CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I will give the floor to the first speaker on Item 6.2, International Agricultural Adjustment, the delegate of China.
GONG JIANCHUN (China) (Original language Chinese): Mr Chairman, firstly I should like to thank the Secretariat for preparing the excellent C 91/18, as well as to thank Mr Dutia for the Introduction two days ago.
This document reveals the implementation of the Guidelines and Targets for Agricultural Adjustment for the last four years. This is necessary for our review of the Programme now, and let me offer a few opinions on this item.
Firstly, Guideline 1. In the 1980s, the annual average growth rate for agricultural development in developing countries was 3.3 percent, but such development was not balanced. The per capita food production actually declined; poverty is widespread; the population suffering from malnutrition is on the rise. The gap between the North and South did not narrow, but actually widened. We would think that it is virtually impossible to maintain stable and sustained world economic development under such circumstances. We would urge that the international community adopt positive measures to eliminate all actions and factors not conducive for development. Only in such a way can we implement the Guidelines and Targets for the Adjustment.
Over the years the international community and governments have done great work in eliminating protectionism in the trade of farm produce but the situation is still very serious. Negotiations in the Uruguay Round have not achieved anything, resulting in the worsening of the terms of trade in farm produce from the developing countries. The development of agricultural development is still confronted by such constraints. We would urge that the world community should establish a just and rational market for farm produce.
As for Guidelines 11 and 12, we taken note with concern that actual assistance for agricultural development has declined. The ODA rate is far below the target set in the Guidelines, and it is not enough to respond to the actual needs of the developing countries.
We would urge the international community, as well as the developed countries especially, to pay more attention to the needs of these countries. Thank you.
Neil FRASER (New Zealand): Mr Chairman, I wish to make a short statement to add our support to those who have suggested that the time is ripe for some form of reassessment of the Guidelines and Targets for International Agricultural Adjustment. This is not to say that members have not been well served by the information that the discipline of these Guidelines has provided. It is to say that the world has changed, the way we perceive it has changed, and the way we describe it should therefore change. I suspect that the original drafters of these Guidelines did not believe they were being written on stone tablets, never to be changed, when they were originally formulated in 1975. Indeed, the very first paragraph of document C 91/18 reminds us that eight years later, in 1983, they were revised and updated. I am not proposing there is a natural cycle for these things but I would note that we are a further eight years on from that revision. That is not in itself a sufficient reason to reconsider them. Rather, we believe that a close scrutiny of the guidelines indicates that they are not fully in tune with current perceptions of the world, and that a reappraisal of how they are used is now due. Some guidelines remain relevant while some have seen world development overtake them. In the first category I would place Guideline 7 concerning trade barriers, and in the second category I would place Guideline 8 (on price stability and commodity agreements) and Guideline 10 (on food security). You have heard suggestions from other delegates on some other guidelines.
We would look forward, Mr Chairman, to the views of the Secretariat on a procedure that might be followed in undertaking another review of these guidelines, such as would lead to a more flexible use of Secretariat resources in this exercise.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I thank the delegate of New Zealand and I would like to record that many things have changed in the world today, and we should perhaps try to reassess and review these guidelines.
Mrs Hedwig WOGERBAUER (Austria) (Original language German): The Seventh Progress Report in document C 91/18 gives a good overview of the international agricultural adjustment. The overview at the beginning of the report is certainly very valuable for someone who wants to read quickly, and here might I refer particularly to paragraphs 6 and 13 with respect to changes in agricultural policy.
It should be pointed out for Austria that with respect to extensive agricultural production, ecological requirements must be taken ever more into account in order at the same time to achieve proper market adaptations. Alternative requirements in the plant area, particularly for programmes to produce production intensity was reinforced in 1992 with respect to mountainous and green areas, the reduction of the milk market promotion of dairy cow holdings was improved in 1992, and voluntary reductions in milk production was continued. Ecological efforts are further supported in that the use of fertilizers of a given extent and concentration in the holding of agricultural animals was subject to
authorization and given values for pesticides and nitrates cannot be exceeded. With respect to calorie demand for foodstuffs we are now at 3 044 calories in Austria per capita. This was covered to a 99 percent level by domestic production. There was of course a great diversity in coverage for individual products, for example, self-sufficiency for wheat was 145 percent and for oilseeds 44 percent. The volume of agricultural foreign trade is relatively limited. In 1990 there was a further increase to 32.59 thousand million Austrian schillings (of which products worth some 8.95 thousand million schillings were not produced domestically), where exports went down to some 16.27 thousand million schillings. About 50 percent of the agricultural exports went to the states of the European Economic Community, and 57 percent of the imports came from the EEC.
With respect to the individual guidelines, I would like to limit myself only to the essential problems. It is to be welcomed that, on average, progress has been made in food security in developing countries, as can be seen from the overview given in Guideline 1. But of course a large share of the population is faced with problems, and here I am talking about that group which has only 2 000 calories per capita per day which covers some 6 percent of the overall population. This can be seen in Table 1.4. Concentration of efforts will be necessary for this group. It is essential that help to self help is given by training, education, counseling and research. Here I am referring to III-2.13, 3.12 to 3.17. Better training and education for women (4.9-19) is particularly necessary. The Uruguay Round is dealt with in Guidelines, 7, 8 and 9. Whether and to what extent trade liberalization, which is being sought in the Uruguay Round, will give advantages to the developing countries as laid out in the document, remains to be seen. Perhaps the presentation is a bit too optimistic if one considers that liberalization goals are to be taken into account, but no account is taken of social, regional and ecological criteria. In the negotiation documents for the end-phase of the Uruguay Round, the right of exception for developing countries is considerably limited. This right of waiver was and has been already accepted by Austria. Moreover, a Commonwealth study shows that only some specific developing countries would profit from liberalization. The developing countries seem more to be net losers because additional income of producers should not compete with losses for consumers. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): It appears that no one else wishes to take the floor on this item. I have been told that India and Argentina have submitted their statements in writing. They will be included in the minutes of our meeting.
Vishnu BHAGWAN (India): Mr Chairman, the Seventh Progress Report of International Agricultural Adjustment is informative and sets the tone for discussion of various agricultural policy issues. Information given on guideline one which concerns mainly agricultural production indicates that growth rate in the developing countries in the '80s was 3.3 percent but the performance was much poorer when two countries China and India are excluded. The poor rates of growth of production are a matter of concern although we feel satisfied that my country continued to perform well. Yesterday, the distinguished delegate of Denmark requested to know about the factors which have contributed to satisfactory growth rates in China and India. I shall like to respond to his request briefly by saying that
the achievement in agricultural production in India is largely due to the policies, strategies and programmes adopted by the Government as also the intensive efforts of scientists and the dynamic response of the farmers.
Agricultural inputs have particularly played an important role in accelerating the growth of production and productivity. Irrigation support through major and medium irrigation projects, command area development, tank irrigation and use of ground- water has been the main element of strategy of raising the agricultural production. During the 7th Five-Year Plan period ending 1989-90, a potential of 12 million hectares of irrigated area was created.
The high-yielding varieties programme introduced in 1966-67 covers at present 63 million hectares under foodgrains. Certified and quality seeds of suitable varieties are made available to farmers in adequate quantity, in time and at reasonable prices. Consumption of fertilizers has more than doubled over the last ten years reaching a level of over 12 million tons of nutrients in 1991. To enable farmers to use large quantities of agricultural inputs, the disbursement of agricultural credit has also almost doubled during the last five years.
