IV. APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS (continued)
IV. NOMINATIONS ET ELECTIONS (suite)
IV. NOMBRAMIENTO Y ELECCIONES (continuación)

33. Applications for Membership in the Organization (continued) - European Economic Community
33. Demandes d'admission à la qualité de membre de l'Organisation (suite) - Communauté économique européenne
33. Solicitudes de ingreso en la Organización (continuación) - Comunidad Económica Europea

CHAIRMAN: I declare open the Nineteenth Plenary Meeting. We will take up again Item 33, Applications for Membership in the Organization which had been left open on Monday 11 November when we had admitted three new Member Nations and one new Associate Member.

As you are aware, an application for membership was received by the Director-General from the European Economic Community on 25 November, and was circulated yesterday to all Member Nations.

You will also recall that yesterday the representative of the Netherlands had requested a suspension of Rule XIX of the General Rules of the Organization in order to allow this application for membership in FAO to be considered at the present Conference session. I now give the floor to the representative of the Netherlands.

Frederik C. PRILLEVITZ (Netherlands): I would like to confirm that we asked the Secretariat for the suspension of Rule XIX of the General Rules of the Organization in order to allow for the European Economic Community's application for membership in FAO to be considered at the present session of the FAO Conference.

As I have the floor, I would like to propose that the fifth entry of document C 91/LIM/47-Corr.1, the word 'competent' should be replaced by 'competence'. should be deleted. We would like to retain the word competent.

CHAIRMAN: The suspension of a Rule has once again been requested. I shall read out Rule XLVIII.1 of the General Rules of the Organization on Suspension and Amendment of Rules, which provides that: …the foregoing Rules may be suspended by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast at any Plenary Meeting of the Conference, provided that notice of the intention to propose the suspension has been communicated to the delegates not less than 24 hours before the Meeting at which the proposal is to be made.

You have heard the formal proposal made by the Netherlands, which gave notice of its intention early yesterday within the time limits established.

We should have a roll call vote to decide whether the Conference wishes to suspend Rule XIX in this case. Should the decision be favourable, in accordance with Article II.3 of the FAO Constitution the Conference would then vote by secret ballot on the admission of the EEC as a Member Organization.

A yes in the roll call vote signifies that you agree to the suspension of Rule XIX; a no signifies that you do not so agree. Are there any questions on the procedure?

We now move to the roll call vote on the suspension of Rule XIX. There are at least 87 Member Nations in the Hall so we have a quorum and can vote. The first country to be called is Algeria. I shall now request the Elections Officer please to conduct the roll call vote.

Vote
Vote
Votación

Session of the Conference ROLL CALL VOTING AND ISSUE OF BALLOT PAPER REPORT

26 Session de la Conférence APPEL NOMINAL ET DISTRIBUTION DE BULLETIN

Período de sesiones de la Conferencia VOTACION NOMINAL Y DISTRIBUCION DE PAPELETAS

Vote on

1st Vote sur Suspension of Rule XIX GRO to allow for an Application for Membership in FAO by EEC to be considered at the present Session

Votación para

Session of the Conference ROLL CALL VOTING AND ISSUE OF BALLOT PAPER REPORT

26 Session de la Conférence APPEL NOMINAL ET DISTRIBUTION DE BULLETIN

Período de sesiones de la Conferencia VOTACION NOMINAL Y DISTRIBUCION DE PAPELETAS

Vote on

1st Vote sur Suspension of Rule XIX GRO to allow for an Application for Membership in FAO by EEC to be considered at the present Session

Votación para

RESULT SHEET / RESULTATS / RESULTADOS

Vote on Suspension of Rule XIX GRO to Allow for an

1st Vote sur Application for Membership in FAO by EEC to be

Votación para considered at the Present Session

Date: 26 November 1991 Elections Officer Mr. B. Linley

Date: 26 november 1991 Fonctionnaire electoral

Date: 26 noviember 1991 El oficial de elecciones

RULE XII – 13(a) GRO

If a vote is equally divided on a matter other than an election, a second vote shall be taken at a subsequent meeting to be held not less than one hour after the conclusion of the meeting at which the equally divided vote occurred. If the second vote is also equally divided the proposal shall be regarded as rejected.

En cas de partage égal des voix lors d'un vote ne portant pas sur une élection, on procède à un deuxième vote en cours d'une séance ultérieure, qui ne peut avoir lieu moins d'une heure après la fin de celle à laquelle s'est produit le partage égal des voix. Si les voix restent également partagées lors de ce second vote, la proposition est considérée comme repoussée.

Si hubiera empate en un asunto que no sea una elección, se repetirá la votación en una sesión subsiguiente la cual no deberá celebrarse hasta que haya transcurrido una hora, por lo menos, desde la conclusión de aquella en que se produjo el empate. Si en la segunda votación hubiera también empate se considerará rechazada la propuesta.

