LE PRESIDENT: Mesdames, Messieurs les délégués, je déclare ouverte la septième séance de la Commission II. Nous sommes au point 12 de notre ordre du jour qui est l'examen du Programme de travail et budget. Sous la conduite de mes collègues brésilien et néerlandais, nous avons épuisé les points sur le Rapport d'évaluation et le Plan à moyen terme. Le Comité de rédaction, sous la présidence éclairée de notre ami M. Marsh, Représentant des Etats-Unis, a travaillé assez tard dans la soirée pour examiner les deux projets de rapport sur le Rapport d'exécution et le Rapport d'évaluation. Cependant, il reste un petit paragraphe en suspens qui sera discuté ce soir lorsque le Comité abordera le projet de rapport sur le Plan à moyen terme.
Nous allons passer tout de suite à l'examen du Programme de travail et budget pour lequel je rappelle que les documents de support sont les documents C 93/3, C 93/3-Corr.1 pour la version anglaise, C 93/3-Sup.l et C 93/LIM/11. Je tiens à attirer votre attention sur le fait qu'il y a un autre document LIM qui ne figure pas dans le journal de la Conférence et qui est le C 93/LIM/23 relatif au Code international de conduite pour une pêche responsable. Nous devrons traiter de cette question au cours de nos travaux sur ce point 12, pour la simple raison qu'il y aura peut-être une incidence financière. Je vous renvoie au paragraphe 5 de ce document où il est indiqué que le Directeur général s'efforcera de mobiliser des ressources en vue de convoquer des consultations sur la mise en place de ce Code de conduite pour une pêche internationale par la voie extrabudgétaire, ou alors, pendant la mise en oeuvre du programme lui-même, il envisagera la manière dont le coût pourrait être pris en charge dans le cadre du Programme de travail et budget approuvé 1994-95. Je souhaiterais donc que les délégués s'expriment sur cette question.
Nous allons aborder le Programme de travail et budget. Comme nous avons eu l'occasion de le dire auparavant, lors de l'examen du Rapport d'évaluation du Plan à moyen terme, ce document fait partie du "quartet" - c'est une expression qui a été déjà employée et que l'on peut reprendre - et il fait suite à la décision de la Conférence de 1991 quant à la procédure à suivre en matière de questions budgétaires. Cette procédure est passée par plusieurs phases et cette question a d'ailleurs été examinée tout au long du processus par le Comité financier, le Comité du programme, le Conseil, et maintenant par la Commission II. Au départ, nous avons eu un schéma de travail et budget, ensuite nous avons eu un sommaire pour arriver enfin à cette version du Programme de travail et budget.
Je vais tout de suite donner la parole à M. Shah, qui va introduire ce point à l'ordre du jour le plus brièvement possible, compte tenu de l'importance du sujet. Nous avons réservé trois séances à cette question: toute la journée d'aujourd'hui et lundi matin. Le Comité de rédaction, sous la présidence de M. Marsh, aura à se pencher sur cette question lundi après la séance plénière, de manière, d'une part, à ce que la Commission puisse adopter le rapport relatif à ce point de l'ordre du jour, le mardi après-midi et, d'autre part, à ce que l'Assemblée plénière de la Conférence soit en mesure de l'adopter elle-même le 17 au matin.
Mr V.J. SHAH, Deputy Director-General (Office of Programme, Budget and Evaluation) : It is indeed an honour for me to submit for your consideration the Director-General's proposals for the Programme of Work and Budget 1994-95. Following your directive, Mr Chairman, I shall keep my introduction very short, drawing attention only to those key points on which we feel the Conference may wish to express itself, and leave the maximum time for your own debate and for such response as you may wish me to make at the end.
As you have already referred, Mr Chairman, to the documents before you, let me only say that the reports of the Programme and Finance Committees from their September session and the report of the Council at its Session immediately before the Conference indicate a very sound basis for whatever comments I now draw to your attention.
First of all, I want to emphasize that the Director-General, in order to permit all Member Nations to unite - and that has really been the leit-motif of all his efforts in the preparation of this Programme of Work - to permit you to unite in its approval. For this reason the Director-General started with a very key decision in formulating his proposals. That decision was that he was proposing - is proposing - a Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium which has no programme growth over the level of the approved Programme of Work for 1992-93. The approved Programme of Work for this biennium, which you approved two years ago, was US$676.9 million, and the proposals contain no overall programme growth.
The Director-General realized that this is not the wish of a considerable number of Member Nations who have already expressed concern on this issue. They have expressed their wish that there could have been real programme growth, because of the demands on the Organization, because of their own needs, because to them it is inconceivable that an Organization which has been subjected to budgetary problems over six years and has had significant programme cuts should not now be able to face a period of even nominal programme growth. But no. These Member Nations are very respectfully requested to take into account the views of other Member Nations who have difficulty, or would have difficulty, in accepting any programme increase.
With this basic decision of no programme growth, I turn now to the proposed distribution of resources. Here I would point out that we have gone through a phase in the outline and in the Summary Programme of Work and Budget where the proposed allocation of resources did not meet with the general satisfaction of the bodies which considered the proposals. In particular, there was considerable concern over the proposed reduction of resources for the Major Programme: Forestry, the Major Programme: Fisheries, the Major Programme: Agriculture, and the Technical Cooperation Programme.
With regard to the Technical Cooperation Programme, the concern also dwelt on the fact that TCP would not increase its share in the total budget. The Programme and Finance Committees and the Council have expressed satisfaction in their autumn sessions at the way in which the Director-General has responded to these earlier concerns, and these concerns have led to the Director-General revising his earlier proposals.
As you see now in the document before you, and in the reports of the Council and the Programme and Finance Committees, the proposed allocation of resources to Forestry is no longer a decline, but an increase. The proposed reduction of resources to Fisheries has been reduced, so that
instead of a very large reduction it is now a nominal reduction. The proposed reduction for the Major Programme: Agriculture, which was over US$2 million in the Summary Programme of Work and Budget - US$2.8 million -is now US$1.1 million. On all these three fronts, we are very appreciative of the reaction of the intergovernmental bodies to the revised proposals.
On the Technical Cooperation Programme, let me indicate that whereas earlier there had been proposed a reduction of almost US$2 million before the inclusion of cost increases - I am talking about the real Programme -now the Programme decrease is under a million dollars. When you add the proposed cost increases, however, the amount of TCP appropriation for projects will increase from US$77 million to US$82 million. So I would respectfully urge that you bear this in mind - the appropriation for the approval of TCP projects would increase from US$77 million to US$82 million.
As regards the share of the TCP in the total budget, the document indicates that Chapter 4, which presently represents 11.7 percent of the total Programme of Work, would reduce to 11.2 percent. But, without going into details which I have already given the Council and which are contained in the reports of the Council and of the Programme and Finance Committees, at the budget rate which the Conference may be expected to set when it approves the Programme of Work and Budget next Wednesday the share of the TCP would not decline, but would increase. At the current market rate of around Lit. 1 650 to the dollar, the share of the TCP in the total budget would not be 11.2 percent but would be 12.3 percent to 12.4 percent.
The Director-General is very conscious that this is scant satisfaction -this is little reason for satisfaction to those many, many Member Nations who recall that Conference Resolution 9/89, adopted in 1989, had decided that the share of the TCP should gradually move up to 14 percent, and eventually to 17 percent, of the total Programme of Work.
Turning now to the financial parameters of the proposal : I have already referred to the base level. To this base level we have to consider the issue of cost increases. This is an area where I am happy to say that the developments are also aimed at satisfying all Member Nations.
At the stage of the outline Programme of Work and Budget the cost increases had been estimated at US$85 million. At the stage of the Summary these cost increases were reduced to US$81 million. At the stage of the full Programme of Work and Budget which you have before you they have been reduced to US$76 million.
The Finance Committee examined these cost increases as usual in all the detail it wished, and as you note from the Report of the Finance Committee these estimates have been accepted by it, and they have been endorsed by the Council.
This brings me to another issue which was raised during earlier consideration and which is well reflected in the reports of the subsidiary bodies which are submitted to you. That is the issue of the lapse factor. The Director-General refers to it in his Introduction.
The Director-General has used a lapse factor of 3 percent according to the decision of the Conference in 1989, which he continues to observe unless and until the Conference gives him another directive.