Mr Chairman, the Government policies in the development of effective input supply services have evolved over a period of time. Public sector companies like the National Seeds Corporation and credit institutions like the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development together with cooperatives have become very important instruments in India for enabling small farmers to adopt new technologies. The mass media particularly the radio, TV, local language newspapers have become powerful communication tools. Extension service including the Training and Visit System of structured knowledge transfer have grown in capacity and effectiveness. India also has excellent network of agricultural research institutes and universities which are manned by dedicated and high quality personnel.
Mr Chairman, the production programmes in India have the support of effective price support, marketing and scientific storage policies. Procurement and support for important crops are fixed by Government on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. To ensure that procurement prices actually reach the farmer, the Government operates a procurement system. The FCI and the state agencies have been assigned the responsibility of making purchases at prices fixed by the Government with the objective of remunerative returns to the farmers and enabling the government to maintain adequate buffer stocks to achieve food security in food supply.
Mr Chairman, let me conclude by saying that the performance of Indian agriculture which has shown resilience in recent years still remains largely dependent on monsoons. The influence of monsoons, however, has been moderated by initiation of various development programmes. Thus, even during the severe drought of 1987-88 the decline in agricultural production was only 0.8 percent when compared with the previous year. Having already spoken at length on guideline one, I do not propose to dwell in detail on other guidelines. In fact, I have already covered the Guidelines 3 and 10. As regards Guideline 2, our efforts to increase the flow of resources to agriculture need to be adequately supported by international community. Guidelines 4 and 5 will come up for detailed discussion under Agenda
Items 8 and 12. Guideline 8 concerning trade is of crucial importance to us and we are looking forward to a successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round.1
Marcelo REGUNAGA (Argentina): Mi delegación quisiera formular breves comentarios puntuales acerca del documento C 91/18 que estamos debatiendo. En tal sentido, quisiéramos destacar lo expresado en el párrafo 6 del documento y resaltar la necesidad de que los paises desarrollados acompañen los esfuerzos de los paises en desarrollo en sus programas de liberalización agrícola.
Respecto de la Orientación 1, párrafo 1.6, la delegación argentina desea señalar que la seguridad alimentaria mundial no puede depender de la producción y acumulación de excedentes de los países desarrollados. El libre comercio permitirá que los paises en desarrollo aumenten su producción y su productividad como resultado de explotaciones rentables y muchos paises en desarrollo podrán reducir las necesidades de importar alimentos.
En lo que hace a la Orientación 3, creemos señor Presidente, que deberia tomarse en cuenta la posibilidad de desarrollar programas tendientes a fomentar el empleo no agrícola en áreas rurales, dada la importancia que este tipo de empleo tiene, según lo manifestado en el párrafo 3.5
Acerca de la Orientación 7, reafirmamos, señor Presidente, la importancia de que se logre une reducción generalizada del proteccionismo agricola y de las barreras al comercio, ya que tal como lo afirmara antes, no ha habido un esfuerzo manifiesto por parte de los países desarrollados en ese sentido.
Si bien, señor Presidente, en casos puntuales (Convención de Lomé y SGP) existen algunos progresos, enfatizamos que es necesario generalizar y profundizar esa tendencia.
Finalmente, señor Presidente, la delegación argentina quiere apoyar la necesidad señalada en la Orientación 11, párrafos 11.8 y 11.9, de que se incrementen las operaciones trianguladas.
Muchas gracias, señor Presidente.2
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic) : I now give the floor to Mr Dutia to reply to the comments and questions raised.
B.P. DUTIA (Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Policy Department): There have not been any discussion on this item. However, with your permission I should like to make a few points. The first concerns the remarks made by the delegate of the Netherlands the day before yesterday on the results of the studies that have been made by the Secretariat on stabilization of international market prices. The number of studies made is
1 Statement inserted in the Verbatim Records on request
2 Texto incluido en las actas a petición expresa
quite considerable and it would be very difficult for me to summarize them all in this meeting. All that I can suggest is that we would be very happy to share the thinking on this subject with the delegate of the Netherlands and also to provide him with the studies that we have undertaken on the matter.
The other point on which I should like to comment is the observations made by a number of delegates about the fact that the Guidelines as they stand today, which were revised in 1983, do not take into account the new policy development, perceptions, and so on. We generally agree with this observation. It is true that that is the case and we should very much welcome clear guidance from the Conference as to how you would like us to go about reporting the progress that has been made under the Guidelines in the future; and also, in a broader sense, on the policy developments as they occur in respect of the food and agriculture sector.
It is my understanding that the general feeling is that such an exercise is valuable and should be continued, but your guidance on how the Secretariat should go about understanding such an exercise and reporting on it to you would be very useful and essential in order that we may prepare a report which would meet with your expectations.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic) : At the end of this debate we can now summarize the issues. The policy review is considered by the Conference as a valuable exercise which should be continued. There is also a general consensus that FAO is eminently suited to carry out such an exercise for the food and agriculture sector. There is also a general feeling that the Guidelines which were revised in 1983 have in some respects become outdated. They also do not reflect new consensus on policy issues or change in policy perceptions. As such, a review of the Guidelines suffers from certain limitations. There is also a desire on the part of all concerned, including the Secretariat I believe, that this could and should be improved.
Bearing this in mind and in order to give clear guidance to the Secretariat for the future, I suggest the following for your consideration.
An in-depth review of the policy issue and development should be undertaken at the four-year cycle as at present using the IAA Guidelines as a broad framework, and with flexibility. However, in doing so the Secretariat should also take into account the consensus reached on policy issues as reflected in the document, such as international development strategy for the fourth development decade, FAO's long-term strategy for food and agriculture; and also conclusions reached at major international conferences such as UNCED, and the International Conference on Nutrition. The Uruguay Round should also be taken into account in such policy reviews.
Some Member Nations have also expressed the view that the Conference should consider together the SOFA document and the Review of the IAA Guidelines along the lines described above.
If those suggestions meet with your agreement, we can instruct the Secretariat accordingly.
Ms Carol J. KRAMER (United States of America): I should like to raise a question of clarification. Can you again summarize how this Conference feeds in suggestions regarding the revision of these Guidelines?
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): By putting forward my proposal I did not wish to speak of the need for totally modifying the Guidelines. I simply suggested that the modalities be changed which had been adopted concerning the way the Guidelines were revised.
J.M SCOTT (United Kingdom): I think the United States question still remains whether we are talking of changing or revising. Will there be a procedure by which individual members of this Commission can feed in their ideas as to how this revision should take place?
B.P. DUTIA (Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Policy Department): First of all, I should like to make it clear that we are totally in the hands of the delegates here and we will carry out their wishes as they are agreed. However, the question of how the Secretariat reports on the progress that has been made in the policy developments on issues are covered by the Guidelines. If the Guidelines were to be revised, and if that is the wish of the Member Governments, this could be done, but I should point out that such an exercise, again judging from experience in the past, would require a lot of resources and efforts. Then even after the revision has been made, as the world is developing these Guidelines may soon become outdated. There will be new policy developments, new policy perceptions, etc, and there will still be need for looking at the problem in a broader framework.
Keeping this in mind, the Secretariat feels - this is, of course, for approval by the Member Governments - that instead of embarking on an exercise of a full revision of the Guidelines the Secretariat could be instructed by Member Governments to adopt a certain degree of flexibility in reporting on the policy developments concerning the food and agriculture sector.
Of course, in doing so, the Secretariat would try its best to reflect the changing scene on the policy side with a new policy consensus as might have emerged through other documents, conferences, etc. This is one way of going about meeting the lacuna that many delegates have pointed out. As I said before, we are of course totally in your hands, but we need clear guidance. If you want us to embark on a total revision of the Guidelines it must be stated clearly and we will do it. I would like to point out however that certain exercises may soon become outdated as policy changes continue to occur.