CHAIRMAN: By the roll call vote you have decided to suspend Rule XIX so the Conference can now vote on the admission to membership of the EEC. Delegations will be called one by one and they will proceed to the voting area on my right. Before we begin may I remind you that paragraph 14 of Rule XII of the General Rules specifies that once voting has commenced no delegate or representative may interrupt the voting except to raise a point of order in connection with the voting. I should now like to invite the delegations of Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago to kindly serve as Tellers and to proceed to the voting area. If there are no comments we shall proceed with the vote.

Vote

Vote

Votación

CHAIRMAN: Having obtained the required majority the European Economic Community is admitted as a member of this Organization. I now invite the EEC to take its place here as a new Member Organization of the FAO.

EEC Delegation enter and takes its place
La Delegation de la CEE entre et prend sa place
La Delegación de la CEE entra y toma su puesto

LE DIRECTEUR GENERAL: M. le Président, Mesdames et Messieurs les délégués, l'admission de la Communauté économique européenne comme membre de notre Organisation représente une décision de grande portée pour la FAO. C'est une première en son genre, qui crée un précédent pour l'ensemble du système des Nations Unies. Mesurons donc à sa juste valeur l'importance de l'acte politique que la Conférence vient de poser.

Je me réjouis que cette question délicate ait pu se régler dans la plus complète harmonie. Le mérite vous en revient ainsi qu'aux différents Etats Membres, aux Présidents des Commissions - surtout la Commission III - et aux représentants qui, depuis plus de deux ans, ont négocié les conditions de cette adhésion avec une intelligence aiguë des écueils juridiques à éviter, avec un doigté diplomatique remarquable. Ce succès revient d'abord et avant tout à la Commission des Communautés que je salue ici en la personne de M. MacSharry, Commissaire pour l'agriculture, qui a su surmonter de nombreuses difficultés internes et externes qui se sont présentées.

Responsable de l'agriculture, M. MacSharry joue également un rôle éminent dans les Négociations d'Uruguay. Je lui souhaite le plus grand succès dans ces efforts pour faire aboutir les négociations du GATT à propos du dossier clé le plus brûlant, celui concernant le commerce agricole auquel la FAO attache une grande importance.

Le Secrétariat n'est pas non plus étranger à l'adhésion de la CEE. Je suis satisfait d'avoir pu personnellement y contribuer modestement. Certes, les relations entre nos deux organisations sont anciennes et excellentes, mais aujourd'hui, les prémisses sont posées pour qu'elles assument une mission nouvelle mutuellement bénéfique entre partenaires à plein titre. Il nous appartiendra de valoriser cette coopération dans un esprit ouvert et constructif.

La CEE a choisi la FAO comme banc d'essai pour entrer dans le système des Nations Unies. Ce n'est pas un hasard puisque c'est dans notre secteur de compétence qu'elle a le plus progressé sur la voie de l'intégration économique, le commerce des produits agricoles, les pêches, etc. Mais aussi - je le pense en toute modestie - parce que la FAO peut beaucoup lui apporter par sa connaissance unique du monde rural, son analyse permanente de la situation alimentaire et nutritionnelle, sa fonction normative, son vaste répertoire d'expertise et sa présence à peu près partout dans le monde.

A l'inverse, il est vrai que le concours que la CEE est en mesure d'offrir à la FAO peut être considérable et, dans de nombreux secteurs, on peut entrevoir une véritable complémentarité et un partnership. Le mérite de l'arrangement-cadre de coopération signé entre la CEE et la FAO, en juin dernier, est précisément d'être l'instrument susceptible de concrétiser notre volonté de coopération. Il devra permettre de définir les activités du grand Programme ordinaire où la coopération serait mutuellement profitable. Je pense, par exemple, au rôle que les Communautés pourraient jouer sur des questions prioritaires comme la sauvegarde des ressources génétiques ou dans l'élaboration et la mise en oeuvre de normes et de codes de conduites sur différents sujets. Mais ces accords devraient surtout déboucher sur une coopération opérationnelle au niveau du terrain par le biais de fonds fiduciaires à l'appui de programmes et de projets prioritaires définis et approuvés en commun. Des premières discussions en cours, j'ai confiance qu'une telle coopération pourra effectivement s'installer, contribuant à renforcer l'aide que notre Organisation apporte, en particulier, aux plus démunis de nos Etats Membres.

En terminant, je voudrais exprimer mes plus vives félicitations à la CEE pour son adhésion. Celle-ci sera, j'en suis sûr, bénéfique à notre organisation. Pour ma part, je voudrais assurer la CEE qu'elle peut compter sur ma collaboration pleine et entière. Je sais de même pouvoir compter sur la sienne. Je l'en remercie.

CHAIRMAN: Mr Director-General, please allow me to say a few words on the momentous decision that has been taken by the Conference. It is a very great honour and privilege for me to congratulate and welcome, on my own behalf and I am sure on behalf of you all, the EEC to membership of FAO. It is an historical initiation for a community, in the family of the UN, and its participation and contribution to the activities and proceedings of intergovernmental meetings in FAO, would certainly be most valuable.

I am sure that all members of FAO look forward to a close and productive working relationship with the newest of our members. I am also sure that the EEC is equally looking forward to its new and constructive relationship and role in the Organization of the FAO.

