LE PRESIDENT: Le Secrétaire général du Conseil a reçu, dans les délais voulus, les propositions de candidatures suivantes pour les cinq sièges à pourvoir: Congo, France, République Fédérale
d'Allemagne, Mexique et Zambie.
Il y a donc autant de candidats que de sièges à pourvoir. Le règlement général de l'Organisation prévoit, dans son article XII-9(a) que "les élections ont lieu au scrutin secret sauf s'il y a plus de candidats que de sièges à pourvoir; le Président peut proposer au Conseil de procéder aux nominations par consentement général manifeste".
Puisqu'il y a autant de candidats que de postes à pourvoir, je propose que les candidats soient déclarés élus par acclamation.
Nomination by acclamation
Nomination par acclamation
Nombramiento por aclamación
Je déclare élus le Congo, la France, la République Fédérale d'Allemagne, le Mexique, et la Zambie.
James INGRAM (Executive Director, WFP): You have before you the thirteenth annual report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes for 1987. As we closed our books on that year and moved on to 1988, we found our Twenty-fifth year of operations to have been an exceptional one.
It is with pride we take note of the Programme's many accomplishments. From its experimental modest beginnings in 1963 it has grown to be the largest source of grant assistance to developing countries within the entire United Nations system. When we tallied the Programme's expenditure over the past quarter century we found it had invested more than 10,000 million dollars in efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition and promote economic development. From its first cautious beginnings WFP has learned to use food aid as an effective and appropriate tool in helping people to overcome poverty.
Yet, as we look back on past deeds, we are not complacent. There are too many pressing needs to permit relaxation. Thus the Programme is always looking for new ways to improve the effectiveness of food aid, to find new and innovative ways of using food aid, to speed up deliveries, to rationalize the distribution arrangements and improve our management programme.
In 1987 we were called on to meet the individual needs of about 35 million people: nearly 15 million received emergency food aid and new development projects were approved to benefit some 20 million people. As a result of this high level of activity, the Programme shipped a record 2.4 million tonnes of food in 1987.
The strain, particularly on our emergency resources, became evident in Autumn 1987 as we faced widespread drought in South-East Asia, flooding in other parts of Asia, a growing threat of famine in Ethiopia and an exodus of people fleeing civil strife in Mozambique.
I am glad to report the Programme managed to cope with these crises and that donors responded generously to our calls for additional resources. At the end of the year, WFP had shipped more food than ever before in its history for emergency relief; a figure I might say that even exceeded the amount shipped during those critical peak years of the great African drought and I am very pleased that in dealing with several of these disasters, the Programme was entrusted by donor governments to handle overall coordination of all relief food shipments.
I must, unfortunately, also report that the situation has not improved during 1988 and, in fact, has rather deteriorated. We can now say, with certainty, that 1987 was not exceptional and the pressure on WFP's emergency resources continues to grow. There are many reasons for this but I would like to point out one in particular. In 1987, WFP had a commitment to feed eight-and-a-half million of the world's refugees and displaced persons, an increase of two-and-a-half million from the preceeding year. I have frequently reminded donor nations of our special responsibility towards refugees. People who have lost everything and have been forced to abandon their homes should not be further punished by lack of food.
The year 1987 saw the beginnings of what has since become one of the world's largest concentrations of displaced people. Crossing the border from Mozambique, hundreds of thousands of people entered Malawi and WFP responded accordingly. It was not a simple task and as we look ahead we know the Programme will face continuing difficulties in dealing with this influx of people, which will soon reach about 800 000. To channel the massive amount of food needed to this landlocked country is a highly complex logistical operation. Malawi, in other times a dependable source of food for purchase by the Programme, was itself struck by drought and parasite infestation in 1987 and itself needed food assistance.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the International Emergency Food Reserve does not give us access to a volume of food sufficient to meet the needs of victims of both natural and man-made disasters. Our recurrent resource problems severely limit our ability to respond effectively to unforeseen disasters.
My statement introduces the governing body's report for 1987 but the calendar tells us 1988 is almost over. I would, therefore, like briefly to touch on some of the emergency situations that lately have called for the Programme's intervention.
Floods caused havoc in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, leaving thousands homeless. Here, the Programme was able both to borrow from in-country food stocks to alleviate suffering and to divert a ship carrying wheatflour to Port Sudan.
Bangladesh, as we know, experienced one of the worst floods of the century, perhaps the worst. Likewise, we borrowed from development stocks for an immediate response until we could channel additional relief food from abroad. Because flooding is a recurring natural phenomena in this country, our development projects have a built-in provision to deal with emergencies such as this. Many of the people struck by the disaster were already involved in WFP-assisted development programmes. Thus, they could engage in necessary rehabilitation work while receiving food as payment.
More recently, in Jamaica, we were also able to channel development assistance to help victims of the disastrous hurricane "Gilbert". The Programme's support of the Government's food-stamp programme, approved by the CFA as late as June, was speeded up and expanded in order to reach more of the poorest and most affected people.
Just last month, another hurricane, "Joan", swept through Central America causing widespread destruction in Nicaragua. Within two to three days of receiving the Government's request for assistance, WFP was again able to provide food aid.
These examples, by no means the only ones that have kept my staff extremely busy this year, demonstrate once again that WFP can and does react with great urgency if the situation necessitates. These particular examples that I have chosen also show that we have ongoing development programmes in almost all developing countries. Development stocks can usually be utilized for immediate relief and we also have the capacity to divert ships under charter to us and at any one time, the Programme has upwards of 40 ships under charter.
The events I have just outlined have all been sudden disasters, events which very often receive the focus of world attention. Other situations of prolonged and protracted suffering attract less attention. Throughout 1987, and I am sorry to say throughout most of 1988 as well, we have tried by all means possible to channel food to southern Sudan. We have met with a few successes but quite a few disappointments. Our food convoys have come under attack and earlier this autumn seven drivers were killed en route.
Since then overland transport to southern Sudan has come to a virtual standstill and we have been forced to initiate recently a very costly, but of course essential airlift which has turned out to be a considerable undertaking. The Press sometimes asks us at. ut the risks associated with delivering food to this area. Our reply is very simple: We have no choice. We are committed to alleviating suffering by all means at our disposal.
Let me turn now to our development work, much of which deals with the root causes of situations which give rise to crop failure and food emergencies.
First let me recall that the Programme is a very strong supporter of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development. In particular, the sub-Saharan African region receives a very substantial share of WFP's development resources and for 1987 the figure was 37 percent and at the June meeting of the CFA, a Plan of Action for Africa was approved, outlining an investment level of more than 1.8 billion dollars for the period 1986-90. More than four-fifths of this expenditure is forecast for sub-Saharan Africa.
The Plan establishes a structural framework for the Programme's future assistance to the region, identifying potential areas for increased and sustained involvement. Above all, for the first time the Programme has a plan for a continued strong and enduring commitment to the recovery and development of Africa.
It is noteworthy that measures to combat environmental degradation will be awarded the largest allocation of development resources. This is a reflection of the increasing awareness of the need for sustainable development to overcome the problems of environmental degradation. Although highlighted lately by the Brundtland Commission, the Programme has followed this direction for many years. More than 100 WFP-assisted projects worldwide, with a total value exceeding 1 000 million dollars, presently support environmental activities such as erosion control, watershed management, reforestation and many other measures needed to undo the damage done to nature by mankind.
Many African countries as we know are now in the process of restructuring their economies, an arduous and necessary exercise. Yet as social programmes are scaled down, the burden often falls on the poorest. The programme can help and does help ease this transition by providing food to the neediest.
To supply sub-Saharan African nations, and other recipient countries as well, WFP has made increasing use of triangular transactions. On its own account and on behalf of bilateral and multilateral donors, the Programme in 1987 spent approximately 100 million dollars to buy a record quantity of food. Three-quarters of this amount was spent in developing countries.
This year we have already spent more than 125 million dollars on purchases and 80 percent of this was spent in developing countries. However, while the amount is substantially more, the money will not buy quite as much. We are not able to get as much food as last year because we are now paying 40 percent more per ton on average. Thus the Programme continues to spend more money than any other UN agency in promoting South-South trade.
I have spoken about world events which have influenced the work of the World Food Programme and our response to poverty and disaster. I should like to remind you that our staffing is lean, very lean and I aim to keep it that way. But lean should not mean meagre, and meagre is precisely the way we feel about our office facilities. If we are to keep staff morale high, it is imperative that we move out of our cramped surroundings.
As many of you may know, the Government of Italy has been extremely forthcoming and understanding and has very generously offered to provide us with a separate headquarters building and I thank the Italian Government for their positive response. However, this action, that is the provision of a Headquarters building, is contingent upon the signing of a Headquarters Agreement for the World Food Programme. Negotiations toward this end were carried out earlier this year with the Italian authorities under the leadership of the FAO Legal Counsel. There was rapid progress on the FAO draft agreement which was near finalization some four months ago when the whole process was unfortunately suspended. I am hoping that negotations can be resumed forthwith and I thank very much the Italian Government for its patience and goodwill.
I have briefly described some of the events and trends that have recently characterized our work, some of our frustrations and successes. Every year brings new crises, new challenges and, occasionally, even a new ray of hope and I would like to assure you that WFP's planning, under the leadership of the Secretary-General's special representative, for the return of refugees to their own countries and the rehabilitation of Afghanistan is well advanced. This is an extraordinary formidable undertaking, involving perhaps the return of 5 million people into a country where the infrastructure has largely been destroyed. The planning process alone is most demanding and when
the return starts in earnest as we hope it will next year it will in fact represent the biggest challenge, not only to the United Nations, but I would suggest also to the international community, since, effectively, the end of Second World War.
Just a few days ago we received encouraging news of Namibia. For some time the Programme has been planning for this eventuality, and I can assure you all that the Programme is as ready to contribute towards the necessary repatriation of affected people and the development of Namibia as it is in relation to Afghanistan.
Our job has always been two-fold: to help people in dire need whilst working to prevent the very occurrence of such situations. It is an awesome task but the encouragement of seeing people feeding themselves is our reward. For our sake, for your sake, for the sake of the world, may we continue to be enthusiastically supported by all governments.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie M. Ingram de sa communication introductive.
B.P. DUTIA (Director, Commodities and Trade Division): The entire range of activities presented in the 13th Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes - which has just been introduced by Mr. Ingram, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme - is of interest to FAO. However, I shall confine my remarks to those points which the Director-General wishes to highlight particularly for consideration by the Council.
First, as already stressed by the Director-General in his statement to the Council last week and also referred to by the Executive Director in his statement, I would like to stress the very serious resource position of the International Emergency Food Reserve. This situation has been of particular concern to the Director-General for nearly a year. 1987 was the first year in its history that the Reserve did not finish with a positive balance. In fact, as noted in paragraph 45 of the document, it became necessary to call forward substantial quantities from 1988 resources to meet 1987 emergency operations.
The situation since then can best be described as a hand to mouth operation. As early as July this year a substantial call forward of 1989 IEFR resources had to be made in order to meet 1988 emergency needs.
The Director-General, in his address earlier this year, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the World Food Programme, highlighted the severe resource constraints of the Reserve and reiterated his earlier suggestions on ways to improve this situation. These suggestions included the proposal to transform the Reserve into a legally binding Convention. Such a change would guarantee the availability of at least a minimum quantity of emergency food aid on a multilateral basis.
Another measure to improve the effectiveness of the. Reserve which was stressed by the Director-General on that occasion was the proposal for stand-by pledges of 1.5 million tons of cereals which could be mobilized if required. Adding this flexibility to the resources of the Reserve would enable it to respond more effectively to emergency aid requests, which inevitably fluctuate widely from one year to another.
Secondly, I would like to refer to the study on triangular transactions mentioned in paragraph 11 of the Annual Report. For this study, I am glad to mention that FAO has already supplied data collected through its Global Information and Early Warning System. It may be recalled that both the Council and the Committee on World Food Security have expressed interest in this subject on several occasions in the past. The Director-General has repeatedly stressed the importance of this mode of assistance. Triangular transactions not only help increase operational flexibility but also encourage those developing countries which, as a result of conscious development efforts, increase production and generate exportable surpluses. Triangular transactions can also make a positive contribution to South-South cooperation and trade. Moreover, at the present time, when stocks in several donor countries have been substantially reduced, the opportunities for triangular transactions need to be explored to the maximum extent possible. At the same time, according to the latest information available to the Global Information and Early Warning System of FAO, exportable surpluses in 1988/89 are expected to increase in several developing countries following good harvests. In our view, these surpluses can and should be tapped to meet food aid needs in neighbouring countries. The study on triangular transactions under preparation by the World Food Programme Secretariat is therefore of particular interest to FAO, and we will be glad to contribute further to this effort as appropriate. The Director-General looks forward to a constructive discussion on this subject as soon as possible with the hope that guidelines for promoting triangular transactions could be eventually developed.