Jorgen Skovgaard NIELSEN (Denmark) : I will quite frankly admit that I feel embarrassed in this situation and I think it is the same for many other delegations. First of all, I welcome very much the openness and invitation to dialogue from the Secretariat on how we can try together to adapt these Guidelines on the International Agricultural Adjustment, but we may not yet be well enough prepared to enter into a dialogue to provide guidance to the Secretariat. The approach suggested by Mr Dutia, that you should in the
first instance be allowed flexibility in following policy developments as they are evolving in this rather turbulent period, would be a good one to start with, but in future the Membership should be confined to its role of governance vis-a-vis the Secretariat and be more aware of where we could suggest amendments and maybe new guidelines, because a total revision would be very time-consuming indeed and we would not be prepared to suggest that yet. If I were to suggest anything, I would support what has been said by the United States delegate that on, for instance, developments in privatization and market economies there could be new guidelines and, in the hope that we have a successful agreement in the GATT Uruguay Round, there may be some development that could be monitored by the FAO.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): The Secretariat will do everything this Commission requests it to do. The Secretariat has of course taken note of all your comments, particularly changes experienced by certain countries moving to adopt new systems for opening their markets.
Hans-Dietrich VON BOTHMER (Germany) (Original language German):Mr Chairman, your suggestion means that the decision taken by the Twenty-fourth Assembly is maintained over four years, and we are interested in the decision of the Twenty-fifth Session. We said that only some Guidelines, numbers 7, 8 and 12, should be revised every two years and I think this is justified. Change in the world agricultural and economic situation is so swift that we find we have to review these Guidelines in order to adapt them to current situations and, as the delegate of Denmark said, for certain sectors it might be necessary to supplement some of the guidelines, particularly as concerns ecological and social aspects. I think we have to carry out this review in the light of the reform of the European Common Agricultural Policy, in the light of developments in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and also in the light of the results of the Uruguay Round. We owe this reviews to the developing countries. As has already been said under Item 6.1, we have a duty to help developing countries, that is to say, to identify the repercussions and to help them if the effects were to become negative.
Rudolph DE POURTALES (Suisse): Le délégué de l'Allemagne a déjà couvert une partie des idées que je voulais présenter. Il ne s'agit pas, je crois, d'une refonte totale des lignes directrices à court terme, mais d'une adaptation progressive à l'évolution du monde. Et je crois qu'il est important de voir ces lignes directrices évoluer avec l'évolution du monde pour avoir un point de référence. M. Dutia a très justement dit: Il faut une certaine souplesse dans l'analyse et dans l'information des pays membres. Mais pour les pays membres, il est important d'avoir un point de référence, et les lignes d'orientation sont un point de référence important.
IL conviendrait d'adapter ces lignes d'orientation sans faire un travail de refonte totale, mais en tenant compte des nouveaux éléments de la politique mondiale, de l'évolution des politiques agricoles, et en laissant peut-être de côté des éléments qui ne sont plus importants actuellement.
Donc il s'agit simplement de faire un tri entre ce qui est important et ce qui n'est pas important, pour permettre ensuite aux délégations de juger du rapport d'évolution avec des critères assez sérieux.
Rolf AKESSON (Sweden) : We very much appreciate your summary and your proposal on how to proceed on this very tricky issue. We especially like the emphasis placed on flexibility in this regard, which we think is very much needed. Perhaps it would also be possible to ask the Secretariat to comment very briefly at the next review four years from now on the relevance of the existing Guidelines, and then we could decide whether to undertake a revision, which could be a rather lengthy and difficult process, or we may find a better, more flexible way out of this.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): If there are no further speakers wishing to take the floor, in light of the discussion which has just taken place, it seems everyone is requesting that these Guidelines be adapted to changes as they take place in the world. The Secretariat has taken note of your wishes and we can therefore now wind up this item.
It was so decided.
Il en fut ainsi décidé.
Así ha sido decidido.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of this Commission, we will now discuss Item 6.3 of our Agenda, which is the Report of the Director-General on the Implementation of Resolution 1/89, Provision of Technical Assistance to the Palestinian People. I now give the floor to Mr Walton to introduce this item of the Agenda.
Declan J. WALTON (Special Adviser to the Director - General ) : Mr Chairman, distinguished delegates, I shall make a rather brief introduction of this item, divided into three parts: procedural aspects, the central findings of our mission, and the question of follow-up.
First, the procedural aspects. Our mission took place from 23 August to 6 September. It was formally approved by the Government of Israel, and the relevant correspondence is included in the document before the Conference. Apart from myself, the mission consisted of Mr Adel Cortas, Assistant to the ADG, Economic and Social Policy Department, and Dr René Brackaert, Livestock Production Officer.
We received considerable advance briefing, as described in our report. This was useful preparation, but our findings are based on direct observations, and discussions on the spot. We were able to visit all the main agricultural areas of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. We talked with many organizations and individuals: Palestinian, Israeli, and international. I
would like to pay tribute to the very forthcoming manner in which we were received by all parties concerned.
As we say in the report, we have tried to give a balanced account, without glossing over the political aspects, but also without focusing on political aspects as such. Our objective has been to give an overview that is technical, objective and rounded.
I may add at this point that, in line with Conference Resolution 1/89, a Symposium on the Palestinian Agricultural Sector took place in Rome from 9 to 11 October last. It was attended by consultants and experts selected from the Occupied Palestinian Territories of the West Bank and Gaza in their personal, technical capacity, and also by representatives of the UN Office of Political and General Assembly Affairs (Division for Palestinian Rights), UNDP, UNCTAD, the International Trade Centre, IFAD, WFP, UNRWA, ESCWA, the League of Arab States, the Al-Qudds Open University and the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as by FAO technical staff.
Papers were presented on the current situation of the agricultural sector, on present agricultural policies and their impact on agricultural development in the territories, and on institutional support for agricultural development. A full and constructive discussion took place in the Symposium, which identified a series of measures necessary to improve agricultural development in the territories. I would say that there is a full convergence between the conclusions of the Symposium and the findings of the mission. The proceedings of the Symposium will be published in due course.
I would like now to give a highly condensed summary of the central findings of the mission. This, I hope, will assist the Commission to consider our suggested approach to possible technical interventions by FAO. The full list of possible interventions is contained in paragraph 12 of C 91/10.
Quite apart from the difficult political and institutional context in which they live, the Palestinian farmers face a number of very severe problems indeed.
The most extreme difficulties are found in the Gaza Strip. Citrus production has long been the keystone of Gazan agriculture. Water shortages, and the increasing salinization of wells, threaten the physical ability of the citrus sub-sector to continue producing. At the same time, weak international markets and falling prices threaten the economic ability of the Gazan producers even to cover their costs. Our most urgent recommendation is for a detailed study of the options for citrus producers in the Gaza Strip.
Biological problems are a major threat to another very important sub-sector: grape production in the West Bank. Phylloxera, which devastated almost all European vineyards in the nineteenth century, is a serious and immediate threat. In the principal producing area, around Hebron, only 5 percent of the vines have been replanted with phylloxera-resistant root stocks.
The largest crop area in the West Bank is under olives. Here again, there are both physical and economic problems. The physical problem relates to the enormous swings in yield between one year and another. The economic
problem derives from the weakness of international markets, combined with relatively high production costs in the West Bank.
