Mr. Chairman,
I ask you and the distinguished members of the Council to allow me to make a general statement on behalf of the Group of 77, of which I have the honour to be Chairman.
We, the representatives of the developing countries, are concerned with the present difficult world situation of food and agriculture. The signs of recovery noted up to last year have disappeared; the situation has again become sombre, and the outlook unpromising.
We are particularly disturbed because this situation is more critical in the less advanced countries, with low incomes and food deficits. FAO should intensify its assistance to these countries.
The gradual and growing concentration of reserves in some few producing and exporting countries contrasts sadly with the great food shortage in many developing countries. We believe that this unjust situation should not be perpetuated. The reserves should be located in strategic positions in all the regions, in accordance with the recan— mendation on this matter by the 1974 World Food Conference.
The Group of 77 thinks that this Council should recognize and give prominence to the efforts made by the Director—General of FAO, in presenting a Programme of Work and Budget adjusted to the difficulties caused by the present world economic recession.
Although the real increase proposed in programmes for 1984—85 is only 0.5 percent for the biennium — an increase which is very far from meeting our aspirations and needs — we are comforted by the fact that the Director—General has made reductions in lower priority sectors, to strengthen the technical and economic programmes which represent the real interests of our countries.
The representatives of the developing countries support enthusiastically the increases propo3ed for the Technical Cooperation Programme; a programme which has been one of the happy and practical innovations of the Director—General, and which has proved its worth with its multiplying effect, providing quickly and effectively the immediate assistance required by our States.
The Group of 77 reaffirms its rejection of the zero growth theory, because the difficulties and problems in our countries do not have a zero growth, but unfortunately tend to increase and become worse. We are therefore opposed to this trend being continued in future biennia, and attempts being made to apply this zero growth to the budgets of FAO. It is one of the United Nations Agencies that works well, and needs sufficient resources to serve all the Member States, particularly the developing countries.
The Group of 77 understands that the Committee on World Food Security, at its Eighth Session in Rome, from 13 to 20 April last, approved unanimously important recom— mendations on an interesting and valuable report by the Director—General, based on a new, revised and expanded concept of food security.
The representatives of the developing countries consider that these orientations, adopted by all members of the CFS, should be considered as guidelines for the future consideration of all aspects of food security. It should be recognized that in this field FAO is the focal point, with the most important function, because of the experience and knowledge of our Organization, which has so successfully and for so long been concerned with these matters. The important function of FAO should be respected, and its activities should not be duplicated.
The Group of 77 advocates optimum cooperation between all the United Nations Agencies concerned with food security, since we think the best possible use should be made of the limited resources available, and every effort exerted to achieve the joint objective, which should be the food security of the Third World.
The Group of 77 draws the Council’s attention to the fact that, at this same meeting of CFS, the Director—General of FAO presented an important document on the constraints preventing the growth of production in African countries with low incomes and food deficits. The representatives of Africa provided indications of priorities, which were fully supported by all members of that Committee.
We ask the Council to bear in mind this desire, expressed by the governments of Africa, in the consideration and solution of problems in these fraternal countries, for whom we request once again the solidarity of the international community.
The Committee on Agriculture, at its Seventh Session, held in this city from 21 to 30 March this year, adopted important recommendations, particularly as regards the proposal to prepare an International Convention for Plant Genetic Resources and establish an International Genebank.
We have supported the creation of the Ad Hoc Group on this subject, which will report to the Council next November. We therefore hope that in this meeting the results achieved at the COAG Session will be upheld, and also the principle that plant genetic resources are the inalienable patrimony of all humanity, and should be always freely available to those who need them.
The Group of 77 is gravely concerned with the reduction in the use of fertilizers in our countries. We support the recommendations of the Commission on Fertilizers with regard to the need to procure adequate technical and financial assistance for those countries that are in a position to establish joint ventures, and to ensure by all means possible that developing nations are able to import the fertilizers they need for increased agricultural production.
The Group of 77 reaffirms its support for the World Food Programme, as a valuable instrument of development. We request this Council to appeal to all donors to meet the target set for the present period; we also request it to support the WFP goal of US$1 350 million, which we accept as the minimum agreed commitment for the period 1985—86
Mr.Chairman,
I have attempted, in what I have already said, to fulfil the mandate conferred on me by my comrades in the Group of 77 in Rome, to make a statement at this important session of the Council, in which we are discussing the Summary Programme of Work and Budget, a document which will be the guide for our work,our bible, in the next biennium.
We should like to draw attention to the gradual and remarkable improvement in FAO activities in recent years. We particularly support the broad and pragmatic vision of the Director—General, who has understood the unavoidable links between all factors making up the world economy, and has associated them with the field of food and agriculture, convinced, with our support, that these problems cannot be considered in isolation or solved independently, but rather in direct relation to international trade, agricultural policies and every other factor that could contribute to solving food and agriculture problems.
It is thus that FAO has maintained and increased its importance for developing countries. FAO belongs to all its Member States. And we are happy to share with all the representatives of all the countries in the world, without distinction or confrontation, the responsibility of collaborating in order that the work of FAO may continue to be increasingly effective.
We, the representatives of the developing countries, are ready to participate in the discussions starting today, fully aware of our responsibilities. Our countries are facing a serious situation, for which the solution appears to be receding indefinitely. However, we reject any confrontation. We believe that confrontation is damaging to all and benefits no—one.
On the contrary, we offer our fullest cooperation, and also request it from the distinguished representatives of all the Member States of FAO. Once more we would like to invite you to work in a spirit of frank cordiality, with the most sincere and honest desire for mutual comprehension and full understanding, united in the belief that each day the irreversible interdependence among all the countries of the world is becoming more, tangible.
Social peace and a new and more equitable international economic order, bringing with it the gradual fulfilment of the just demands of the Third World, will always be the essential bases for the peaceful and ordered existence of all humanity.
Inspired by this unswerving spirit, we, the countries of the Group of 77 cordially request all the members of this Council to understand our position and our concerns. We ask for greater technical and financial assistance for our countries, because we still need it. Despite the fact that we have intensified our own national efforts and have accorded increasingly high priority to agriculture in our development plans, this internal effort is still not enough. However, we are ready to continue meeting our own responsibilities, confident that our States and our populations deserve a better future, with the progress and happiness which will be the fruit of the selfless work of our people.
FAO, a United Nations Agency directed by an intelligent, dynamic and capable man, provides an ideal framework for international cooperation. We understand the difficulties that some developed countries are also having today, but we believe that the consequences of this situation should not fall disproportionately on the frail shoulders of the developing countries. We ask the developed countries to support our Organization, and to provide FAO with the necessary resources, which are being invested effectively and appropriately for the benefit of developing countries.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