Thirdly, in paragraph 46 the Report mentions estimates of emergency food aid requirements which had been presented by the World Food Programme Secretariat to the Autumn Session of the CFA in 1987. While an important element of the emergency requirements each year can be estimated with some precision in advance, namely that related to the needs of refugees and displaced persons, the estimates of emergency requirements resulting from drought and crop failures can only be made on the basis of the food supply situation assessments at the time of the main crop harvest each year in individual countries. On the basis of the information on crop conditions and the food supply situation collected by the Global Information and Early Warning System, FAO has, by the end of each year, preliminary estimates of the aggregate food aid needs for the following year which could be used, if requested, for presentation to the CFA. Although still preliminary and subject to revision, these estimates would reflect the needs more accurately, and hence be more useful to donors, than the averages for the previous five years used in the presentation to the Committee at its Autumn 1987 Session. The FAO Secretariat will be glad to cooperate with the WFP Secretariat in this important area.
Fourthly, I would like to refer to the WFP Secretariat's plan, which is mentioned in paragraph 90 of the Report, to undertake a systematic effort to bring together information on the level, direction and use of food aid and the prevalance and characteristics of world food hunger, in an attempt to enable food aid to be turned more purposefully toward lasting solutions to problems of hunger. FAO is interested in this proposed activity. We discussed, at the request of the World Food Programme, some broad issues with the WFP consultants undertaking this study, and we have also made available relevant data and findings of our own analytical studies, including our estimate of the incidence of hunger derived from FAO's periodic World Food Surveys. FAO believes that the role of food aid in hunger alleviation needs to be analysed in the broader perspective of the hunger problem. It is now universally recognized that the root cause of hunger is poverty, the elimination of which is inseparably linked with the process of economic development including in particular the development of the food and agriculture sector. It is also recognized that the attack on hunger and malnutrition requires a multi-dimensional approach. In this context, and given the small quantities of food consumed in the form of food aid relative to the magnitude of chronic malnutrition, food aid, although very important, can play only a contributory role. We trust that the WFP Secretariat's effort will keep this broader framework in view. Of course, FAO will be glad to continue to cooperate in this important endeavour.
Fifthly, reference is made, in paragraphs 83-86, to the development of the International Food Aid Information System (INTERFAIS). FAO is interested in this data collection effort and considers it could be a useful complement to our own work. As the Council is aware, FAO has built up and maintained data on food aid flows by donors, recipient and commodity over the last 15 years. This information, which forms part of FAO's AGROSTAT System, is used in analyzing trade flows and world market developments, as well as in assessing the role of food aid in the food security situation of individual countries. This information is regularly published and widely disseminated in our bulletin, Food Aid in Figures, as well as in the regular publications of the Global Information and Early Warning System.
In the process of developing this data bank, FAO has maintained contacts with other international agencies such as the International Wheat Council, OECD as well as WFP and bilateral donors. We trust that INTERFAIS will complement and not duplicate FAO's data bank in this important area so that both the organizations can exchange information to their own mutual benefits as well as to the benefit of the governments.
Finally, with reference to paragraphs 36 to 39 concerning the role of the World Food Programme and environmental improvement, I should like to confirm that as the awareness of environmental considerations has grown in recent years FAO and WFP have collaborated usefully in this important field. As one aspect of this collaboration, FAO and WFP are conducting an appraisal of the potential environmental impact of selected WFP projects with recommendations for steps which could be taken to minimize, or avoid, environmental degradation. We attach particular importance to this collaborative effort between FAO and WFP in this crucial area, and look upon it as a model for cooperation also in other areas of mutual interest.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie M. Dutia pour sa contribution.
Waliur RAHMAN (Bangladesh): I should like to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. James Ingram, for his presentation of Item 9.1 - World Food Programme. He has attained another high-water mark in clarity and perspicacity in his presentation. I thank him for the concern and the compassion expressed about the spate of natural disasters ravaging a large part of the globe. The wrath of nature which befell Bangladesh in August and September of this year was unprecedented. It was
indeed an aberration of nature. I wish to thank Mr. Ingram for his leadership in contributing to the success of the United Nations Special Session convened in New York on 16 November which was addressed by President Hussain Mohammed Ershad. Mr. Dutia's comments were eminent made a sharp focus on the prime need of food aid and elimination of hunger worldwide. The points that have been put in sharp relief by him are reassuring. Needless to say, the role of the World Food Programme in mobilizing assistance to Afghanistan refugees is most commendable. His reference to Namibia is another example where the World Food Programme is continuing to be the harbinger of hope and support to the unfortunate victims of disasters which are in many cases man-made.
My country is appreciative of the role of the World Food Programme. We have a commitment with the United Nations resolution falling in place. My country is committed to contribute to the peace keeping contingent in Namibia. I am Chairman of the Council for Namibia Session. With all the good things that are happening I am sure it will not be long before the UN responsibility is over.
Viewed in the context of the utmost need for the efficiency and effectiveness of the United Nations system, the World Food Programme is a unique organization drawing commendation from all quarters -donors as well as recipients. After twentyfive years of successful operation, the organization now stands as a symbol of efficient and effective multilateral cooperation. The World Food Programme now manages about a quarter of the world's food aid both for emergency relief and developoment assistance. Of course, WFP's commitments during the past years clearly indicate (unhappily so) a steady emphasis on a policy of shifting from relief to development. This has a special significance for my country and there are many others I am sure.
Developing countries, especially the low income Countries, look to the World Food Programme both during emergencies and for development efforts. To a considerable extent this innovative approach has a great potential in contributing to our structural adjustment with a human face. The 13th Annual Report of the Governing Body of the World Food Programme, as contained in the document under discussion, is generally a story of success and effective contributions. During 1987 the Programme set a record for the amount of food shipped to developing countries. Shipment to development projects rose to an all-time high and about twenty million people are expected to benefit directly from the projects undertaken by the World Food Programme in 1987.
The setting up of INTERFAIS is an important contribution in the field of collection, collation and dissemination of data affecting the state of food and agriculture in the world. In cooperation with the Data Collection System of the FAO I am sure the capability of the United Nations system to forecast and take precautionary measures in a more effective manner in the future will be extended.
We also appreciate and commend the role of WFP in promoting South-South cooperation by way of triangular transactions - very unique transactions - integrating women in development and fighting against environmental degradation. The resolution adopted in this connection in the last session of the CFA was a solid achievement. The clear message of the monumental work of the Brundtland Commission was not lost on the international community. Another positive aspect of WFP's activities in 1987 was its increased support for the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development. It also developed a Plan of Action for Africa concerning the UN Programme of Action.
The major beneficiary of the World Food Programme of assistance - my country - is naturally preoccupied with the sound resource base of the Organization. We would welcome early fulfillment of the target for regular pledges for the 1987/88 biennium. In this context I refer to the statement of the Director-General pertaining to the need for quick replenishment of the IEFR (International Emergency Food Reserve).
1987 was a record year for emergency food assistance. As I indicated at the beginning of my statement, the current year has also been marked by a series of natural disasters including an unprecedented flood in Bangladesh. Therefore, we urge donor countries to enhance the level of the present IEFR.
Bernard LEDUN (France): Je souhaite bien entendu m'associer aux félicitations et remerciements qui viennent d'être présentées par l'honorable délégué du Bangladesh au Directeur exécutif du PAM, M. James Ingram, pour la présentation qu'il vient de nous faire de la situation du PAM.
Les millions de tonnes de produits et les millions de dollars recensés au fil des pages du document CL 94/9 témoignent de façon éloquente à la fois de l'ampleur sans précédent des crises alimentaires qui affectent de nombreuses populations démunies à travers le monde, et de l'importance également sans précédent des mesures de sauvegarde que met en oeuvre la communauté internationale pour y faire face.
Le Programme alimentaire mondial est, on le sait, l'instrument privilégié de cette aide et notre délégation, à de nombreuses reprises, a fait savoir tout le prix que la France attache à son action irremplaçable. Cet attachement est d'ailleurs partagé par les autres pays membres de la Communauté économique européenne qui sont devenus ensemble, en 1988, le contributeur majeur de l'aide alimentaire mondiale.
Parmi les actions décrites dans le document que nous examinons figure un type d'opérations que nous estimons très important et prometteur pour l'avenir. Il s'agit des opérations triangulaires, qui permettent à des pays en voie de développement de s'entr'aider en encourageant des flux commerciaux intra-régionaux et la consommation de denrées produites localement par les agriculteurs autochtones. C'est là un facteur essentiel de développement et d'autosuffisance alimentaire, et nous nous réjouissons de voir le PAM y consacrer une étude dont nous attendons avec intérêt les résultats.
De même sommes-nous très attentifs aux efforts que poursuit le PAM en vue d'enrayer la dégradation de l'environnement dans diverses régions qui voient progressivement disparaître leur couverture végétale ou leurs ressources forestières.
Certains pays, que l'on songe par exemple au cas dramatique de Haïti, ne connaissent hélas que trop bien le résultat désastreux d'une déforestation anarchique. La dégradation de l'environnement constitue l'un des périls majeurs de cette fin de siècle. Nous ne saurions donc trop encourager le PAM à poursuivre ses efforts dans ce domaine, en liaison étroite avec la FAO et le PNUE.
Enfin, nous suivons avec intérêt l'étude mentionnée au paragraphe 89 actuellement menée par le PAM et la Banque mondiale sur les moyens propres à accroître l'efficacité de l'aide alimentaire pour faire face aux problèmes que pose la sécurité alimentaire en Afrique. Nous tenons à dire ici combien ces questions intéressent aussi de très près tous les donateurs, et qu'il convient donc de les associer étroitement à ces travaux pour lesquels il est bien clair que le CPA doit rester l'instance décisionnelle.
Je ne voudrais pas terminer cette brève intervention sans faire état du document C 89/7 qui fournit une étude détaillée des comptes vérifiés du PAM. Ce n'est pas le moment, bien sûr, d'analyser ce document, qui accorde d'ailleurs un satisfecit au PAM pour la mise en oeuvre des projets vivres contre travail et d'alimentation directe.
Toutefois, le même document relève des difficultés rencontrées par les projets comportant l'utilisation de fonds provenant de la vente ou de l'échange de produits. Nous ne doutons pas, pour notre part, que le PAM s'emploie déjà à remédier à ces lacunes et à ces faiblesses inhérentes à toute organisation de cette taille. Mais, dans la lutte contre la faim et pour le développement, chaque dollar compte et il importe que des projets qui ont été lancés soient suivis de bout en bout, minutieusement, afin que le PAM puisse continuer d'exercer pleinement et efficacement la mission qui est la sienne et qui, nous le répétons, est irremplaçable pour encore de longues années à venir.
Hartmut STALB (Germany, Federal Republic of): Let me first thank the Council for its confidence that it showed in the work of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes by re-electing it as a member. As a member of the CFA my delegation supports the annual report and agrees with its results and recommendations. We particularly welcome the fact that the WFP again had a good year. More than 2.4 million tons of food were generated through the WFP, an increase of almost 10 percent. On the other hand, these figures proved the need of hungry people all over this world and a lot still remains to be done to ease their burden. There has also been an increase in need for emergency measures with a total volume of over 800,000 tons of food. We share the WFP's concern about the continuation of that trend.
It is also to be welcomed that the WFP responded positively to the results of the UN General Assembly Special Session on Africa and participated in its own activities in the UN/PAAERD in the 1986-90 period. It is particularly gratifying that the share of the food commodities purchased in developing countries has increased substantially and thus an important contribution is being made to south-south cooperation. The Federal Republic of Germany cooperates particularly closely in that field with the WFP by channelling bilateral funds of food purchases in developing countries mainly through the WFP.
My delegation believes that the WFP has also made progress in its conceptual work by reviewing the existing packages of measures for individual sub-sectors and submitted future oriented proposals to the CFA. Moreover, structural improvements were made in management and project implementation which will result in a long-term improvement in WFP's work. The CFA should continue to monitor the activities of the WFP and attach special importance to a proper handling of project proposals for WFP development matters.
Finally, let me point out that the Federal Republic of Germany has fully met its delivery commitments in food aid for this year and made additional contributions to meet emergency situations. My country has also fulfilled the pledge for the International Emergency Food Reserve announced at the Pledging Conference in New York in March 1987 and made an additional amount of 10 million DM available this year in order to help meet unexpected emergency needs stemming from unforeseen events and emergencies which were caused by refugees.
R. MULELE (Zambia): Thank you for affording my delegation the opportunity to make a few observations on the subject under discussion in document CL 94/9.
Before I go further I would like to join those who have spoken before me in complimenting the Secretariat for the preparation of the high quality report. In our view Mr. Ingram deserves a pat on the back for his concise and clear introduction of the paper. We very much appreciate Mr. Dutia's remarks.
Because I want to be brief in my intervention I will limit my remarks to only a few items in the report.
First, we are indeed happy to note, as reflected in paragraph 8, that pledges to the regular resources of the Programme for the 1987-88 biennium have been expected to exceed those of the previous biennium. We sincerely hope that all intending contributors will soon do so.
Second, in the field of development assistance, my delegation is pleased to note that WFP's commitment still continues to be to the low-income and least developed countries and that sub-Saharan Africa is very much on top of this assistance.
Third, it is encouraging to learn, as indicated in paragraphs 30 and 31 of the report, that more attention is being paid to the role of women in WFP's programme activities. This is as it should be, for as we discussed only yesterday, under agenda item 8, there is a dire need for the full integration of women in all areas of human endeavour.