Markets are the most immediate problem facing many agricultural sub-sectors, including vegetables. Traditional markets in the Gulf area are difficult or even impossible of access as a result of the closing of frontiers during the Gulf war. Sales to Eastern Europe have declined with the mounting economic difficulties of the region. Access to the highly protected Israeli market is extremely limited. The European Community has made a very promising trade agreement governing access by Palestinian products to Western Europe, but the quantities actually traded are still far short of the objective.
The one sub-sector that has been doing relatively well is livestock production for the domestic market. This has been stimulated by Intifada, and accounts for about half the value of agricultural GDP in the West Bank, and some 30 percent in the Gaza Strip. Among our suggestions, I would particularly emphasize the idea of developing the use of agricultural by-products for animal feed.
The three most emotive, controversial and important areas dealt with in our report are probably water problems, land issues, and institutions. I shall not attempt to summarize these complex groups of problems, but would like simply to draw attention to one or two of our suggestions.
With regard to water we feel, rightly or wrongly, that a study of the long-term water problems of West Bank and Gazan agriculture could clarify some issues in the interest of all parties. On the land problem, we urge an examination of the possibilities of strengthening rainfed production afforestation and range management. In the domain of institutions, we were struck by the need for strengthening in a number of areas. I would cite specifically agricultural research and extension, as well as education and training. We would also advocate an advisory service on farm management and investment, and the development of a monitoring system for programmes and projects.
We have set out a small number of other proposals regarding fisheries, agro-industries, promoting the role of women, and protecting the environment, all of which I hope are self-explanatory.
Mr Chairman, it only remains for me to say something about follow-up. In the view of the mission members, the most useful thing we could do was to identify areas in which FAO, or the international community in general, could provide practical support of genuine value in the context of Palestinian agriculture. The list of our recommendations may appear long, but we felt we should cover all sub-sectors of Palestinian agriculture. Furthermore, I would point out that some of our recommendations are quite simple in scope, although others are more complex. We felt we could not reasonably undertake project identification or formulation in the technical sense. This would be the next stage following our mission.
Apart from the study of citrus in Ghaza, which we saw as especially urgent, we have not suggested priorities. These should emerge in the course of further discussions with all parties concerned, including potential donors. The Organization has no significant amount of funds available for these activities within its own resources. Consequently, we shall be almost
entirely dependent on extra-budgetary funding for activities to be carried out by FAO. I hope that our recommendations will be seriously considered by all donors interested in Palestinian agriculture, irrespective of whether they wish to work through FAO or prefer to use other channels. The main thing, surely, is that the work should get done. Whether it is done by FAO or someone else is quite secondary, as long as it is done well.
Internally, I suggest that we shall have no particular problems in handling the follow-up. At Headquarters, Mr Cortas could be the focal point, working in close cooperation with DDF and the technical departments. We also have some technical capacity in the Regional Office for the Near East and in our Joint Agriculture Division with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. Particular skills that may be available in any of these offices could be drawn upon as necessary, subject to proper planning. We would work in the closest cooperation with the UNDP Office in Jerusalem.
Mr Chairman, in paragraph 14 of document C 91/10 the Conference is invited to express itself on the suggested approach to possible technical interventions by FAO. If the approach is acceptable, the Conference may wish to invite the Director-General to provide technical assistance along the lines proposed and to bring funding needs to the attention of potential donors. We look forward to hearing the reactions of the Commission.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic) I would like to thank Mr Walton for that introduction. This was a very comprehensive introduction dealing with various points and I do not think there are any comments that we need to make on the introduction itself. I think it would be a good idea now to hear the comments of representatives of various countries in order to give the Commission some guidance with respect to future activities of the Organization in favour of farmers in the West Bank and Ghaza. Might I ask who would like to take the floor on this matter? I give the floor to the Representative of Yemen.
Anwar M. KHALED (Yemen) (Original language Arabic): Thank you, Mr Chairman. I do go along with what was said with respect to the clear and comprehensive nature of Mr Walton's introduction. At the same time the introduction was a very concise one. Might I now make a statement on behalf of the group of Arab States on the implementation of Resolution 189: Provision of Technical Assistance to the Palestinian People.
The Group of Arab States, members of FAO and the delegation of Palestine had a meeting on 13 November to review the Director-General's report contained in document C 91/10. I wish on behalf of the group of Arab States and the representatives of the Palestinian people to express first of all our thanks and appreciation to the Member Nations which voted in favour of the Resolution for providing technical assistance to the Palestinian people adopted by the 25th FAO Conference, thus upholding international legitimacy by implementing United Nations resolutions and assisting the Palestinian people in accordance with the Geneva Conventions that provide for the protection of peoples under occupation.
We also thank them for their deep understanding of the tragedy and the economic and social suffering of the Palestinian people who have been living under occupation for more than 25 years. The Arab Group also wishes
to thank the Director-General for his efficient and effective implementation of the Resolution on the provision of technical assistance to the Palestinian people, particularly through the fielding of the mission and the organization of the Symposium. His choice of the experts charged with the implementation of the various provisions of that Resolution has been most appropriate as reflected in the outcome and conclusions of the above-mentioned Symposium and Mission.
The Symposium on the Palestinian agricultural sector has achieved its objectives, namely :
1. To prepare three working papers analyzing the present situation of the agricultural sector in the occupied Palestinian sector, highlighting problems and constraints as well as solutions, potentials and opportunities and ways and means to utilize them in order that the Palestinian agricultural sector may play its role in the economic and social development of the Palestinian people.
2. To invite agricultural specialists from occupied territories with practical experience with the various aspects of the Palestinian agriculture in order to enrich the symposium with their expert knowledge.
3. To invite international organizations sponsoring programmes to support agriculture in the occupied Palestinian territories, such as UNDP, UNCTAD, WFP, UNRWA, ESCWA, to enlighten the symposium on the problems, needs and potentials of the Palestinian agricultural sector and the nature of ongoing external programmes with a view to ensuring more effective coordination of the actions taken by the various agencies.
4. To make practical recommendations for solving the problems and making use of the potentials of the Palestinian agricultural sector, thus making it possible, together with the conclusions of the symposium, to compile a kind of guide to the programmes, projects, policies and measures needed to develop that sector.
As regards the Mission sent to study and evaluate the situation of the agricultural sector in the occupied Palestinian territories, we feel duty-bound to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Head of that Mission, Mr Declan Walton, former Deputy Director-General of FAO, and its members, Dr Adel Cortas, Assistant to the ADG, Economic and Social Policy Department, and Dr René Branckaert, Livestock Production Officer, Animal Production and Health Division, for the efficient and able manner in which they carried out their task in an area that suffers not only from the typical problems of Third World development, but also from a military occupation that has continued for more than 25 years.
The Mission has managed to evaluate the situation of Palestinian agriculture and was able to identify with a high degree of accuracy, problems and constraints as well as possibilities for development and technical interventions and assistance that could be provided by FAO to improve the lot of farmers.
The points underlined by that mission may be summarized as follows:
1. The Palestinian agricultural sector is confronted with serious problems that need to be tackled through urgent measures. These include irrigation water salinity, persistent shortage of water for irrigation by Palestinian farmers, widespread infestation by a number of insects and diseases that now threaten the production of major crops on which farmers depend for their living, a worsening of the problem of soil erosion as farmers are unable, because of their material conditions, to take the necessary preventive measures, and the deterioration of irrigation projects because of the inability of farmers to ensure maintenance and to replace irrigation pumps and equipment.
2. Deteriorating levels of essential agricultural services in the areas of production and marketing particularly for small farmers, as well as in the fields of research, extension, technology transfer, training and marketing services, including domestic and external marketing intelligence and the services pertaining to grading, packaging, transport, storage and processing.
