DIRECTOR-GENERAL: Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates: On Monday, the Conference paid tribute to Dr. Ralph Phillips, who will relinquish the post of Deputy Director-General at the end of the year.
I now wish to put before the Council my proposal to appoint Mr. Edward M. West of the United Kingdom as the new Deputy Director-General of FAO, as from 1 January 1982.
Mr. West needs hardly any introduction. He made his mark in sessions of our Conference and Council as a delegate of the United Kingdom long before he joined us as a staff member, in March 1970. In the period of just over a decade he has served my predecessor and myself in an outstanding manner, first as Director of Programme Formulation and more recently as Assistant Director-General of Programme, Budget and Evaluation. For a period he was also in charge of the Administration and Finance Department.
I do not need to sing Mr. West's praises. He has impressed us all, both the governing bodies and his colleagues, by his quick and thorough grasp of the issues which face world food and agriculture, his quick perception of the goals to be worked for and his pragmatic and determined efforts ,to achieve these. At all times he is sensitive to the diverse view points of every Member Nation and understanding in explaining, fighting for and defending the programmes of his colleagues.
He is, of course, well known to you all as you have had many opportunities of working with him over the years and becoming acquainted with his capabilities.
Having reached a level of distinction in the service of his own government, he has brought a rich heritage to international civil service.
The past six years of his collaboration with me have been exemplary. I can truly say that this is the man I want by my side. His intellectual, moral and human qualities make him eminently worthy for the position I propose for him. He has my full confidence. May I therefore commend to the Council the appointment of Mr. West as Deputy Director-General of FAO.
CHAIRMAN: We have just heard the proposal of the Director-General that he would like to have Mr. Edward West to succeed Dr. Ralph Phillips.
F. PETRELLA (Argentina): El Grupo Latinoamericano me ha conferido el honroso privilegio de respaldar la proposición que acaba de efectuarse en el sentido de designar al Sr. Edward West para el cargo de Subdirector General de FAO.
Lo hacemos con entusiasmo por varias razones: como argentino, porque el Sr. West es ciudadano de un país con el cual la Argentina mantiene intensos y cordiales vínculos; un país del cual los argentinos hemos adquirido tradiciones y recibido un significativo y valioso aporte cultural. Respaldamos, además, al Sr. West porque se ha distinguido al servicio de nuestra Organización con coraje, iniciativas y eficacia; porque está compenetrado con los objetivos de FAO y porque conoce acabadamente el rol y las posibilidades que los mecanismos multilaterales poseen hoy en la escena internacional.
Lo apoyamos porque proviene de una región cuyo aporte, en el más amplio sentido, resulta imprescindible para el normal desenvolvimiento de nuestros objetivos; una región que ha dado personas ilustres a FAO y a los Organismos Internacionales.
Estamos seguros que el Sr. West enriquecerá más aún esta honrosa tradición que el tan dignamente representa.
El Sr. West es además un fino caballero. En el tiempo que llevamos alternando con él hemos podido apreciar sus cualidades de franqueza, humor y sabiduría. Debo expresar que confiamos seguir beneficiándonos con sus opiniones y con sus consejos. La decisión de nominar al Director General Adjunto es una de las más trascendentales que debemos hacer. Encontrar quien pueda ejercer las funciones de Ralph Phillips, que es una leyenda en su propio tiempo, resulta complejo.
El Sr. West deberá, además, complementar a nuestro Director General, asistirle, asesorarlo y reemplazarlo de la manera más directa. Deberá armonizar su personalidad para responder a las obligaciones que le corresponden en el nuevo cargo. Nada de esto resultará fácil; pero deseamos asegurar al Sr. West que al igual que en el pasado en las nuevas tareas podrá contar con nuestras opiniones y nuestro respaldo, tanto en lo funcional como en lo personal. Será un placer hacerlo y también una grata obligación que no nos privaremos de ella.
J. TCHICAYA (Congo): Le départ de M. Phillips a été ressenti par le groupe africain avec une certaine émotion en raison de l'importance du poste qu'il occupe et des liens qu'il avait tissés avec bon nombre d'entre nous et aussi de l'admiration qu'il s'était forgée auprès de nous.