Since I promised to be brief in my intervention I just wish to underscore the importance of the International Food Aid and Information System. This system we believe is of paramount importance in the usually too long process of providing food aid to needy countries from the time of initiating the request.
As paragraph 85 states, it will be necessary for all relevant bodies to cooperate in this exercise.
We endorse ths report. We are particularly happy to learn from paragraph 90 that there is a will and a plan on the part of WFP to turn food aid to defining lasting solutions to the vexing problems of hunger. In this connection we wish to urge for greater emphasis to be placed on agricultural production, projects and programmes oriented towards food production. For it is only through achieving full security at all levels, coupled with fair and adequate distribution and marketing systems, that we can finally resolve the issue of hunger, be it on a temporary or permanent basis.
In concluding, I wonder if the Executive Director could shed more light on the suspension of negotiations for the Headquarters Agreement, lest I missed the point of his explanation.
We are also grateful to the Council for our election to the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes. We promise to do our best.
Finally, I wish on behalf of my delegation to record our gratitude to WFP for the assistance being given to Zambia.
Hasim OGUT (Turkey): My delegation would like to join previous speakers in complimenting Mr. Ingram and his staff on the overall policies and programmes implemented by the World Food Programme which are highlighted in the 13th Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes. It is encouraging to observe that WFP has managed to establish a sound partnership with the recipient governments in the implementation of the projects. This relationship is attributable to mutual understanding and coordination between the governments' representatives and the World Food Programme field staff. We highly value these coordination efforts and hope that they will be given continuing attention by the Programme.
We also observe with satisfaction the steady improvement that the World Food Programme is achieving in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation within the overall approach of the project cycle. In this connection we would like to stress the fact that success in this respect depends also on the coordination and cooperation with governments, other governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Let me now make some general remarks concerning some future policy and programme options which we consider as important. We are of the opinion that WFP should adjust appropriate policies to continue its activities in the middle-income countries which are not in need of its urgent and substantial food assistance. In our belief, WFP could effectively contribute to the further development in these countries through specific programmes addressing the current interest from the Organization other than direct food aids.
In the absence of such initiatives the programme may gradually become an institution of big donors and big recipients. We find such a trend undesirable in view of the universal nature of the Organization. Integrating middle-income countries into the main stream of the programmes will no doubt contribute to the success in the implementation of these programmes. First, middle-income countries have the ability to put at the disposal of the recipient countries their experience in utilising food aid for development purposes. They also share experiences on their successful efforts regarding food production, distribution and storage. More importantly, however, these countries can become more significant donors if encouraged to use some special initiatives and efforts. Let me now make some comments on the possible ways which WFP could consider with a view to increasing the participation of these countries in the Programme. First, triangular transactions should be expanded wherever and whenever possible. In our view, country representatives can play a significant role in advising the Programme on the food availabilities in required detail in the food exporting middle-income countries. It is therefore expected that the World Food Programme makes special efforts to purchase some of the excess food production for distribution in recipient countries located in the vicinity.
Secondly, I would like to stress the need for the efforts to facilitate the participation of these countries in the tenders related to ocean and in particular inland transport. WFP should try to establish new and practical approaches to encourage these countries to take part in such tenders. In this way, WFP will certainly contribute to the strengthening of infrastructure and increased facilities in developing countries in addition to the direct benefits which it is already providing.
May I now turn to my second general remark which concerns needs for policies and programmes in support of regional cooperation. We observe with satisfaction that the regional development concept of the United Nations is taking a good shape. Most of the countries are trying to find ways and means to establish the backbone of regional cooperation in varying forms. The third OIC Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Development held recently in Pakistan gave a good example in this respect. In fact, the Conference decided to carry out a programme aiming at the establishment of regionally co-ordinated food security reserves if at least ten member countries decided to participate.
When one looks at it from the regional perspective one will not fail to realise that this is a regional initiative involving many members of the WFP to which it presently serves on an individual basis. We would therefore like to see that the World Food Programme comes up with effective support to this approach and becomes also a useful instrument in respect of guiding such important and valuable regional efforts.
David W. JOSLYN (United States of America): The United States joins with other delegations in commending the management and staff of the World Food Programme for its actions during 1987, the period covered by this report. As a Member of the CFA the United States has already commented on and approved the contents of this report. Therefore, our intervention will be brief. However, we would like to note some aspects of this report that not only reflect positive changes and improvements in the World Food Programme during the reporting period, but that identify also the challenges we feel the Programme will face in the future.
Firstly, during 1987, as the report notes, the World Food Programme played a critical role in developing emergency food aid to people in need through its trucking operation in Ethiopia, its overland transport operation to Southern Sudan and Malawi, and its coastal shipping service in Mozambique. In each case, for the operations to be a success, the World Food Programme collaborated extensively with UNHCR, non-governmental organizations, groups of donors, and recipient agencies and organizations. Relief operations such as these will always demand a high level of co-operation with other agencies. We encourage WFP to continue their collaborative relationships in the extremely important activities of emergency relief feeding programmes.
Secondly, we note with satisfaction that, during the reporting period, the World Food Programme increased its support for the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development. The high expenditure level, 37 percent Regular Development Programmes, for sub-Saharan Africa is very commendable, but we feel this may be difficult to maintain in the future without extraordinary efforts to find new efficient ways to provide food aid for development in Africa. We trust the new WFP Plan of Action for Africa, and the increasing collaboration with the World Bank will assure a steady flow of effective, efficient projects to that area.
Thirdly, we believe that the new WFP organizational structure and management system, adopted during the reporting period, is helping to streamline Headquarters operations, provide more support to field offices, and produce better projects. We also note that, besides these internal operational adjustments, the World Food Programme is strengthening its operation, as noted in the report, to provide regular inservice training to its field staff, to find new ways to provide targetted food aid, to support sustainable agricultural and rural development, and to increase participation of women in the benefits of development.
Finally, we believe that the problem of inadequate office accommodations for the World Food Programme must be solved. This was strongly endorsed by the last CFA, and we must urge all parties concerned to work together to finalize the headquarters agreement with expediency.
Ms Anna-Liisa KORHONEN (Finland): Finland welcomes the opportunity to comment on the 30th Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes, as presented in document CL 94/9. I also want to thank Mr. Ingram and Mr. Dutia for their informative introductory statements.
Finland's position as regards food aid is well established and well known. Nearly all the food aid given is channelled multilaterally through WFP and IEFR. Therefore, my delegation notes with satisfaction that the share of multilateral food aid has increased and is now about one-quarter of the total food aid. Finland regards food aid as an important resource for development and relief assistance. We support the developmental use of food aid and its integration with other forms of development assistance. Food aid is not, however, always an easy tool. Therefore, Its potential adverse effects should be carefully examined. WFP's participation in the Joint Consultative Group on Policy with the other funding agencies should further enhance its possibilities in this regard. My country is satisfied with the WFP's continuing policy to concentrate the Programme's activities on low income food deficit countries with particular emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. The poorest countries should be the main beneficiaries of food aid.
WFP's concern for Africa is further illustrated by its resource allocations to sub-Saharan Africa during the period of UNPAAERD, as is stated in paragraph 42 of the document before us. We also welcome WFP's active involvement in regional food security schemes and point out particularly the SADCC co-operation which we consider most relevant in this respect.
We further appreciate WFP's increased participation in trilateral transactions and local purchases which contribute to south-south trade and self-reliance in food production. We urge WFP to continue its effort in this regard and look forward to more detailed discussions on this issue at later sessions of the CFA.
The 25th Session of the CFA approved, on the initiative of the Nordic countries, a resolution concerning the implementations of the recommendations of the World Commission on Environment and Development within the sphere of activities of WFP. Consequently, the Executive Director of WFP will prepare a report on the Programme's contribution to environmental improvement through the 27th Session of the CFA to ECOSOC and to the General Assembly. This initiative reflects concern about environmental degradation also in the framework of food aid. WFP has already done a lot. Project Food Aid is used in many recipient countries to overcome environmental problems. Finland is confident that the Programme will further expand its activities in this field, and will continue to do so in close co-operation with the other UN agencies such as UNEP and FAO in particular.
The increasing number of man-made disasters has made refugees the largest beneficiary group of the WFP's emergency operations. This has also exhausted IEFR's resources to the extent that the actual demands centered by various emergency situations cannot be met. While we stress the nature of WFP as development organization, we also see a wider role played by WFP in emergency assistance. In light of the present difficulties there seems to be a need to strengthen the IEFR. Its functioning should be made more predictable and the Programme should be able to mobilise its resources smoothly. The growing refugee problem has brought WFP and UNHCR to work closely together. This co-operation is encouraging, and we hope that it will continue and be strengthened in the future.
Several examples of other recent emergency operations illustrate clearly the important and essential linkage between emergency assistance and long-term development efforts. Emergency schemes should
also envisage explicit measures to contribute to sustainable economic recovery and development. Efficient co-operation and co-ordination between the UN agencies is instrumental in this work. Finland would consider it most opportune if the CFA would consider this complex set of issues more thoroughly in its future meetings from the food-aid perspective.
Raúl LOPEZ-LIRA NAVA (Mexico): Antes que nada, permítame agradecer al Consejo la confianza que ha depositado en mi Delegación al habernos electo como Miembros del Comité de Políticas y Programas de Ayuda Alimentaria. Permítame asimismo aprovechar la oportunidad para saludar al Sr. Ingram y agradecerle su presentación del tema que nos ocupa. Asimismo agradecer al Sr. Dutia las palabras que nos ha dirigido.
Hemos revisado con atención el documento CL 94/9 el cual resume las principales tareas del PMA durante su 25° año de actividades. Respecto a la asistencia técnica al desarrollo, se observa que la previsión para 1988 se acerca a los 1.8 millones de toneladas igualando las cifras de 1986. Hubiéramos preferido que éstas se hubieran incrementado. Nos complace ver que el PMA está trabajando con varios países para resolver problemas de degradación del medio ambiente. Sus tareas se han centrado en la lucha contra la erosión, la ordenación de cuencas hidrológicas, repoblación forestal, rehabilitación de pastizales, entre otras.
En lo que se refiere a la Ayuda de Emergencia desplegada en 1987, se destaca que ésta no fue suficiente para satisfacer los requerimientos solicitados al PMA durante el año; inclusive, el Programa tuvo que tomar a préstamo recursos asignados para 1988 a fin de satisfacer las peticiones de asistencia más graves.
Solicitamos a los países donantes que incrementen sus aportaciones a fin de apoyar las labores de tan importante actividad. En términos de valor y tonelaje, más de dos tercios de la ayuda alimentaria de urgencia se destinaron a refugiados y personas desplazadas por disturbios civiles durante 1987. Esperamos que esta situación se supere pronto.
En cuanto a los recursos del Programa, el objetivo para las promesas de contribución ordinarias en el bienio 87/88 se fijó en 1.400 millones de dólares. Hasta el 31 de diciembre de 1987, 74 países habían prometido aportar 1.052 millones de dólares, cifra que representaba un 74 por ciento del objetivo. En base a la actividad anterior de los donantes, se prevé que las promesas deberán alcanzar como mínimo un 84 por ciento del objetivo, durante 1988, es decir, alrededor de 1.200 millones de dólares.
Exhortamos a esos países a dar su apoyo lo más pronto posible tomando en cuenta la gran necesidad existente. Respecto a los envíos de ayuda alimentaria hacia los países en desarrollo, éstos alcanzaron la cifra sin precedentes de 2.42 millones de toneladas, es decir un aumento del 10 por ciento en relación con el nivel récord registrado en 1986 de 2.25 millones de toneladas.
Como se sabe, a finales de 1986, se introdujeron en el Programa una nueva estructura organizativa y nuevos sistemas de gestión, que empezaron a aplicarse durante 1987. Las principales características de la reorganización han sido la reestructuración orgánica de la Sede para propiciar mayor apoyo a las operaciones a los países; el fortalecimiento de la administración del personal para superar las divisiones entre la Sede y las Oficinas en los países; un sistema de gestión revisado encaminado a maximizar las actividades y prácticas administrativas.
A este respecto, la Delegación Mexicana se permite señalar su preocupación por los problemas que enfrenta el PMA para contribuir a resolver las urgencias alimentarias de muchos países e insta a los Países Miembros, en especial a los países desarrollados, a que sigan colaborando con el Programa en los términos en que lo venían haciendo en años anteriores. A este nivel particular, preocupa especialmente el que el PMA, por la escasez de recursos, pueda participar tan sólo con un porcentaje menor al 50 por ciento del total de los recursos de los proyectos que instrumenta, cuando los países participantes en ellos son precisamente los que carecen de abundantes recursos.
No obstante lo anterior, la Delegación Mexicana desea manifestar el apoyo irrestricto del Gobierno de México a la labor del Programa por haber demostrado ser, hasta el momento, una instancia muy adecuada para hacer llegar a los países en desarrollo, importantes recursos en materia de ayuda alimentaria. Asimismo, solicita de los Gobiernos apoyo necesario para que el PMA siga llevando adelante la labor encomendada, a fin de contrarrestar la insuficiencia que en este rubro enfrentan muchos de nuestros países.