3. A lack of active national institutions in Palestinian territories for agricultural planning and guidance and the supervision of agricultural development projects and the inability of existing grass-roots organizations, such as cooperatives farmers unions and development associations to perform such tasks for multiple and various reasons.
4. An acute shortage of agricultural credit facilities and inability of the majority of farmers, especially small farmers, to obtain the necessary funding in the form of seasonal operating loans or medium-and long-term lending for investment.
5. The promising areas for investment in the various sectors do not receive adequate attention in terms of economic and technical feasibility studies, and in terms of execution regarding, for instance, the use of plant and animal farm residues as feed, farm input manufacturing and aquaculture.
6. It is against the background of these realities and deteriorating conditions of the Palestinian agricultural sector that the group of Arabic States considers it necessary that FAO in cooperation with UNDP and other international institutions, allocate adequate resources and take immediate action to implement the recommendations of the mission, particularly in the following priority areas.
1. Investigating the problem of irrigation waters in the occupied Palestinian territories with a view to formulating a comprehensive strategy to check the depletion of water resources and the deterioration of water quality and to develop additional sources of water to ensure the sustainability of the irrigated farming sector which represents an important source of agriculture agricultural income and employment in the West Bank and Gaza and to design programmes and projects for that purpose.
2. Investigating the present deteriorating situation of citrus production in Gaza as a result of increased water salinity and decreased water availability for agriculture, and formulating
specific practical recommendations and projects to solve this problem.
3. Preparing a comprehensive study on the building of national Palestinian agricultural institutions in the West Bank and Gaza, particularly in the areas of integrated agricultural development planning, agricultural credit and marketing, all of which currently suffer from serious shortages.
4. FAO should prepare detailed studies on the issues highlighted in the Mission's report concerning the control of pests and diseases threatening key crops, protecting soil from erosion, using animal and plant by-products as feed, and maintenance and repair of pumps and farm equipment and measures and arrangements to develop natural grazing lands.
While reiterating its thanks to FAO for the actions already taken, the Arab Group should like to see practical measures initiated to implement the recommendations of the mission and the symposium, and to build on the major efforts made by FAO in implementing the resolution on the provision of technical assistance to the Palestinian people, and attaining the objectives of that resolution, namely promoting agricultural development in the occupied Palestinian territories, and improving the situation of farmers, especially small farmers, who make up the great majority of Palestinian farmers.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I would like to thank the representative of Yemen for his comprehensive and very clear statement which sets out priorities for the Organization to move towards implementation of the resolution on provision of technical assistance to the Palestinian people. I would now give the floor to Angola.
Kiala KIA MATEVA (Angola) : Je voudrais, au nom de la délégation angolaise, remercier Monsieur Walton pour la présentation du document C 91/10. Nulle autre personne mieux que lui ne saurait présenter ce rapport. Il a vécu pendant une quinzaine de jours la différence entre les territoires israéliens et palestiniens, les difficultés des Palestiniens et leurs espoirs après le passage de la mission.
Les yeux de ces Palestiniens sont tournés vers le monde et attendent beaucoup de cette Conférence.
Comme sollicité dans la Résolution 1/89 de la vingt-cinquième session de la Conférence de la FAO en 1989, le Directeur général a envoyé une mission chargée d'étudier et d'évaluer la situation du secteur agricole dans le territoire palestinien occupé. Cette mission s'est déroulée du 23 août au 6 septembre 1991, conduite par M. Declan J. Walton, après un échange de correspondance entre la FAO et l'Etat israélien.
Le document C 91/10 nous présente la situation réelle qui existe dans ces territoires. Nous ne pouvons que féliciter et remercier d'une part la
mission pour le travail accompli et d'autre part le Secrétariat pour le document qui nous a été présenté.
Compte tenu des résultats positifs que la communauté internationale attend de la Conférence de paix sur le Moyen-Orient, la délégation angolaise qui joint sa voix à d'autres demande à Israël d'abandonner les territoires qui ne lui appartiennent pas et sa politique de colonisation.
Tout au long du rapport la mission a formulé un certain nombre de propositions réalistes et que je ne voudrais pas citer ici mais que la délégation angolaise ne fait qu'appuyer.
Grâce à l'expérience accumulée pendant plus de quatre décennies, la FAO est le chef de file des institutions du système des Nations Unies qui peut accorder l'assistance technique et réaliser des projets agricoles pour essayer de permettre à ces territoires de récupérer le retard qu'ils ont connu et de résoudre les problèmes de l'agriculture auxquels ils sont confrontés.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabie): I thank the representative of Angola for his statement, and I hope speakers taking the floor will concentrate solely on the subject dealt with in our document. This is a technical matter, perfectly technical matter, and the political aspects should be discussed in other fora and not in this Commission.
I would now give the floor to the representative of Cuba.
Sra. Grafila SOTO CARRERO (Cuba): Muchas gracias señor Presidente. La delegación de Cuba apoyó en el 25Ω periodo de sesiones de la Conferencia el hecho de que la FAO enviase una misión que evaluara la situación agrícola en los territorios palestinos ocupados y ha seguido con interés las acciones que ha realizado la FAO en cumplimiento de esa solicitud hecha al Director General y contenida en la Resolución 1/89.
En tal sentido, mi delegación ha prestado especial atención al informe sobre el sector agrícola palestino que se basa en los resultados de la misión enviada por el Director General y que fue presidida por el Sr. Walton, que se contiene en el documento C 91/10.
Señor Presidente, por lo expresado en el citado informe, hemos entendido que la situación agrícola y alimentaria en los territorios palestinos ocupados es sumamente difícil y desafortunadamente no se han visto ahora cambios positivos inmediatos. Si bien el informe nos da a entender que existe en esos territorios un potencial considerable de desarrollo agrícola, éste sólo podría materializarse si se encuentran soluciones a los problemas de mercados y el de las limitaciones del acceso a los recursos de tierras y aguas que impone la ocupación y que se contienen en el propio documento.
Consideramos que la labor de la FAO recientemente ha comenzado con las acciones hasta ahora desplegadas. Hacen falta acciones concretas que se deriven directamente de lo planteado en el estudio que hoy se nos presenta.
La solución del problema del agua y su salinidad es indispensable para garantizar el desarrollo de la agricultura y la vida en esos territorios, y nos parece que en estos aspectos la FAO pudiera jugar un rol fundamental.
También es necesario incrementar las acciones de extensión, enseñanza y capacitación agricola, y como un aspecto fundamental es imprescindible aumentar el crédito agricola.
También la delegación de Cuba considera un paso importantísimo el hecho de que se promueva, estimule y apoye la incorporación de la mujer palestina a la agricultura y al desarrollo rural.
Para finalizar, señor Presidente, la delegación de Cuba apoya las posibles intervenciones técnicas de la FAO para el desarrollo agrícola y social del pueblo palestino. Quisiera que se analizara la posibilidad de incrementar el sistema de crédito y también los fondos extrapresupuestarios para el desarrollo de la agricultura palestina.
Frederik C. PRILLEVITZ (Netherlands): Thank you Mr Chairman. I am speaking on behalf of the European Community and its Member States. The nature of my intervention will be very general due to the fact that document C 91/10 was received in the capitals of the Twelve only recently.
Document C 91/10 gives an important insight into the present situation of the agricultural sector in the occupied Palestine territories. Therefore we welcome the document as an appropriate technical input in order to identify the various bottlenecks and structural problems of the agricultural sector in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The proceedings of the symposium that FAO organized from 9 to 11 October 1991 with the participation of several UN agencies, funds and programmes, would also provide valuable additional information concerning this issue. Thus we are looking forward to receiving the proceedings of this symposium.
