.

I urge the Conference to adopt the World Food Security Compact unanimously.

LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie le Directeur général pour son introduction, (suite en anglais)

It is no wonder, because the work we have to do is important, that we have an important group of representatives who wish to speak. Considering the very high number, and considering the time, may I again, dear colleagues, ask you, if you so wish - because, of course, you have the right of free speech - to be brief if you can. If you agree on the principle of the Compact it is not necessary to say very much about it. It is just enough to say that you agree with it, and why.

Those who do not completely agree can express their opinion in a very few words. It is not necessary to speak very long about this important problem because we have been discussing this problem often in different surroundings.

C.A. HARTMAN (Finland ): I am afraid I cannot be as brief as you requested Mr Chairman, partly because I am speaking on behalf of the five Nordic countries present at this Conference.

I should like to thank the Director-General for his introductory statement giving us the background to the draft World Food Security Compact.

Our representatives have been present at each one of the earlier stages of elaboration of the text now before us. We have been able to note improvements of the text after every round of discussion. Whereas earlier drafts have seemed, on the whole, fairly acceptable to the Nordic countries, we have still seen room for improvement of the various paragraphs, and we have stated this clearly. We now see the text as much more balanced and, consequently, more useful as a tool for mobilizing support from governments, non-góvernmental organizations, and individuals for the concept of world food security, than it appeared at the first stages of drafting.

Having said this, I should want to underline, and with emphasis, that none of the general principles contained in the draft Compact are new to the Nordic countries. With or without this Compact, the basic themes that it sets out are already, generally speaking, part and parcel of the thinking of the Nordic governments, non-governmental organizations, and of public opinion in the Nordic countries. From that point of view, the draft Food Security Compact serves merely to codify, as it were, principles that are already widely held in the Nordic countries. We therefore view it, as has also been stressed by the Director-General and by the FAO Council, as a moral commitment to work towards strengthening world food security, containing no legal or financial commitments that we have not already taken upon ourselves.

I should now like to turn to a closer examination of the draft Compact itself, chapter by chapter. As regards the wording of various paragraphs, the Nordic countries do not want to enter into a redrafting exercise, because that stage is already behind us. Nevertheless, we have a general feeling that in drafting a text of this solemn character, more attention ought to have been given throughout to questions of wording and style.

Be that as it may, we should like to endorse, in turning to Chapter III, Actions by Governments, the principle contained in the draft Compact that, and I quote "Governments carry the primary responsibility for ensuring the food security of their peoples" and that "they should give this

objective an overriding priority." This is indeed a crucial point. The Nordic countries stay committed to assist,to the full extent of their capabilities, the developing countries in the shouldering of this responsibility. The aim of all development assistance should always be kept clearly in mind: to help the developing countries move away from present dependencies, otherwise there is a very concrete risk of just perpetuating them. We therefore wholeheartedly support the call addressed to governments of developing countries, to give overriding priority to ensuring the food security of their peoples.

The chapter on non-governmental organizations is very brief and, in our view, more could have been said about their very important role in the development process, which is receiving growing recognition by the Nordic governments. We cannot, of course, make commitments on their behalf, but we trust that they will continue their valuable work.

We also want fully to endorse the very last words of the draft text: "the enemy is indifference." That statement holds equally true for governments, organizations and individuals. Patient and unslackening work must continue in order not to allow indifference to grow. Television and mass media have brought starvation and misery in the developing countries to the daily attention of people in the developed countries. Every-day exposure to this continuous flow of information tends to create, first a feeling of helplessness, then one of indifference. It is the duty of FAO as well as of the whole international community, and of individuals, to resist the tendency to indifference so that we do not lose faith in a better future where hunger and poverty shall have been overcome at last. In this context, the proposed Compact on World Food Security has a distinct function to fulfil.

Unfortunately, the draft Compact has so far not attracted unanimous support, as a few important member countries have dissociated themselves from it. But the Nordic countries remain convinced that it is not the fundamental principles included in the Compact as such that have obstructed full agreement. We rather wish to believe that the main principles that constitute the backbone of the draft Compact are the same, in essence, as those that govern the attitude of those councries who have chosen not to join in endorsement of the draft Compact.

The Nordic countries, therefore, give their support to the draft Compact and recommend its approval by the Conference.

A.K.M. KAMALUDDIN CHOUDHURY (Bangladesh ): I should like sincerely to compliment the Director-General for his statement presenting the improved draft of the World Security Compact as approved by the Eighty-seventh Council Session held in June 1985. We feel strongly that the statement of the Director-General will set the tone and direction of our discussion on this important subject, and will lead to its unanimous adoption by the Conference.

As the twentieth century is drawing to a close, the problem of food insecurity is becoming more acute, directly affecting nearly 750 million people, in Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, world farmers are producing more than ever. Food insecurity does not result from an over-all insufficiency of food, but it exists, nevertheless, because many people throughout the world have neither the ability to grow adequate foodstuffs, nor sufficient funds to purchase or import their urgent food requirements. Thus the fact remains that increased food production, however necessary, will not by itself solve the food insecurity problem faced by a large number of countries in the Third World.

We find that there has been considerable progress with regard to food aid. The target of 10 million tons of cereals and 650 metric tons of international emergency food reserves has been achieved. The world food situation in 1984 was marked by a record level of stocks. There have been record surpluses, particularly in industrialized developed countries of the north. In some of the low-income food-deficit countries, however, we find that the bulk of people are unable to feed themselves.

The world food situation continues to show the paradox of widespread food scarcities in a large number of food-deficit countries amidst considerable surplus in the few industrialized countries.

The Bangladesh delegation welcomes and fully endorses the revised text of the World Food Security Compact as prepared by the Director-General. .The draft has been discussed in the Eighty-seventh Session of the Council held in June.

Bangladesh has played an active role in this Council and has strongly supported the World Food Security Compact draft. We believe that a viable institutional arrangement for World Food Security still eludes us, and that there is a need to establish a world food security system. A re-affirmation of the moral commitment towards realization of this goal is of utmost importance.

As has been clearly stated by the Director-General in his statement, the idea of this Compact is not to create new obligations, whether legal or financial or even operational. It is merely a re-affirmation of the anxiety and goodwill of mankind for the vast masses of humanity who are suffering from deprivation, hunger and malnutrition in the three Continents, particularly in the least-developed countries. The Compact, as already stated, is strictly a voluntary moral declaration in the best humanitarian tradition.