I now give the floor to the honourable delegate from the EEC.

Ray MacSHARRY (EEC): Mr Director-General, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates and Observers, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a pleasure for me to be here with you on this historic day. It is a great honour for the European Community to be accepted as a Member of this most prestigious Organization. On behalf of the Community, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to you and to all those people who have made our membership possible.

In the first place, my special thanks go to the Director-General, Mr Edouard Saouma, who played a decisive role in bringing about this membership through continuous dialogue between the FAO Member Nations and our delegation.

I want particularly to underline the special role played by the Colombian Ambassador, Mr Bula Hoyos, Chairman of the Special Committee, through his talent and experience, in finding the right compromise solutions between the legitimate interests of all concerned.

Furthermore, I want to thank the Chairman of the Legal and Constitutional Committee, Mr Fotis Poulides, as well as the Committee's members. They have been extremely helpful in formulating the necessary amendments to the FAO Constitution which made our membership possible.

I would like to pay tribute to the President of the FAO Council, Ambassador Saintraint, for the role he played in following the membership process to its successful conclusion.

I also want to thank the Legal Counsel, Mr Gerald Moore, the Chairman of Commission III, the Rapporteurs and the members of the Drafting Committees as well as the members of the Special Committee.

Last, but not least, I would like to pay tribute to the representatives of the Regional Groups in FAO and to the delegations of individual Member Nations. They have been particularly helpful in discussing, modifying and drawing up the proposals which led to the amendments of the FAO Constitution. We very much hope that the end result is to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned.

The European Community's request for FAO membership had been made with the full support of the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. You are, I know, all fully aware of the reasons why the Community wished to become a member of FAO. The status of Observer no longer corresponds with the role and competence of the Community in, for example, the fields of agriculture and fisheries. Furthermore, the Community is convinced that given many common goals in the development field, the Community can play a more constructive role in the work of FAO as a member.

Our willingness to work towards common goals was already clearly demonstrated when, in June of 1991, the Commission of the European Community and FAO signed a framework agreement in order to strengthen their cooperation in favour of the developing countries. Already, a number of specific decisions have been made regarding Trust Fund arrangements to support FAO's activities. We pledge our willingness to continue in that direction. We will increase our activities as regards the identification, preparation and implementation of technical cooperation projects. There will be regular consultations between both institutions and their services, and also between their representatives in the field. I can assure you that the European Community is determined to participate very constructively in the work of FAO. Community membership will further strengthen this fine Organization. I believe that the positive outcome of the Community's application for membership of FAO is a clear demonstration of FAO's capacity to adapt to new international developments. The Community, whose very foundation is built on cooperation and ever-closer integration amongst its Member States, has welcomed and will continue to support regional cooperation throughout other parts of the world.

The Community is on the eve of an historic European Council in Maastricht where vital decisions on political as well as economic and monetary union will be taken.

Mr President, I would like to underline, as I did when speaking to this Conference on 13 November, that the Community will remain outward-looking and will continue to work for peace and prosperity throughout the world.

Applause
Applaudissements
Aplausos

CHAIRMAN: Before I offer the floor to different distinguished delegates, may I mention that this morning we agreed that one country would respond on behalf of each Region. Let us see if we can stick to that!

First of all, I will call on the honourable delegate from the Netherlands.

Frederik Ch. PRILLEVITZ (Netherlands): It is a privilege at this juncture to express on behalf of the Member States of the European Community our gratitude and satisfaction that the Community has become FAO's first member as a Regional Economic Integration Organization. In the first place, we would like to thank the membership of FAO that they made it possible by voting in favour of the Community's membership application. Secondly, we thank the Director-General of FAO who has shown during the whole process of negotiating with the European Commission, and later on also with the Member States, about the amendments to the Basic Texts of FAO and the General Rules his great interest in the matter, and made it possible for the Legal Counsel, Mr Gerald Moore, to devote a part of his precious time and the best of his abilities to this case. Gerald Moore and his staff, and especially Mr Richard Stein, deserve our sincere thanks for their efforts to pave the way for Regional Economic Integration Organizations to become members of FAO.

At the same time, I should mention the name of our colleague the Ambassador of Colombia to FAO, Mr Gonzalo Bula Hoyos, who has chaired in his famous, unique style, the ad hoc Group.

Many other names come to my mind when I think about the intensive work done during the last couple of weeks. I cannot mention all of them here. However, I would like to make an exception, namely the Chairman of Commission III, Mr Samuel Fernandez Illanes, one of the most charming chairpersons I have ever worked under.

The future of FAO with the EEC as a member will be an interesting one, and we sincerely hope that the Community will not remain the only Regional Economic Integration Organization in FAO but that others will follow suit.

It could be, and it will be, that many delegates here in the Plenary Hall are inclined to ask for the floor in order to congratulate us - the Community and the Member States. Although I am not against it - of course not - it is perhaps too early. Indeed the new licence is there, but let us drive for a while showing that this public vehicle with twelve seats is facilitating the traffic when it is needed, while everybody will experience that all the passengers still have their own cars which are used in a well-considered way and at the right time.