Mi Delegación se permite expresar el reconocimiento del Gobierno de México por la labor desarrollada por el PMA y solicita se fortalezca la cooperación entre la FAO y el PMA. Por último, Sr. Presidente, mi Delegación se permite proponer que la innovación tecnológica sin ser un elemento que deba caracterizar a los proyectos que lleva adelante el PMA, pueda ser contemplada si se coopera
cercanamente con organizaciones como la ONUDI misma, que podría favorecer la realización de determinados Proyectos del PMA por la experiencia que ha ido ganando al instrumentar sus propios Programas.
Li ZHENHUAN (China) (Original language Chinese): First of all, I should like to thank Mr. Ingram, the Executive Director for introducing the document and I should also like to thank the secretariat of WFP for Document CL 94/9 which is before us for consideration.
My delegation has noted with satisfaction that in 1987 WFP continued to use food aid to encourage agricultural production and rural development and also full development of human resources. In total, it supplied to the countries involved US$ 621 million worth of assistance for development and the number of beneficiaries reached the figure of 20 million. The Programme gave priority to Africa in its food aid activities, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. It also developed an Action Programme to develop food and agricultural production thus making a great contribution to helping to diminish the food crisis in Africa and also it helped to promote African economic development.
Whilst pursuing the principle which consists of using food aid to promote development the Programme has helped low-income food-deficit countries to undertake food-for-work activities. Thanks to WFP's assistance, conditions for agricultural production in recipient countries in the areas of the project have improved and the development of food production and agriculture has been encouraged in these countries.
The Programme has continued to give great importance to the improvement of the environment in order to strengthen work in the field of production and renewal of natural agricultural resources. Furthermore, in the framework of emergency food aid, the programme has supplied assistance to 8.5 million refugees, that is to say more than half of the total number of refugees throughout the world and we should like to congratulate WFP on these results.
At the same time, I should like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to WFP for the aid which they have given our country and for the efforts they have made during the approval of projects which my country has requested in agriculture, silviculture and livestock. These projects have continued to promote the development of food and agriculture production and to improve the living conditions of farmers in certain poorer regions of our country. In addition, the Programme has made fresh progress in fields such as triangular transactions, in the purchase of food aid commodities in developing countries and in the use of developing country flags for transporting food aid products.
Finally, I would like to state again that my Government will continue its efforts to cooperate with WFP and will concentrate efforts on improving the identification, elaboration and implementation of projects so that the limited resources of food aid will be able to produce the best possible economic and social results and produce a lasting effect on food and agricultural production in the regions which will benefit at the end of the project.
Dang MEKOULA (Cameroun): La delegation du Cameroun a examiné avec tout l'intérêt mérité le deuxième rapport du Comité des politiques et programmes d'aide alimentaire soumis à notre Conseil. Nous nous félicitons de sa concision et nous avons apprécié à sa juste valeur la brillante présentation faite par M. Ingram, Directeur exécutif. Ce rapport comporte une série de données pertinentes qui permettent à tout un chacun de se faire une idée sur le dynamisme qui caractérise désormais les interventions du Programme alimentaire mondial et tout le soutien dont ce programme bénéficie tant de la part des gouvernements des pays donateurs que du côté des pays bénéficiaires.
Le volume impressionnant des ressources engagées par le PAM au cours des deux dernières années, au titre de l'exécution des projets de développement, à savoir 1,800 million de tonnes en 1986 et 1,550 million de tonnes en 1987, en est une brillante illustration.
Nous avons apprécié l'efficacité et la rigueur conférées à la gestion des ressources du Programme alimentaire mondial dont les dépenses administratives et le soutien technique sont restés limités, soit environ 6% du total des charges annuelles.
Nous avons noté que l'expansion remarquable que connaissent désormais les activités du PAM procède de l'appui apporté en priorité aux projets de développement dans les secteurs du développement rural
et de la valorisation des ressources humaines. C'est désormais pour cette raison que notre délégation appuie vivement la nouvelle orientation que prennent actuellement les interventions du Programme alimentaire mondial au profit des groupes vulnérables, orientation selon laquelle tout apport alimentaire à cette catégorie de bénéficiaires devrait absolument être lié aux activités de développement préalablement identifiées en faveur des groupes concernés.
Comme de nombreux orateurs le reconnaissent, l'attention spéciale dont les pays à faible revenu et à déficit vivrier font l'objet dans le cadre des interventions du Programme alimentaire dans les pays en développement doit être maintenue.
L'impact de l'assistance du PAN sur les activités menées pour lutter contre la dégradation de l'environnement a été largement souligné dans ce rapport. Il est tout aussi évident que ce secteur de l'environnement est appelé à connaître une expansion considérable dans beaucoup de pays comme le nôtre dès que les projets concrets seront initiés et exécutés dans le cadre du Plan d'action forestier tropical, qui a d'ailleurs fait l'objet de bien des débats au cours de nos précédentes séances.
Nous avons relevé au paragraphe 14 de ce rapport, que pour faciliter la mise en oeuvre des nouvelles procédures du cycle des projets adoptés en 1986 et aider le bureau du PAM dans les pays à remplir les nouvelles tâches qui leur incombent en matière de préparation des projets, un programme de formation axé sur la conception des projets a été étudié et mis en essai en 1987. Plusieurs stages de formation ont déjà eu lieu et d'autres sont prévus. Cette formation appropriée à dispenser au personnel du PAM dans les pays est d'une importance capitale en matière d'identification et de formulation de projets.
Dans cette lancée nous pensons que la nécessité d'appliquer dans ce processus les cadres nationaux enrôlés dans les activités du Programme alimentaire mondial dans les pays concernés s'impose, si on veut conférer toute l'efficacité voulue á la gestion de cette assistance que nous considérons désormais comme un investissement.
Nous ne pouvons que nous féliciter de tout l'intérêt que le PAM accorde à l'Afrique. Cette sollicitude est d'autant plus justifiée que l'Afrique, dans l'état actuel des choses, reste le continent où l'on dénombre le plus de pays les moins avancés, le plus de pays à déficit vivrier.
Comme on s'en doute, les interventions du PAM vont prendre une envergure considérable en Afrique grâce aux ressources adéquates dégagées pour soutenir ce plan d'action pour l'exécution des projets spécifiques dans les domaines prioritaires de la sécurité alimentaire, de l'environnement, des ressources humaines, des infrastructures, et j'en passe.
C'est dire en d'autres termes que, dans cette phase, le problème des charges de gestion, qui reste á certains égards un élément préoccupant dans le processus d'exécution du projet, va retenir notre attention.
Autrement dit, dans le contexte de l'élaboration des projets, toutes les dispositions doivent être prises pour aider les pays bénéficiaires n'étant pas en mesure de prendre intégralement en charge toutes les dépenses de gestion intérieure, dans le sens de faire assurer le financement de ces charges à partir de ressources préalablement dégagées dans les projets considérés, grâce au mécanisme de la monétisation partielle des ressources allouées.
S'agissant des aides d'urgence, nous avons relevé aussi que, du fait de l'ampleur des événements imprévus survenus l'année dernière - catastrophes, troubles internes - le volume des ressources allouées au titre de la réserve internationale alimentaire d'urgence s'est avéré bien en deçà des besoins des personnes nécessiteuses pour lesquelles une aide alimentaire d'urgence a été sollicitée. De ce fait, certaines demandes n'ont pu être satisfaites.
Cette situation doit aussi retenir toute l'attention du Conseil.
Beaucoup d'entre nous se souviennent encore de la situation alimentaire préoccupante à laquelle des personnes frappées par les catastrophes naturelles, ou les réfugiés provenant des pays voisins, ont dû faire face ces dernières années au Cameroun.
N'eût été la réaction prompte de la communauté internationale qui a assisté matériellement le gouvernement pour renforcer ses moyens d'action, les problèmes alimentaires se seraient posés de façon dramatique pour ces personnes, surtout en cette période de crise économique.
Notre délégation saisit cette occasion pour renouveler aux généreux donateurs, au Directeur général de la FAO, au Directeur exécutif du Programme alimentaire mondiale, la gratitude du Gouvernement
camerounais pour la sollicitude dont ils ont fait preuve à notre endroit, en mettant à notre disposition en temps voulu les produits alimentaires requis qui ont permis de fournir aux personnes nécessiteuses l'essentiel de leurs besoins de base pendant ces moments difficiles.
Le Programme alimentaire mondiale a pris actuellement une dimension et un dynamisme incontestés. L'importance du volume des ressources affectées aux projets de développement et à la valorisation des ressources humaines, l'expansion des opérations triangulaires dans le sens sud-sud confirment l'idée que le Gouvernement camerounais se fait de ce Programme, selon laquelle l'aide alimentaire est considérée à tous égards comme un financement d'appoint spécifique lorsqu' elle est utilisée à des fins de développement et s'intègre rationnellement dans le contexte d'un plan national de développement en soutenant et stimulant les projets et programmes précis inscrits dans ce plan.
Satoshi WAKUNO (Japan): First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Ingram for his comprehensive introduction to this Agenda Item. On behalf of the Japanese delegation, I would like to express our full support for the Thirteenth Report of the CFA adopted at the 25th Session of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes.
The Japanese delegation highly appreciates the excellent activities undertaken by the WFP staff under the leadership of Mr. Ingram in food aid for development and nutritional improvement in recipient countries as well as emergency food aid. My country will continue to give its strong support to the WFP and to make its contribution to the WFP, including aid for the support programme for the repatriation of Afghanistan refugees.
Finally, we hope that the WFP will make the necessary effort to maintain the sound cash flow position and so guarantee its prompt reaction to emergency needs as in the past.
Mrs. Marasee SURAKUL (Thailand): My delegation has carefully studied document CL 94/9 and would like to suggest that developed nations and international agencies increasing their food aid to deserving needy countries give consideration to procuring their donations from developing countries with food surpluses on a tripartite arrangement. As Thailand has the capacity to produce cereals, coarse grains, pulses and tubers, we are willing to increase our production provided that we are offered a fair price.
For efficiency in food aid, we encourage CFA to monitor the effectiveness of food aid in eliminating problems of hunger through the use of food aid and prevalence and characteristics of world hunger.
As we are aware, the Third World debt is now worth $ 1.2 trillion. This heavy debt would certainly be one of the obstacles to economic development in food-deficit countries. Therefore, we propose that the debtor countries and multilateral institutions like IMF help the debt-laden countries through cheaper aid loans and waive the debts of those poorest nations, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, to revive the economies of those countries.
We are willing to enhance ECDC and TCDC to develop and expand our capabilities through south--south cooperation in the field of food and agriculture.
Finally, we fully support the activities of the World Food Programme and are looking forward to more concrete programmes to be immediately implemented for the poor needy countries around the world.
Zoltán KALMAN (Hungary): In view of the limited time available for discussion, I will be very brief. First of all, I would like to congratulate the WFP Secretariat and Mr. Ingram for the preparation and presentation of this document. The Thirteenth Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes gives a good overview of the activities and new developments in the work of this important Committee and that of the WFP which completed 25 years of successful operations last year. Amongst its various spheres of activities, the Programme's development assistance is becoming more and more important. In this respect, special attention should be paid, in our opinion, to the following two fields: firstly, concerted efforts in Asia made by WFP to move away from relief feeding of vulnerable groups to development projects with longer lasting effects can be considered as one of the most significant steps in the right direction. Projects of this type in Bangladesh and India will hopefully prove to be successful ones, thus making not only possible but also necessary the expansion of the Programme's activities in this direction.
Secondly, we noted with satisfaction that environmental improvement continues to be a high priority to WFP. In addition to its increasing role in assisting projects for erosion control, reafforestation, rehabilitation of grazing lands, etc., WFP's efforts to have better coordination with other agencies - notably UNEΡ and FAO - in fighting against environmental degradation is very much appreciated.
As far as the management review of WFP undertaken in 1986 is concerned, we are impressed by the exemplary speed and effectiveness of the introduction and implementation of the new organizational structure and management system. We think that at least partly as a consequence of these measures, WFP's administrative expenses - including technical and programme support costs - have been kept to about 6% of annual disbursements, one of the lowest of any development assistance agencies as stated in paragraph 16 of this document.
Finally, I wish to refer to the new schedule of sessions of the CFA. As we have already expressed our views during the discussion on this issue, we are convinced that as a result of the new order to meetings in addition to its money-saving efforts, which cannot be neglected, the efficiency of the CFA will improve significantly.
Hans-J. HERMENS (Canada): I would first like to join those delegations who have already spoken in thanking WFP's Executive Director, Mr. James Ingram, for providing this Council with a very lucid and complete introduction to this Agenda Item. As a member of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes, WFP's governing body, Canada has already had the opportunity to discuss this Report and to give its approval to it in that forum. We have before us in document CL 94/9 a thoroughly impressive compendium of WFP's accomplishments and activities for the reporting period 1987. The WFP can point with satisfaction to the overall increase in shipments of food aid, to the increase in the shipment of commodities to development projects and to its growing role in, and contribution to, emergency and refugee situations.