Adoption of such a voluntary Compact would serve as a moral declaration to proclaim forcefully that food security is indeed the collective responsibility of mankind. The Bangladesh delegation would urge the distinguished delegates to lend their unequivocal support to the adoption of this World Food Security Compact as presented by the Director-General. There is perhaps no better opportunity than in this 40th Anniversary Year of FAO to arrive at a consensus on such an important matter, and we should like to express our solidarity, goodwill and international cooperation in eradicating hunger and malnutrition from the face of the earth.

CHONG UN HYONG (Democratic People's Republic of Korea\):Mr Chairman, I express thanks to you for giving me an opportunity to speak at this Commission where the World Food Security Compact, such an important item, is discussed. It is my great pleasure to congratulate the Director-General for his excellent introduction of the subject under discussion.

On behalf of the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , I highly appreciate the enormous efforts made by the Director-General of FAO in drawing up the excellent World Food Security Compact and making it acceptable to all members.

The World Food Security Compact presented by the Director-General gives a clear definition of the concept and purpose of world food security.

The Compact also defines the moral obligations as well as the basic orientation of action of the governments, organizations and individuals for achieving world food security.

This compact has practical significance in that it appeals for active participation and is ensured by the consciousness of our obligation in the sacred struggle to free mankind from hunger and malnutrition.

Proceeding from this point of view, the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea reconfirms its full support for the World Food Security consensus, presented by the Director-General.

Forty years have passed since the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Over the past forty years, FAO has scored proud and great achievements in freeing mankind from hunger with the active support and solidarity of the governments of the Member Nations which have different social and political systems.

In fact, it is not too much to say that the goal of the World Food Security Compact was already established with the birth of FAO and we have done our best to realize it. In spite of this effort, 800 million people in the world are threatened by hunger, either temporarily or in the long term. This harsh reality makes us again feel our obligation to free mankind from hunger.

In the belief that our efforts to bring about world food security could be supported and encouraged by the World Food Security Compact, my delegation appeals to all delegates to facilitate its adoption with full consensus.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will make every possible effort to realize world food security and cooperate closely with developing countries as well as developed countries in this field.

MA GENG'OU (China\) (original language Chinese): Food security is a matter of great concern to millions of people. It is an arduous task which every one of us working in the field of agriculture has endeavoured to accomplish. Since FAO advanced the concept of world food security in the early seventies, it has made sustained efforts and achieved great results in this regard. Now, though many countries have improved their food security, quite a number of countries are still suffering from food shortages and are overshadowed by hunger and malnutrition. In some countries the per capita food consumption has even dropped, and therefore, food security as a whole remains a cause of concern.

It is against this background that FAO submitted to the present session of the Conference the draft World Food Security Compact for consideration and adoption. This is an event of great significance. The draft Compact embodies three basic concepts of world food security and sets forth its "ultimate objective as ensuring that all people at all times are in a position to produce, or procure, the basic food they need". This reflects the common desire of the people the world over and the determination of mankind to. eliminate hunger and malnutrition.

The Compact also contains the general principles according to which governments, non-governmental organizations and individuals should take action, as well as a proposal of action for them. This will surely give a fresh impetus to the endeavours for world food security.

The Chinese delegation wishes to express its active support to the thrust of the Compact and hopes that it will be smoothly adopted by the Conference so as to create an atmosphere of cooperation for world food security. It is obvious that the adoption of the document only marks the beginning of our actions,while the eradication of all poverty and hunger in the world requires our persistent and painstaking efforts. At the present time it is all the more important to intensify our efforts in making known the major ideas of the Compact and progress achieved in world food security and let more persons understand the significance of food security so as to involve people from all walks of life in its work.

IBRAHIM HASAN (Indonesia ): First of all I would like to thank the Secretariat for preparing.a fairly defined concept of the World Food Security Compact and also thank the Director-General for his excellent introduction to the subject under discussion.

The Director-General stressed at the outset that the Compact would not be an instrument involving commitments of a legal or financial nature but rather a moral obligation towards strengthening food security.

There has been a lot of improvement in various technologies - technological breakthroughs in the field of food and agriculture in the past 40 years. These achievements have contributed significantly to the production increase on a global level. However, it is unfortunate that in various parts of the developing countries, food production and distribution continues to remain unbalanced.

Some developed countries are troubled with their excessive surplus of agricultural products, while many developing countries are suffering from hunger, malnutrition, poverty, inequality and instability of food supplies. Some developing countries do not even have food security reserve stock policies. All nations, individually or collectively, are committed to having a moral responsibility to work towards the solution of the problem of food and agricultural development.

Almost all international as well as regional and national fora attribute their interest in increasing food production and accelerating agricultural, as well as food security, activities. It is quite apparent that significant progress has been made in food production instability but there has been little improvement in ensuring that food supplies reach the poor. There was a widespread expression made by distinguished delegations to improve world food security, and to ensure that all people at all times be in a position to produce or procure the basic food they need. The World Food Security Compact set out the moral values and guidelines which should be pursued by governments, non-governmental organizations and individuals in improving world food security.

Since Indonesia has always been supporting efforts to overcome the problem of hunger and malnutrition, poverty, refugees and other related problems, the Indonesian delegation has no objection to and fully supports the adoption of the World Food Security Compact. In fact, Indonesian farmers with heartfelt solidarity and sympathy have contributed 100,000 tons of paddy rice to be donated to their suffering brothers. This has proved that Indonesian farmers, individually and collectively, fully participate and support the realization of the World Food Security Compact.

J. LADAN (Nigeria ): Allow me first to congratulate the Director-General of FAO for his introduction of this agenda item and also the Secretariat for providing us with a complete text of the document under discussion.

The World Food Security Compact is another milestone in an attempt to solve one of humanity's major problems, that is,the problem of hunger and malnutrition. Among the cherished and basic human rights, the right to food is only second to the right to life. The World Food Security Compact, as rightly emphasized by the Director-General, is the affirmation of already accepted principles, i.e. the food security compact, the broader definition of food security etc.

The Compact before us does not impose any commitment, financial, legal or otherwise. Its main tool here is a moral appeal to the international community to man's most cherished right, that is, the right to food.

We live in a complex world. Despite man's advancement he is not able to control the forces of nature such as drought, earthquakes, volcanic erruptions, etc. Whenever these strike they leave in their wake not only the dead but also a dispossessed and a deprived population which become the responsibility of the states and the international community.