Mr Chairman, now I would like to make a few brief remarks about the interesting findings of the mission sent by the Director-General to Israel and the territories. The mission report provides a wealth of technical information on the Palestine agricultural sector that shows us that there is a need for further research on a number of topics given the complexity of the problems. We agree with FAO that political problems of the region are certainly not within the competence of FAO. That is why we welcome the approach FAO has followed in trying to achieve a technical objective and rounded account of the agricultural situation.
Statements in paras 119 and 120 on the direct access of agricultural produce of the territories to the European Community on Most Favoured Nation terms are correct. We also believe that this arrangement is excellent and could bring great advantages to these territories' exporters. We do realize, however, that in view of the constraints described in the report it will indeed be very difficult for exporters in the region to compete with other existing exporters to the European Community. Furthermore, the document makes careful analysis and in-depth study so that a sound judgement on possible solutions for the agricultural problems of this complex region can be formed. We take notice with great interest of the suggestions for possible FAO interventions in the future for several
valuable contributions to the development of the agricultural sector of this region.
Mr Chairman, technical and political problems in the region concerned are certainly interwoven, as the mission reports so adequately analyse. I would like to remind you, Mr Chairman, that the Director-General quoted the Chinese proverb in his opening speech "one should walk on both legs". This applies very well to FAO's role in combining theoretical work with the practical work of the field programme.
Finally, Mr Chairman, I would like to express my appreciation to all participants, the Israelis as well as the Palestinians, for their cooperation with the FAO mission, thus enabling them to write this report. I would furthermore encourage all parties to continue this cooperative attitude towards FAO so as to bring about fruitful technical assistance to the Palestinian people.
Thank you Mr Chairman.
Mohd. Fadzil AKRAM (Malaysia): First of all, the Malaysian delegation would like to thank and congratulate FAO, specifically Mr Walton and his mission, for the very successful study done and satisfactory report prepared as contained in document C 91/10. This comprehensive report gives us a clear picture on the agricultural situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Malaysian delegation fully supports any efforts by FAO to assist Palestinian farmers in this territory as listed on pages C34-C35 of the document. The Malaysian delegation supports the mission's opinion to take further action on the areas listed including the possibility of programme funding through UNDP particularly. Thank you Mr Chairman.
Mian Riaz SAMEE (Pakistan) : The delegation of Pakistan would like to compliment the FAO and the mission for an excellent report submitted by them in consequence of the decision of the 25th Conference.
Sir, the just and deserving economic needs and rights of the Palestinian people require recognition, sympathy and support. The basic needs of the Palestinian people which are proposed to be met in the Technical Assistance Report are deserving of adoption.
The Pakistan delegation supports the mission's findings and recommendations as summarized in paras 180-183 of the report presented by them.
Arising from para 183 of the report, Pakistan also proposes that this Commission recommend to the Conference the provision of necessary funds for the implementation of this Technical Assistance Programme.
Mahmoud Ahmed Samir SAMY (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): Mr Chairman, as I am taking the floor for the first time in this Commission, I would like to congratulate you on your election to the Chair. Mr Chairman, the thanks which we would like to express to the Secretariat on the preparation of this document C 91/10 do not come under the traditional thanks we
express to the Secretariat on the quality of documents, but it is a very special, exceptional one because of the worth and importance of this document. This document in fact is excellent and is a result of great efforts reflected in the big quantity and high level information extremely supplied therein.
The reading of the document shows that the West Bank and Gaza are experiencing serious and urgent problems in agriculture, so, Sir, without going into details as to the direct or indirect reasons which caused this worrying situation, I would like to say that this document has very precisely defined the problems and identified the key factors which could help solve this serious situation.
The document has also outlined the means which will help put an end to the worsening agricultural situation and improve, therefore, the farmers' situation. I think that the factual and objective nature of the document makes it possible for us to have a very clear idea of the present situation in that region. Our view of the situation will enable us, no doubt, to predict the future and choose the best means of solving the problems and overcoming obstacles in order to achieve a better future for agriculture in the region. This will have an effect on the present economic situation where agriculture constitutes 32 percent of GNP in the West Bank and 28 percent in Gaza, as is mentioned in the document.
I should also like to refer to paragraph 28 of the document which says that if the current obstacles had not existed, greater agriculture development would have been possible because of the very considerable potential of these territories.
Among the problems covered in the document we should like to state that the problem of water resources is something on which we should dwell because, apart from the fact that the agricultural sector uses two-thirds of the total water consumption, the level of water consumption will have an effect not only on the agricultural sector but on other human activities, and also not only on the future of the region but also that of neighbouring countries and regions. We consider that the problem of water resources is the first priority which has to be covered in the interests of all.
The very complex situation in the region concerning the distribution of water resources, as is noted in paragraphs 56, 88 and 94, requires urgent solutions to improve the use of water and to increase the volume available. We must say here that the proposals made in the report on a future study of water requirements for agriculture in the region and the need to apply advanced technology for the use of water (para 98), the use of new methods for using saline water for agriculture (para 86), could be extremely helpful proposals for these regions.
One of the points which is made very clear in the document concerns the role played by a certain number of organizations and specialized agencies, and by the EEC which is playing a pioneering role in assistance to the occupied Palestinian territories.
Another point in the document concerns its complementarity. It in fact covers all aspects of agricultural activity and related activities. This description of the agricultural sector has covered the problems, the most
urgent ones and others, which need short-term and long-term plans, i.e. technical interventions by FAO (paragraphs 182 and 183).
We noted that, given the very large number of problems experienced by the region, we shall have to set an order of priority in consultation with the populations of the occupied territories and related institutions in order to prepare a list of priorities and projects which could improve the agricultural situation in the region. We hope that FAO will join all organizations and specialized agencies which are working and active in the occupied territories and which, through their technical potentiality and projects, can improve the situation for agriculture in the region. We hope that this very valuable study will be supplemented by such projects in the interests of farmers in the occupied territories.
We are confident that with considerable efforts and more fairness, these territories will have a better chance of experiencing a happier future and a better tomorrow full of hope.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic) : I should like to thank the delegate of Egypt for his statement which was moderate and poetic at the same time.
Ms Melinda KIMBLE (United States of America) : The United States delegation welcomes completion of this study, and compliments the FAO Secretariat on the technical quality of document C 91/10. We also wish to recognize the effective and constructive cooperation of all the many UN agencies involved, including FAO, and the concerned parties, Israelis and Palestinians, who made the technical study possible.
At the same time, we should appreciate more information on how such an ambitious programme of work would be funded and implemented. Such implementation will require further research and review, although we note the constructive introductory comments of the Secretariat in this regard.
We also welcome the Secretariat's intent to reinforce its close cooperation with UNDP in this effort. We understand that UNDP may already have some resources allocated for such purposes.
The United States delegation further notes that the general content of this report is entirely consistent with USG policy.
Raphaël RABE (Madagascar): M. le Président, ma délégation voudrait elle aussi féliciter M. Walton pour la présentation très claire de ce sujet important de notre ordre du jour.
Je me permettrai d'être bref, M. le Président, car ma délégation appuie les déclarations et propositions faites par les délégations du Yemen, de l'Angola, de Cuba, du Pakistan, et de l'Egypte.
Je voudrais, M. le Président, apprécier vivement le fait que la mission a rencontré les représentants des coopératives et associations d'agriculteurs de la Zone.