Un ami s'en va, un autre arrive. Nous voulons donc profiter de cette occasion pour vous dire que nous partageons entièrement le choix que vient de faire le Directeur général en la personne de M. West. Nous ne voulons pas présenter M. West, puisque le Directeur général l'a fait avec beaucoup de brio. Nous pensons en effet que M. West, qui a occupé déjà d'importantes fonctions au niveau de la FAO, sera satisfait de la nouvelle tâche qui vient de lui être confiée. Nous lui souhaitons bon courage et nous lui disons qu'il faut compter sur l'appui du groupe africain dans l'accomplissement de sa mission.
B. SHAIB (Nigeria): The decision by the Director-General to recommend the appointment of Mr. Edward West as the Deputy Director-General to replace Dr. Ralph Phillips is a most welcome one.
We in Nigeria, and I particularly, have the greatest respect for Mr. West because I have worked with him personally in this Council and as a Member of the Programme Committee when he took over the Budget and, of course, when I was Chairman of this Council.
When Mr. West was a delegate he filled this room with laughter and wit and good humour and we all enjoyed his approach to the problems that confronted us.
I would like just to tell you an incident which happened which probably many of you here can remember. At one of the Conferences, the UK was one of the Vice-Chairmen, and at that Conference, at one of the sessions the debate got so heated that the Chairman actually left the podium and walked off. I am glad this did not happen to the Chairman, the Minister from Argentina, but this did happen, and Mr. West, who was then representing the United Kingdom, quietly walked up to the podium, took over the Chair, calmed everybody down and work proceeded as usual.
Now, we who have worked with Mr. West in the Programme Committee and in the Council know that he has in fact completely transformed the budgeting system of this Organization from something which nobody could understand to a modern system of accounting, modern system of budgeting which most people can understand, almost everybody can understand, and I think for this he will go down in the annals of the FAO as one of those who contributed greatly to the progress of this Organization.
When I spoke on the podium the other day, I said that Mr. West was one of my examples when I came here and I emulated him, and I am sure that he will continue to be an example to others within the Organization, even to delegates, even though he is no longer a delegate, and that he is a most worthy choice to replace Dr. Ralph Phillips.
I have also noted in the book written by Mr. Phillips about the history of FAO that many of the United Kingdom citizens who have been Deputy Director-General before were knighted and I recommend to the UK delegation that they recommend to the Queen to knight Mr. Edward West.
Mr. Director-General, we support your proposal very much.
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M. ZEIDAN (Liban) (langue originale arabe): M. le Président, je voudrais vous féliciter pour votre élection au poste de Président indépendant de ce Conseil en espérant que les travaux de celui-ci, sous votre autorité, seront couronnés de succès. Nous félicitons également les vice-présidents pour leur élection. Le slogan du jour est que celui qui succède soit aussi bon que celui qui précède.
Au nom de l'ensemble des pays du Proche-Orient, je tiens à remercier le Directeur général pour l'excellent choix qu'il propose. Le Directeur général, en choisissant M. Phillips comme proche collaborateur avait fait le meilleur choix. C'est ainsi qu'aujourd'hui, pour succéder à M. Phillips, il choisit M. West de la même façon brillante. Aujourd'hui nous quitte un monsieur qui est resté un exemple de sincérité et d'intelligence, qui était entré dans cette fonction par la grande porte et qui la quitte aujourd'hui encore plus honoré. Il a brillé lorsqu'il représentait son pays au sein de ce Conseil et nous essayions alors de nous inspirer de sa sagesse, de son éloquence et de sa maturité chaque fois qu'il s'est exprimé devant nous.
Le Directeur général l'avait pressenti pour l'aider dans l'administration de cette Organisation où il a démontré ses grandes capacités de gestion et de direction. Nous l'en remercions.
Monsieur le Président, le temps passe, les hommes passent. Reste cette caravane qui marche toujours de la même façon et voilà que Monsieur West vient aujourd'hui aider à la bonne marche de cette caravane avec un coeur sincère, avec une main tendue toujours vers plus de compréhension et plus d'ouverture vers les autres.