In addition to living in a complex world, we are also living in a paradoxical one, in the sense that many are living, in the midst of plenty. There are mány countries, as we have mentioned, that are affected by the drought and their sufferings cannot be properly documented for future posterity to understand, without going into the horrors which they feel themselves. It is this latter aspect which makes the World Food Security Compact relevant, and my delegation fully supports the Compact for its adoption by the Conference. We call on other delegates to give their unanimous support.

As has been said by the Director-General, this Compact was passed through the Council and it was reviewed by countries. Its revision received full attention, not only in Rome , but in other capitals. Therefore, there is no need to further delay its adoption and we hope that all the delegations will give it their full support during FAO's 40th Anniversary so that posterity may remember it as one of the achievements of the international community.

DATO ALWI JANTAN (Malaysia\): My delegation is pleased to support this improved text of the Food Security Compact for adoption by the.Conference. We view this Compact as a moral obligation for all governments, non-governmental organizations and individuals to reaffirm their solidarity in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

The recent calamities in Africa have made the adoption of this Compact imperative.

Since the birth of FAO forty years ago, the world has experienced traumatic times in terms of food supplies. Right after World War II up to the early fifties there was an acute shortage of food supplies worldwide. In the early seventies there were world food crises and famines became a common feature in the Third World, such as the great Bengal famine which afflicted millions of people. Now, for the last few years we have been witnessing suffering on the most massive scale ever. All this need not have happened, or at least could have been reduced, if all countries, organizations and individuals played their respective roles towards achieving food self-sufficiency.

Section 3 of the Compact calls on governments, especially those of developing countries, to give high priority to food production and to re-examine their policies so as to stimulate this. We view this call as most appropriate since we have seen that populous countries such as China, India and Indonesia have shown the way in how to be self-sufficient and even in how to generate enough surplus for export.

My delegation supports paragraph 6 of Section 3 in particular, which calls for ECDC in the production of seeds, fertilizers and other essential agricultural imports. Developing countries should make use of the combined advantages between partners to produce these agricultural imports. The Asian Fertilizer Project is an example of such ECDC which benefits all partners in the grouping through the pooling of financial and manpower resources, savings in imports and increased market potential.

We recognize that comparative advantage is a very important factor in food production. Very few countries can boast total food security for all commodities. They have to resort to trade in other crops in order to buy food. They may also have to balance self-sufficiency in certain commodities with imports. Therefore, my delegation strongly supports the call in paragraphs 8 and 11 of Section 3 for developed countries to consider the interest of the world as a whole when making their policy decisions on food production, stocks and imports. A healthier trade scenario would allow the most efficient utilization of resources and is an absolute imperative for the provision of food sufficiency in developing countries.

With respect to Sections 4 and 5, we believe that greater awareness by the public of the need for food security would generate further impetus towards greater efforts in the development of the agricultural sector. The individuals involved, the farmers, the fishermen, the extension workers, too, should be given due cognizance of the noble task of ensuring global food security.

J.R. LOPEZ PORTILLO ROMANO (México): Me es especialmente grato, Sr. Presidente, tomar la palabra en nombre del Grupo de los 77 y de la delegación de Mexico para expresar el apoyo unanime y total que los miembros del Grupo conceden al Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial. Señor Presidente, mucho podrá argumentarse a favor del Pacto y su contenido, pero por ahora quisiera sólo referirme a su valor como medio para concienciar a todos los sectores involucrados en la solución del proble‐ma del hambre y la malnutrición en el mundo y para movilizar a todos a trabajar en una dirección que haga posible el establecimiento de la seguridad alimentaria. No debemos nunca perder de vista que esa es la tarea principal de la Organización y de nosotros, como representantes de nuestros países ante ella.

En ese sentido el Grupo de los 77 considera que la proclamación del Pacto por esta Comisión y por la Conferencia en el año en que celebramos el 40^oAniversario de la FAO, no puede ser más oportuno. El Grupo de los 77, Sr. Presidente, no considera que estamos cerca de una solución positiva o : siquiera favorable de los problemas que afectan a la agricultura y a la alimentación. Tampoco vemos que exista un clima que permita vislumbrar que los problemas estructurales de la economía internacional serán analizados con miras a solucionarlos. Muchos de nosotros podremos constatar o prever la disposición basada en una voluntad política, real y efectiva de establecer una cooperación internacional e integral para el desarrollo. Pensamos que si fuéramos consecuentes con lo que declaramos estaríamos ahora considerando un instrumento jurídico bien definido con deberes y obligaciones concretas. No es el caso. Desafortunadamente las condiciones actuales no lo permiten; por tanto, el Pacto que está a nuestra consideración y el cual consagra una serie de principios ya adoptados previamente, o bien de carácter moral, adquiere toda su relevancia. Es el resultado de un delicado proceso de negociación que ha durado más de un año y que ha permitido que el instru‐mento se perfeccionase al paso por los diversos filtros de los órganos que lo han examinado.

Reitero por tanto, Sr. Presidente, una vez más el apoyo que damos al Pacto y nuestro deseo de que una vez proclamado podamos trabajar activamente para poner en práctica las recomendaciones y compromisos contenidos en él.

Finalmente, queremos agradecer al Director General por su vehemente y entusiasta presentación.

Mrs HOANGTHI CU (Viet Nam\): May I recall that at the Eighth Session of the Committee on World Food Security, our delegation welcomed the Director-General's proposal to have a Compact on World Food Security. Since then, we actively took part in and followed with great interest the deliberations at the sessions of the Committee on World Food Security and the Council. The Compact is strictly voluntary in nature and does not involve any new commitments, whether financial or legal. It only represents a general reaffirmation of the commitment of the international community to achieve desirable levels of food production, increasing the stability of supply and ensuring access to food supplies.

We think the adoption of the Compact will illustrate our solidarity in marking the 40th Anniversary of FAO. The delegation of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam fully endorses the present revised text of the compact and calls for its adoption by the Conference.