I do not want to continue in drawing symbolic parallels, not only because not every comparison will hold water but in this specific case it can be considered a tricky business.

I limit myself to what I have said already, and that was the main reason for asking for the floor: to thank everybody who made the decision, which was taken a minute ago, possible.

Fotis G. POULIDES (Cyprus): On this historic occasion for FAO, and at the same time for the evolution of public international law and the law of international inter-governmental organizations, I would be remiss if I did not express my recognition to those who have made this possible. New horizons have been opened with the amendment of the FAO Constitution only last week to allow the membership of Regional Economic Organizations. Today, with your vote, the European Economic Community has been admitted as a member of FAO. Such events do not happen by themselves. Much effort is required and our Organization is fortunate to have in its Secretariat highly devoted staff members who were willing to put in the extra effort that was required. Certainly, this was also the case for the EEC, and they deserve our thanks as well.

We owe special recognition to the Director-General, Dr Edouard Saouma, for his untiring efforts, as well as to the FAO Legal Counsel, Mr Gerald Moore, and his valued cooperators who for more than two years have demonstrated their ability to cope in an imaginative and innovative way for the vast range of problems which are ours.

Without them, we would never have succeeded. They deserve the expression of our heartfelt appreciation, whilst not forgetting at all the numerous other FAO staff members who provided the indispensable and often concealed support required.

I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to express my warmest thanks and appreciation to Mr MacSharry, Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry of the European Economic Community, for his nice words, which I gladly accept on behalf of all members of the CCLM and the FAO Legal Counsel and his staff.

Thank you very much, Mr Chairman, for giving me the opportunity to express through you to this august body, these thoughts, which reflect my deep conviction.

Amor Ben RHOMDANE (Tunisie): M. le Président, l'admission de la Communauté européenne en tant que membre de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture est un événement historique qui rentre dans les anales de la FAO. Cette admission d'un nouveau membre d'un caractère particulier donnera, j'en suis sûr, un nouvel élan aux actions de notre Organisation. Ce nouvel apport touchera aussi bien les activités techniques de conception que les activités d'exécution sur le terrain et renforcera les actions de coopération envers nos pays en développement.

Tous les membres du Groupe des 77 ont pris acte de l'engagement solennel de la Communauté européenne à s'acquitter en toute loyauté et confiance des obligations en vigueur découlant de la qualité de membre de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture.

Tout en nous réjouissant de ce résultat positif, je saisis cette occasion pour souhaiter la bienvenue à la CEE et présenter, au nom de Groupe des 77, toutes nos félicitations à la Communauté européenne ainsi qu'à ses Etats membres pour cette brillante élection.

Nous présentons également tous nos remerciements et notre gratitude à tous ceux, des Etats membres ou du Secrétariat, qui ont contribué de près ou de loin à l'élaboration des textes d'amendement qui ont permis et qui permettront l'adhésion d'organisations d'intégration économique et régionale à notre prestigieuse Organisation.

Rita MISHAAN ROSSELL (Guatemala): Gracias Sr. Presidente. Sr. Presidente en nombre de los miembros del Grupo Latinoamericano y del Caribe, y especialmente en nombre de mi delegación, doy la bienvenida al ingreso de la CEE en esta Organización. Estamos seguros de que éste es un paso que trascenderá históricamente dentro de la familia del sistema de las Naciones Unidas, como bien ha dicho el Director General. Tenemos la confianza de que será un efectivo aporte a la FAO por su experiencia tecnológica, conocimientos y ayuda económica. Asimismo, el Grupo Latinoamericano y del Caribe ha observado que, más allá de las consideraciones jurídicas que su ingreso tiene respecto a la FAO, sobre las cuales el Grupo expresó distintas opiniones, acoge el ingreso conscientes de que esto constituirá el ejemplo que abrirá las puertas para que las ORIE de Latinoamérica y el Caribe puedan ingresar en la Organización y hacer sus aportes en el futuro.

La Región expresa su confianza de que las labores de la FAO, gracias a las reformas que se aprobaron, podrán verse enormemente beneficiadas, en especial los países en vía de desarrollo, y que esto seguramente se verá reflejado en los trabajos que conjuntamente hemos de desempeñar en esta Organización.

Finalmente, permítame rendir homenaje al Embajador de Colombia, Gonzalo Bula Hoyos, por el rol que desempeñó en las negociaciones que permitieron el ingreso de la CEE a la FAO.

Aprovecho esta oportunidad para solicitar que la versión española se adapte a la versión inglesa en el documento C 91/LIM/47, en la parte 2 de las competencias no exclusivas, bajo el párrafo 3 de la parte d), en lo que se refiere a la palabra plátanos, que debe ser sustituida por la palabra bananos, como aparece en la versión inglesa.

Mian Riaz SAMEE (Pakistan): We once again take the floor to speak on behalf of the Asia and Pacific Region. The warmth with which the Conference today decided to admit the EEC to membership of FAO underscores the significance which FAO members attach to the EEC and its participation in the activities and intergovernmental deliberations within FAO. We in the Asia and Pacific Region welcome the EEC amongst us, and congratulate it on its election.