In this connection, we would like to highlight the WFP's continuing and outstanding contribution to addressing the food crisis in Africa. Over the past two years, and in direct response to the management review initiated by the Executive Director and undertaken in 1986, the WFP has taken major steps to lay the groundwork for a more effective programme. At the same time, the WFP has continued both to manage a growing programme and respond to an increased number of emergencies. Food aid is an investment in future development, and only steady improvement in development effectiveness can make the case for expanded food aid programmes. The World Food Council among others is tackling this problem at this very moment.
I will now outline some of the great challenges that in our opinion face the WFP in the immediate future. Specifically, Canada will be looking to the WFP for better projects, for concentration on the low-income food-deficit countries, for leadership in developing innovative approaches to targeted food aid, for increased emphasis on projects in support of sustainable development - that is projects with an increased emphasis on environmental considerations - for increased and serious attention to the role of women in development including an increase in the number of qualified women particularly at the senior management level within the WFP. Finally, Canada will look to the WFP to continue to place the highest emphasis on the effective use of limited development assistance resources.
As I have just indicated, Canada is looking for better projects from the WFP, specifically better development projects. At recent sessions of WFP's governing body, the CFA, and the appropriate body for discussion of this issue, Canada has expressed its concern over the fact that WFP's new project cycle has been much too long in its development and in its implementation. As a result of this delay, we have yet to see any really significant improvements in the overall quality of the projects submitted for CFA approval. It is also our view that within the framework of the new project cycle, WFP's evaluation functions appear somewhat downgraded. We have concluded that overall progress in implementing the new monitoring and evaluation systems has been slow. These are all things that members of the CFA and the WFP Secretariat have been working on in a spirit of constructive dialogue. I would like to reaffirm Canada's continuing support for the WFP's ongoing efforts to seek improvement in the management of its projects and in the formulation of better development projects. These then, in our opinion, constitute some of the challenges facing the WFP in the short term.
Mr Chairman, let me leave no doubt that Canada continues to hold the WFP in very high regard. This is clearly evidenced by the historically substantial level of resources that this country has programmed to the WFP. Currently, this represents roughly 40% of Canada's food aid programme. In this regard, I might reiterate the recent announcement by our Minister for External Relations and
International Development on World Food Day on October 16 of a Canadian pledge to WFP's Regular Programme of C$ 310 million for the biennium 1989-90. Furthermore, to serve the increasing need for resources to help deal with emergencies, especially refugees, Canada has increased its contribution to the IEFR from C$ 15 million to C$ 25 million during the current fiscal year ending 31 March 1989.
In conclusion, I would like to take note of Mr. Ingram's reference in his statement to the ongoing discussions regarding a Headquarters agreement for the WFP. Those of us who have dealt with the WFP over the years could not help but be impressed by the growing inadequacy of the WFP's accommodation. We believe that this has exerted a negative influence on both the morale and productivity of WFP's staff. I should stress that the WFP's governing body at its last session "underlined the need for adequate Headquarters accommodation for the WFP's secretariat to ensure efficient operations."
We therefore greatly appreciate the efforts made by the Government of Italy to find a solution to this problem. It is our hope that all parties involved in this matter will be able to move speedily and finalize arrangements that will be conducive to the good operation of this Programme.
Taghi SHAMEKHI (Iran, République islamique d'): Au nom de Dieu je vous remercie M. le Président.
La description du document CL 94/9, comme l'a faite très clairement M. Ingram, montre l'augmentation des activités du PAM. Cette documentation a d'une part un aspect positif, mais d'un autre côté elle montre la situation critique qui règne dans beaucoup de régions du monde, en raison des guerres et des catastrophes naturelles qui, dans beaucoup de cas, sont le résultat de la destruction de l'environnement naturel par l'homme.
Dans une telle situation il faut jeter un cri d'alarme et le PAM, parmi ses activités, devrait mettre plus l'accent sur cet aspect.
Il est d'ailleurs nécessaire d'étudier et de prendre une décision concrète à propos des propositions du Directeur général pour la constitution des aides alimentaires urgentes.
On peut remarquer entr'autres que le PAM, en 1988, bien qu'ayant 25 millions de dollars de plus qu'en 1987, a reçu moins d'aide alimentaire pour les déshérités.
En ce qui concerne la République islamique d'Iran, cela fait à peu près un an que le PAM a débuté ses activités d'aide alimentaire aux réfugiés des différentes guerres qui se trouvent maintenant dans la République islamique d'Iran. Nous espérons que le PAM accroîtra son aide et surtout qu'il fera des programmes d'investissement, de développement régional pour permettre à ces réfugiés de retourner dans leurs propres pays. Nous souhaitons au PAM tout le succès voulu pour cette grande entreprise.
Stanley Munkindia GUANTAI (Kenya): I should like to thank Mr. Ingram and Mr. Dutia for their very explicit presentation of the activities of the WFP and the food aid situation. The Programme, which started as an experiment, has turned out to be a major contingent of food aid organization which has become increasingly involved with development activities in food production, conservation activities, human resource development and most rural sector development programmes.
We commend the Organization for the trucking and shipment operations which have responded to the difficulties faced by the recipient countries in receiving food assistance and distribution. While we welcome the large shipments which have been found necessary, we hope that action will be taken to eradicate the root causes of many of the factors leading to the necessity to receive food aid, namely, low food productivity and poverty. We believe that this would be in support of the Cyprus Initiative which was adopted by the World Food Council earlier this year.
Food aid resources could be increasingly linked to the efforts to alleviate the means for increasing food assistance. In addition to the present programme focused on development activities, and in particular environmental concerns, my delegation believes research and technology development should also be given great attention if further inroads to improved food productivity are to be achieved.
My delegation appreciates the increased triangular transaction operations and food aid commodity purchases from the developing countries. We wish to encourage WFP to continue expanding these activities in a bid to encourage South-South cooperation. We have already expressed that in a
number of developing countries food distribution problems are caused by lack of storage and infrastructural facilities. We urge the Programme and donor communities to address this issue further with a view to assisting in the development of storage facilities for strategic national supplies, farm level storage and distribution in the food deficit areas.
We wish to lend our voice to the appeal for increased resources to be provided to WFP, and in particular the replenishment of the IEFR reserves which have been depleated due to the major emergencies which have taken place globally. We believe that the increased cash component element would help the programme and the recipient countries to meet operational costs that have tended to increase over time. My delegation wishes to draw the attention of this Council to paragraph 83 and its contents. We appeal for urgent action to be taken by all concerned to protect the convoys, particularly as many of them are private contractors.
My delegation agrees that there is a very urgent need to assist WFP with housing facilities and we hope that the host government will continue to demonstrate its everlasting generosity and conclude ongoing negotiations.
We commend the Organization for the improvement of the organizational structure and management process and in the adoption of INTERFAIS including steps to improve project formulation and project approval processes. My country welcomes continued attention to the food crisis in Africa and in this regard welcomes the developments mentioned in paragraph 89. We also welcome the training activities mentioned in paragraph 92. In conclusion, my delegation would wish to convey its gratitude to the WFP for the continuing support and cooperation with my country.
James AITKEN (United Kingdom): As the United Kimgdon is a member of the CFA my intervention will be brief. We would like to thank Mr. Ingram and Mr. Dutia for their introduction to this item. My Government continues to support WFP and we congratulate the Programme on sending record shipments to developing countries of over 2.4 million tons in 1987. We recognize that WFP plays an important role in coordinating deliveries of food aid to certain countries with particular problems, for example, Ethiopia. This is a very valuable service to donors and recipients alike.
Looking at the documents before us, however, we were concerned at the slight drop in the proportion of new commitments made to low income food deficit countries. We hope that this trend can be reversed in future years. We are pleased to note that the structural reorganization following management's review implemented in 1987 continues. I should like to stress the importance we attach to the improvements in procedure agreed for CFA also being implemented this year.
We were pleased to hear the Executive-Director's comments on sustainable development. We were delighted that WFP is putting increasing stress on the conservation of natural resources. We share the views of the Brundtland Report concerning the interrelationship between poverty and the environment. There should be an increased emphasis on WFP projects on helping to reduce pressures in the environment that stem from the immediate needs of the poorer sectors of the community.
We look forward to receiving the report of the 27th CFA in 1989 on the contribution of WFP to the implementation of the General Assembly resolutions on the Brundtlant Report. I should like to confirm our support for WFP's policy on the advancement of women throughout the WFP Programme. We believe it is important to avoid any action which tends to separate women's interests from the existence that is an integral part of the WFP Programme.
We support the principal of triangular transactions and we are glad to note the prominence given to these in the Programme. We also welcome the role of WFP in support of structural adjustment programmes. As the distinguished delegate of Canada, we are concerned that there should be adequate evaluation of WFP programmes and we will watch the implementation of the project cycle with interest.
Finally, I should like to add my delegation's support to those delegations which have expressed a hope that there will be rapid progress on the arrangements for new accommodation for WFP.
Roberto Ε.Ε· DALTON (Argentina): Mi país miembro saliente del CPA quiere hacer llegar su felicitación a los colegas que acabamos de elegir para ocupar esas importantes funciones.
Mi delegación, Sr. Presidente, participó de los trabajos del 25° período de sesiones del Comité, a cuyo 13° Informe Anual al ECOSOC, a este Consejo y al Consejo Mundial de la Alimentación, contenido en el documento CL 94/9, reiteramos nuestro apoyo.
Queremos agradecer la concisa y clara introducción del tema que ha hecho el Dr. Ingram, y también agradecemos los comentarios que nos ha hecho llegar el Director General de la FAO, que hemos escuchado con sumo interés.
Tal como lo hicimos durante el último período de sesiones del CPA, mi delegación quiere destacar la colaboración que recibimos del PMA, mediante operaciones triangulares, que le dan un alto grado de efectividad a nuestra propia ayuda alimentaria, ya que permite que las donaciones argentinas lleguen rápida y oportunamente a los países receptores.
Para terminar, Sr. Presidente, la delegación argentina quiere agradecer, una vez más, al Gobierno de la República Italiana por su decido apoyo y generosas contribuciones a los organismos alimentarios con sede en Roma.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): En nombre del Gobierno de Colombia felicitamos a los cinco miembros recién elegidos del CPA y expresamos nuestro agradecimiento a la colaboración ofrecida por aquellos miembros salientes.
Este Informe que abarca los dos períodos de sesiones celebrados en 1987, confirma una vez más que el PMA alcanzó un nivel sin precedentes en la cantidad de alimentos enviados a los países beneficiarios, como lo señaló el colega de Francia. El Gobierno de Colombia ha atribuido siempre gran importancia a las asignaciones para proyectos de desarrollo porque así podrá ir desapareciendo el aspecto "caridad", que no debe caracterizar la acción del PMA. Apoyamos los conceptos expresados por la distinguida Representante de Finlandia sobre la mejor y más eficaz forma de utilizar los recursos.
Lamentamos que se haya detenido la tendencia, que antes era afortunademente ascendente, dirigida a aumentar los recursos para proyectos de desarrollo que en 1987 bajaron a 1.5 millones de toneladas, frente al 1.8 de 1985 y 1986. Ojalá que se cumplan y aún se incremente ese mismo porcentaje previsto para 1988, como lo han dicho los colegas de México y Hungría.
Convendrá que en el Informe destaquemos el acierto del PMA al haber venido intensificando las compras de alimentos a países en desarrollo. En 1987, esas compras alcanzaron un volumen sin precedentes y las tres cuartas partes correspondieron a países en desarrollo. Hay que incrementar aún más esa proporción.
A los Representantes de Colombia nos complace registrar positivamente la asistencia del PMA al Africa, y esperamos que ésta se adelante en cooperación con todas las organizaciones competentes, particularmente con la FAO. La plena cooperación FAO/PMA debe ser integral en todas las comunes actividades de las dos organizaciones.
Es admirable que durante 1987 el PMA haya beneficiado a más de 20 millones de personas, con gastos administrativos mínimos, los más bajos de todos los organismos de ayuda para el desarrollo, según se afirma en el párrafo 17.
En cuanto a la distribución de ayuda del PMA por regiones, la difícil situación del Africa Subsahariana continúa justificando la alta prioridad a esa región, que obtuvo el 37% de los recursos. Para Asia y el Pacífico, la asistencia subió del 26 al 33%, mientras que en América Latina y el Caribe esa asistencia se mantuvo estable. Una vez más insistimos en que, aún dentro de las prioridades vigentes será necesario conceder ayuda alimentaria a aquellos países de América Latina y el Caribe que la soliciten, pues si bien algunos de esos países han alcanzado cierto grado de desarrollo, todavía requieren asistencia alimentaria para atender a su propia situación interna y generalmente a bolsones de pobreza que subsisten.
El párrafo 60 se refiere a los recursos para la RAIE. Creemos que después de más de 14 años de haberse fijado el objetivo anual de la RAIE, ya no debe hablarse de esa cifra; ojalá no se deba hablar de ese término de 500.000 toneladas de cereales, ni decir que se rebasó ese objetivo, porque así se desalienta a los donantes quienes piensan que ya han superando esa cifra, que en verdad resulta obsoleta después de 14 años. Pensamos que bastaría simplemente registrar el aumento de los recursos para la RAIE, señalando que, no obstante, aún esos recursos no son suficientes y demandando mayores contribuciones, como lo ha dicho el Embajador Ahmed del Bangladesh.