Sra. M. FERMIN GOMEZ (Venezuela ): Venezuela quiere, Sr. Presidente, expresar en este momento su apoyo al proyecto que estamos discutiendo. Consideramos que este proyecto responde cabalmente a las premisas fundamentales de la FAO, es decir, de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas, a través de la cual se debe atender en preferencia a la agricultura y a los problemas de la alimentación. No debemos olvidar que la FAO fue creada en momentos en que el mundo confrontaba una situación de emergencia total saliendo de la terrible experiencia de la guerra mundial, cuando todos los pueblos miraban a las Naciones Unidas como una esperanza para superar los temores de la guerra, del hambre y del atraso. Eran unos momentos, si se quiere, de optimismo, pero al mismo tiempo de desesperanza. En aquel momento, el nunca olvidado Presidente Roosevelt lanzó su idea de la liberación de las cuatro libertades entre las cuales figuraba, en primer lugar, la libertad del hombre. Responde la FAO, precisamente, a ese concepto de liberar a los pueblos de la necesidad de alimentación, de la malnutrición y de todos los problemas que lleva consigo una situación de atraso, de falta de producir alimentos, de dependencia para su alimentación y de otros medios.

Yo debo recordar que en aquel tiempo tuve una experiencia muy interesante que quisiera compartir con ustedes. En ese momento, estaba yo en una comunidad experimental en Pensilvania comúnmente conocida por la sociedad de Los Cuáqueros. Esta organización pacifista en momentos en que China experimentó su última hambruna, cuando el desbordamiento del río Yantzse', estuvo necesitando la ayuda de los países, y allí puedo dar testimonio de que se puso en efecto lo que este Pacto está preconizando como acción de las personas. El Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria explica en el Capítulo referente a la acción de los individuos, cómo cualquier individuo puede ser efectivo para colaborar, tomar iniciativas y promover una acción de los pueblos en favor de la ayuda a los otros pueblos. Quiero decir que en ese momento la acción individual de miles de personas que se concentraron, enviaron una carta al Presidente de ese país con un mínimo sobre, como un grano de arroz, diciendo en una tarjeta una leyenda con la frase bíblica: Darás de comer a todo enemigo. Se fueron juntando en la Casa Blanca más de cuatro millones de estos sobres, testimonio de la acción individual de aquel país. De esa manera se realizaba lo que este Pacto hoy está estableciendo, una ayuda alimentaria para la seguridad alimentaria de aquel país en gran necesidad. Esa acción fue la que determinó la ayuda que ese país envió entonces a China materializada en varias toneladas de arroz para enfrentar tal situación.

Yo creo, Sr. Presidente, que esto nos debe llevar a nosotros a pensar que este Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria, tal como lo ha presentado el Director General para su consideración a la Asamblea y aprobado por el Consejo y por la propia Comisión, puede ser perfectamente una manera de llevar a cabo acciones como ésta, acciones como la que este Pacto establece para poder erradicar el flagelo del hambre de la superficie de la tierra. Nosotros sabemos, y lo está demostrando el ejemplo que hoy dolorosamente nos ha presentado Africa, cómo los países por más que tengan cualquier otra necesidad, es solamente la dependencia de su alimentación lo que puede hacerlos sucumbir. Por eso, el Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria, tal como está presentado en este proyecto, es una medida eficiente por su poder moral, por el ejemplo que puede determinar y por el estímulo que puede desarrollar en los individuos, en las organizaciones, en los gobiernos y en los Jefes de Estado, y en todos aquellos que tienen bajo su capacidad la responsabilidad de atender a la supervivencia de sus pueblos.

Venezuela , Sr. Presidente, cuyo actual Gobierno está empeñado en realizar los principios de la seguridad alimentaria, ha creado una comisión especial para ocuparse de esos problemas, no puede más que apoyar este proyecto de Pacto que, ojalá, logre la unanimidad en la Asamblea para poder atender

no solamente sus necesidades como país que actualmente todavía depende para su satisfacción de las necesidades internas, de la importación de alimentos, sino también para poder ayudar a los países hermanos que se encuentren en dificultades. Esa ha sido la conducta de Venezuela que como miembro de esta Organización desde su fundación ha tratado de cumplir con los principios que ella preconiza. Por esa razón, apoyamos el Pacto tal como lo ha presentado la Secretaría para consideración en la próxima reunión.

A.K. OSUBAN (Uganda ): Uganda has followed the development of the concept of the Compact at all the previous stages. As a country which is categorized as an LSD/MSA, which has in recent years experienced food shortages, and since this Compact is only an expression of commitment which, in the case of my country, is already there in principle and in practice, my delegation has no difficulty whatsoever in supporting the World Food Security Compact as presented by the Director-General. We sincerely hope that the Conference will give it its unanimous support so that we can live up to the aspirations for which this body was established.

J. GAZZO F.D. (Perú): Sr. Presidente, en nombre del Gobierno del Perú quiero ratificar el apoyo al Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria, que ha sido mencionado por nuestro Presidente en su disertación y mi delegación por el Sr. Ministro de Agricultura del Perú en un Plenario.

Nos interesa mucho el Pacto de seguridad Alimentaria, que ya el Director General, en la sesión del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria, en abril del año 1984, lo bosquejó. Sin embargo - y esto debo aclararlo muy precisamente - hubieron unos cuantos países que pensaron que el Pacto era innecesario, porque en realidad decían que todos apoyaban la seguridad alimentaria y que sería una declaración lírica más. Yo no estoy de acuerdo con esta posición, Sr. Presidente, porque ya hace casi diez años, en el año 1974, en la Conferencia Mundial de la Alimentación, en Washington, se hizo una promesa formal: "que a los diez años, o sea en 1984, ningún niño se iría a dormir sin haber comido". Desgraciadamente no había entonces un pacto, sino sencillamente un acuerdo. Ese acuerdo no se ha cumplido, Sr. Presidente, porque muchos niños - como ya lo mencionó en una oportunidad el distinguido Embajador de Colombia - no se han ido a dormir sin haber comido, porque se han muerto de hambre, Sr. Presidente.

Por consiguiente, apoyamos el Pacto de la Seguridad Alimentaria, por lo que significa en sí, y entonces debemos analizar a qué se debe la inseguridad alimentaria. La inseguridad alimentaria se debe normalmente a patrones alimentarios que no corresponden a los ecosistemas de los países, o bien se debe a algunas medidas de los países desarrollados, verbigracia, proteccionismo, que hace que nuestros esfuerzos para producir productos alimenticios se vean soslayados, se vean agredidos, porque algunos países tienen en nuestros mercados productos alimentarios subsidiados que compiten con la producción nacional. Sin embargo, pienso y creo en la buena fe de estos países que viven una paradoja muy grande y es la siguiente: nunca los depósitos y los almacenes de los países desarrollados han estado tan llenos de alimentos. Y cual triste paradoja: nunca los estómagos de los habitantes del tercer mundo han estado tan vacíos.