The issue of the lapse factor, without going into the technicalities at this stage, finally boils down to its impact on the budget level. If a higher lapse factor were utilized, this would lead to a reduction in the level of the Programme of Work and Budget. Those who accept that the level of 3 percent be maintained see the proposals before you at that proposed resource level. Those who would wish to see no lapse factor reduction, or a lower reduction of 1 or 2 percent instead of 3 percent, would have to face the consequences of a higher budget level. That is finally what it amounts to. But without seeking to be controversial, I think the debates in the Programme and Finance Committees and in the Council are also to be seen as helpful to the Conference because these earlier debates recognize that the issue is not settled to the satisfaction of those who wish to see the lapse factor changed. But they recognize that the matter can be pursued in the next biennium and it can be pursued very well by the Finance Committee requesting the External Auditor to comment on the technical aspects of this matter.
I mention this issue because none of us should ignore it. Certainly, the Secretariat is very attentive to all the differing views expressed. But it is not a matter which I hope need be divisive in the Conference and will certainly not hinder you in seeking the unanimity which we all desire.
Finally, let me come to the aspect which all Member Nations face and not only the delegations represented here but eventually the governments at home, the treasuries, the finance ministries. What do these proposals mean for you if they are approved in the manner suggested by the Director-General?
The present Programme of Work and Budget was approved at the rate of 1 210 lire to the dollar, and the share of assessed contributions in its total funding was US$633 560 000. I am not counting here the impact of the tax equalization fund because this does not affect any Member Nation except the United States which levies Income Tax on staff members who are US nationals. For all other Member Nations the share of assessed contributions in the total budget in the present biennium is US$633 560 000, and the approved Programme of Work was US$676.9 million. At the rate of 1 650 lire to the dollar, which is the rate we have seen in recent days and weeks, the level of the Programme of Work and Budget would no longer be US$676.9 million but would come down in dollar terms to US$675.5 million. Because of the proposals for the funding of these proposals, utilizing the expected payments of arrears and the estimated miscellaneous income, the level of assessed contributions for funding this Programme of Work and Budget would no longer be US$633.5 million but would be some US$10 million less, US$623.7 million.
I will not guess what may happen to the currency markets. None of us can. For example, this morning the opening rate - I have the quotations from the Chemical Bank London, Den Norsk Oslo, and the Union Bank Geneva - are between 1 658 and 1 663 lire to the dollar, so if anything the currency markets are moving in the direction which would reduce the level of the Programme of Work and Budget and reduce further the amount of contributions of Member Nations.
There are so many issues which are very dear to our hearts, to all of us, which I am sure will be raised in the debates. At this stage I will stop, with only two references. One is the reference to the substance of the Programme of Work. I have talked a lot about figures, about budgets, about dollars, about financial aspects, because it is my duty to draw this to
your attention, but finally it is your Programme of work which counts. What do I have to say on that?
The Director-General presents his proposals which have been discussed, as you know, so often in various aspects in different degrees of detail but the moment the Conference adopts the Programme of Work and Budget, it is your Programme of Work and Budget. We only work towards producing something which you may accept and make your own. On the substance of the Programme of Work the Director-General hopes that you will have the enormous satisfaction of knowing that the priorities of his proposed Programme of Work are endorsed and re-endorsed by Member Nations in the various fora. The Programme Committee has unanimously endorsed these priorities, as have the subsequent discussions that have taken place.
Finally, since you, Mr Chairman, referred to a document which bears the title C LIM/23, I only draw attention to it to say that this document relates to the further work on the International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. The work on the International Code of Conduct is included in the Programme of Work and Budget under Major Programme-Fisheries. However, since the Programme of Work was formulated the Chairman of the Committee on Fisheries dispatched a letter to the Director-General suggesting that the tempo of work on this matter be speeded up and intensified. Speeding up the tempo of work, doing more in the same period, has budgetary implications. Accordingly, we draw this to the attention of the Conference. Once again, I would point out that this matter need not be at all divisive. We are here to respond to your reactions and directives, but if you decide that you want this work speeded up there are two ways in which the budgetary implications can be dealt with. We can deal with them either through the mobilization of extra-budgetary resources, and/or we can try to speed up this work in the course of implementation by seeing whether a priority cannot be given to organizing some of the meetings that are required, reducing the priorities to some other work in, after all, a Programme of Work for Fisheries which is substantial enough to permit such relatively minor adjustments.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie M. Shah pour son introduction du Programme de travail et budget 1994-95. La procédure qui a été suivie pour en arriver à l'examen du Programme de travail et budget auquel nous procédons actuellement est passée par plusieurs étapes qui avaient pour but essentiellement de permettre que des débats ouverts et fructueux puissent avoir lieu de manière à arriver à l'adoption du Programme de travail et budget, si possible à l'unanimité, par tous les Etats Membres.
J'aimerais insister particulièrement sur le document C 93/LIM/11 qui reprend les conclusions et les recommandations des Comités restreints du Conseil et de la dernière session du Conseil elle-même. Compte tenu du fait que cette question a été débattue assez longuement pendant tout le biennium actuel, je souhaiterais que vous interveniez en mettant l'accent sur des points particuliers, sans peut-être revenir nécessairement sur des questions qui ont déjà fait l'objet d'un large consensus tout au long du processus. Sur ma liste, j'ai déjà les pays suivants: Bangladesh, Mexique, Canada, Autriche, Liban, Norvège, République de Corée, Espagne, Maroc, Syrie, Angola, Portugal, Belgique, France, Tunisie, Chine, Egypte, et Indonésie. La liste reste ouverte, nous la clôturerons au cours de la journée.
A.N.M. EUSUF (Bangladesh) : Mr Chairman, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be the first speaker on the 1994 Programme of Work and Budget. First, I should like to thank Mr Shah for such a succinct and comprehensive introduction of the Programme of Work and Budget.
Any discussion on budgets invariably raises questions of value for money and efficiency. It is therefore important for Member Nations to make their own assessments as to whether they are getting good value from the investment in FAO programming. From the point of view of Bangladesh the answer is that good value has indeed been received.
The Conference has in the past raised questions as to whether it would be possible to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of FAO's operations, and it was appropriate that reviews be undertaken to look at this question. As a result of this, changes have been made and improvements have been realized. For example, we have now received the Programme Evaluation Report which provides certain opportunities to see which approaches have worked and which have not, and to make the necessary changes so that our programme can be more effective.
Also, over the years we have seen financial resources transferred from administration to programming, primarily as a means of making the budget go further, thereby improving efficiency.
Mr Chairman, the Programme of Work and Budget for the 1994-95 biennium is in keeping with the general policy orientations, Programme Priorities and Objectives contained in the Medium-Term Plan 1994-99, which was broadly endorsed by the FAO Council at its 103rd Session in June 1993. The preparation of the Programme of Work and Budget of FAO is indeed a formidable task, particularly at a time when the demands placed on the Organization have substantially increased without a corresponding availability of adequate resources. The Summary Programme of Work and Budget which was considered by the 103rd Council Session is essentially the basis of the present document. The level of the proposed Programme of Work for 1994-95, which represents no real net programme growth, is based on a realistic assessment of the needs of the Organization taking into consideration various constraining factors.
The level of US$676.9 million for 1992-93 was built on the Programme of Work and Budget for 1990-91, which also represented no net programme growth. In other words, there has been no programme increase in the 1991-93 biennia and no net growth is also proposed for the 1994-95 biennium, in spite of the fact that FAO's mandatory responsibilities have increased considerably over the years and it will have to play a key role in the implementation of various important aspects of Agenda 21 of UNCED and the Plan of Action of the International Conference on Nutrition. Unless the Programme of Work is maintained at at least the level of the current biennium, it will significantly limit the capacity of the Organization to respond to its priority functions.
When the Summary Programme of Work and Budget was discussed in the last FAO Council Session in June of this year, concern was expressed about the reduced allocation for a number of important technical activities, particularly in TCP, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Council called for higher allocations in these areas. The revised proposals in the Programme of Work and Budget have incorporated some readjustments leading to some increase in allocations to Fisheries and Forestry, but still less than the actual need.
As mentioned by the Director-General in his introduction, the revised allocation for TCP is, disappointingly, still insignificant. We feel the allocation should at least reach the previous level of 14 percent. We are happy to note that it has been possible for the FAO Secretariat to further lower the provision of cost increases by another US$5 million to US$76 million. We hope efforts will continue to be made by FAO to keep this matter under constant review.
The Programme of Work and Budget in general reflects the priorities of the promotion of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, in which active FAO involvement is crucial.
LE PRESIDENT: Je vous remercie de la clarté de votre intervention. Je crois que nous pouvons considérer que nous appuyons tous les activités contenues dans le Programme de travail et budget.