Es importante destacar como muestra de confianza en el Programa, el hecho de que las aportaciones totales a la RAIE en 1987, la casi totalidad, un 96%, se canalizó multilateralmente a través del PMA. Igualmente, el Consejo deberá señalar con encomio y como ejemplo a seguir las contribuciones a la RAIE de tres países africanos: Angola, Congo y Lesotho.
Magnífico que se hayan intensificado las transacciones triangulares, vinculadas a las compras de alimentos en los países en desarrollo, transacciones triangulares que tienen multiples ventajas, y sobre las cuales no vamos a insistir porque ya lo han dicho muy bien los colegas de la República Federal de Alemania y Kenya particularmente. Agradecemos los anuncios de la República Federal de Alemania y del Canadá, países que son valiosos contribuyentes al Programa.
En todos este Informe, hay un solo aspecto negativo, y está en el párrafo 78. La utilización de buques con pabellón de países en desarrollo ha disminuido considerablemente; y ello nos preocupa. En volúmen del récord del 27% en 1986, se volvió al sólo 21.4% en 1987. Es ficticia y un poco desorientadora la referencia al número de buques utilizados, porque si aceptáramos ese argumento para 1988 podría el Programa decirnos que volvió a descender la participación de los países en desarrollo en volúmen y valor de los fletes, pero que aumentó considerablemente el numero de chalupas, canoas, botes y maderas de los países en desarrollo.
Preguntamos al Director Ejecutivo de manera cordial y respetuosa si está tomando medidas para corregir esa situación.
Queremos, Sr. Presidente, sumar nuestro apoyo a lo que han dicho los colegas de Estados Unidos, Canadá, Kenya, Reino Unido y otros, en el sentido de que ha llegado el momento de que se dote al PMA de una sede adecuada, y con mucho respeto quisiéramos preguntar al Embajador de Italia, si subsiste el generoso ofrecimiento del Gobierno de este país tan altruista y si fuere así, Sr. Presidente, el Consejo debe expresar su deseo de que se superen las dificultades que puedan subsistir para que en pleno entendimiento, con toda comprensión y buena voluntad se logre dotar al PMA de su propia sede.
Sobre la sección seis, Administración, hemos seguido con atención la impleraentación de las medidas sugeridas por los célebres consultores McKenzies, sobre la nueva estructura del PMA. Tenemos la impresión de que todo se está cumpliendo regular y satisfactoriamente. Recientemente se ascendieron algunos profesionales juniors, entre éstos unos pocos latinoamericanos, de manera que se tiende así a corregir aunque todavía no con la intensidad deseada, el desequilibrio geográfico que hemos anotado en el personal del PMA y, en cierta medida, se está volviendo a dar forma triangular a la pirámide que se había vuelto excesivamente cuadrada y a dotar de buenos y eficientes soldados P3 y P4 y a los generales D2 y D1.
Todo ello contribuirá a estimular a los funcionarios del PMA a todos los niveles y revela, lo declaramos con satisfacción, que se ha puesto en práctica en el Programa una adecuada dinámica y positiva política de personal.
Sr. Ingram, en nombre del Gobierno de Colombia hago propicia esta oportunidad para reiterar a Ud. nuestro más pleno apoyo. Estamos seguros de que bajo su dirección como administrador serio, ordenado, correcto y eficaz, el PMA continuará su valiosa labor de asistencia a los países en desarrollo.
Stet Muhammad Saleem KHAN (Pakistan): My delegation also welcomes the Thirteenth Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes and notes with satisfaction that, as always, this Report also is a reflection of the commitment of the World Food Programme, its Executive Director and the members of its staff, towards its challenging task of alleviating poverty, hunger and misery among millions of suffering inhabitants of the world.
We would specifically like to compliment the Programme on its record all-time-high levels of food shipments during 1987 - particularly those for WFP's development projects. However, we do hope for an upsurge in commitments, during 1988, for development projects, which have fallen below 1986 levels. In this context, I would make a particular mention of commitments for projects relating to environmental improvement and human resource development.
Another aspect of satisfaction has been the increase in WFP commitments for non-food items. Here we would do well to remind ourselves that WFP projects in developing countries often suffer from the inability of many of these countries to raise sufficient counterpart resources, to meet the expenditure on account of such items and other project-related costs of government responsibility. Increased participation of WFP in such costs would not only provide the much needed relief to their hard-pressed economies, but would also facilitate timely completion of the projects with their attendant benefits. Where direct indulgence of WFP in these costs may not be possible, we would recommend WFP's involvement in assisting the beneficiary country in obtaining the same from some external bilateral or multilateral source. In other words, we feel the co-financing aspect should be built into the project at the time of project preparation.
Moving to the subject of emergency aid situations, we are impressed with the speed and alacrity with which WFP has been responding to such contingencies all over the world; whether it has been the food crises in Africa, the floods in Bangladesh or the Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
I take this opportunity to thank the WEP and the donor countries who have come to our assistance in the humanitarian cause of supporting the 3 million Afghan refugees based on our soil. We hope that this assistance will continue until such time that these refugees can return in peace and honour to their homeland in terms of the Geneva Agreement.
While the WEP has been performing its onerous tasks resolutely we note that its emergency resources, both in case of the IEFR and its regular resources, fell short of demand during 1987. The shortfall on the regular resources of the Progrmme is anticipated to be of the magnitude of 0.2 billion U.S. dollars towards the end of 1988. We would like to record our special appreciation to the donor countries for supporting OTP by their generous pledging of resources. However, we sincerely hope that this generosity would further extend to cover the deficits of the Programme. As mentioned by our colleague from Colombia, a special note of recognition needs also to be recorded for the donations to the IEFR, by Angola, Congo and Lesotho, despite their own economic problems.
We are happy to note the increase in triangular transactions and in local purchases in the developing countries as well as the effort to increase use of flag vessels of developing countries. We would like these trends to continue and expand further.
It is also gratifying to note that the management changes and the streamlining of procedures initiated earlier have been maintained as a continuing process and are having a healthy impact on the performance and the services being rendered by the Programme. I would like to refer to paragraph 92 of document CL 94/9 and the new training approach. While commending this, my delegation would like to suggest extending the benefits of this training programme to key coordinators of WFP projects in various developing countries, in addition to WFP staff, enabling them to have better perceptions of WFP methods and requirements. This would lead to better identification, preparation and implementation of projects. Before I end, my delegation would also like to associate itself with the proposal of the delegate from Zambia for WFP's effective support and guidance to valuable regional efforts, like the recently resolved regional food reserve question recently resolved by the Third OIC Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development held at Islamabad.
I conclude by endorsing the document and assuring WFP of the full support of my government.
Premanandu TRIPATHY (India): The Indian delegation welcomes the new members elected to the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes. We note that document CL 94/9 is a nice compendium of WFP operations in 1987 and analyzes the main trends on programmes for agricultural development and assistance for nutritional feeding and emergency programmes.
We congratulate the WFP on its completion of 25 years of satisfactory service to the world community.
India has always supported adequate aid for emergency programmes and aid for programmes designed to ensure higher food production and self-sufficiency. We are extremely happy that WFP increased its support for the UN/PAAERD, the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development, in 1987.
It is also gratifying that WFP purchased three-quarters of food from the developing countries and that food, nutrition and environmental aspects continue to be of major relevance in WFP programmes. We notice, however, that the reserve position of IEFR is serious, and needs supplementation. This we feel should receive our attention. The extent to which contributions to food aid reserve by several countries can be kept at some realistic agreed level by understanding or convention, to be revised upwards at intervals, may have to be explored in this background.
The effort to promote south-south co-operation through WFP programmes is heartening indeed. The proposed thrust to tap the exportable food surplus of developing countries by purchase, through triangular transactions to meet the food aid needs is also a very laudable approach and has the full support of India.
Here I would mention a brief point which has also already been referred to by my esteemed colleague from Colombia. This relates to the matter mentioned in paragraphs 77 and 78 of this document. It indicates that the developing countries' share of participation in the shipping of WFP commodities has declined in 1987 and also that expenditure on transport has increased by about 16%. We feel that this item may need some attention from WFP.
Finally, we do hope that the present emphasis on earmarking the bulk of food aid of WFP to the low-income, food-deficient and least developing countries would continue, and that FAO and WFP would work hand-in-hand and smoothly in this very important sphere to alleviate poverty, malnutrition and hunger.
Danilo VALLE (Nicaragua): Mi Delegación agradece al Sr. Ingram su excelente y clara presentación del Informe así como los comentarios hechos por el Sr. Dutia. También saludamos la elección de los nuevos cinco miembros del CPA y agradecemos el trabajo realizado por los cinco miembros salientes.
Permítame limitar mi intervención a la asistencia del PMA en mi país, Nicaragua. Desde el mes de abril de 1972 hasta la fecha, el PMA ha comprometido una ayuda al país de 132.000 toneladas métricas de alimentos que viene a representar por persona alrededor de cuatro kilos. Si consideramos la población estimada en un 3.3 millones de personas, o sea uno de los más altos per capita en el continente latinoamericano. Este trabajo ha sido proporcionado a través de proyectos de desarrollo y de operaciones de emergencia. El volumen de la asistencia podemos resumirlo así el total de proyectos completados, en operaciones de desarrollo y próximos a iniciarse así como el total de operaciones urgentes y en desarrollo arroja un numero de 34; el total de toneladas métricas de alimentos entregadas arroja una cifra de 132.040 toneladas métricas; en dólares nos arroja un total de 104.5 millones de dólares.
La asistencia del PMA se ha orientado a los distintos sectores económicos y sociales del país hacia proyectos de producción, de reforestación, campañas de alfabetización, y atención a desplazados y refugiados de conflictos bélicos así como para enfrentar desastres naturales. El numero de habitantes que ha sido beneficiado por estos proyectos sobrepasa las 500.000 personas, habiendo habido una asistencia sostenida desde 1983, de un alto porcentaje de desplazados de guerra que anda por alrededor de 155.000 personas, incluyendo niños y ancianos.
También ha habido apoyo y asistencia para cerca de 2.000 refugiados salvadoreños y guatemaltecos a quienes se les ha atendido por cerca de tres años y se les ha facilitado su integración a proyectos productivos del país.
Nuestra delegación considera que el PMA ha respondido en forma bastante satisfactoria a nuestras solicitudes de proyectos. Por ejemplo, remitiéndonos a un caso específico, tenemos que en el Proyecto PMA-Nicaragua 25/93, Fomento al Desarrollo Lechero, aun estando en plena ejecución, cuando hemos requerido de una ampliación de presupuesto, ésta ha sido atendida en forma ágil y rápida, habiendo demorado no más de 60 días todo el trámite hasta la propia recepción del producto. Siguiendo con el ejemplo de este mismo proyecto, en mayo de este año en su última sesión, el CPA aprobó una segunda fase del mismo por cinco años de duración, estando actualmente en los pasos previos para la firma del Plan de operaciones correspondiente; ya la sede del PMA ha iniciado las acciones correspondientes para el envío de la primera remesa de productos con el propósito de que ésta se reciba antes de que se finalice la actual fase y evitar así una interrupción de sus actividades.
En algunas operaciones de emergencia, también el PMA ha cumplido con eficiencia, tal es el caso del EMOP-13 y 3- Asistencia a Víctimas de la Sequía, la cual fue aprobada en menos de 20 días y los alimentos llegaron pocos días depués. Es casi normal que los productos solicitados para cada proyecto se reciban dentro de un plazo de cinco a seis meses, luego de ser solicitados. Sin embargo, el PMA en varias acciones ha hecho oportuna entrega de los productos que ha comprometido.
Nos referimos por ejemplo al envío de barcos fletados denominados”charters” con muy buenos resultados. En 1986, el PMA contrató dos barcos, el”Glory Ocean” y el”Mercury Bay” los que trajeron a Nicaragua más de 13.000 toneladas métricas de diversos productos. En 1988, contrató tres buques, el”Sun Star”, el”Lamas” y el”Whitley Bay” los cuales transportaron alrededor de 12.200 toneladas métricas de frijol, aceite vegetal, harina de trigo, maíz, etc.. En este último caso, fueron incluidas donaciones bilaterales de frijol que los Gobiernos de Italia y Canadá hicieron a Nicaragua. Al utilizarse los servicios del PMA para este efecto, esto se va convirtiendo en una oportuna modalidad de labor del PMA en beneficio de donantes y receptores.
Tomando en consideración que las Naciones Unidas otorgó a Nicaragua un trato preferencial, nuestro Gobierno viene recibiendo del PMA un subsidio para los gastos de transporte interno, almacenamiento y manejo de los productos que esta Organización le entrega.
Para concluir, Sr. Presidente, sólo rae resta decir que la ayuda del PMA para Nicaragua ha sido extensa y altamente provechosa; que el PMA ha realizado en varias ocasiones esfuerzos encomiables para socorrer a nuestro país en situaciones difíciles, y en algunos casos, hemos recibido ayuda alimentaria por adelantado.