Entonces, Sr. Presidente, hay algo que no camina bien en este aspecto, relación de ricos y pobres y este Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria, si bien no compromete ni económicamente ni jurídicamente a ninguno de los firmantes, sí compromete en la cosa más importante, que es la cosa moral, la cosa ética y estamos seguros de que, después de las clarísimas explicaciones que nos ha dado el Sr. Director General, este acuerdo debe ser aprobado por consenso porque objetarlo sería poner en duda quizá la buena fe de quien lo objeta; porque, ¿quién puede objetar un pacto que no compromete ni obliga económicamente ni jurídicamente?.

Por consiguiente, Sr. Presidente, yo invoco a esas pocas naciones que en esa reunión pensaron que era innecesario, a que mediten un poco más, y me retraigo para esto a nuestra infancia, cuando nosotros jugábamos entre niños y tomábamos acuerdos que a veces no cumplíamos; pero cuando hacíamos un pacto, se nos despertaba en nuestras conciencias el derecho de la obligación moral, y ojalá los hombres ahora pongan en sus actos las ideas que ponen los niños en sus juegos.

Por consiguiente, mi Gobierno apoya el Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria y espera que sea obtenido por consenso.

I. MARINCEK (Suisse): J'aimerais d'abord remercier le Directeur général pour son introduction à ce point de l'ordre du jour. Mon pays soutient le Pacte, comme l’a déjà annoncé notre chef de délégation dans la déclaration générale. Ses objectifs sont largement soutenus par mon pays. Le texte que nous avons devant nous a été considérablement amélioré par rapport à la première version présentée au Comité de la sécurité alimentaire au printemps dernier et nous nous en félicitons. Mais avant tout, nous sommes heureux qu'un dialogue ait pu avoir lieu sur ce projet et nous sommes contents d'avoir pu y contribuer. Lundi dernier, notre conférence a remis le Prix Boerma 1984-1985 à deux journalistes: Mr Mohammed Amin du Kenya et Mme Claire Brisset de France. Le Prix a été attribué à M. Amin pour son travail inlassable d'information sur la crise alimentaire en Afrique. M. Amin a notamment su appeler l'attention de l'opinion mondiale sur la famine en Ethiopie, avec un reportage télévisé qui montre toutes les tragédies humaines de la famine. La solidarité entre riches et pauvres ne peut que se développer sur la base de l'information. Il me semblerait alors utile d'en parler également dans le Pacte. Si les autres déclarations peuvent l'accepter, je propose donc d'ajouter le paragraphe suivant: "Les médias peuvent puissamment contribuer à sensibiliser le public pour les problèmes de sécurité alimentaire. Les gouvernements doivent faciliter le travail des journalistes dans ce domaine, notamment les reportages sur le terrain".

Ce paragraphe pourrait, s'il trouve un appui, figurer comme point 13 de la section III: "Action des gouvernements".

De plus, il me semble opportun de faire précéder les deux sections IV: "Action des organisations non gouvernementales" et section V "Action des Instituts" par le texte suivant qui pourrait figurer ála fin de la section III "Action gouvernement". Je cite "Par ailleurs, les gouverne‐ments doivent faciliter les actions des organisations non gouvernementales et des individus, décrites dans les paragraphes ci-dessous".

E. G. MOYO (Tanzania): Mr Chairman, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Director-General of FAO and the Secretariat for their comprehensive review and practicable suggestions for action by governments, organizations and individuals to ensure food security as presented in the draft text of the World Food Security Compact, which my country strongly endorses and supports.

I would briefly comment on the draft of the document presented by delivering to you in summary form what action my country is taking in the context of the World Food Security Compact.

Until 1970/71, Tanzania had been relatively self-sufficient in the production of preferred staples, mainly maize, rice and wheat. In most years the country was able to export small quantities of maize, up to about 30 000 tons, but had to supplement wheat production with imports of some 35 000 -45 000 tons per year. From 1971/72, however, my country has become increasingly dependent upon imports, mainly as a result of food grain production, marketing and distribution problems.

As a result of the worsening food security position and the country's inability to continue importing cereal on a commercial basis, my Government requested FAO to mount a Food Security mission to advise on the establishment of a strategic grain reserve and on related food security measures. In addition to FAO's mission, wider food security issues were also being investigated by a World Bank team. Several projects were recommended in the food security report of 1976. These included the establishment of 100 000 tonnes of strategic grain reserve, which has now been utilized, the building of 27 000 tonnes additional storage capacity to accommodate the strategic grain reserve, road improvements, the acquisition of spare parts for vehicles involved in transportation of food crops, technical assistance for the strategic grain reserve and the strengthening of crop forecasting and marketing intelligence.

A favourable donor response from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the World Food Programme provided 77 000 tonnes of grains for the strategic grain reserve, and an additional storage capacity of a total of 70 000 tonnes to house the reserve. Technical assistance was provided by FAO with respect to the management of the reserve and the strengthening of the renamed Crop Monitoring and Early Warning System. A cash donation of US$171 000 was also received to assist the management of the reserve.

Other projects not directly specified in the 1976 Report which have food security implications have also been implemented during the period. These include the FAO Fertilizer Project which assisted my Government to implement its strategy with respect to fertilizer use; the Food"Strategy Coordination Cell Project funded by FAO and the EEC which provided technical assistance to the Government for the development of the national food strategy, and assisted theGovernment with the implementa‐tion of the strategy. Then there is the Village Storage and Training Project, funded by FAO, which provided services to construct additional storage capacity of 200 to 400 tonnes, at least, at the village level. A total of 44 stores are to be completed by the end of this year. A similar Federal Republic of Germany bilateral project to construct village storage using counterpart funds generated by seed sales is being implemented.

The FAO and the multidonor project for the control of the larger grain borer – prostephanus truncatus - at the farm and village levels has also been implemented. This project is a combination of several programmes financed by various donors, including the Netherlands, Australia, Sweden and Canada . These projects have the joint objective of controlling the larger grain borer. This insect pest,only recently introduced, is already causing serious damage and loss to stored maize and cassava in several regions of my country. The project to control it is working successfully in these regions,and the expansion of these activities to other parts of the country is also envisaged.