Avant de donner la parole au Représentant du Mexique, je vous informe que le Représentant de la Hongrie a souhaité insérer dans le procès-verbal sa déclaration relative au point 12 de l'ordre du jour. S'il n'y a pas d'objection particulière, je considérerai qu'il en est ainsi décidé.
José Ramón LOPEZ PORTILLO (Mexico): Señor Presidente, como es la primera vez que hago uso de la palabra, deseo felicitarle a usted por la atinada elección al cargo de la presidencia. Igualmente, agradecer al Dr. Shah por sus claras explicaciones.
Nuestra Organización, bajo el atinado liderazgo del Dr. Saouma, ha transitado por un importante proceso de reforma interna. Dicha reforma ha buscado hacer de la FAO una Organización más eficiente, más transparente y más efectiva en el cumplimiento de sus principios constitucionales. Con ello se han confirmado las ventajas comparativas de nuestra Organización para cumplir con el compromiso de combatir el hambre y la inseguridad alimentaria, ajustar sus programas a la conservación del medio ambiente, del logro de un desarrollo sostenible y de la utilización de los recursos naturales y genéticos para beneficio de las generaciones presentes y futuras.
Tras un período de crisis financiera, la FAO ha recobrado gradualmente la capacidad de ejecución de sus programas. El Programa de Labores y Presupuestos 1994-95 ha sido formulado sobre la base de múltiples equilibrios entre las demandas crecientes de la humanidad y los arreglos que han definido sus aún limitadas posibilidades. El Programa de Labores 1994-95 es, por tanto, de compromiso y también de consolidación. Por ello, México aprueba el proyecto de Programa presentado por el Director General por un monto de 676.9 millones de dólares, e insta a los Estados Miembros de la Organización a aprobar dicho proyecto de resolución sobre consignaciones presupuestarias 1994-95 por unanimidad.
México aprecia que, a pesar de la limitada situación financiera de la Organización, se haya podido fortalecer el Programa Principal Montes, el de Pesca y algunas actividades dentro del Programa de Agricultura. Asimismo, apreciamos-la cantidad adicional de un millón de dólares para el Programa de Cooperación Técnica, y que su proporción aumente de 11.7 a 12.3 por ciento del presupuesto; aunque lamentamos que no se pueda cumplir aún con los objetivos señalados en la Resolución 9/89 de nuestra Conferencia. En este sentido, Señor Presidente, México le da todo el apoyo y la importancia
al PCT. México negocia actualmente, dentro de este rubro en temas como sericicultura, conservación de suelos y nutrición de plantas y plaguicidas; y consideramos que este tipo de acciones pueden tener un efecto multiplicador, ya que México es muy dinámico también en el plano de la Cooperación Técnica entre Países en Desarrollo.
Nos satisface que la cuantía de aumentos de costos se haya reducido de 85 millones de dólares a menos de 76 millones de dólares en este presupuesto completo.
Asimismo nos complace que el impacto entre la lira y el dólar tenga un efecto positivo en las cuotas aplicables a los Estados Miembros, así como el empleo de parte de los pagos previstos por atrasos para financiar consignaciones presupuestarias. Nos ha complacido mucho lo que nos ha dicho hace un momento el docotor Shah de que el nivel de cuotas bajará de 633,5 millones a 623,7 millones de dólares.
Confirmamos nuestro apoyo para que los pagos atrasados se acrediten al fondo general; apoyamos la propuesta del Director General de adeudar a la cuenta especial de reserva una cantidad de hasta 18 millones de dólares referente a gastos de personal no presupuestados que no se pueden cubrir con los recursos del Presupuesto Ordinario. Lo aprobamos conscientes de que esto permitirá reducir el déficit acumulado de la Organización.
Por otra parte rechazamos la vinculación entre el coeficiente de descuento por vacantes y las tasas efectivas de vacantes que en el pasado fueron superiores al coeficiente, debido a la necesidad de enfrentar las dificultades financieras de los últimos bienios. No obstante, hoy la FAO entra en un período de estabilidad de su plantilla, en contraste con épocas pasadas, y debemos garantizarle al nuevo Director General, señor Jacques Diouf, el que pueda ejecutar sus programas y consolidar su plantilla en esta etapa en que la tasa actual de coeficiente debe reflejar la incidencia de las vacantes no previstas y fortuitas. Apoyamos, por tanto, el porcentaje del descuento actual del coeficiente de descuento del tres por ciento. No obstante, también coincidimos en que, como ha señalado el doctor Shah, sería conveniente que el Auditor Externo estudie este problema; y quedamos a la espera también del estudio de la Dependencia Común de Inspección para todo el sistema de las Naciones Unidas.
Recordamos a todas las delegaciones que una tasa de coeficiente mayor llevaría a una ejecución inferior del Programa; en este sentido, nuestra decisión adquiere un cariz político.
Permítame, señor Presidente, unas palabras respecto a las prioridades y programas propuestos. México elogia, en primer lugar, la forma clara y comprensiva en que se ha presentado el Programa 94-95, sus cuadros y gráficos y su visión integral que facilita el análisis y la ubicación de este esfuerzo en el contexto del mediano plazo.
Asimismo, confirmamos las dos nuevas prioridades que cruzan casi todas las actividades de la FAO y que son complementarias entre sí, el CNÜMAD y la Conferencia Internacional de Nutrición, enfatizando también la importancia de la seguridad alimentaria, la cooperación técnica y económica entre todos los países'y el manejo integrado de plagas, el asesoramiento sobre políticas y el apoyo que se debe dar, en las actuales circunstancias, a los países de Europa del este, de forma que puedan transitar hacia economías de mercado.
Asimismo subrayamos la importancia de la participación de la población, en particular de la mujer, en el desarrollo, y la conservación y utilización de los Recursos Genéticos para beneficio de todos.
En este último sentido, consideramos que las actividades en materia de Recursos Fitogenéticos y Zoogenéticos deben elevar su visibilidad y aumentar la disponibilidad de recursos presupuestarios para dichas acciones.
De manera especial consideramos que no se ha dado cumplimiento aún a la recomendación de la Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos, del Comité del Programa y del Consejo de la FAO, en el sentido de elevar la visibilidad de la Secretaría de la Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos; tampoco se han aumentado los recursos financieros y humanos para dicha Secretaría. Un examen minucioso revela que el Secretario de la Comisión se encuentra aún prácticamente solo. Insistimos, por tanto, en que se corrija a la brevedad esta situación.
Igualmente, enfatizamos la necesidad de aplicar el calendario previsto de las recomendaciones de la Comisión de Recursos Fitogenéticos. Sobre el Programa Especial de Acción sobre Recursos Zoogenéticos sería necesario aplicar también más recursos.
Apoyamos las actividades de Conservación de Suelos y Ordenación de Cuencas Hidrográficas en Africa.
Agrisy Caris, lo hemos señalado en varias ocasiones, y los importantes sistemas de información de la FAO, son fundamentales como referencia para mejorar las relaciones de investigación.
La función de la mujer en el proceso de desarrollo ha sido un programa que México ha apoyado prioritariamente desde el principio. Hoy debe defenderse, además, el fomento de la mujer en el medio ambiente y para el desarrollo sostenible. La compatibilidad de aspectos ecológicos y la viabilidad de políticas comerciales son también una parte fundamental del Programa de Políticas Alimentarias y Agrarias, así como el apoyo técnico de la FAO para el buen éxito de la Ronda Uruguay y para la implantación de sus positivos resultados.
Señor Presidente, nosotros, desde hace muchos años, hemos señalado la conveniencia de estudiar la posible constitución de un Comité de Ganadería en el marco de la FAO, dadas las implicaciones que la ganadería tiene no sólo para la alimentación y la nutrición, sino también para las actividades productivas del empleo y del arraigo rural. Creemos que es tiempo de que esta Conferencia dé un mandato en sentido de que se estudie la conveniencia de establecer dicho Comité.
En el Programa Principal Pesca, México ha mantenido una muy activa participación, sobre todo en la preparación del proyecto de Código de Conducta para la Pesca Responsable y el acuerdo sobre el abanderamiento de buques pesqueros en alta mar; así como también en la labor para el rescate de los recursos genéticos para la agricultura.
Consideramós que, conforme a la propuesta del Párrafo tercero y el Apéndice del documento C LIM 23, esta Conferencia debería otorgarle el mandato al Director General para que movilice recursos, ya sea por la vía presupuestaria o sufragándolos a través del Programa de labores y
Presupuesto 1994-95, para convocar las consultas técnicas relativas al Código Internacional de Conducta para la Pesca Responsable.