L'Organisation l'a connu comme délégué excellent, puis comme non moins excellent gestionnaire et comme directeur. Le Conseil ainsi que tous les autres organes de l'Organisation lui reconnaissent une grande vision et une grande sagesse. Il sait trouver une situation d'équilibre entre l'efficacité et la souplesse. Il a toujours été un homme de dialogue, d'un dialogue ouvert, subtil et plein d'humour. Il a toujours su renforcer son travail par une grande expérience et démontrant toujours une plus grande volonté, jusqu'à devenir une référence en la matière.
Le Directeur général le récompense en le choisissant comme Directeur général adjoint. Je vous félicite, Monsieur West, et je félicite celui qui vous a choisi faisant, cette fois-ci encore, le meilleur choix.
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M.M. MUKOLWE (Kenya): My delegation is indeed grateful to all previous speakers in favour of the Director-General's proposal of Mr. Edward West; Edward, I may repeat, please, to replace Dr. Ralph Phillips. As for Dr. Phillips, I thank him for a job well done, and I am sure he will not regret it.
As for Mr. West, previous speakers have already given wonderful adjectives, and I do not need to add more adjectives to describe all the qualities that Mr. West has, but from my own experience and my delegation's experience, the intellectual parts of Mr. West, the understanding, the wisdom, the eloquence and personality and above all the humour and wit, as it has been described, are very wonderful attributes that will make this Council and the entire operation of FAO, of course, move forward, and that is what we are here for, and if I may say, the word "cooperation" has already been used, and it is ever used in all our debates, and these are some of the qualities that Mr. West has.
May I say we support entirely the election of Mr. West to take over from this able Dr. Phillips who is leaving us.
G. IJIGU (Ethiopia): The delegation of Socialist Ethiopa wholeheartedly supports the Director-General's proposal that Mr. Edward West be appointed Deputy Director-General. My delegation could have gone into describing the excellent qualities which Mr. West possesses, but since those who spoke before me have done that, I will only reiterate our satisfaction upon this appointment to the post of Deputy Director-General.
M. TRKULJA (Yugoslavia) : I was privileged to be in the Plenary the other day when homage was paid to Dr. Phillips. I privately, of course, expressed my feelings, and I think that while Dr. Phillips is fully aware of the sentiments that I personally and my delegation feel at this particular moment, Ralph Phillips will always be remenbered as a profile of competence and integrity, a man who has deeply imprinted himself in the long history of FAO, a man who has been associated with the Organization in various capacities from the very beginning.
Now we want to support enthusiastically the proposal of the Director-General to appoint another able man of enormous capacities, Mr. Edward West, for the post of Deputy Director-General. Here again, I do not need to be long. I am very glad to continue my cooperation with Edward for some time at least and I am more than positive that it is perhaps one of the best choices the Director-General had before him.
I want to congratulate both the Director-General for his choice and Edward West who will take over from Ralph Phillips from the first of next January.
Ms. R. TIRONA (Philippines): Earlier, the Philippine delegation, as the current Chairman of the Asia Group, had the privilege of congratulating you, Mr. Chairman, as the new Independent Chairman of the FAO Council and to express likewise our sentiment on the retirement of Dr. Ralph Phillips as outgoing Deputy Director-General of FAO, as well as to convey our best wishes to Dr. Bukar Shaib of Nigeria as previous Independent Chairman of the FAO Council.
On this occasion, the Philippine delegation is privileged to offer on behalf of the Asia Group felicitations and congratulations on the proposal of the Director-General to appoint Dr. Edward West as Deputy Director-General of FAO, effective January 1, 1982. The Asia Group is confident that Dr. West will prove himself equal to the task. As he is a distinguished FAO luminary and illustrious son of the United Kingdom, we are confident that he will be able to contribute to the further strengthening of the FAO as a world institution in the field of food and agriculture primarily concerned with the twin global objectives of the elimination of hunger and malnutrition. The Asia Group believes that Dr. West will bring to his new office a wealth of experience and knowledge which will undoubtedly enhance the achievements of the FAO. The Asia Group is happy to welcome Dr. West and to affirm our full support for the realization of the noble objectives of the Organization. We would like to wish Dr. West a meaningful and fruitful assignment as FAO Deputy Director-General.
R.A. SORENSON (United States of America): Earlier this week it was my great honour on behalf of my own country and on behalf of the North American Region to pay tribute to my distinguished countryman, Dr. Ralph Phillips, for the service he rendered to this Organization as its Deputy Director-General, Today again it is my honour on behalf of my country and North America to express our pleasure at the appointment of our friend, Dr. Edward West, as the Deputy Director-General.