Following the difficulties experienced in improving the production and marketing of basic foods during the mid- to late 1970s my Government, with the assistance of an FAO. and DANIDA financed project, initiated a comprehensive review of its policies pertaining to food production. This was in response to suggestions for action by Governments, organizations and individuals in the Draft Text of the World Food Security Compact presented here.

The review led to the publication of the National Food Strategy in 1962, which I mentioned earlier. The recommendations contained in the National Food Strategy are complementary to the national agricul‐tural policy prepared by a special task force in my country and submitted to the Government in April 1983. These documents recommended fundamental changes in Government policy to stimulate production and improve the efficiency of the marketing system. The main objective and specific recommendations of this new policy include an increased emphasis on potentially high production areas ; the raising of outputs through the increased use of extensive and intensive farming technique; improvement of availability and distribution of inputs, and provision of realistic producer prices for food crops which would reflect comparative advantages on a regional basis. It also recommends the re-establishment of the cooperative unions for the provision of inputs and the marketing of farm surpluses, as well-as encouragement to own storage facilities. Others which are included are the strengthening of land tenure systems, agricul‐tural extension and credits, and the modernization of traditional storage at the household level. High priority is also given to the construction and maintenance of road infrastructures to improve the distribution of marketed products, inputs and consumer goods. Last but not least, my Government is currently intending to re-establish the strategic grain reserve from the surplus food within our country.

If successfully implemented, the policy and structural changes formulated by my Government should have a positive impact on food production, and.thereby on the food security position of the nation overall. This would indicate a positive reaction in favour of one of the fundamental calls for action made by the Director-General of the FAO in his address on the occasion of the commemoration by FAO of its 40th Anniversary. That call for action states, "... we must strive to attain food security for the whole earth."

H. de SILVEIRA SARDINHA PINTO (Brazil ): My delegation considers that much has to be done to ensure food security in the developing countries. In this connection we wish to reiterate our deep concern with the critical food situation in Africa and also with the contrast between large food surplus concentrated in developed countries and the acute food shortage in many parts of the developing world. This reflects only a few of the many aspects of our concern with regard to the current situation in world food security.

My delegation also believes that the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of FAO is an excellent occasion to approve a document reaffirming the principles for which this Organization has been striving since its founding. The Brazilian Delegation is so very pleased to give its support to the World Food Security Compact proposed by the Director-General of FAO in the hope that it will effectively contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the broadened concept of world security.

I. KABA (Guinée): Ma délégation, considérant le caractère de ce document, prenant en compte les soucis exprimés par le Directeur général qui précise: "le Pacte en question ne s'assortirait d'aucune obligation juridique ou financière nouvelle et représenterait simplement un engagement moral d'oeuvrer en faveur de la sécurité alimentaire". Ma délégation apprécie hautement la mobilisation spontanée de la communauté internationale pour écarter la grave menace qui planait et continue à planer sur la sécurité alimentaire en Afrique. La délégation guinéenne croit nécessaire de marquer et de symboliser par un document officiel, tel que celui qui nous est proposé,cette grande solidarité qui a caractérisé cette époque de l'évolution de l'histoire de notre Organisation, à l'occasion de son quarantière anniversaire.

Le Plan Marshall, en son temps, a été une sorte de pacte d'assistance économique. Evidemment les raisons diffèrent mais les objectifs rejoignent ceux du Pacte de sécurité alimentaire; aussi, considérons-nous le Pacte comme un repère qui rappellera aux générations futures l'acte de foi auquel le nord et le sud ont volontairement souscrit.

Le Pacte, à notre avis, engage particulièrement les gouvernements des pays en voie de développement qui doivent, tel que prescrit par le Pacte, s'appliquer à s'acquitter de leur devoir impérieux d'assurer la sécurité alimentaire de leurs populations. C'est pourquoi nous appuyons particulièrement les paragraphes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 et 7 du Chapitre III de la page 4 du Pacte.

Quant aux pays développés, le Pacte, en fait, ne fait que codifier les actes de solidarité déjà manifestés par eux à l'endroit des pays en développement, à preuve la récente crise africaine. C'est pourquoi nous regrettons sincèrement l'existence des notes de bas de page qui figurent à la page 3 de notre document. Nous estimons qu'elles ne reflètent pas du tout la réalité; nous savons tous ici que les pays énumérés par ces réserves sont précisément ceux qui se sont fait remarquer par l'importance de leurs contributions pour préserver la sécurité alimentaire. Je suis sûr que les populations de ces pays ne comprendraient pas le sens de ces réserves, car en réalité la répétition et la régularité de leurs actes de solidarité sont à l'origine de i'élaboration de ce Pacte.

C'est pourquoi ma délégation invite les pays intéressés à reconsidérer leurs positions paradoxales pour que l'acte soit adopté à l'unanimité par notre Conférence.

Pour terminer, je dirais que nous appuyons la pertinente suggestion de la délégation suisse concernant le rôle des médias dans la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.

L. ARIZA HIDALGO (Cuba ): No habíamos tenido la oportunidad de hablar, hacer uso de la palabra en esta Comisión, presidiéndola usted. Por lo tanto, quiero que me permita expresarle nuestra satisfacción por tenerle presidiendo nuestro trabajo. Hemos estado por imperativos de la división del trabajo de nuestra delegación, atendiendo fundamentalmente la Plenaria en la cual hemos tenido también oportunidad de escuchar las intervenciones de muchos Ministros asistentes a esta Conferencia.

Señor Presidente: la delegación de Cuba considera que la aprobación del Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria que estamos discutiendo y analizando desde el Octavo período de sesiones del Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria en abril de 1983 ya no admite más dilaciones. Se nos presentó una versión en aquella ocasión; se analizó posteriormente por el Consejo una nueva revisión donde se tenía en cuenta, se tuvieron en cuenta las opiniones que habían sido recogidas por el Comité, las cuales ya definían algunas posiciones del Pacto, y fueron revisadas. Si bien mi delegación previa la presentación original no vaciló en función de lograr el consenso, en aprobar también esta última versión aunque consideramos, tenemos la opinión, que es una versión más débil que las anteriores.

Se puede dar una explicación de debilidad. No es un problema de que quisiéramos que tuviese mucha fuerza para convertirlo en un boxeador, ni en un luchador, ni en un tanque de guerra, sino debilidad en la concepción y en la responsabilidad que había que asignar a este tema que es muy importante en las discusiones del mundo actual, y en el cual nosotros sí creemos que hay responsabilidad.