En Montes, nos complace la asignación de recursos adicionales, pero debe de hacerse un esfuerzo mayor por atraer recursos extrapresupuestarios a este renglón. Asimismo, consideramos que esta actividad de atracción de recursos extrapresupuestarios es necesaria, en general para toda la Organización; y la FAO y los Estados Miembros deberemos desplegar una activa participación en ese sentido.
Nos preocupa la continuada incertidumbre en la aplicación de los gastos de apoyo del PNUD, en vista de sus nuevas disposiciones y el trabajo adicional en relación con los servicios de apoyo técnico a nivel de programas y de proyectos. La FAO debe hacer un esfuerzo mayor en este sentido y para esclarecer su posición.
La FAO debe, igualmente, reforzar el Programa de Cooperación Técnica, que debe aumentar su proporción del presupuesto.
Para finalizar, Señor Presidente, México reitera que el Programa Labores y Presupuesto 94-95 permitirá consolidar el proceso de reforma y revisión de la FAO y sentar las bases para que, bajo el liderazgo del nuevo Director General, se proyecte esta Organización ante los retos del siglo XXI.
LE PRESIDENT: Je vous remercie de votre intervention. J'ai pris note du fait que vous soutenez le Programme travail et budget. J'ai également pris note de la proposition que vous avez faite de créer un comité de l'élevage. Je crois que c'est une bonne proposition compte tenu de ce que l'élevage dans les pays en développement, et surtout l'organisation des zones de parcours, dans les régions arides et semi-arides, peuvent contribuer au développement agricole dans certaines régions. Vous avez parlé de la Commission des ressources phytogénétiques en disant qu'il convenait d'accroître son Secrétariat. Je crois que c'est un point important; nous avons tous assisté aux travaux de cette Commission et nous pensons qu'il faut effectivement renforcer le Secrétariat de cette Commission compte tenu de son mandat important.
Charles C. STOLL (Canada): Like colleagues from Bangladesh and Mexico I would also like to thank Mr Shah for his comprehensive and yet concise summary of the principle issues surrounding this Programme of Work and Budget during his introduction to the subject.
Together with other Members we have participated extensively in the work of the Technical Committees of Council, in the Programme Committee and in the Council itself as we debated these specific details of this Programme of Work and Budget. Accordingly we shall refrain from replicating all of the various analyses and observations registered in those forums respecting the programme priorities and orientations. Rather we shall at this final stage confine our comments to some key issues and concerns that we feel warrant emphasis. Any entity functioning in a period of continuous transformation characterized by financial stringency must be innovative, flexible and realistic in its approaches. Economy, efficiency and adaptability must be its guiding principles. Success in the competition for limited resources requires that the targeting and management of activities must be efficient and must be seen to be so. Resources used must be constantly assessed with a view to their optimal deployment by a transfer from low to high
priorities and containment of non-discretionary cost increases. In this respect this budget does not entirely convince in terms of its efforts to do more and better with less. Very little is detailed therein about the persistent search for economies in management systems in the unremitting reviewing of priorities and in the search for strategic alliances with other organizations. There is little sense of innovation conveyed within its 400 or so pages, even where substantive resource shifts would imply its operation.
We have no doubt of the Organization's potential for change, for adaptation and for efficiencies but these are not publicly and proudly displayed. Thus, for example, we need to search in the document aimed at detailing resource short-falls and not universally distributed, that the Organization was fully capable of realizing at least 11 million dollars worth of economies in the current biennium when forced to so respond. Thus we are left wondering at its real capacity for transformation and adaptation and ask why it is not trumpeted more boldly.
Our delegation is pleased with the fact that this Programme of Work and Budget responds to expressed concerns of the memberships respecting certain financial issues identified in the outline Programme of Work and Budget. This is an important expression of the link between consultation and actions which is the foundation for success in multilateral institutions. Specifically we acknowledge and appreciate that a number of Canada's concerns have been reflected in the document before us notably in respect to the rescinding of the cuts originally proposed to the Forestry and Fisheries programme.
In the agricultural area we await further details about work on plant genetics aimed at ensuring the Programme of Work agreed to by the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources and approved by the 103rd Council will be fully implemented.
Of specific interest are the status of preparation for the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, and of work on the international undertaking on plant genetic resources.
Canada is also very interested in and supportive of FAO's work in animal genetic resources. Although one of the reasons for the special action programme in animal genetics is to generate outside funding, we would urge the FAO to identify sufficient core resources to ensure that this important programme is also appropriately funded from within. Unless the resource levels provided for in this PWB are improved we fear there exists considerable risk that the important animal genetic work of the FAO may fail to progress to the pilot stage, let alone attain critical mass. We would note, in this respect, the potential for strategic alliances and burden-sharing with regional organizations such as the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) , which, we believe, could be a productive and complementary collaborator in this programme.
Canada is pleased to note that its own efforts and those of the members of COFO and of the Council, respecting the need to rebalance the priorities and budgets of the FAO, particularly as regards the Forestry Programme, have yielded results.
We consider that the partial re-establishment of the forestry budget represents a useful first step. However, the disparity between that portion of the regular budget dedicated to this activity, and its centrality within
the mandate of the FAO remain inexplicable. While within the present fiscal climate we can understand FAO's limited margin for manoeuvre, we would recall the unanimous recommendations of the 103rd Council, among which was that Member Nations must give consideration to increasing the forestry budget in future biennia. This is a point for continued action, and it is for this Conference to convey unequivocally that action we must have. What is at stake, is no less than FAO's status and effectiveness as a lead agent in promoting, world-wide, the conservation, management and sustainability of forests, thus preserving a healthy environment for our generation and for those to come.
Accordingly we are proposing that the Conference act by passing a resolution which affirms the vital importance of this sector within FAO's mandate, reiterates the priority to be accorded, forestry in any eventual revision of budgetary allocations, and suggests future action to establish a more appropriate balance in future resources allocations. We have transmitted the text of such a draft resolution to you Mr Chairman, of this commission for appropriate action.
We are, of course, supportive of the work of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing and indeed, have agreed to host a meeting relating to the fisheries management sub-element of the code. We can also agree in principle with the proposal to put work on the general principles of the code on a fast track. However, in so doing we underscore the need to ensure that it compliments and does not compete with work being conducted elsewhere in the UN system. This is critical if we are to operationize the concept of efficiency and avoidance of duplication. As well we should like some elaboration of the modalities, intended time-frames and on the items to be considered under this project. We also would urge interested parties to come forward with extra-budgetary resources to help minimize the load on an already strained Fisheries Department budget.
With regard to the programme and budget framework we would highlight a number of issues of continuing concern.
The question of arrears is a hardy perennial which remains unresolved. This document offers little optimism in its suggestions, in paragraph 16, that receipts against contributions may have peaked in the 90 percent range. In order for any organization to plan and function effectively there needs to be greater transparency and coherence between the cost of formal, planned or budgeted activity and the actual level of activity based on revenue or, in this case, receipt of assessed contributions. I would underline the critical importance for members to honour their obligations by giving material substance to declarations of support for the FAO. We share the need, as do other member countries, for the FAO to implement its programme as fully as possible without compromise.
The absorption of support cost posts also is a concern, and particularly so in the context of zero real programme growth, a projected reduction of 24 percent in extra-budgetary activities, and a vacancy rate for Professional staff almost six times that of the provision for the lapse factor. In this context, we frankly have difficulties in accepting the operational justification for this proposed transfer. Equally unpalatable in a period of severe financial restraints, are the associated opportunity costs of US$9 million, and the net incease in the total establishment that is requested to accommodate this absorption of posts. Thus we would reitarate the expectation, as was articulated by the Programme Committee, that such a situation should not occur.
The lapse factor was the subject of a detailed exchange in the joint session of the Programme and Finance Committees as Mr Shah has indicated in his introduction. These discussions did not, in the view of several participants, yield expectations sufficient to eliminate the concerns they had expressed. Those concerns related to the large divergence between the vacancy rate and the lapse factor and the ensuing budgetary and operational consequences. Accordingly, we strongly endorse the proposal that the external auditor review this matter in the next biennium and report to the Finance Committee. We do so mindful of the fact that all decisions -including those of a political nature - are best taken with full and objective knowledge of the underlying facts. In this respect, we welcome the intention of the joint inspection unit to study the lapse factor issue on a system-wide basis. This will add comparative analysis to the more specific and expeditious treatment of the subject which we think is needed and expected from our own external auditor.