A great deal of mention has been made today of Mr. West's vast experience in FAO, his diplomatic skill, his great sense of humour, and his superb sense of tact. I have been a Permanent Representative to FAO during the past two years during which it has been my pleasure to work on the Programme Committee, and I can speak personally of his many skills. I can add also that he is formidable on occasion, but he is magnanimous and gracious, and I consider him a friend. He is from a country which has had its share of problems, like my own, but he is one of our warmest friends, and that epitomizes the relationship we expect to have with Dr. West in his new role.
M. DESSOUKI (Egypt) (original language: Arabic): A few days ago we spoke about a great personality who was leaving us, who has given the Organization the benefit of his long experience. We spoke about Dr. Phillips, the Deputy Director-General, and today we speak about Mr. West with the same esteem, this great personality whose qualities and competence we have been able to appreciate. There can be no doubt that these two great personalities have provided the Director-General with highly valued support and he has been able to choose his Deputy extremely well.
Although we see Mr. Phillips leave with great regret, we now welcome the new Deputy Director-General whose great qualities we know, with the same emotion and the same esteem that we feel for Mr. Phillips. We would like to wish him full success in his new post.
C. MUSZALSKI (Poland): On behalf of the Eastern and socialist countries, I would like to support the proposal of the Director-General to nominate Mr. West as the Deputy Director-General. We know very well Mr. West's qualifications and experience, and therefore we share the opinion that Mr. West will be a very good Deputy Director-General.
Mr. Chairman, allow me once again to express our gratitude and thanks to Dr. Phillips for his work for FAO.
W. A. COCHRANE (New Zealand) : It is a landmark for the Organization, and a very sad moment, to say goodbye to Dr. Ralph Phillips. However, we have been very glad this morning to learn of the fine choice which the Director-General has made for his successor. There have been many eloquent words spoken about Mr. West this morning, and we support them fully.
We are also very impressed to hear the Director-General's full confidence in Mr. West, which is perhaps the best recommendation of all for the nomination for the position. We are sure Mr. West will fully live up to all the words that have been spoken about him this morning.
On behalf of the South-West Pacific Group we fully support the Director-General's suggestion that Mr. West be appointed Deputy Director-General.
K. OULAI (Côte-d'Ivoire): A la suite de tant d'éloges à l'endroit de M. West, vous comprenez que la Côte-d'Ivoire ne peut qu'être brève. Comme les autres orateurs qui nous ont précédés, nous pensons que le choix du Dr. West est bien venu et nous l'appuyons. Nous souhaitons au Dr. West une bonne chance dans ses nouvelles fonctions.
A. CONTE MAROTTA (Italy): First of all, I wish to underline the deep appreciation of my Government for the work done by Mr. Ralph Phillips. I wish him all the best for his future.
I would like also to record the very fine rapport between Mr. Edward West and my Government. Recently Mr. West had a very fruitful meeting with the Italian Parliament to explore all possible means to fight the Third World miseries.
S.P. MUKHERJEE (India): Mr. Chairman,may I say, on behalf of my delegation, that this is an occasion of both happiness and pride, individually and nationally, when you have assumed this office of Chairman of this august body this morning. We wish you a very successful innings.
My delegation extends its felicitations to the three Vice-Chairmen who have been elected.
We are very sad that we shall miss Dr. Phillips from now on. We have great regard for him, and my delegation wishes him a very long and fruitful life. We hope that his association with world organizations in ameliorating the conditions of the poorest will continue with as much vigour as he has shown so far.
My delegation fully endorses and supports the Director-General's choice of Mr. Edward West for this office of Deputy Director-General. Mr. West is known for his vast experience, sympathy for and sensitivity towards the problems of the developing countries. We are sure he will be able to build bridges between the countries. There are differences, but with his competence and professional skill he will be able to orchestrate the symphony of global action and global progress for the elimination of hunger and malnutrition from the face of the earth. Let us hope that during the term of his office we will be able to go very far in achieving that particular goal when, with Dr. Edouard Saouma as Director-General and Mr. Edward West as Deputy Director-General, we are sure that the future of mankind and the future of FAO will be safe in the hands of the two Edwards.