In the past, we have worked closely with the twelve Member Countries in the EEC, and also with the Commission, although in somewhat different capacity. We are sure that the admission of the EEC as a member will result in a significant strengthening of FAO.

Michael KIMA TABONG (Cameroon): The admission of the EEC to this world organization, FAO, is both unique and significant. The African Group, of which Cameroon is a member, welcomes its admission wholeheartedly, with the following comments:

It should be remembered that when the issue first came up during the Ninety-ninth Session of the Council in November 1990, Cameroon gave a blanket approval, on the condition that some obvious loose ends would be tied up. Cameroon was honoured with the Chairmanship of a Special Working Group which was appointed by the Council during the Hundredth Session to endeavour to remove most of the brackets which impeded the EEC's smooth sailing into FAO membership. Work later continued under the able chairmanship of His Excellency Bula Hoyos of Colombia. We are now seeing the result of those meetings.

Cameroon, like the majority of African countries, is an Associate Member of the EEC. It is very important to remember this; the Yaoundé-Lomé Convention has confirmed it. What is more, this is the first time that a Regional Economic Integration Organization, consisting of FAO members, has been admitted to FAO as a member. This may open the door to other similar regional organizations in the future.

We hope that the EEC will bring with it its associate members, at least in spirit, if not materially, and not only its well-known technology in the domain of food and agriculture, but also its financial contribution.

The African Group wholeheartedly welcomes the EEC as a Member of FAO.

Frank BUCHHOLZ (United States of America): On behalf of the North American Regional Group we are pleased to welcome EEC into FAO. We are confident that it will add greatly to FAO's ability to address the many problems before it.

We regard the EEC as having clearly satisfied the requirements of the FAO Constitution as a member. It meets the requirement of Article II.4 of the Constitution in that its Member States have transferred its competence on a range of matters within the purview of the Organization, including the authority to make decisions binding on its Member States. That competence also includes the transfer of treaty making powers by Member States, and means that complete power with respect to that subject is transferred, and no residual power remains with the Member States.

We are pleased to see that the Declaration submitted by the EEC confirms this statement by, for example, citing specific treaties as the basis for the competence and specific types of agreements which the EEC has the competence to enter into within the purview of the FAO. In addition, we, like many other governments, are familiar with the EEC's competence in a number of areas within FAO's purview. Because of our experience with the EEC in those areas - for example, by participating in international agreements concerning the EEC Declaration - we believe that a more specific declaration would have been more helpful. We note however that the provisions of the Constitution allow us and other governments to ask the EEC specific questions as to competence. We expect to make use of that ability to fill in the gaps left by the Declaration.

Arpád SZABO (Czechoslovakia): In my current capacity as Chairman of the European Forum I have the honour, on behalf of the European Region, to take the floor and congratulate the EEC on its membership to FAO. It is a privilege for me, too, as representative of one of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, to speak on behalf of the European Region on this historic day.

EEC membership means a qualitative change not only in the life of FAO, but in the United Nations system as a whole. We are proud that our Organization is the first United Nations specialized agency having a Regional Economic Integration Organization among its members. We are sure that EEC membership will have a positive influence on the activities and effectiveness especially of FAO, and will give an example to other European agencies of how to act in a rapidly changing world.

This is an exceptional day in the life of FAO and represents the result of long and difficult negotiations as well as the good will and constructive efforts of Member States. On behalf of the European Region we thank the countries of other Regions for accepting EEC as a member among us. We wish the EEC fruitful cooperation with FAO resulting in positive effects in favour of all the member countries of FAO.

S. RAJASEKAR (New Zealand): On behalf of the South Pacific Region, it is my pleasure to welcome and congratulate the EEC on its admission to FAO. As many before have observed, it is an important occasion for both the EEC and FAO, an important precedent for the other organizations of the United Nations system.

Many of the countries of the South Pacific Region have a long and close association with members of the EEC and we look forward to working closely with the Community in this forum as well.

Finally, I congratulate the delegate of Colombia, the Chairman of Commission III and not least the Secretariat for their timeless efforts in making this event possible.

Waleed A. ELKHEREIJI (Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of) (Original language Arabic): I would like to say how happy we are, this idea which has been in our minds has germinated and finally borne fruit. It has taken two years to come to fruition. The EEC is now a member of our Organization, together with its Member States. It is for this reason that on behalf of the Near East Group I welcome most warmly the Member States of the EEC and the EEC itself on its new membership.

On this occasion, too, I wish to congratulate the Director-General of FAO because he is always looking to the future and renewing the Organization. I would like also to express my thanks to the man of difficult missions His Excellency the Ambassador of Colombia, Mr Bula Hoyos, who has managed to achieve a consensus on this issue through very complex negotiations.

On behalf of my Region, I congratulate Mr Poulides, Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters, for his efforts in this matter. I thank the various Rapporteurs who prepared the reports and last but certainly not least I congratulate the new Legal Counsel for the

Organization, Mr Moore, who has worked so hard to turn this dream into reality. He never gave up, even when things looked difficult.