The budget level is a thorny issue on which we have commented at past meetings. At this point, we would merely reiterate our view which places particular stress on the need for a decision on the budget level which leaves no room for interpretation as to the intentions of the Conference.
On this topic, we need to temper the optimism contained in the Programme of Work and Budget respecting the actual expected level of assessments in the coming biennium. This is attributable to projected windfalls in respect to recovery of arrears and to exchange rate effects. The result is to reduce a bill of US$752.7 million - at the exchange rate current at the time the 1992-93 budget was set - by about US$120 million.
However, what is currently financially benign, may well turn worrisome -and with interest - in future biennia. This is because exchange rate gains are very reversible - the budget rate has fluctuated from a low of 592 in 1974-75 to a high of 1 760 in 1986-87 - and recovery of arrears is not repeatable. Thus, as we take heart in the relative stability and even possible reduction of our current assessed contributions we should not under-represent the true underlying contingent liabilities. The FAO's experience with the problem of sustainable development should make all of us aware of our responsibilities to future generations of assessments, and prevent our being seduced into relaxing our search for economies and efficiencies.
This PWB document does provide considerable detail. However it does not justify a very large transfer of resources within the technical programmes. This makes it difficult for the membership to reach informed judgements and provide direction in respect to the choices that are being suggested, and we would underline the need for this important omission to be addressed in future versions.
As well we would like to see much greater use of targets and benchmarks in future reports.
Finally, this document should be a critical link in the comprehensive accountability exercise which we advocate for the FAO and in that regard we would simply recall remarks contained in our interventions on the Programme Evaluation Report and Programme Implementation Report.
To conclude, Mr Chairman, I should like to return to a matter introduced at the 103rd Council and which I mentioned yesterday at the Plenary Session -namely, Canada's invitation that the FAO celebrate its 50th Anniversary at
the place where it was born. We spoke on this at that Council, and the Canadian proposal received the kind support of numerous Members of the Council. Our proposal is to host commemorative events in Quebec city which would include a special World Food Day observance on 16 October 1995 at the Chateau Frontenac, in Quebec City. A draft declaration to be proclaimed at Quebec City, and focusing on the challenges, the FAO will face as it enters the 21st century, is suggested as part of this process, and would be prepared subject to discussion by all regional conferences. Accordingly, we would propose conference action on this Canadian invitation in the form of a resolution which endorses this proposed celebration. To this end, we have tabled a Draft Resolution which we would ask the Chairman of Commission II to action in the usual way. We would ask, fellow delegates, for your support for this Resolution to celebrate an important milestone in the life of our Organization.
LE PRESIDENT: Je vous remercie M. le Représentant du Canada pour votre intervention.
Je voudrais réagir sur vos propositions concernant les deux projets de résolutions, et je commencerai par le dernier relatif à la célébration du 50ème anniversaire de la création de la FAO.
Comme vous l'avez dit, le Conseil avait largement apprécié l'invitation faite par le Canada pour commémorer cet anniversaire. Simplement, sur le plan de la forme, puisque cette Commission est supposée traiter les propositions et résolutions qui ont une incidence financière sur le Programme de travail et budget, j'aimerais vous proposer, ainsi qu'à l'ensemble des Membres de la Commission - et si vous êtes d'accord - de transmettre le projet de résolution - car je crois qu'il s'agit là d'une question de politique - directement au Comité général de la Conférence pour qu'il soit discuté par l'assemblée plénière de la Conférence qui est le cadre le plus approprié pour ce faire.
Charles C. STOLL (Canada): Just very briefly to respond, Mr Chairman, that is fine with us. We had been advised by the Secretariat that this would be the appropriate forum within which to introduce the Resolution, but I am quite prepared to accept your decision and that of the Secretariat in terms of what is the most appropriate route to follow with this Resolution.
LE PRESIDENT: Je confirme donc la proposition que j'avais faite, c'est-à-dire que ce projet de résolution soit transmis au Secrétariat général pour examen et soumis ensuite à l'assemblée plénière de la Conférence.
S'il n'y a pas d'objection, il en sera ainsi décidé.
S'agissant du premier projet de résolution concernant un accroissement de ressources pour les forêts, la pratique voudrait qu'effectivement nous le transmettions au Comité des résolutions pour qu'il puisse s'exprimer sur la forme de ce projet, et cela reviendrait à l'examen de notre Commission. Comme la prochaine réunion du Comité de résolutions est à midi et que, techniquement, il faut que ce projet fasse l'objet d'un document LIM traduit dans toutes les langues, je ne crois pas, malheureusement, que le Secrétariat puisse être en mesure de présenter ce projet au Comité des résolutions pour la séance d'aujourd'hui. Cependant, ce même Comité tenant
une seconde séance lundi, je pense qu'il pourra examiner ce projet sur la forme. Même si nous avions entre-temps achevé tous les débats sur le point 12, je vous proposerais de laisser la question en suspens jusqu'à ce que nous soyons saisis du rapport du Comité des résolutions et nous le réexaminerons ensuite sur le fond. Si tout le monde est d'accord, cette procédure est arrêtée. Il en est ainsi décidé.
Ms Gertraud PICHLER (Austria) (Original language German): Since we take the floor for the fist time in this Commission, we would like to thank you for giving us the floor to put forward our comments. First of all, on behalf of the Delegation, we would like to thank the Deputy Director-General Mr Shah in particular, for a very clear and informative introduction of this Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95.
Already in June 1993 at the Council Session which took place at that time, the FAO Council, as we know, analysed in depth the first draft of the Summary of Programme of Work and Budget which the Director-General submitted to the Council for the next biennium 1994-95 and, in supporting this, Austria welcomes the priorities set out in this document C 93/3, that is to say, the priorities for the budget for 1994-95. In supporting the Programme of Work and Budget of FAO for that period means that Austria in future, as in the past and as specified in the constitution of FAO, intends to go on meeting its financial commitments to the Organization according to schedule and in good time.
The proposed budget for 1994 is based on zero growth. This is obviously something that all of us cannot think is very satisfactory if we look at the problems that the world has to face but it is realistic and in the view of the Austrian Delegation, of course, the Programme of Work and Budget for FAO for the next biennium must be seen in close connection with the whole picture of the Medium-Term Plan.
At the International Conference on Nutrition which was jointly organized by FAO and WHO last year, world declaration was adopted which presented a statement of political will on the part of all participating Member Nations to undertake a determined struggle against hunger and malnutrition in the world. In this connection, I would like to stress that programmes should be given priority for implementation which aim to make it possible for the poor of this world to develop ways and means and helping themselves and the efforts of the poorer developing countries should be given greater support by the international community.
The ICN also agreed on a global plan of action, as is well known, which is intended to provide guidelines for governments to cooperate with non-governmental organizations and with the whole international community whilst also taking into account the specific requirements of every country. We are happy to see that a whole number of recommendations produced by the International Conference on Nutrition have found a place in the Programme of Work and Budget of FAO for this coming biennium.
We must also pay attention not only to the results of the International Conference on Nutrition but most particularly we must bear in mind the need for follow-up to the Rio Summit, UNCED. They deserve particular attention. I go too far in the present context of discussing our budget if I go into the details of the particular importance of agriculture. We do hope, however, that in this area very close cooperation can be developed with
other international organizations, and in particular here we are thinking of OECD.
I would now like to offer some comments on major forestry programmes. The latest results of FAO surveys on world forestry sources show that in the last ten years, there has been an annual rate of deforestation in the tropics of the order of 15.5 million hectares. Because forest ecosystems are very sensitive to climate changes as each species of tree has very specific requirements as regards climate and can only adapt to changes in climate within a comparatively narrow range it needs quite a lot of time to adapt. At the World Forestry Congress, held in September 1991 in Paris, tropical forestry problems were discussed in detail and participating countries committed themselves to the greening of the world through the planting of new forests, reforestation and sustainable management of forests. They also committed themselves to provide more funds on an international scale in order to meet the requirements of countries that have to look after the forests they have on their soil on a sustainable basis.
At the United Conference on Environmental Development in Rio, basic principles were agreed for a world-wide consensus on the management conservation and sustainable development of all types of trees and all types of forests, and this requires strengthening international cooperation in forestry. At the June session of the Council of FAO, a number of Members of the Council already did regret that their share of forestry in the total budget of FAO has been increased by only 0.1 percent. The final budget before us now again shows that FAO is giving a low priority to forestry problems in spite of the fact that forests, and in particular tropical forests, are at very considerable risk at the present time and we feel that in the Medium-Term Plan of FAO, special attention must be given to the major programme of forestry and we feel also that in forestry too we need to accept common responsibility for the management of forests and we must help countries in transition to meeting the requirements.