Je pense à ce sujet, M. le Président, (et en cela je partage l'avis du délégué de l'Egypte) que justement il faudra tenir dûment compte des souhaits de ces agriculteurs, quant aux opérations et actions techniques à promouvoir dans le futur, et bien entendu la priorité à y accorder.
Enfin, M. le Président, ma délégation souhaite que les problèmes soulevés aux paragraphes 100 à 110 du document trouvent des solutions au plus vite, car ils constituent sans nul doute des goulets d'étranglement très sérieux.
Je vous remercie.
Gamal Mohd. AHMED (Sudan) (Original language Arabic): Mr Chairman, as I am taking the floor for the first time in this Commission, it is an honour to have the opportunity to congratulate you on your election to the Chairmanship of this meeting.
My delegation would first of all like to thank and congratulate FAO and the Director-General for having thus responded to the wishes expressed by the Twenty-sixth Conference of the FAO concerning the need to help the Palestinian people. We should also like to pay tribute to document C 91/10 which is a real scientific study and very full report of the situation of food and agriculture in the occupied territories. We should like to thank Mr Declan Walton for doing this work. We should also like to thank FAO for the technical actions it intends to carry out in this sector.
The Conference on the Agricultural Sector in Palestine which was held in Rome in October 1991 made it possible to have a great deal more very interesting information which will be of help to FAO in the technical activities planned for the Palestinian people in this important sector. We also consider that these actions should take into account the very complex problems of the use of water and also the management of the territories, the role of women and ecological problems.
We should also like to express our support for FAO and the Director-General concerning the efforts which he wishes to deploy in order to help the Palestinian farmers find a solution to the worsening situation concerning food in this area. This type of work requires the necessary resources in order for them to be properly carried out.
P. Natigor SIAGIAN (Indonesia): I wish to start my intervention by expressing our thanks to the Secretariat: for the preparation of document C 91/10 and for the introductory remarks.
We welcome the information contained in the document. We appreciate the Director-General's efforts in fulfilling Resolution 1/89 and the directive of the Ninety-eighth Session of the Council. When my delegation expressed support for the approval of Resolution 1/89 in 1989 it was done with full solidarity and sympathy to the situation in Palestine.
It is our earnest hope that FAO will, step by step, make the utmost efforts to help the farmers in Palestine to improve and enhance agricultural development activities. Today the Director-General has sent his report to
us on the symposium held in Rome in October 1991. We would appreciate receiving the report of the proceedings of the symposium so that we can have a complete picture of the requests and suggestions of the participants on this important agenda item. We would like to express our full support for possible follow-up action on these important activities based on the available report of this mission as well as the results of the symposium. We welcome the specific activities the Secretariat may advise this Conference of and we wish to assure the Conference that we will cooperate with the FAO in their implementation as per paragraph 183 of the mission report. We, therefore, support the allocation of funds for activities and support the close cooperation of FAO and UNDP for the provision of sufficient funds to smoothly implement the agreed activities.
Ms Tzipora RIMON (Israel): My delegation would first of all like to thank Mr Walton for his introduction. Further to a request by the Director-General of FAO, the Government of Israel agreed in July of this year to the visit of his representatives to study the situation of the agricultural sector in the territories of Judea and Sumerian Gaza. The Israeli authorities extended to the Mission the assistance required both for the arrangements prior to the visit and during the same. Senior officers and officials from different ministries and institutions in Israel met with the representatives and discussed openly the various aspects involved.
My delegation would like to confine itself to general remarks concerning the report. As the report in its Appendix C dealt at some length with the question of water users in agriculture, I shall refer mainly to this matter. In semi-arid areas suffering from increasing desertification, as is the case in many parts of the Middle East, water cannot be regarded as a God-given resource which one might use carelessly. Shortage of water in the region has forced us to seek new methods and techniques of reducing water consumption and to change to more water-efficient crops. As we approach the end of the twentieth century neither water nor land can be considered fixed resources. However, if managed intelligently and with the application of modern technologies, they may yield a vastly increased and diversified product. Land and water should be at the head of our priorities for regional cooperation and the guarantee of a better future; joint desalination projects, recycling of waste water and more efficient use of water for irrigation can play a central role in the region.
The Report of the Director-General contains a list of suggestions for possible technical intervention by FAO. The Civil Administration favours this activity and in fact is encouraging technical assistance and interventions by international organizations in the territories with good coordination in order to avoid overlapping, duplication or waste of resources, it is the hope of my delegation that funds for carrying out the various suggestions mentioned will be allocated.
Chrysanthos LOIZIDES (Cyprus): I wish very briefly to express the support of my delegation for FAO activities providing technical and advisory assistance to the Palestinian people. We are in full agreement with and support the suggestions of the FAO mission as described in paragraphs 100 to 110 in document C 91/10. In view of the urgency of certain problems,
plant protection issues and water management, we believe that the follow-up action by FAO should be intensified in order to prevent any further damage to natural resources.
Mokhtar BOUANANI (Maroc) (Langue originale arabe): M. le Président, j'essaierai d'être aussi bref que possible. M. le Président, la délégation du Maroc a pris connaissance des résultats de la mission de la FAO à l'issue de la visite qu'elle a rendu aux territoires palestiniens occupés. La délégation marocaine aimerait, en cette occasion, exprimer ses remerciements à M. le Directeur Général de la FAO pour l'application de la résolution concernant l'assistance au peuple palestinien.
Nous aimerions également remercier tous les membres de la mission pour le travail qu'elle a accompli et les propositions et conclusions qu'elle a avancé.
M. le Président, nous soutenons ce qu'a dit M. le chef de la délégation yemenite à ce propos et surtout en ce qui concerne les priorités à considérer, dont le problème de l'eau.
M. le Président, il nous faut, ceci étant, nous assurer des moyens de financer le programme proposé que nous soutenons totalement et qui doit être appliqué aussi rapidement que possible.
En cette occasion, j'aimerais au nom de la délégation du Maroc demander que ce programme de travail proposé soit inclus dans le budget de l'Organisation, ce budget que nous sommes en train de discuter, afin que son financement et son exécution soient assurés et garantis aussi rapidement que possible.
Merci M. le Président.
Mme Amina BOUDJELTI (Algérie): M. le Président, je ne peux pas ne pas répondre à votre appel de brièveté. Je vais donc être très brève. J'avais préparé une longue intervention pour éclaircir différents points, pour rappeler l'attention sur l'eau dans une région aride, et du fait qu'elle peut tout changer dans cette région. Je m'en abstiendrai ici. Vous me permettrez tout de même et avant tout de vous féliciter pour votre élection et la façon dont vous menez les débats.
Je ne peux m'abstenir également de remercier M. le Directeur général et toute son équipe, la mission, toute les personnes qui y ont participé, pour ce qu'ils ont fait, pour ce qu'ils proposent, pour tous leurs efforts.
Je voudrais rappeler que l'Algérie, en tant que pays arabe, non seulement s'associe, mais a été à l'origine de la déclaration du représentant du Yemen, qu'elle soutient également toutes les déclarations qui ont été faites en faveur de l'application de la Résolution 1/89, et qu'elle soutient plus particulièrement les déclarations des représentants malgaches en ce qui concerne les paragraphes 100 à 110 et les propositions du représentant de l'Angola.
Morad Ali ARDESHIRI (Iran, Islamic Republic of): As it is the first time I am taking the floor in this Commission, on behalf of my delegation and myself I would like to express my very warm congratulations to you on your election to the Chair of Commission I of our Conference. I would also like to thank the Secretariat for the highly organized and informative document concerning technical assistance to the Palestinian people.