Finally, I am sure that the entry of the EEC will be an encouragement to other Regional Organizations to follow this example and to take up responsibility in the same manner.

Angel BARBERO MARTIN (España): El Grupo de países de la OCDE, al que nos honramos presidir en estos momentos, saluda y felicita a la Comunidad Económica Europea como nuevo miembro de la FAO y hace votos para que su entrada sirva para que se cumplan las grandes expectativas que surgieron durante el proceso que ha culminado ahora.

Felicitamos a los miembros de la Comunidad, los cuales pertenecen también a nuestro Grupo de países de la OCDE. Felicitamos a la Comisión en la persona del Comisario MacSharry, aquí presente, y a todos los miembros que durante este proceso participaron en las negociaciones juntamente con el personal de la FAO bajo la experta dirección profesional del Sr. Moore, el cual no ha ahorrado en ningún momento su constante y competitísimo consejo legal.

Felicitamos también a todos los países que en los distintos foros en que fue discutido este asunto colaboraron, incluso expresando sus legítimas dudas y reservas, pero que ayudaron también con ello a clarificar y a perfeccionar los delicados y difíciles problemas jurídicos que iban surgiendo durante el proceso.

En este sentido hay que reconocer la insustituible labor de mi colega y amigo el Sr. Bula Hoyos, al frente del Comité Especial. Bajo su experta batuta, llevada con mano que tiene años de experiencia en estas situaciones y que es en estos momentos cuando esta experiencia hace su aparición y resulta definitiva, este Comité Especial constituyó la etapa más importante del proceso. Durante el Consejo, y durante las negociaciones del Comité de Asuntos Constitucionales y Jurídicos, con sus respectivos Presidentes al frente, el proceso siguió su camino y al final nos encontramos en esta Comisión III que ha llevado al Plenario los últimos momentos de la negociación, momentos que sin duda podemos calificar de históricos.

Repetimos, Sr. Presidente, muchas felicidades a todos los que han intervenido y muy especialmente a la Comunidad Económica Europea. Bienvenidos.

Mustapha-Menouar SINACEUR (Maroc): Je vous remercie de m'avoir accordé la parole. J'ai l'honneur de prendre la parole au nom des pays du Maghreb arabe à savoir l'Algérie, la Libye, le Maroc, la Mauritanie et la Tunisie. Notre pays s'associe aux intervenants qui nous ont précédé pour exprimer nos voeux de bienvenue à la Communauté, ainsi que nos vives félicitations. Nos félicitations vont également à tous ceux qui ont contribué à permettre que ce qui hier encore était une idée soit aujourd'hui une réalité et nous tenons à désigner plus précisément le Directeur général de notre Organisation, M. Edouard Saouma, l'Ambassadeur Kima Tabong, Cameroun, le Président du Comité des questions juridiques et constitutionnelles, l'Ambassadeur Poulides, sans oublier, bien sûr le rôle compétent et efficace qui a été joué par l'Ambassadeur Bula Hoyos dans la résolution de cette affaire. Nos remerciements vont également à M. Moore, notre

Conseiller légal ainsi qu'au Président de la Commission III, et nous tenons à rendre hommage également à Messieurs Papa et Allo de la Communauté économique.

Nous sommes certains que cet événement contribuera au renforcement des liens de fraternité et de coopération entre les pays membres et la Communauté économique européenne. Monsieur le Commissaire Mac Sharry, permettez-nous de vous dire bienvenue dans la maison.

Assefa YILALA (Ethiopia): The Chairman of Group of 77 and the Chairman of the African Group have spoken on behalf of our group, and we fully share the sentiments they have expressed. Sitting just beside the EEC it might be difficult not to use the opportunity to congratulate them and speak even though we are aware of the time constraints.

On behalf of myself and of my delegation, permit me to use this opportunity to congratulate and warmly welcome the EEC as a member of FAO. Its admission into membership of this Organization is historically significant not only because it is the first Regional Economic Integration Organization to be admitted as a member, but also because it opens new avenues of opportunity for enlarging FAO membership. Therefore this important decision is a further achievement in the enlarged membership of a global forum on food and agriculture.

For my delegation, sitting between two of the four newly admitted members, it is of particular significance that at this Twenty-sixth Session of Conference we have had this further sentimental experience, and we feel that this particular situation is unique. My delegation is honoured to have had this experience. We wish them well in their new status. We also hope that their membership of and participation in FAO will assist the Organization in all the technical and material difficulties that it might face in future. We have no doubt that the deep technical and administrative know-how and skill of the EEC will have its proper share in enriching the working of our Organization.

Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): Estoy muy agradecido, Sr. Presidente, al Sr. MacSharry, distinguido representante del nuevo Estado Miembro de la FAO, la CEE, porque el Sr. MacSharry en su declaración de esta tarde tan positiva, profundamente afirmativa y llena de esperanzas respondió plenamente, sin dudas ni vacilaciones, a la pregunta que los representantes de Colombia hicimos en el Consejo de la FAO ¿por qué la CEE ha decidido entrar a ser miembro de esta Organización?