Sin embargo, a estas alturas, la delegación cubana quiere expresar una vez más, su apoyo al Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria teniendo en cuenta, entre otras cosas, que el propio Consejo señaló que el Pacto representa una reafirmación moral, que es lo que no entendemos.' ¿Porqué no se entiende qué

quiere decir reafirmación moral del Compromiso de 'lograr los objetivos de amplio concepto de Seguridad Alimentaria, el cual por su propio carácter es estrictamente voluntario y no entraña comproiso financiero alguno?

Estas son cuestiones que no sé cómo se pueden rebatir. Nuestra posible inferioridad nos hará no tener en cuenta las posibilidades sofísticas de quienes quieren hacer ver lo blanco negro, y lo negro blanco.

Estas consideraciones las hace mi delegación y lo reiteramos una vez más, una vez más en función de lograr un acuerdo. Consideramos que hay aspectos que deberían ser más fuertes. Sin embargo, hacemos caso omiso de eso. Por lo tanto, esperamos que los países que expresaron opiniones y reservas, retiren las mismas y que este Pacto pueda finalmente aprobarse por la Conferencia, como fue la decisión de la inmensa mayoría de los miembros del Consejo, y como los drafts de esta Conferencia nos podrán también demostrar que es la inmensa mayoría de los Ministros que en Plenaria están hablando, en este momento, de la necesidad de este Compromiso moral de la humanidad.

Mi delegación también considera que el Pacto cristaliza una serie de sentimientos que son compartidos por todo el mundo, como expresara hace algunos segundos el distinguido colega de Finlandia en nombre de los países nórdicos.

Esos sentimientos deben materializarse en acciones productivas por todas las partes. En realidad, tenemos que decir que el mismo, como afirmó el Director General en la presentación del tema, es la culminación de años de trabajo de la FAO en materia de seguridad alimentaria, sin que ello represente compromiso de ninguna índole que no sea de carácter moral, repetimos, y ético.

Finalmente, ratificamos nuestro apoyo al Grupo de los 77 que discutió con bastante profundidad, y no en una sola reunión sino en varias ocasiones, la declaración que ha hecho su Presidente, el distinguido representante de México.

Señor Presidente: Hemos oído dos proposiciones nuevas del Pacto. Primero, nos parece un poco, en estos momentos, vamos a no decir peligroso pero sí se puede decir de dilación, que tendrán estas proposiciones que habría que analizar con un poco de cuidado.

Primero, los medios de comunicación son útiles pero este Pacto es muy sencillo. Tan sencillo que hay situaciones de definición que no se incluyen para buscar el consenso de la sencillez. Y nosotros tenemos experiencia de medios de comunicación muy óptimos, muy buenos, pero también conocemos que hay medios de comunicación en manos de algunos intereses que se dedican nada más que a la violencia, a la pornografía y a una serie de cuestiones que no creo vayan a ayudar en nada a potenciar 'la sensibilidad, como se propone.

Creo que los medios de comunicación gubernamentales son medios útiles para que expresen criterios, pero los que nos presentan intereses que no sabemos de dónde vienen, no nos parecen útiles por el momento.

Y referente a los organismos no gubernamentales, su aporte a la FAO ha sido muy útil, están trabajando, muy útil a la seguridad alimentaria. Pero sí quiero recordar que para que institucional-mente existan dentro de un organismo o dentro de una Resolución de un Organismo de Naciones Unidas, los organismo's no gubernamentales tienen que haber sido aprobados por el Comité Especial de Naciones Unidas que aprueba a estos organismos en su carácter de consultivos de los organismos internacionales Eso quisiera recordarlo; que existe un Comité Especial de Naciones Unidas que aprueba el carácter consultivo de los organismos no gubernamentales, que pueden participar pero, dentro de una Resolución de FAO, tienen que ser aquellos que están aprobados por un Comité Especial de Naciones Unidas.

KASSAYE DERESEH (Ethiopia\): The Ethiopian delegation has gone through the document very carefully and has made the basis of its decision even more solid. We, therefore, should like to indicate our due regards to the Director-General and to the Secretariat for their initiative in presenting to the international community the crystalization of feelings which were widely held without creating new obligations.

We agree totally with the statements indicated in paragraph 3 in which the general message of the Compact,as stated, is a reaffirmation of the principle for which FAO and all men of goodwill are striving.

The four general principles laid down in Part II of the draft text of the document clearly indicate that the goal of world food security, that of guaranteeing fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, will require the collective efforts of governments, non-governmental organizations and individual members of our globe. Efforts and contributions to be made by each of these groups are clearly outlined in parts III, IV and V of the document.

Ensuring food security for our respective countries is a priority objective of agriculture and food production in the developing world, but lack of resources have always been a hindering block in achieving these objectives. The role of developed countries in promoting domestic food production as a major goal will reduce the dependence on food inputs through aid or purchase. We believe that the development of an Early Warning System, the establishment of an emergency reserve and readiness to distribute relief supplies are an integral part of the overall food security scheme. Rudimentary structures and organizations have already been set up. They have been in existence in Ethiopia for the last three years. However, the achievement and development of the plans have always been faced by inadequate resources. Our limited available resources have had to be diverted towards solving the emergency problems with which we have been faced in the last three or four years. .

With this brief statement the Ethiopian delegation indicates its full support for the adoption of the World Food Security Compact as per document C 85/23.

Finally, we also forward our kind request to those member countries who have dissociated themselves from adopting the Compact, to reconsider their views with the objective of strengthening FAO and international cooperation.

Srta. H. LOPEZ DE MORAL (Colombia ): La delegación de Colombia desea agradecer de manera especial al Director General por la presentación que ha hecho de este documento. Esto sin duda le da especial significación y destaca la importancia que este tema representa.

Colombia quisiera, señor Presidente, ser muy breve en esta declaración, pero precisamente por esto, nos vamos a tener que ver obligados a hacer algunas puntualizaciones del mismo.