W.A.F. GRABISCH (Germany, Federal Republic of): On behalf of the Western European countries my delegation wishes, regarding the appointment of Mr. West - just to be brief - to echo what has already been stated by the various speakers before me.
In thanking Dr, Phillips for his outstanding services rendered to FAO, we are looking forward now to fruitful cooperation with Mr. West as Deputy Director-General.
K.A. BABIKER (Sudan) (original language Arabic): Mr. Chairman, first of all I would like to tender sincere congratulations from Sudan on your election as Independent Chairman of the FAO Council, and I wish you every success in your new task.
I should also like sincerely to congratulate and to express my very high esteem to Mr. Phillips, wishing him a very happy life.
To Mr. West we would like to offer our congratulations, saying that the Director-General continues to prove to us the quality of his choice. I would like to say how much we feel that today this is a judicious choice. I have heard and learned much of Mr. West's abilities since I have been attending the meetings of FAO; it is nearly ten years now, perhaps even longer, since I have been Permanent Representative of the Sudan. I have once heard it said that Mr. West was a living computer in the financial affairs of this Organization, but I would say he is rather a human being with the capacities of a computer. The Sudanese delegation is very glad to see Mr. West appointed to this post with the same unanimity with which the previous Deputy Director-General was appointed.
C. NTSANE (Lesotho): Mr. Chairman, I wish first to congratulate you on your election to this important position in which you will be guiding the work of the functional arm of the governing body of this Organization. Your task is onerous, and therefore we wish to pledge our full support during the time we are working together. We are thankful for the wisdom of the Director-General in appointing Mr. West as his Deputy. There is no doubt in our minds that there could never be a better combination at this trying time in the most important aspects of world affairs.
We appreciate the kind words of welcome addressed to us new members of this body, and in turn my delegation would like to welcome our contemporaries and wish them godspeed in attempting this unique task of reconciling the world with itself.
Our gratitude goes to the outgoing Chairman of Council for having set the healthy and inspiring mood and tempo for this body as it faces new challenges. In this regard, we pay special tribute to Dr. Ralph Phillips. The new challenges are defined by the new attitudes towards international organizations and international cooperation. We have emerged into a new world in which what were the precious pearls of yesterday - FAO, IFAD and UNDP - are now looked upon as golden rings on the snout of a swine.
The predicament which this Organization and its sisters face is man-made and can only be thwarted by the deeds of men, and those men are sitting right here in this gathering. We implore all to leave no stone unturned by engaging in open, honest and frank talk.
The Director-General and his lieutenants should pluck up courage and render themselves open to constructive criticism and guidance. We in our turn should pluck up courage to accept loyal counsel and service. Plot and counterplot would only lead to total collapse and disruption. It is the responsibility of this body to do justice in the interests and for the sake of humanity, and as we do so we are assured that the lifeblood of this Organization will be with us in the person of the able son of Great Britain, Mr. Edward West.
LIN GAN (China) (original language Chinese): The Chinese delegation would like to add its voice in supporting the proposal made by the Director-General appointing Mr. West as the new Deputy Director-General of FAO. We are confident that Mr. West will surely be worthy of our expectations and will make great contributions to our work.
G. BULA HOYOS (Colombia): No podemos permanecer en silencio porque al Sr. Edward West nos une una larga amistad de más de 15 años, a través de la cual los dos hemos sido colegas en el Consejo y en el Comité del Programa como representantes del Reino Unido y de Colombia. La flexibilidad y las dotes diplomáticas que todos reconocemos en el Sr. West, sin duda están influidas por el hecho de que él, a sus conocimientos técnicos, agrega también las artes de la pintura y del piano que sin duda contribuyen a relajar su mente y su espíritu.
Por el conocimiento personal y directo que tengo del Sr. West, puedo afirmar que es un gran trabajador, un hombre leal y de enorme inteligencia. La delegación de Colombia felicita al Reino Unido por esta merecida escogencia de uno de sus mejores hijos, y al felicitar al Sr. West le ofrecemos nuestra más plena colaboración.