De todo corazón gracias a los Sres. MacSharry y Prillevitz, de Países Bajos, y a todos los colegas y amigos que han tenido palabras tan generosas para con mi humilde persona. Estoy seguro de que el Director General se siente orgulloso si yo reitero mi reconocimiento y gratitud a uno de sus colaboradores, al competente asesor legal Dr Gerald Moore, quien trabajó de manera consagrada, inteligente y hasta obstinada en este asunto.

Los representantes de Colombia estamos seguros de que la Comunidad Económica Europea es consciente de que esta tarde esta Conferencia ha cumplido un acto valeroso, ha dado un paso histórico, y que al lograr el propósito de la CEE de entrar a ser miembro de la FAO mediante este hecho realmente innovador, la CEE tendrá ocasión de confirmar y ampliar su

propósito de seguir contribuyendo en forma cada vez más constante, significativa y válida a la cooperación internacional en su condición de miembro de la FAO, organización universal de carácter multilateral.

Con esa convicción, señor Presidente, señor Director General, distinguidos colegas y amigos, en nombre del Gobierno de Colombia damos nuestra más cordial bienvenida a la CEE como miembro de la FAO.

35.2 Appointment of Representatives of the FAO Conference to the Staff Pension Committee

35.2 Nomination des représentants de la Conférence de la FAO au Comité des pensions du personnel
35.2 Nombramiento de los representantes de los Estados Miembros en el Comité de Pensiones del Personal

CHAIRMAN: The next item on our Agenda is the Appointment of Representatives of the FAO Conference to the Staff Pension Committee, for which you have document C 91/16. This Committee requires three members and three alternates to be appointed by the Conference.

Kazuo TATEISHI (Director, Personnel Division): You have document C 91/16. The appointment of the United Nations Joint Pension Fund provides retirement, death, disability and related pension benefits for the staff of the United Nations and other related organizations, such as FAO. It is administered by the Joint Pension Board and the Staff Pension Committees in each of the member organizations. The Board members are drawn from these Committees whose members and alternate members are chosen by the Governing Body, the Head of the Organization and the participating staff of each organization. In the case of FAO the Conference appoints three of the nine members and three of the nine alternate members of the FAO Staff Pension Committee. Until now all members and alternate members representing the FAO Conference were appointed for two years. Document C 91/16, paragraphs 8 to 12 describe a proposal to change the term of office of the representatives of the Conference to three years with alternative measures to permit a change from two to three years.

The Secretariat has been informed that the following candidates have been proposed to serve as members or alternate members from the FAO Conference on the FAO Staff Pension Committee.

As members: Ms Daw Marlar Sein Maung of Myanmar, Second Secretary, Alternate Representative to FAO, for the period January 1992 to 31 December 1994.

Mr Christian Bonaparte of Haiti, Chargé d'Affaires, and ad interim Permanent Representative to FAO, for the period 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1993.

Mr Frank Buchholz, United States of America, First Secretary, Alternate Permanent Representative to FAO, for the period 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1993.

As alternate members: Mr Filibus Bature of Nigeria, Minister, Permanent Representative to FAO, for the period 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1994.

Her Excellency, Souad Abdallah of Syria, Minister Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to FAO, for the period 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1993.

His Excellency Frederik C. Prillevitz of the Netherlands, Minister Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to FAO, for the period 1 January 1992 to 1 December 1993.

Mr Chairman, you may ask the Conference if it wishes to decide on the term of office of members and alternate members on the Staff Pension Committee and to proceed with the appointment of persons just named to become members and alternate members of the FAO Staff Committee.

CHAIRMAN: Ladies and Gentlemen, you have heard the proposal. There are two parts, the extension by one year of the period, and then there are members and alternate members, three each.

Are there any objections to the proposal as explained by Mr Tateishi? Since there are no comments, I take it that this proposal is adopted.

The next item on the Agenda is the Date and Place of the Twenty-seventh Conference Session.

V. OTHER MATTERS
V. QUESTIONS DIVERSES
V. OTROS ASUNTOS

36. Date and Place of the Twenty-seventh Conference Session
36. Date et lieu de la vingt-septième session de la Conférence
36. Fecha y lugar del 27^o período de sesiones de la Conferencia

LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL: Il est proposé que la prochaine session de la Conférence, qui sera la vingt-septième session, se tienne à Rome du samedi 6 novembre au jeudi 25 novembre 1993.

CHAIRMAN: Ladies and Gentlemen, you have heard the proposed dates for the Twenty-seventh Conference Session of the FAO. The dates are 6 November to 25 November 1993. Are there any comments? I hear no comments.

The proposed dates for the Twenty-seventh Conference Session of FAO are adopted.

37. Any Other Matters
37. Autres questions
37. Otros asuntos

IN MEMORIAM
IN MEMORIAM
IN MEMORIAM

CHAIRMAN: The next item on the Agenda is Any Other Matters.