En primer lugar, Colombia apoya el Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria e invita a todos los países Miembros a que se adhieran a él, como una prueba de solidaridad internacional, especialmente en esta ocasión del 40° aniversario de nuestra Organización. Esta Organización fue fundada con los principios de solidaridad y paz, que recordó Su Santidad el Papa en el Introito de la conmovedora ceremonia a la que acudimos este domingo antepasado, y como también lo recordara el Director General, al exhortarnos a compartir todos los bienes de la tierra con los principios de justicia e igualdad para todos los seres humanos, evitando así divisiones para poder construir una sociedad humana basada en el amor y la paz. Debo decir además, y todos lo oímos, que Su Santidad sugirió inclusive que el Pacto contenga obligaciones no sólo morales, sino también jurídicas. No es esa la intención de la delegación de Colombia puesto que en el 87° período de sesiones del Consejo, en junio pasado, nos abstuvimos de hacer propuestas para reforzar este Pacto, precisamente para no asustar a aquellas delegaciones que tenían miedo de que ese Pacto pudiera entrañar ese tipo de obligaciones. Debemos recordar que solamente se trata, en realidad, de observaciones de carácter moral y que nada obliga ni compromete a los países.

Estos principios nos fueron recordados en esta misma ceremonia que se evoca en el Evangelio de San Marcos al decir Jesús que la pobre viuda con sus denarios había contribuido proporcionalmente mucho más que los escribas, ya que éstos daban lo que les sobraba y ella se había privado del mínimo indispensable para subsistir para poder así compartirlo con sus semejantes.

En la Plenaria la jefa de la delegación de Colombia dijo al brindar el apoyo de nuestro Gobierno a este Pacto, que el poder y la necesidad son con frecuencia vecinos que se ignoran como también lo son, por lo demás, el hambre y la abundancia.

Consideramos que este importante Pacto constituye una herramienta muy útil para la Organización y permite a los países disponer de un código de principios morales y de orientación de políticas indispensables para una acción coordinada. Repetimos que esto no constituye un vínculo ni una obligación para nadie.

Nos ha complacido muchísimo hoy la declaración del delegado de Finlandia, en nombre de los países nórdicos, de que aceptan el Pacto a pesar de que le hacen algunas observaciones de menor importancia. Nos preocupa un poco, sin embargo, la actitud de la delegación de Suiza que propone alguna enmienda al Capítulo IV del mismo.

La delegación de Colombia desea reiterar su apoyo al texto tal como está ya que no deseamos debilitarlo, puesto que es para nosotros de primordial importancia que esto se apruebe ahora como está. Queremos además, como lo di jo el delegado de México en nombre del Grupo de los 77, presentar el apoyo de nuestra delegación al ferviente llamado del Director General, según las directrices del Consejo y de reuniones anteriores que aprobaron unánimemente este Pacto.

Nuevamente Colombia le brinda su pleno apoyo.

Srta. D. de VILLAMONTE (Panamá): La delegación de Panamá estima que con el Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria se pretende señalar algunas directrices de carácter general destinadas a orientar y sobre todo a crear conciencia pública de los problemas de la seguridad alimentaria en el mundo. Comprendemos que no existe una fórmula universal única para resolver los problemas de la seguridad alimentaria, ya que cada región, cada país y aun áreas dentro de un mismo país, confrontan problemas y necesidades específicas; sin embargo, somos de la opinión de que las medidas para garantizar o elevar la seguridad alimentaria deben proyectarse, ejecutarse en el ámbito de sus respectivas esferas de responsabilidad, ya sea nacional, regional o internacional.

Consideramos que el Pacto en forma conceptual contiene una serie de propuestas de acción ya adoptadas previamente y que forman parte de la concepción humanitaria que une a la comunidad internacional. Dicho texto, a nuestro juicio, no crea obligaciones jurídicas, financieras u operacionales para los Estados que se suscriban al mismo, muy por el contrario el espíritu que les anima es de índole moral y ético.

La delegación de Panamá por estas razones, y en nombre de su Gobierno, reitera su apoyo al Pacto de Seguridad Alimentaria y hace un llamado para que el mismo sea aprobado en forma unánime por esta Conferencia, como un homenaje a los 40 años de la FAO y una reafirmación de los principios eideales que motivaron su creación.

Finalmente, Sr. Presidente, en cuanto a las propuestas sugeridas por el representante de Suiza, propuestas que consideramos positivas,sí nos preocupa que la consideración de la misma reabra un debate en el que todas las delegaciones, porque todas seguramente tenemos algo que sugerir, deseen ver reflejados sus planteamientos en el mismo. De ahí que nos atrevamos a pedir a la delegación de Suiza que retire su propuesta en beneficio del objetivo fundamental del Pacto, que es el de concebir una serie de principios para erradicar el hambre y la malnutríción de los pueblos.

M. I. MAHDI (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia\) (original language Arabic): My delegation has considered this document C 85/23 on World Food Security Compact and we have listened with great attention to the thorough explanations given to us by the Director-General of FAO. We should like to express our satisfaction and solidarity with the statement made by the representative of the Group of 77.

My delegation would like to thank the Director-General for the attention he has given in preparing this Compact. We believe that this Compact is extremely important, especially coming at a time when humanity is in dire need of this sort of statement, and when the agricultural and food situation is deteriorating in many developing countries.

There are thousands of people who suffer and who go to bed with their bellies empty. They even face the danger of death because of hunger. We believe, and we agree, with all those who said that local measures should be the basis for food security. There is an enhanced understanding on the part of developing countries of the importance of food security. The developing countries have shouldered this grave responsibility and some of them have achieved self-reliance as far as basic cereals are concerned. We hope that the efforts of the other countries belonging to the developing world will also be crowned with success and they will achieve self-reliance. However, we should like to make it clear that despite all local and national efforts in this sphere and although we do consider that these are the basis for agricultural development, these efforts are insufficient in achieving the desired result, that is, food security. Therefore, they should be supplemented by further efforts internationally. This Compact provides the bases for food security in the world and we are fully aware and sure that it provides the general framework for sharing all responsibility between the developing and the developed countries, and among individuals as well as organizations. We believe that this Compact is a balanced and moderate one.

In conclusion I would like to say that this Compact has been discussed thoroughly in the Committee on World Food Security in the preceding sessions. It was also discussed exhaustively in the Council in the preceding sessions, and it does not involve any financial or legal obligations. Some believe that the Compact should be reinforced, other delegations believe that it should be amended and this is why the Director-General has responded to all these opinions and has given us this revised text of World Food Security Compact, which we have before us today. We believe that the Compact in its present format is the response to our needs, and we believe that it should be supported by the Conference. The deteriorating situation in many developing countries, in particular, many African countries requires this. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would like to join all those who have supported the World Food Security Compact. We hope that the Compact will be adopted unanimously on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of our Organization.

The meeting rose at 12.15 hours
La séance est levée à 12 h 15
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.15 horas