M. S. ZEHNI (Libya) (original language Arabic): Perhaps it is not customary for an Observer to ask for the floor on such an occasion as this. Nevertheless, since we have known Mr. West and have cooperated with him in various fora for quite some time, I would like to associate myself with all those who have spoken about him, particulary since the choice of Mr. West as Deputy Director-General is a decision which is of importance for all of us, the Members of the Council as well as the Observers.
As far as I am concerned I would like to admit that I disagreed with Mr West for the pleasure of having a difference of opinion with him because I could always perceive his acute intelligence, his perspicacity because he appreciates constructive differences of opinion. I also knew that if I readily agreed with him, he would be disappointed.
I am therefore fully convinced that while he is listening to the tributes which are being paid to him and that, listening to all this, he is not entirely happy. We are very glad to note this choice and we are looking forward to cooperating with Mr. West in his new task. We trust that his new function is not going to lessen his artistic activities to which the delegate of Colombia referred.
What really reassures us is that this post has gone from one person for whom we had the greatest respect and friendship, to another person for whom we have the same feelings. We would like to thank the Director-General for having been so wise in his choice.
SYED HASSAN AHMED (Bangladesh): The delegation of Bangladesh fully supports the proposal of the Director-General to appoint Mr. West as Deputy Director-General. Mr. West, as we know, is a man of great ability and confidence, and we feel that the Director-General has made a very good choice. We are quite sure that Mr. West will prove himself equal to the task of replacing Dr. Phillips which by itself would be difficult task indeed. We congratulate Mr. West on his nomination of Deputy Director-General and wish him complete success in his new position.
I should also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Director-General on making such a judicious choice enabling him to have such a good deputy. We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the three Vice-Chairmen of this Council who have just been elected. We are sure this august body will be immensely benefited by their contributions.
P. S. McLEAN (United Kingdom): As the Representative of the United Kingdom and a fellow countryman of Edward West, I hope you will allow me to offer my felicitations and sincere good wishes to him on this announcement of his forthcoming appointment which has met clearly with the approval of the whole Council, and for which I would like to express appreciation. As a Deputy Director-General designate of FAO, he is to become the eighth person to hold this high office, and the third citizen of the United Kingdom to do so. This is a great honour to him and to my country and I acknowledge with great appreciation this expression of confidence to a British subject which the Director-General has shown by his decision.
Last month at a ceremony commemorating two other British subjects who had served FAO for many years, I referred to the qualities which have come to characterize international civil servants; and certainly, as has been amply demonstrated by the remarks of many colleagues this morning round this table, Mr. West has himself more than demonstrated these qualities in his many years with FAO. His immense knowledge of this Organization, his dedication to its cause and his absolute conviction in the importance of its work is such that the post of Deputy Director-General could be in no better hands over the next few years.
I note with interest the remarks made by the Libyan Representative. It would be no secret to say that the United Kingdom Representative and the Assistant Director-General for Budget, Programme and Evaluation have not always seen eye to eye on certain matters, yet in the years that I have represented the United Kingdom, I have received unfailing help and courtesy from Edward West; and whenever we have had cause to differ, it has always been with good humour and with mutual respect for each other's point of view.
It would have seemed appropriate to tell a story or a joke on this occasion - providing, of course, that it made no reference to wildlife! - but I confess that nothing which seems apt immediately comes to mind. Inevitably, and perhaps unoriginally, I recall a well-known saying by a prominent English writer which goes something like "East is East and West is --" well, West is surely just West. My memory fails me at times.
However, like my Colombian and Libyan colleagues, I hope Mr. West's new duties will not reduce the time he is able to devote to his undoubted artistic talent, although whether there will be a change of style, - artistically of course, no other way — remains to be seen. Once again, may I offer him my sincere good wishes on his new appointment.
M. SALAMEH (Syria) (Original language Arabic): As Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic and in view of these two very important events which have taken place this morning, I would like to congratulate Mr. Edward West as the new Deputy Director-General, and Mr. Swaminathan as the new Independent Chairman of the Council. I would also like to congratulate the Vice-Chairmen. I congratulate all of them for the trust which has been placed in them and for the broadmindednes they have demonstrated. I would like to wish them full success in their work which they will carry out in the service of all the nations and peoples represented in this Organization concerned by its activities.