Allow me, Sir, since I am speaking for a European country, to make some comments on the work of FAO in the European region. We support the European activities as set out in the Programme of Work of FAO and here, in this , connection, I would like to stress the importance of the area concerning cooperation with European countries in the process of transition and, in the future work in the European region, Austria feels that particular attention must be paid to the needs of those States which are in the process of transition. In this connection, I would like to recall the ministerial consultation on agricultural policies, development and harmonization in central, east and eastern Europe which was held at Godlóllò, Budapest in August this year.
There, the conclusions of that ministerial consultation give us a clear picture of the needs and of the possibilities for future cooperation. We support the conclusions of that ministerial consultation as regards the priorities that were set out therein and we would be very happy if, in particular, the European Committee on Agriculture of FAO could incorporate those conclusions in their future Programme of Work.
In addition to the activities of international organizations, and in order to complete what that can be done at that level, individual countries should undertake bilateral programmes with those counties in Central and Eastern Europe.
We are also glad to know that there has been fruitful cooperation with the ECE in Geneva in recent years, and we hope and believe that this cooperation will become ever closer. This concerns not only agriculture, but also the area of forestry. In this connection I would like to draw attention to the most recent meeting of the ECE Timber Committee, which was held jointly with the European Committee on Forestry of FAO.
The whole area of education and training, both initial and continuing, is of great importance for both forestry and agriculture, and deserves our fullest support. In speaking of work in Europe and these particular aspects, we must never forget the work of the FAO/WHO/Codex Alimentarius Commission which does excellent work. In this connection would stress the importance of the Coordinating Committee for Europe of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and also the work of FAO/WHO/Codex Alimentarius, which of course embraces the whole world, not just Europe. This work will in the future have to deal further, I hope, with GATT activities which will acquire ever greater importance. There was the worldwide meeting on the FAO/WHO/Codex Alimentarius Commission last July in Geneva, and that meeting dealt in detail with this matter. We support all relative activities.
Regarding the work of the Committee of Fertilizers of FAO, I would like to point out that my country attaches great importance to the work of that Committee, and we feel that its work deserves our full support because their activities are of particular relevance and significance for developing countries.
Permit me, in closing, to speak, not only as a member of the Austrian delegation, but also myself as Chairman of the FAO working party on Women in Forestry and Agriculture, which is a body of the European Region of FAO. Our working party pursues the purpose of enforcing the socio-economic development of women, and of improving the position of women and of the family in rural areas. This improvement can only take place if there is education and training available to women, and advisory services, so that women and families can obtain some additional income. Our working party has been carrying out intensive training seminars and workshops, and dealing with a number of issues such as the development of agro-tourism as a source of income, the establishment of small rural businesses, project management, development of advisory services and programmes, and other similar activities.
A special point of interest, in our view, lies in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe, which need to be helped in their restructuring by giving them training programmes which are tailored to their needs. This deserves full support from FAO and we welcome the fact that in the Medium-term Plan FAO does very much take it into account in the development of human resources in rural areas, and in particular the development of women, because women have a great role to play in these areas and in agriculture. This significance can be seen in the Plan of Action for Women in Development by FAO. This was again stressed by many delegations yesterday.
Amin ABDEL-MALEK (Liban) (Langue originale arabe): Je voudrais tout d'abord vous féliciter, Monsieur Le Président, pour votre élection à la direction des travaux de cette deuxième Commision puisque je n'ai pas eu l'occasion de le faire précédemment. Je suis certain que vous avez été nommé à ce poste pour vos compétences et pour vos mérites reconnus. Je voudrais également remercier M. Shah pour la présentation des documents relatifs au
Programme de travail et budget pour le prochain biennium, présentation comme toujours claire et excellente.
En ma qualité de membre du Comité financier, j'ai eu l'occasion, au cours des trois dernières sessions conjointes du Comité du Programme et du Comité financier de protester contre la croissance zéro du budget, me fondant sur le fait qu'il serait intolérable à l'heure actuelle de maintenir le budget d'une organisation comme la FAO sans aucune augmentation car il faut pouvoir répondre à toutes les nécessités d'une telle organisation.
J'ai également dit que les affectations étaient trop limitées pour certains Programmes tels que le PCT, le Programme des pêches et le Programme des forêts. J'avais également indiqué au Comité financier que je n'étais pas d'accord sur le niveau du budget, je l'ai dit en tant que Représentant du Liban au Conseil au mois de juin et lors de la dernière réunion du Conseil qui a eu lieu il y a quelques jours, toujours en avançant les mêmes arguments. J'ai donc été amené à ne pas accepter ce budget car j'ai le sentiment que le travail et les activités de la FAO souffriront d'une régression, ce que personne ne souhaite et surtout pas la FAO elle-même.
Auparavant, j'avais protesté sur ce principe tel qu'il avait été présenté par le Directeur général. Fort de mes convictions, j'estime qu'il serait souhaitable d'arriver à un consensus, en espérant que certains pays changent un jour leur politique et puissent à l'avenir accepter l'augmentation des affectations de façon que l'Organisation puisse mener à bien ses activités.
Aujourd'hui, une fois encore, je réitère la position de mon pays; après avoir constaté l'augmentation d'un million de dollars du PCT, nous sommes prêts à accepter ce budget tel quil nous est présenté, mais je réaffirme la position de mon pays en faveur du maintien du coefficient d'abattement à 3 pour cent. J'espère que le Programme de travail et budget sera accepté non seulement par mon pays mais par 1 'ensemble des participants.
Je terminerai en appelant l’attention de l’assemblée sur le fait que nous ne pouvons plus demander à l'Organisation de revenir sur certaines questions qui relèvent de la routine et qui n'ont aucune incidence sur ses travaux et sur tout ce qu'elle réalise. L'Organisation travaille de manière excellente, comme cela a été confirmé par le Rapport relatif à son réexamen, il y a quatre ans, réexamen qui faisait suite à une résolution de la Conférence. Cet examen a démontré que la transparence était totale, que les activités étaient menées de façon remarquable et qu'il n'y avait nulle critique à formuler à cet égard. De toute manière, nos commentaires sont toujours objectifs.
LE PRESIDENT: Je prends note que nous approuvez le Programme de travail et budget. Nous allons suspendre la séance pendant quinze minutes et nous reprendrons à onze heures quarante.
Per Harald GRUE (Norway) : First, I should like to thank Mr Shah for his introduction this morning. I have the honour of making this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
I would also like to commend the Secretariat for improvements in the format and presentation of the document, although there is room for further
progress regarding the readability and transparency. Shifting of programme elements may make real reorientations difficult to discern from mere "window-dressing". It is also quite difficult to see how the priorities in the Medium-term Plan have been reflected in the budget proposal.
We realize that the number of issues and problems of an international character in the food and agriculture sector are still considerable, and we are particularly concerned about the persisting difficulties in sub-Sanaran Africa. At the same time, the protracted global recession and severe budget restrictions in many countries make it obvious that the times of ever-increasing budgets for international organizations are over. Therefore, priority-setting, together with cost-effeciency in all operations, is more important than ever before. Although there is probably no activity within the Organization without member countries' support, choices will have to be made.
Turning to some more detailed comments regarding the proposed Programme of Work and Budget, the Nordic delegations find the reorientation from the technical programmes to administrative programmes regrettable. It is difficult to join in the approval of a budget for FAO comprising an addition of 56 administrative posts on the budget. We can, however, understand that some posts earlier financed outside the regular budget may now need to be transferred to the regular budget. Some of these posts are, as pointed out in the document, crucial for the daily operation of the Organization. It is high time that some of these important posts be included in the budget, to increase the transparency and better reflect the real administrative costs of the Organization. The fact, however, that these posts were originally financed outside the regular budget indicates that the administrative costs of the Organization have been higher than reflected in the budgets presented to earlier Conferences. This is regrettable and, along with other unclear elements and lack of transparency, calls for a careful independent review of the entire administration of the Organization.
The Nordic countries take a keen interest in the relationship between the Regular Programme and the Field Programme. While it seems like the field activities to an important degree use resources of the Regular Programme, the latter may benefit from experience gained in field activities. The Nordic countries will return to these issues in individual statements under agenda item 23, Support Cost Reimbursement for Trust Funds.