Queremos expresar asimismo que también en algunas ocasiones hemos sufrido atrasos en la entrega de la ayuda por diversas causas, pero que esta situación no sólo se ha manifestado a trêves del PMA sino también a través de otras instituciones de las Naciones Unidas.
Y para terminar, consideramos nosotros que se deben mejorar quizás estos mecanismos a fin de que el apoyo y la ayuda lleguen a tiempo a los países que la requieran. Y dentro de ese orden, recomendaríamos nosotros constituir reservas de alimentos en distintos países del mundo para hacerle frente a las situaciones de desastres naturales que se presenten como terremotos, inundaciones, plagas de langosta, etc. pudiéndose dar de esta manera una respuesta más oportuna para el país afectado. En esta línea, el Gobierno de Nicaragua se ofrece como Sede para estas reservas en el área Centroamericana.
Angus MACDONALD (Australia): Because of the overall satisfaction with which Australia holds the World Food Programme and comments on the Annual Report made in the Committee on Food Aid, my intervention can be brief. We commend the Programme for its record-setting achievements in 1987, while deploring the necessity to devote a continuing high proportion of scarce resources to emergency situations. Australia will continue to provide resources for the Programme to the best of our ability, and consistent with our own economic progress. We agree that food aid can, and generally is, used as an effective development tool, and we recognize the primary role that the World Food Programme has played over 25 years in developing and ensuring the effectiveness of food aid.
We encourage WFP efforts in promoting south-south trade through triangular transactions and appreciate their assistance in facilitating triangular food swap arrangements.
All those countries which work closely with the World Food Programme, both donors and recipients, are presently experiencing the benefits of the new WFP management structure, and its food aid information system. We trust that the Organization will soon be able to proceed with progress on a new permanent headquarters commensurate with its important global role.
Juan NUIRY SANCHEZ (Cuba): La Delegación de Cuba quiere expresar la más cordial bienvenida al Sr. Ingram a esta sesión, así como también queremos resaltar la excelente información brindada por él. También queremos agradecer al Sr. Dutia la presentación del documento CL 94/9. Señor Presidente, en nombre de nuestra Delegación, queremos resaltar la importancia de las actividades del PMA, en su noble propósito de asistir a los afectados por el hambre, fundamentalmente en situaciones de emergencia, y resaltar que esta asistencia se ha realizado con la prontitud requerida y necesaria.
El Gobierno de Cuba ha tenido situaciones de emergencia. Además del bloqueo eterno a que se nos tiene sometidos, que no ha dejado de cesar, y las agresiones de todo tipo, se han sumado también desastres naturales, y hemos podido constatar la eficiencia del Programa.
Mi Delegación quiere también referirse a otro aspecto de las labores del PMA, aquellas que significan la asistencia para erradicar el hambre a través de los programas para el desarrollo. Nuestro país tiene en ejecución un proyecto para el desarrollo ganadero, con muy buenos resultados. No queremos repetir, pero no podemos pasar por alto lo que esta ayuda a los países en desarrollo representa en necesidad momentánea, como en su proyección agropecuaria. Erradicar el hambre, creo, debe ser el primer paso para erradicar el subdesarrollo. De ahí la importancia de los organismos especializados, no sólo instrumentando y analizando los efectos y graves problemas que gravitan en el mundo, sino materializándolos, ayudándolos, ya sea de inmediato, ante una necesidad de emergencia, como prestando su asistencia. No basta comer un día, sino comer todos los días, oí una vez y hoy repito. Bajo esa premisa es el respaldo, la fuerza que nosotros brindamos desde esta sala de conferencias, para que el PMA pueda continuar con el mismo auge y dinamismo, tan destacado en la mañana de hoy por todos los distinguidos colegas que me han precedido en el uso de la palabra. El PMA ha dado prueba de su capacidad asistencial en todos los sitios del planeta, y en particular ha sido esencial en la región africana, que desde hace años viene padeciendo escasez de alimentos por fenómenos naturales.
También queremos en este momento destacar la rapidez en la respuesta recibida ante la problemática por el azote ciclónico que tan graves efectos ocasionó recientemente a países de nuestra área, como Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panamá y El Salvador. Saludamos la puesta en práctica de principios normativos aprobados por el 23 CFAPR, que aseguró la participación de la mujer en los proyectos del PMA. Finalmente queremos, en nombre de la Delegación de Cuba, felicitar a los nuevos miembros que han sido elegidos para formar parte del CPA en la mañana de hoy.
Gian Luigi VALENZA (Italie): Je voudrais me limiter ici à répondre sans trop tarder à la requête faite par le Représentant de la Colombie et d'autres orateurs.
Le Gouvernement italien avait prévu la conclusion d'un accord avec le Programme alimentaire mondial, avant la fin de cette année et la recherche successive d'un siège définitif. Nous attendons maintenant de savoir si l'accord déjà prévu pourra en effet être signé dans des délais raisonnables. Mais, évidemment, nous ne pouvons pas influencer directement une telle décision qui doit être prise exclusivement au sein de la famille des Nations Unies.
Ce qui reste, par contre, très clair et très sûr, c'est le fait que le Gouvernement italien continue depuis quelques années à payer - et continuera vraisemblablement à le faire - l'essentiel du loyer relatif aux locaux que le Programme alimentaire mondial occupe actuellement à Rome.
Yousef Ali MAHMOUD HAMDI (Egypt) (Original language Arabie): We would like to thank Mr. Ingram, the Executive Director of the WFP for his excellent review of the report under consideration. We would like also to thank Mr. Dutia for his comment in which he referred to the close cooperation between FAO and the WFP, a matter which we are happy to hear. Allow me to endorse the report of the Committee and to congratulate the Executive Director and his collaborators for the efforts they deployed in managing the Programme and its operations in the service of a huge portion of humanity, either through responding to emergency situations or relief operations for refugees, agricultural and rural development and the development of human resources.
We would like to recall in this respect the following points: we do agree with the policy pursued by the Programme, namely that Africa will remain the main focus of the Programme's operations. We support the activities of the Programme in the field of women and development and take into consideration the role of women during project design, review and evaluation. We congratulate the Programme on the establishment of a network on the information on food aid which links all organizations and relative organs related to food aid statistics and information. No doubt this system will have a positive impact on the operations of the Programme and its achievement and as is referred to in the document, this would require full cooperation between donor countries and recipients and the various bodies and organizations and this is something we look forward to and we would like to stress.
Raúl LOPEZ-LIRA NAVA (México): Discúlpeme que vuelva a hacer uso de la palabra. Simplemente quisiera manifestar una preocupación que tiene mi Delegación y que se refiere a que en muchos casos la ayuda no es tan efectiva, ya que se carece de conocimientos y de facilidades para manejar esta ayuda dentro de los propios países- Mi intervención será en el sentido de hacer una solicitud a la FAO o al órgano competente, si fuera posible, ya que el distribuir alimentos tiene una tecnología e implica no sólo el almacenamiento y transporte, sino también educar a los consumidores. Este punto no ha sido debidamente discutido, y quisiéramos preguntar a la FAO si no podría dar un servicio de asistencia técnica en este sentido de apoyar un consumo más racional de esta ayuda. Eso es todo.
Gian Paolo PAPA (CEE): C'est avec intérêt que nous avons lu le treizième rapport du CPA portant sur 1987, année du 25ème anniversaire du Programme alimentaire mondial.
Il est intéressant de noter qu'en 1987 le Programme a permis pour la deuxième année consécutive de mettre en oeuvre une quantité sans précédent de produits, soit au total 2,4 millions de tonnes. Les livraisons aux pays en développement ont atteint le niveau record de 1,50 million de tonnes, mais il est inquiétant que la nécessité de faire face à des calamités diverses ait également fait de 1987 une année record en ce qui concerne la fourniture d'aides d'urgence dans le cadre des dits programmes, soit quelques 838 mille tonnes.
Le Programme joue un rôle précieux en matière de coordination des réactions des fournisseurs d'aides alimentaires aux situations d'urgence. Il convient de reconnaître le succès qu'il a permis d'obtenir en faisant acheminer des denrées alimentaires par camions ou par d'autres moyens de transport vers l'Ethiopie, le Sud du Soudan, le Malawi ou le Mozambique.
Pour être en mesure de maintenir l'aide au niveau requis, il faut que le programme soit doté des ressources nécessaires. Au paragraphe 59 du Rapport il est indiqué que l'objectif visé pour les deux années 1987 et 1988, en fonction des engagements souscrits par les autres donateurs, avait été réalisé à 75 pour cent seulement à la fin de 1987, et qu'on espérait porter le taux de réalisation à 84 pour cent à la fin de 1988.
Il serait pourtant intéressant de connaître: premièrement le niveau réel des engagements souscrits à ce jour, deuxièmement le maximum qu'on espère pouvoir atteindre en fin de compte.
Qu'il me soit permis de saluer la pratique adoptée par le CPA depuis quelques années qui consiste à soumettre au Comité, à chacune de ses sessions, une étude des politiques et des programmes d'aide alimentaire concernant soit un pays donneur, soit un pays receveur.
Lors de la 24ème session tenue en octobre 1987 la Communauté européennee focalisait l'attention. A cette fin, le Secrétariat a produit un important document établi en étroite collaboration avec les fonctionnaires concernés de la Commission. L'étude de ce document a été précédée d'une déclaration liminaire de M. Frisch, Directeur général du développement. La déclaration et l'étude établies par le Secrétariat ont été toutes les deux accueillies par le Comité qui a reconnu l'importance du rôle joué par la Communauté en matière d'aide alimentaire, et souligné son adhésion à la priorité qu'elle accorde au soutien des projets et des programmes ayant pour effet de stimuler la production alimentaire dans les pays receveurs.
Nous nous réjouissons du fait que la Communauté et ses Etats Membres soient les premiers donneurs du Programme alimentaire mondial.
Il y a lieu aussi de souligner qu'en 1988 la Communauté a dépassé aussi, en termes quantitatifs, sa contribution de 1987 au PAM. Et malgré la pénurie mondiale de lait et les augmentations correspondantes de prix, la CEE a maintenu, voire augmenté, ses engagements.
Pour conclure de façon plus générale, qu'il me soit permis de rappeler que pour l'année 1988 des crédits de plus de 550 millions d'écus ont été prévus en matière d'aide alimentaire, ce qui donne à la Communauté en tant que telle la place de 2ème donneur mondial.
A ce chiffre d'environ 630 millions de dollars USA, il y a lieu d'ajouter les importantes aides bilatérales des Etats Membres de la CEE.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous arrivons ainsi à la fin du débat et je donne la parole â M. Ingram.
James INGRAM (Executive Director, WFP): I think before I begin I should join in the congratulations to those delegations that have been elected to the CFA, or re-elected as in some cases is the situation. We welcome back all and extend a particularly warm welcome to those who are either just returning after an absence or are elected for the first time. I look forward very much to working closely with those five delegations.
I would also like to thank the Committee for the very many constructive comments that were made this morning. I think it has been the practice since I have been here, I think this is now the seventh experience I have had of this annual discussion of the CFA's Annual Report and I think without exception, during those seven years, the remarks made in the Council have been encouraging to the Programme. We depend on your enthusiastic support, donors or recipients. I think we are lucky in fact, that while there are something in excess of 90 recipients, there are approximately the same number of donors and in fact the contributions from the developing countries are just as valued as are those of the large developed countries.
Not only do these in some cases fairly substantial contributions make a real increase in our resources, they add commodities that we otherwise would not be able to obtain or at least we would have to buy. Of course, they are an encouragement to the governments of the main donor countries that this is indeed a mutual programme in which virtually all developed and developing countries participate not only as in the case of developing countries as recipients but also as donors. Therefore, these remarks are always encouraging.
Equally, we find great value in the observations - critical though some may be - and the questions that may be asked, and so on. I am going to say a little bit about what seemed to me to be not necessarily the most important observations but some which I think might help you to have a better understanding of our work. These comments I suppose basically come under three headings in relation to our development projects, in relation to our support for disasters, and our work in shipping and transport.
I will take up first the development projects. I suppose our task as we see it in the Secretariat is one of continuous improvement. That was the reason for introducing a new project cycle which I am pleased to say is effectively introduced now. It is the consensus of almost all that it has led to substantial improvements. It has led to substantial improvements essentially in that it has
provided the intellectual framework under which food aid can be effectively used for development. Food aid is only in part a nutritional resource. It often represents an income transfer to the beneficiary. We need to be clear about the objectives that are being served. We need to be clear about the function of food aid in relation to a particular project. We need also to be very clear in our minds about who actually benefits because again over time the programme has made the focus of its attention the poorest people. Therefore, it is very important to understand, if we are going to alleviate poverty and we are going to use food aid in the alleviation of poverty that we are going to do it so that we do not create dependence. It is very important to have clear objectives, both short and long term; it is very important to have an understanding of the function of food aid and very important to know who is going to benefit.
We feel that our approach to project design has greatly clarified all of those factors. I also have to say that in the new approach there has not, in fact, been any less reliance upon our esteemed evaluation service. On the contrary, the involvement of the findings of the evaluators is more effective within the current framework than it was before. It is great to have an evaluation. It is great to see what the weaknesses are as well as the strengths of projects, but if you cannot integrate the lessons into the design of future projects you are only getting half the benefit of an evaluation service. That indeed is what we are trying to do in the project cycle, to the improved project cycle, to ensure better use of the findings of our evaluation.