CHAIRMAN: I think, distinguished Members of the Council, there have been more than adequate expressions of support to the proposal submitted by the Director-General to fill the vacancy which will be caused by the retirement of Dr. Phillips. I will therefore now call upon the Secretary to read a formal Resolution which, if you approve it, we will adopt, concerning the appointment of Mr. Edward West.
SECRETARY-GENERAL:
DRAFT COUNCIL RESOLUTION
APPOINTMENT OF MR. EDWARD M. WEST TO THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL
THE COUNCILNoting the decision of the Director-General to appoint Edward M. West to fill as from 1 January 1982 the vacancy created by the retirement of Ralph W. Phillips, and
Being aware of Edward M. West's wide experience and familiarity with the affairs and activities of the Organization,
Resolution adopted by acclamation
La résolution est adoptée par acclamation
Se adopta la resolución por aclamación
CHAIRMAN: Now that we have adopted this Resolution by unamnimous acclamation, may I also add a few words. First of all, may I congratulate you, Mr. Director-General, on your choice. It is very obvious that from the unanimous and overwhelming support given here, that you have the same wavelength as the Members of the Council and we wish you great success in having an able colleague who has your trust.
Secondly, may I on behalf of the members of the Council say a word of congratulations to Mrs. West, whom I'm happy to see in the audience. You will all agree that for the many things which have been said about Mr. West, the success of a man to a very great extent depends on the support of a woman, and therefore we should like to offer to Mrs. West our sincere congratulations on the way in which she has been able to give support to her husband.
Thirdly, to Mr. Edward West; I have had the privilege of knowing during the last 15 years succesive Deputy Directors-General, Mr. Oris-Wells, Mr. Jackson, Dr. Ralph Philipps and now Mr. West. I can say without hesitation that he will fill the role, this line of succession of a very eminent people.
You all refer to the many qualities of head and heart, of his combination of wit and wisdom and many other things have been spoken of. I think we can go on speaking about him, those who have had the privilege of knowing him. All I would like to say is that as your Chairman I would like to add my words of congratulations to him and best wishes. The distinguished Representative of the United Kingdom stopped by saying, "East is East, and West is West". Those of you who know the original Kipling, it goes on to say that the twain shall never meet but here is a West who is going to make an exception. He will build bridges between East and West, North and South, and everywhere and he and the Director-General together should make an outstanding combination and therefore once again I should like to congratulate the Director-General on his choice, Mr. West on his appointment, and also the Council should be proud to have such a team.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: Mr. Chairman, your predecessor, Dr. Bukar Shaib, quite rightly said this morning that the speeches had been made so I do not intend to burden you with another. I would only like on this very happy occasion to say three things. First, of course, I would like to express my thanks to all those who have taken note here of such services I have been able to render to FAO over the years. I appreciate their remarks very much.
Secondly, regarding FAO itself I would just like to leave a thought. It is I believe inherent in human affairs that they grow ever more complex; that applies both to relations between individuals and between and among countries. The problems that the world faces in the field of food and agriculture are not going to go away, they are going to be with us in varying degrees for a long time. Governments set up FAO 36 years ago in order to provide a mechanism to help them deal more effectively with those problems. If the Organization were suddenly to disappear through some magic governments would, I believe, have to set about devising something very similar to replace it. In other words, it is an essential part of the world scene if there is to be effective treatment of the problems the world faces in the agricultural and food fields. I would therefore recommend to all FAO Member Governments that they set about finding more effective ways of utilizing it, for the benefit of all their peoples in all countries.
My final point relates to my succesor, Mr. West. I congratulate him most heartily on the appointment. I should perhaps add a few felicitations because he will have some headaches that he has not encountered in his present post but I am sure he can deal with them all most adequately. I agree fully with all the words of praise that have been voiced around the table and would only wish him the best of luck as he undertakes to prepare himself to move into this new assignment.
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CHAIRMAN: Finally, of course, after having heard all this we should give the floor to Mr. West himself.
E.M. WEST (Assistant Director-General, Office of Programme, Budget and Evaluation): Mr. Chairman, I take this opportunity of also offering my congratulations to you and to say how happy I will be to have the opportunity of working with you in the next few years.
This is a very proud and emotional moment for me. The Director-General, with your consent, has conferred upon me what I truly regard as a great honour and privilege, to continue serving FAO in future as Deputy Director-General.