The budget proposal is put forward at a time when most Member States are struggling with domestic budget constraint. The financial situation of FAO is a clear reflection of this situation, and it is a harsh reality that the majority of the Member States in this Organization are not able to keep up to date with their assessed contributions. In this context, we would like to emphasize that all Members should pay their contribution in full and on time. The Nordic countries would like to support the basic idea behind the budget proposal, that there is at present no room for budget increases. This does not mean that the Nordic countries would advocate zero growth as a matter of principle, but at the moment realism and strict priority setting is called for in all international organizations.
Even if realism is said to be a basic principle in the budget proposal, the Secretariat's estimates for cost increases are set to 11.2 percent or more than US$75 million for the biennium. This is to our best judgement not a realistic figure and a budget including such cost increases must be
characterized as expansive. The Nordic countries find it difficult to support a budget containing such cost increases.
The question of what is technically the most correct method of estimating cost increases has been subject to discussion on several occasions in this Organization, as mentioned by Mr Shah. Without entering into technical details, the Nordic delegations want to point to the need to constantly work on increasing efficiency and reducing the cost increases in all organizations.
Turning to the question of financing the budget, the Secretariat proposes to use US$38 million dollars from payments of arrears. This seems to be a very tempting way of proposing an expansive budget without having to present the member countries with the price tag. We are afraid of moving in a direction where a deliberate gap is established between the work programme and the assessments. Sooner or later such a gap will have to be closed, and that can prove to be a painful exercise. We would prefer to see the payments of arrears used for building up reserves as a protection against, inter alia, future currency fluctuations. Such reserves have proved to be needed, and on several occasions the member countries have had to meet the associated costs. This time the currency fluctuations seem to indicate reduced assessments from member countries, but this should not lead us to approve a too expansive budget.
Mr Chairman, turning to the priorities in the Programme of Work, the Nordic delegations can agree to the emphasis given to the follow-up of UNCED, as well as the International Conference on Nutrition. We will have the possibility to comment on FAO's work in relation to environment in Commission I next week. Some of us have also made our detailed comments to FAO's work in relation to nutrition under Agenda item 6.2. We therefore refrain from making detailed comments here.
The Nordic countries have called for increased priority to policy advice connected to agriculture, forestry and fisheries for a long time. This is also an important part of the follow-up of the UN General Assembly decisions on operational activities. This work includes supporting member countries in policy formulation, planning and strengthening of national institutions and capacity. FAO's role should be to encourage, support and recommend activities rather than to implement them. The changes in the UNDP support cost scheme, implemented a couple of years ago, also stimulates such redirection. We have supported this shift, and would have liked to see more attention given to this shift in the present Programme of Work.
The Nordic countries attach high priority to FAO's work in relation to plant and animal genetic resources. We therefore support the inclusion of parts of the costs related to the 1995 Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources in the budget proposal. The Nordic countries have been able to support the preparation for the Conference by extra-budgetary resources. Yet we find it important that this significant task is included in the Programme of Work.
A progress report from FAO's Plan of Action for integration of women in agriculture and rural development will be discussed in more detail at this Conference": The Nordic countries want to underline that FAO still has a long way to go before the goals in these areas of development are achieved. This was also underlined by my Minister in her speech in Plenary. Their priority therefore needs to be maintained.
The Nordic concern regarding the share of Forestry in the PWB has already been mentioned in the COFO and Council meetings earlier this year. Even if we note that there has been an increase in the Major Programme on forestry since the Budget Summary was presented to the Council in June, the shift is far from sufficient to rebuild FAO's position as the leading world agency in forestry development. From a substantive point of view, however, our concern is not only the share of the forestry sector in the PWB. As both agriculture and forestry belong to FAO's mandate, the Organization should utilize its multi-disciplinary strength to analyse how agricultural and forestry activities could best interact.
The Nordic delegations are not pleased to see a proposed reduction in the allocation to the fisheries sector in the Programme of Work. We would have liked to see the present budget level at least maintained.
The political changes in Eastern and Central Europe make it necessary for FAO to re-examine its work in this region. The Nordic countries feel that FAO, in cooperation with other organizations, has an important role to play in Europe in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. We therefore support the increased attention granted to the area in the Programme of Work.
The Nordic countries recognize the importance of the TCP Programme for developing countries. On the other hand, the increased allocation to TCP of US$5 million is difficult. We have on several earlier occasions expressed doubt regarding the quality of the programme.
A stricter priority setting implies giving lower priority to certain fields. The Nordic countries would like to support the decreased priority given to regional offices, administration and certain programmes as proposed in the Programme of Work. We would, however, also have liked to see further decreases in some areas. If a budget is to be realistic, increases in some programmes will have to be balanced by corresponding decreases in other programmes. We have already pointed to the need for a careful review of the entire administrative cost of the Organization. We feel convinced that significant savings could have been made here, to the benefit of the Technical Programmes. On earlier occasions we have pointed to the need to carefully review the number of field representations needed to run the Organization. We believe that considerable savings can be made in this area, without harming the technical quality of FAO's work.
Won-Gil BAE (Korea, Republic of): First of all, on behalf of the Korean Government, I would like to express my support for the Secretariat's decision to freeze the budget and to hold off on increasing the contributions of member countries. I agree it is appropriate to increase the 1994-95 budget in the area of UNCED-related activities and of nutritional improvement. These increases will certainly help bring about a solution to some of the outstanding problems confronting the international community today.
Mr Chairman, as the Major Programmes in Chapter 2, Technical and Economic Programmes, that is, those under Section 2.1 Agriculture, and Section 2.2 Fisheries, have seen a budget reduction, I would like to urge everyone to make the utmost efforts to minimize any adverse effects through such measures as reduction of manpower and office automation.
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Jaime GARCÍA Y BADÍAS (España): Queremos felicitar a la Secretaría por la presentación de este excelente documento, el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto, para el bienio 1994-95. Las mejoras progresivas que se han ido realizando en la presentación y en el contenido de este documento esencial, facilitan el análisis de la consulta del mismo, y aligeran, por tanto, la labor de las delegaciones; razón por la que felicitamos a los servicios correspondientes por sus reiterados esfuerzos en este sentido.
En las circunstancias de recesión económica y dificultades presupuestarias del sector público que atraviesan muchos países, debemos felicitar al Director General por el esfuerzo realizado para presentar un presupuesto sin crecimiento. Nuestra delegación se felicita asimismo por el reajuste de las partidas asignadas a los Programas de Pesca y Montes.
Estamos de acuerdo con los países que han manifestado su deseo de que se acomode el coeficiente de descuento por vacantes a la realidad estimada para el período que contempla el presupuesto.
Con relación al presupuesto presentado para el Programa de Cooperación Técnica, mostramos nuestro acuerdo con el mismo, tanto por su dotación como por los criterios establecidos por los órganos rectores de la FAO, para el examen de las solicitudes de asistencia presentadas en el marco de este programa. Entendemos el PCT como un elemento de enlace y de apoyo mutuo entre los programas de campo y el Programa Ordinario, y debería así constituir también una ayuda excepcional en los momentos que se necesite.
En el programa 2.1.5 - Desarrollo Rural - lamentamos ver la disminución de los recursos asignados al programa 2.1.5.1.1, elemento 02, dedicado al extensionismo y capacitación agraria, tema éste tan importante para la formación de las poblaciones rurales en cuestiones agrarias. En el mismo programa, lamentamos asimismo, la disminución de los recursos destinados al sub-programa 2.1.5.3, elemento 03, dedicado a la participación popular y que incluye las cooperativas agrarias. En el marco de la prioridad acordada en el plan a medio plazo, en el concepto de la Población en Desarrollo, esperamos que estas actividades, que para España reflejan de forma especialmente adecuada la importancia de la formación, de la participación popular y de la creación de empresas cooperativas agrarias viables, puedan en el futuro verse reforzadas.
Nos causa también una cierta preocupación, ver la ligera pérdida de recursos del sub-programa 2.2.3.2, elemento 02, dedicado a la Coordinación de la Pesca Regional, que incluye la prestación, por parte de la FAO, de apoyo de secretaría y administrativo a diversos órganos regionales de pesca. Como ya hemos mencionado en otras intervenciones, durante el 104° período de sesiones del Consejo y en el debate del plan a medio plazo en esta Comisión, España subraya el apoyo del Consejo en su 103° período de sesiones, en el sentido de dotar al Consejo General de Pesca del Mediterráneo de los medios necesarios para llevar a cabo sus cometidos. En consecuencia, reiteramos que en el sub-programa 2.2.3.2, elemento 02, se hagan los ajustes necesarios con el fin de tener en cuenta la decisión del Consejo.