On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I would like to inform you and all distinguished delegations of the Member Nations of FAO that after the victory of the Islamic revolution in our country in 1979, support and assistance to the Palestinian people was one of the main foreign policies of our revolution. Following that, in 1990 last year, the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran approved a law concerning assistance to the Palestinian people. Accordingly, support and assistance to the Palestinian Muslim people is one of the legal mandates of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hence our delegation is very happy to see this item being considered in the Agenda of Commission I of our Conference.
As regards Item 6.3, our present discussion, technical assistance to the Palestinian people, our delegation has examined the document concerned very carefully. We would like to support the project mentioned in paragraph 182, and in order to achieve effective and efficient assistance to the Palestinian people, the advance study which has been mentioned in paragraph 183 is fully supported.
Ale NDIAYE (Sénégal): Puisque je viens de prendre la parole au niveau de la Commission I, je voudrais, M. le Président, vous adresser mes félicitations les plus chaleureuses.
Ces remerciements et ces félicitations s'adressent également au Secrétariat qui a produit un travail de très haute qualité. Nous avons lu avec beaucoup d'attention le document C 91/10 portant rapport du Directeur général sur l'application de la Résolution 1/89, Assistance technique au peuple palestinien.
La délégation sénégalaise approuve entièrement les conclusions contenues dans ce rapport et estime que les moyens les plus adéquats devraient être rapidement dégagés pour sa mise en oeuvre.
Ma délégation appuie particulièrement les recommandations de la Commission qui concernent la pêche et la forestation. Le projet d'aquaculture doit être encouragé car il contribue sans aucun doute à combler l'insuffisance de l'agriculture et à assurer l'autosuffisance alimentaire de la zone.
Le reboisement et la forestation doivent également retenir l'attention, quel que soit le statut foncier en vigueur dans les territoires palestiniens occupés, car ils constituent des actions qui sous-tendent et complètent l'agriculture.
Amor BEN ROMDHANE (Tunisie) (Langue originale arabe): M. le Président, la délégation tunisienne voudrait exprimer sa satisfaction de vous voir à la présidence de cette Commission. C'est également avec une profonde
satisfaction que nous désirons remercier le Secrétariat pour toutes les modalités qu'il a adoptées concernant l'application de la résolution relative à l'assistance technique à fournir aux agriculteurs palestiniens.
Nous appuyons également l'intervention de Messieurs les Ambassadeurs du Yémen et du Pakistan ainsi que l'intervention des honorables délégués de l'Angola et du Maroc.
Nous aimerions exprimer notre appréciation pour le rapport contenu dans le document C 91/10 et nous présentons nos remerciements à Monsieur le Directeur général, à M. Walton et à ses adjoints. Nous considérons que ce rapport est extrêmement positif et constructif.
A cette occasion nous aimerions lancer un appel à l'Organisation pour qu'elle poursuive l'application des recommandations formulées par la mission envoyée dans les territoires occupés pour évaluer la situation du secteur agricole et de l'alimentation dans cette région. Nous espérons que tous les efforts s'uniront en vue de prendre les mesures pratiques susceptibles de permettre l'exécution des recommandations de cette mission ainsi que des recommandations du séminaire qui s'est tenu au mois d'octobre à ce sujet. C'est ainsi que le secteur de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation pourra jouer le rôle qui lui est dévolu afin d'améliorer le niveau de vie des citoyens palestiniens et d'alléger la conjoncture cruelle que ceux-ci vivent quotidiennement du fait de l'occupation.
En conclusion, permettez-moi d'appuyer la proposition de Monsieur le délégué du Maroc concernant la nécessité de veiller à ce que toutes les recommandations de ce Programme puissent être financées dans le cadre du budget ordinaire de l'Organisation et afin qu'elles fassent l'objet d'une rubrique de ce budget.
Tadeusz STROJWAS (Poland): Thank you very much. Very briefly, Mr Chairman, the delegation of Poland wishes to congratulate the Secretariat for the document reference C 91/10, and particularly the FAO mission which prepared an excellent report attached to the same document. We wish particularly to refer to those paragraphs of the report which elaborate on the role of international organizations, and precisely on the role of the United Nations Development Programme, which has had a programme of assistance to the Palestinian people since 1980. It was particularly encouraging to read that the delivery of assistance in 1990 came to almost US$12 million, and like many other delegations we welcome the constructive cooperation of the UN agencies in the said programme and FAO active presence in its presentation.
Mousa SAMMAN (Observer for Palestine Liberation Organization) Thank you Mr Chairman. It is an honour for me on behalf of the Palestinian delegation to express our thanks to those countries which voted in favour of the Resolution on Technical Assistance to the Palestinian People adopted at the last session of the Conference in 1989. My particular thanks go to the countries of the Third World, of Asia, Africa and Latin America, with whom we have a common heritage of struggle against foreign occupation and subordination.
My thanks go as well to the countries of the EEC, Sweden and Japan, for the humanitarian aid and development assistance given to our people under occupation, and for their just, equitable and scrupulous positions with respect to the Palestinian cause. I should also like to thank those countries for their support in the implementation of the recommendations and proposals of the mission and the symposium in order to achieve the objectives of Resolution 1/89 with respect to agriculture in the occupied Palestinian territory and the improvement of the situation of farmers in that region.
Once again we can but express our thanks and great esteem for the Director-General of the Organization, Mr Edouard Saouma, his colleagues, the Secretariat and all the experts, and particularly the Chairman and members of the mission who made sustained efforts to learn of the sufferings of the Palestinian farmers. They have achieved excellent results and recommendations.
Mr Chairman, at a time when we are knocking very hard on the door of peace in the Middle East, and thanks to the historic initiative taken by the Palestinian National Council at its meeting in 1988 and reaffirmed in its meeting in September 1991, we do hope that after the Palestinian people took a courageous and historic decision to participate, with the best of wills, in the peace conference, that success will be assured.
The Palestinian people would call upon you to enable the FAO to implement the recommendations and proposals of the mission and the symposium with respect to agricultural development in the occupied territories and the improvement of the situation of farmers in that region. This, not only to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian farmers and to develop a Palestinian agricultural sector, but also in particular at this very critical moment in our history, to facilitate and give greater impetus to the peace process and development cooperation and stability in the Middle East.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): Thank you, representative of PLO, for that statement. Ladies and Gentlemen, that was indeed the last speaker on my list, and I would now like to adjourn.
I will give the floor to the Secretariat when we resume this afternoon, so that the representative of the Secretariat can react to the various statements that were made, for example the statement made by the United States of America. I myself will make a summary of our discussion before adjourning this afternoon. I would like to give the floor to the Secretariat for some announcements.
I would ask you to remain silent just for a few minutes. We will be discussing Item 6.4 this afternoon so that we will be able to conclude our discussion of Agenda Item 6. The delegate of Egypt has asked for the floor.
Yousef Ali Mahmoud HAMDI (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): Thank you, Mr Chairman. I would simply like to propose the following. Could we not extend this morning's session for 10 or 15 minutes so that the Secretariat can answer questions and so that we can conclude our discussion of this particular item? That could be quite useful, particularly since we started a bit late this morning.
CHAIRMAN: Well, you have heard the proposal by the delegate of Egypt. We would like to give the Secretariat some time to prepare a reply properly for this afternoon's session. Now if anyone would like to support the proposal made by the delegate of Egypt we could follow that proposal? I am not sure there is any support; therefore the meeting stands adjourned.
The meeting rose at 12.45 hours.
La séance est levée à 12 h 45.
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.45 horas.