It is very gratifying to me that the Director-General's choice has been received so well by spokesmen on behalf of all the regional groupings at this Council and by individuals. I am extremely grateful to you for the very kind things you have said to me today.
I would like to say that I am proud to be a citizen of my country and also to have served it in government for 23 years. The training and experience I had were invaluable in equipping me for the tasks I have carried out in these last 12 intensive and exciting years in FAO. I would like to say that since I first came in contact with FAO, I considered the continual spectale of millions of people suffering from cruel and destructive hunger and malnutrition to be humanly unacceptable, and accordingly FAO's mission to be supremely important. The ideal of international cooperation to rid the world of this cruel phenomenon and to ensure world peace and stability for our children and our grandchildren became overwhelmingly convincing to me. So did the role and competence of FAO, which in the last six years has been firmly re-established as first and foremost in the scale of global priorities and of international institutions.
FAO's contributions to solving the world food problem may seem relatively small and unimportant to some large and rich countries, but I know from deep and detailed experience how important it is, qualitatively and, in certain areas and sub-sectors, quantitatively.
In short, I have come to realise more and more what a unique and vital contribution to world development and peace FAO makes. And I am all the more happy to be placed in a position in which I can try even more to make my small and humble contribution through continued service to FAO, supported by the international community.
In doing so, I hope I will be able to benefit from the example given by former Deputy Directors-General. I have in mind particularly those whom I have known personally and whose official comradeship and personal friendship I have had the good fortune to enjoy. I refer particularly to Oris Wells, Roy Jackson and Ralph Phillips, who each taught me something different and valuable.
Ralph Phillips deserves a very special word. I humbly subscribe to the very fine tributes he has received in the Conference and here. I have known him since my earliest contacts with FAO. He was already then a most respected veteran of FAO Conferences and meetings. I was very fortunate because, owing to alphabetical fate, his country's seat was often next to mine. Then we were neighbours in the Programme Committee, and finally in the last few years at this rostrum. I have been able to benefit deeply from Ralph's vast knowledge of FAO, his tolerance, his courtesy, and his kindness. My wife and I also greatly treasured our friendship with his dear wife, Mary, whose loss we all share. Thank you, Ralph.
I should also like to thank my colleagues and, in particular my own staff, who have collaborated in and helped me so greatly in my work, as well as giving me pleasure in their friendship.
The same applies to the very many delegates and Permanent Representatives and yourselves here today who have given me their comprehension, their support, and friendship over the years in Committees, Council and Conference.
These friendships among people of all cultures, which are especially characteristic of FAO, have formed a rich and valuable strand in the life of myself and my wife - to whom I owe so much - in FAO and in Rome.
Finally, Mr Chairman, I should like to say a few words about what has been really crucial in my life within FAO in the last six years. What I am about to say is very far indeed from a conventional expression of gratitude or admiration. I feel it very deeply and sincerely.
I have had the great privilege over the last six years of working very closely with the Director-General. It is for you, not for me, to judge his performance. And you have done so at the Conference, very decisively and very unambiguously.
I would, however, like to presume upon this moment to say that I have also been able to see the Director-General at work internally in the exercise of each of his responsibilities and functions. I have seen him dealing with great policy issues and, with the smallest financial or personnel details. I have seen him being strong, determined and courageous; and also comprehending, pragmatic, and flexible.
I have also seen the extent of his self-knowledge, his knowledge and love of all aspects of civilization and the arts of all cultures, his tremendous sense of humour, his sensitivity, and his deep compassion for those in difficulty, not only for the faceless masses of the poor and hungry, but also for individual delegates and the humblest members of FAO's staff.
In all my experience, I have never before served anyone so dedicated, industrious, courageous, brilliant, human, and inspiring.
I am certain that with Mr Saouma's continued leadership, FAO will continue to go from strength to strength. Even if there may be some difficult and testing times ahead, he will ensure that FAO comes through it even more vital, more efficient, and stronger than ever with your full support.
I am therefore greatly honoured to be chosen by Mr. Saouma as his Deputy and I shall do my best to be worthy of his choice and of the very heartwarming support you have so generously given to me today. Thank you, Mr. Director-General. Thank you all.
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