The same goes in relation to the design of these monitoring and evaluation systems which are intended to facilitate an assessment of progress made in relation to projects. In the design of these components we have sought to keep them low cost. We are seeking wherever possible to use the institutions of developing countries for the design of these components of projects. That means we are now spending more, if you like, in terms of encouraging the institutes of developing countries to become involved in work relating to the use of food aid. This is, however, a slow process. I admit it is a slow process, but we believe we are making very steady progress. Let us face it, in the use of food aid, as WFP uses it, there really is no other global organization which has this kind of experience. We are the pioneers in the food aid business. What we are undertaking to do is sui generis. It is recognized that if you are to be a path-finder you have to proceed with a degree of modest caution.
I say all that because I welcome the comments made about project performance. We fully agree that that is the aim, to improve our project work, but I would submit that the balance of opinion is that we are making very considerable progress.
This brings me to a perhaps more specific point that was raised in relation to our projects, and that is in relation to the management of the funds generated by the sale of commodities. This is indeed a vexed question. I would have to say, however, that it is not something that the Programme has just suddenly discovered. On the contrary, in 1986 we made a thorough review by sending questionnaires and analysing them from all our field posts with a view to establishing precisely what the weaknesses are in regard to the management of generated funds. It was as a result of that analysis that we drew up guidelines for the future management of generated funds. These were submitted to CFA 23, were endorsed by CFA 23. They have been introduced into our manual, and they are now an integral part of the Programme's work in the management of food aid in relation to these projects. Indeed, I think it was acknowledged during the discussion of the guidelines in CFA 23 that these particular guidelines could well serve as a model for bilateral donors in the management of funds from their own projects. I would like to say that this whole issue has indeed been made much more difficult by the current economic circumstances of so many developing countries. In his report the External Auditor, while he drew attention to problems in the use of the generated funds, also noted that in nine of the 11 projects examined the failure was as much due to the inability of governments - and I am reading now - to provide such non-food inputs as staff, raw materials, equipment and logistical support. In other words, WFP like every development agency at the present time is up against a very serious problem: the dearth of resources for most developing countries, the pressures on their economies as a result of the debt issue, as a result of the structural adjustment programmes they are having to undertake. We quite frequently have found in relation to these projects which involve generated funds that the foreign exchange simply is not available not only of course from the government affected but from other bilateral donor or any other international agency. If you take, for example, dairy development which is one of the areas where we are quite often involved in the use of generated funds, the success of these projects may well require significant investment in new machinery. Unless the funds for that are forthcoming, it is going to be very hard indeed to reach the target set in the project for the use of the counterpart funds. It is a complicated issue made much worse by the current circumstances of governments.
I would also have to say, picking up a point made by an important donor delegation, that it is very difficult today in Africa, for example, especially, not only in Africa but especially in Africa, to develop new projects to the extent that we would like. The biggest constraint on this is the lack of resources that these governments have. They simply do not have the resources to enable us to develop and implement these projects. They are not getting the resources from other donors. It
is a tremendous problem. There are in practice limits set on the ability of WFP to use food aid in support of development by these very constrained circumstances that governments, especially in southern Africa, find themselves in.
The next subject I might say a few words about is in relation to disasters. I do not really have a lot to say on this issue. I have noted with interest the remarks that have been made. I should hasten to add that when we say that the resources of the IFER are not adequate, and they will not be adequate this year but we shall be borrowing against pledges next year, I expect in practice that no one we seek to reach will go without assistance at all, I think we have to put it all a little in perspective. We do find that donors during the course of the year - and we had one or two announcements of that practice this morning - are willing to make additional contributions. I do not want you to have the impression that somehow there is an indifference on the part of donors to the problems we face. There is not. We are managing somehow. We are scraping through. Let us also not forget that in relation to many disaster situations there are many other donors as well as the WFP. The main crop failure situations are supported more heavily by other donors, so let us keep it in perspective. But the IFER, which the General Assembly placed at the disposal of the WFP for management by WFP, is inordinately difficult to manage. I have my own ideas about how it should be improved, and I expect that in due course I will present them to you, but I do not want you to be left with any impression that somehow people are starving to death because there are not enough resources in the IEFR. That is not really the situation. The problem is that we are somehow managing, not as well as we would like to but somehow we are getting there.
On the issue of transport, not too much was said about that today although perhaps I should get on to it since I recollect that in the context of saying something about transport one delegate mentioned regional cooperation. This was an aspect also of emergency management. Reference was made to the recent conclusions of the Islamic Conference, and certainly I would like to say that the WFP is always ready to examine constructively proposals which relate to stocks, which I think is the situation here. We do have within our rather large portfolio of projects some which relate to national stocks. Our own view is that these have a very important place in the management of disasters and certainly there may be a very good case for regional stocks.
The Programme will be happy to cooperate with all in looking at this kind of matter. As so many delegates spoke about the importance of regional cooperation, it has led my mind to think of cooperation generally. A number of delegates spoke about the importance of cooperation with sister agencies in the UN system. I should like to reiterate that our record in this regard is second to none. Certainly, we have excellent relations with UNIDO, as was mentioned. We are willing to utilize the services of UNIDO as we utilize the services of ILO, WHO or Unesco, and, of course, FAO which is our main source of technical advice in relation to agricultural projects. Our projects encompass virtually every discipline. It is for this reason that we also purchase the technical services of other agencies or work very closely with them, for example UNEP.
In relation to the transport, I would like to assure those delegates who raised the issue that, of course, the Programme seeks shipping services from all countries. The system is one of open bidding and is a rather complex system. We are completely committed to increasing the share of the developing countries, but the exigencies of particular situations and circumstances inevitably mean some fluctuations from year to year. I would not quite agree with the delegate who felt that just because we were using more ships from developing countries that this was not necessarily of great importance. I think it is of great importance to the countries whose ships are used. We are great users of liner services and keeping liner services going depends upon getting lots of contracts over time. It is important to all that we were able to increase the use of developing countries shipping services in this regard. Equally in relation to internal transport - depending, of course, on the circumstances - we utilized the services of the developing countries.
There is another important point which should be mentioned, namely, one delegation hoped that there would be an upsurge in project commitments in 1988/89. I should have to say, as you recall, I mentioned in my address, that while we have spent US$25 million more already this year on purchases from developing countries, we are getting less food. This is because prices have risen. Commitment to our projects is expressed in food tonnages. The programme faces something of a problem in the sense that with the rise in commodity prices we may well have available to us next year (and in future years) a diminished quantity of food. This would necessarily mean a reduction in commitments. Unfortunately - or perhaps fortunately in some senses - the donor governments treat food aid in precisely the same way as any other form of development assistance, that is it has to compete within the budgets against technical assistance, financial aid or whatever it might be. This means, if you get a certain amount, a decision is made in each government to provide a certain amount as food aid in terras of cash. Obviously, if prices rise there is less food aid available. The only way that this problem could be overcome would be for governments to provide more development assistance in total which, of course, is something I urge warmly upon all of them. We all know that, in fact, the levels of official development aid have basically stagnated. Some of the problems I described in relation to Africa are due to that stagnation. However, I have to say that we could face a reduction in commitments as a result of this situation.
Finally, I must say a word about the headquarters requirements issue for the Programme. I was very pleased that the Italian Government representative did speak. It was clear that ray remarks were not fully understood by some representatives. I tried to be as tactful as I possibly could, but perhaps in being tactful what I said was a little ambiguous and so I apologise to the distinguished representative of Italy as I did say we thanked them very much for their patience and their goodwill. Headquarters are important not only for morale, and meeting the rent, but also with an official headquarters the Programme receives a certain amount of capital equipment renewed periodically which currently has to be funded out of our budget. In these days of straitened resources, it is very important that this Programme be able to draw upon all available resources of funds. This is an issue of enormous importance. As I mentioned the negotiations were suspended four months ago and I have not been able to learn as and when they will be resumed, but perhaps Mr. Dutia, or someone would be able to say something on that issue.
Β·Ρ· DOTIA (Director, Commodities and Trade Division): With your permission I will touch on three points and then would request you to give the floor to Mr. Moore to say a few words regarding the last point mentioned by Mr. Ingram. On behalf of the Director-General I should like to congratulate the five new members who have been elected to the CFA.
I am trying to be brief because of the late hour. Secondly, as regards the IEFR, I have listened to the debate very carefully and I would like to make one point clear. It is not because of the lack of generosity on behalf of the donors that there is now the need to draw on the resources of the next year in order to meet the emergencies of this year. That is not the case, in fact the target for the IEFR has been exceeded in the past so many years and still there is the question of the hand-to-mouth existence of the IEFR. This only reflects the situation that the emergency needs have been unfortunately rising.
In these circumstances the Director-General is of the view that the question of making the IEFR more effective needs to be considered in the appropriate fora. That was the intention of what I said during my introductory remarks.
Thirdly, in reply to the question raised by the distinguished delegate of Mexico, I should like to mention that so far as concerns the WFC and food aid projects, FAO is providing technical expertise as required - as was pointed out by Mr. Ingram - in order to make the food aid provided to the World Food Programme most effective in meeting the objectives of the recipient countries. As regards the other aspects of food aid, that is, those provided not by WFP but by bilateral donors, there are problems in using this food aid with a view to making its impact on the development process more effective. Here, certainly FAO with its expertise and experience on development issues could be of assistance to the countries if so requested within the resources available to us. There are also aspects such as environment, consumer preferences, and consumer education (if required) even in these areas. FAO would be in a position to provide assistance if necessary and if required to do so, of course, within the resources available.
LEGAL COUNSEL: The question of the negotiation of a Headquarters Agreement for WFP has been raised by a number of distinguished delegates and further information requested on the progress of those talks. A first draft of a Headquarters Agreement for WFP has been prepared, based largely on the IFAD model. The first round of negotiations was held with the Italian Government in July of this year. During these negotiations a number of changes to the draft were proposed by the Italian authorities, some of which have caused concern and raised the need for further reflection on the substance of the proposed modifications.
Some of these concerns I have discussed with the UN Legal Counsel in New York last month. Meanwhile, we have noticed that some at least, of the original reasons for the urgency in concluding a separate WFP Headquarters Agreement on the part of the Italian Government have somewhat decreased. I understand such an Agreement is no longer, for example, required to facilitate paying of rent for the existing WFP Headquarters accommodation.
I should like to add a few words regarding the proposed WFP Headquarters Agreement. The negotiation of a Headquarters Agreement is an important undertaking. The Headquarters Agreement is a document which governs the relationship between the organization concerned and the Host Government and all the questions relating to privileges, immunities and facilities offered to the Organization. Up until now, WFP has been operating smoothly under the FAO Headquarters Agreement. Nevertheless, the Director-General was approached by the Executive Director of WFP last year with a view to negotiating a separate Headquarters Agreement for WFP, and has responded positively to that request.
As you know the matter was reported to the 92nd Session of this Council last November. As I mentioned before, some problems have arisen during the course of the negotiation. We are. considering these problems in consultation with the Legal Counsel of the UN and hope to resolve them in due course. While we appreciate the concern expressed by some Council Members for speedy progress in concluding an Agreement, we would submit that the negotiation of a Headquarters Agreement is an important matter and it is necessary to resolve all the problems satisfactorily before entering into a binding agreement.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous arrivons à la fin du débat et l'heure est tardive, mais ce débat a été très important et très utile. Je voudrais m'associer aux félicitations qui ont été adressées par un très, grand nombre d'Etats Membres au PAM pour l'impact positif et l'ampleur de son action puisqu'il a aidé pas loin de 20 millions de personnes, soit dans le cadre du programme ordinaire de l'aide au développement, de la conservation de l'environnement, de la lutte contre l'érosion et de la reforestation, soit dans le cadre de programmes d'urgence pour faire face aux calamités et aux catastrophes naturelles qui malheureusement, cette année, ont pris une imnportance exceptionnelle.
Le Conseil a souligné l'intérêt qu'il attachait à ce que l'on continue à privilégier l'aide au PAM et aux pays à faible revenu. Il a noté avec satisfaction le développement des transactions triangulaires qui permettent de développer les flux commerciaux interrégionaux et la coopération Sud-Sud et il a souligné, en outre, l'importance qu'il attachait à encourager et développer de telles transactions.
On peut également signaler que le Conseil a marqué son intérêt pour l'étude entreprise par le PAM en relation avec la Banque mondiale afin d'accroître l'efficacité de l'aide alimentaire en Afrique.
Enfin, un grand nombre d'Etats Membres ont noté la pression importante exercée sur les stocks existants de produits alimentaires et font appel à la générosité et à la compréhension des pays donateurs pour qu'un effort particulier soit réalisé en vue de reconstituer aussitôt que possible la RAIU.
Cela étant, je vais lever la séance après avoir remercié tous les Etats Membres de l'intérêt qu'ils ont manifesté à l'égard de cette question importance.
The meeting rose at 13.00 hours.
La séance est levée à 13 heures.
Se levanta la sesión a las 13.00 horas.