I believe it is normal and customary on the occasion of each Conference Session that we pay tribute to those staff members of the Organization who have passed away during the preceding two years, that is, since the last session of the Conference in November 1989. May I ask you to kindly stand and observe one minute's silence in their memory.

ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE
UNE MINUTE DE SILENCE
UN MINUTO DE SILENCIO

Juan NUIRY SANCHEZ (Cuba): Tratando de ganar tiempo. Sr. Presidente, y mientras conocemos el resultado de las elecciones, desearía hacer una pregunta. Querría conocer la opinión de la Secretaría, y de más está decir que nuestra delegación evalúa de muy positiva y muy rica experiencia esta 26^o Conferencia; pero, a la luz de haber definido ya cuándo se va a efectuar la próxima Conferencia, preguntamos si no resulta muy largo el que antes de la Conferencia se efectúe un Consejo, después la Conferencia y después otro Consejo.

Sin otro ánimo que el de que se me ilustre preguntamos, Sr. Presidente, si no es un período demasiado largo. Creo que están muy unidos el 100^o Consejo, la Conferencia y, después el 101^o Consejo que, lógicamente, es nada más que de un día.

Como digo, Sr. Presidente, he hablado con algunos colegas y resulta un período demasiado largo. Creemos que puede pensarse en no unir dos Consejos y una Conferencia, sino que este Consejo pudiera estar un poquito más separado de la Conferencia. Insisto en que esta pregunta la hago con el ánimo de oír la opinión de la Secretería en este tiempo en que estamos esperando los resultados de la votación.

LE DIRECTEUR GENERAL: Je suis surpris par cette proposition de la dernière minute. La Conférence se termine et j'aurais bien apprécié que cette question puisse être discutée et fasse l'objet d'un point de l'ordre du jour avec un document, etc. Je suis même arrivé en retard et je n'ai pas saisi tout à fait la question, ou la suggestion. Il y a le Comité du Programme, le Comité financier, avec 20 pays membres eminents, choisis par le Conseil qui vont se réunir deux fois en 1992 au printemps et en automne. Ils ont votre confiance, vous les avez élus, ils sont compétents, ils sont là depuis plusieurs années, ils passent chacun 15 jours au printemps et 15 jours en automne; ils examinent tout, ils voient tout, ils font rapport au Conseil au mois de novembre et c'est ainsi que cela fonctionne depuis 45 ans. Maintenant, tout est possible, tout peut évoluer. Vous pouvez décider tout ce que vous voulez. Mais si c'est pour donner des conseils, nous avons tous vos conseils, nous allons les suivre, nous allons faire un rapport devant ces deux Comités et leur demander leurs instructions et leurs orientations, etc.

Si la question est d'organiser une session supplémentaire du Conseil au mois de juin de l'année prochaine, en tant que Directeur général, je n'en vois pas la nécessité. Nous avons tout juste le temps de mettre en oeuvre ce que vous venez de décider, avec tous les ajustements nécessaires: couper

32 millions de dollars. Où faut-il les couper? Nous allons faire plusieurs ajustements du Programme de travail et budget. Nous serons heureux, à ce moment-là, de demander au Comité financier ce qu'il en pense. Mais dire, à la fin de la Conférence, qu'il faut tenir une session du Conseil en juin prochain, je ne comprends pas. Je suis pourtant ici depuis 16 ans. Cette réunion coûterait 400 ou 500 mille dollars, sinon plus. Et qu'ajouterait-elle à ce que le Comité du Programme et le Comité financier vont nous dire au mois d'avril, eux qui vont se réunir pendant plus de 15 jours, plus longtemps que le Conseil? A neuf ou dix, on peut mieux se concentrer, on peut mieux comprendre, on peut mieux s'exprimer. Je réponds là d'une façon directe, presque intuitive, à une remarque qui vient d'être faite par le délégué de Cuba.

Il y aura aussi les Conférences régionales. En 1992, nous allons être occupés par-dessus la tête. Je vais moi-même me rendre à cinq Conférences régionales, de même que tous les Sous-Directeurs généraux: A Montevideo, en Inde, à Prague, à Accra, Téhéran. Tous les Ministres de l'agriculture seront présents. S'ils ont quelque chose à dire, ils le diront et nous les écouterons avec intérêt parce que ce sont eux les patrons, ce sont eux qui décident et nous, le Secrétariat, nous tenons compte de leur avis. Il y aura donc ces cinq conférences régionales avec les Ministres de l'agriculture du monde entier, il y aura les réunions du Comité financier et du Comité du Programme. Il me semble que le calendrier de 1992 sera assez chargé, sans avoir en plus une réunion du Conseil. Evidemment, c'est la Conférence qui décide mais cela n'est pas à l'ordre du jour et les incidences financières ne sont pas prévues. Donc, si la Conférence décidait de convoquer une session extraordinaire du Conseil et je serais obligé d'accepter. Vous me demandez ma réaction; je vous la donne.

The meeting rose at 16.45 hours.
La séance est levée à 16 h 45.
Se levanta la sesión a 16.45 horas.