Esperamos asimismo, que la estabilización de los recursos asignados al sub-programa 2.2.3.1, elemento 05, dedicado a los Problemas y Opciones de la Ordenación de la Pesca, tendrá, asimismo, en cuenta el apoyo unánime del Consejo a la utilización de la "vía rápida" en la elaboración de los principios generales del código de conducta para la pesca responsable.
Nos felicitamos, y así lo hemos reiterado otras veces, por el magnífico trabajo que está realizando la FAO en el apartado de los Recursos Fitogenéticos, y en ese sentido, apoyamos plenamente el aumento ama 2.1.2.1, Conservación y Ordenación de los Recursos Fitogenéticos.
Los comentarios de detalle de la Delegación española, señor Presidente, son el fruto del deseo de contribuir a una óptima utilización del presupuesto de nuestra Organización, así como a que queden recogidas en el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto para el bienio 1994-95 las prioridades definidas por el Consejo en su 104° Período de Sesiones.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie le Représentant de l'Espagne et je pense avec lui que tous les membres de la Commission tiendront dûment compte des recommandations du Conseil pour les questions qui ont fait l'objet d'un consensus.
Jilali HASSOUNE (Maroc) : Je remercie et félicite M. Shah pour le document important qu'il nous a présenté qui s'ajoute aux autres exposés auxquels il nous a habitués. Le point concernant le Programme de travail et budget 1994-95 est très important et c'est pourquoi ma délégation y a consacré tout un paragraphe dans la déclaration qui a été lue hier lors de la plénière. Il est dit dans ce paragraphe: "la délégation du Maroc soutient le Programme de travail et budget de 1994-95, et cela pour rejoindre le consensus qui s'est dégagé sur les décisions et recommandations émanant de cette Conférence".
Ma délégation considère que le budget tel qu'il est proposé ne permet pas à l'Organisation de jouer pleinement son rôle dans le sens du développement de l'amélioration de la situation alimentaire dans les pays en voie de développement, notamment en Afrique où la situation se détériore année après année.
La délégation du Maroc voudrait souligner le rôle important du Programme de coopération technique mis en oeuvre par l'Organisation. Notre délégation souhaite que ce Programme jouisse d'un intérêt particulier. En effet, le budget tel qu'il a été préparé par le Secrétariat de l'Organisation en tenant compte de la limite des ressources - et les experts savent bien qu'il est difficile de préparer un budget quand les ressources sont limitées -, budget dont le niveau est en deçà des aspirations de la communauté internationale, ne peut pas faire face à la famine et protéger les ressources naturelles. Nous avons exprimé cette volonté à maintes reprises dans le cadre de cette Commission à l'occasion de l'examen des points 9, 10 et 11 qui concernent l'application et l'évaluation des programmes pour la période 1992-93 ainsi que le Plan à moyen terme 1994-95.
Oui, ce budget est en deçà des aspirations que nous avons exprimées car il est basé sur la croissance zéro, soit une croissance légère du développement, je dirais même un recul devant les défis. Je citerai à cet égard ce que le Directeur général a déclaré dans le document C 93/3, document qui nous a dévoilé de manière claire et franche les différents aspects de la réalité. Ce document qui analysait la situation d'une manière judicieuse ne pouvait être fait que par un homme ayant une grande expérience du système des Nations Unies.
La délégation du Maroc accueille avec satisfaction les crédits réservés au suivi des travaux de la CNUED, comme souligné aux paragraphes 24 et 25 du document C 93/3.
Nous nous félicitons également des crédits consacrés au renforcement des ressources consacrées à l'alimentation, comme souligné aux paragraphes 26 et 27 du document susmentionné.
Le Maroc se félicite de l'intérêt, souligné dans ce même document, de cette augmentation, même modeste, de ces ressources. Cependant, le Maroc regrette la diminution des ressources consacrées au domaine phytogénétique, comme souligné aux paragraphes 33, 34 et 35 du document C 93/3. Lors de nombreuses conférences telles que la Conférence de Rio et la Conférence internationale sur la nutrition, des voix se sont élevées et des propositions et recommandations ont été soumises afin de parer à la famine, à la malnutrition et aux facteurs de destruction des ressources naturelles. Où en sommes-nous aujourd'hui? Avons-nous pris toutes les mesures nécessaires pour appliquer ces recommandations? Nous craignons que ces dernières ne restent lettre morte.
Nous devons faire des sacrifices pour soutenir cette Organisation, pour qu'elle puisse accomplir ses devoirs de la manière la plus parfaite et relever les différents défis auxquels elle est confrontée.
Hassan AL-AHMAD (Syria) (Original language Arabie): I would like to thank Mr Shah for his very clear introduction. We certainly feel that budget-based levels of US$676.9 million is the absolutely essential basis for the 1994-95 budget and any drop below that level would be very worrisome. We are glad to note that FAO has had a certain increase in the Technical Cooperation Programme which is one of the most important programmes of the Organization but this increase still leaves us below the level that developing countries would hope for and does not reach the 17 percent level which was decided upon in Resolution 9/89 four years ago. It is therefore important and necessary to increase the resources allocated to TCP as it plays a major role in development.
We are also grateful to the Secretary-General and the Secretariat for the efforts they have made to reduce cost increases so that now we only have US$76 million cost increases. Chairman, we hope that the Organization will be able to develop its activities so as to meet the essential needs of Member Nations, in particular the developing countries, and as soon as possible. For this reason we give our support to the priorities indicated in the Programme of Work and Budget, in particular the follow-up to UNCED which has paved the way toward sustainable development.
In this connection it is important to take into account that environment degradation is caused by poverty in rural societies in developing countries; therefore it is necessary to achieve rural development in these countries and help them preserve their natural resources which are the basis of development.
We also support the follow-up activities to the recommendations of the International Conference on Nutrition, in particular so as to ensure that families get balanced nutrition and that there is increased food security throughout the world. We urge the Organization to develop its activities and efforts in plant protection in all its aspects and we also hope that special attention will be paid to activities in biological pest control. In
this connection we would like to point out that Syria has been able to control pests by using biological methods rather than chemical methods. Many farmers in fact in our country are asking for greater dissemination of these biological methods because they have discovered they cost less money and can replace pesticides. They involve a tremendous saving and yet they are, of course, far less harmful to the environment. As a result, we have been intensifying our efforts in biological pest control and we are developing new means of coping with the pests that destroy our crops and our trees. We are hoping we can really take great steps forward in biological pest control we will need the assistance of the Organization in applying these newly introduced methods in our country.
We also hope that this Organization and other intergovernmental organizations as well will give technical and financial support to developing countries in the preservation and conservation of genetic resources so that they can use them in their local scientific programmes.
Finally, Sir, it is necessary to promote industrial research and promote agricultural research in developing countries so that these countries may be able to meet the challenges that they are facing because of increasing pressure on their available natural resources such as soil, plant and water. In particular in the Near East Region. Consideration must be given also to these and we need to develop techniques which make it possible to increase productivity and production, of course, without harming the environment. Intensive agriculture today involves more complex techniques. We cannot just take the easy options. We have to develop, and we must develop, new and diversified techniques which developing countries can use with the help of this Organization and of international and regional research centres so as to achieve appropriate results. International research centres are making only a very limited contribution to the national research centres in developing countries at the present time but we hope the strategies of these centres can be adjusted in the future so as to meet the needs of those countries in a more adequate manner.
LE PRESIDENT (langue originale arabe): Je remercie le Représentant de la Syrie et je le félicite pour l'expérience de son pays dans le domaine agricole.
Pedro A. KANGA (Angola): En premier lieu, nous adressons nos félicitations au Secrétariat pour la remarquable qualité du document qui nous est soumis. Comme M. Shah a l'habitude de le faire dans de nombreuses occasions, sa présentation a été très claire, concise, satisfaisante et convaincante. Nous le félicitons de sa transparence et des importants changements qui ont été introduits dans le Sommaire du Programme de travail et budget pour tenir compte des vues exprimées et recommandations des divers organes de la FAO. L'approche adoptée pour la formulation du Programme de travail et budget pour 1994-95 ne prévoit aucun accroissement net du Programme. A ce titre, nous continuons à exprimer des regrets face à l'absence d'une augmentation réelle du Programme au moment où l'on enregistre de plus en plus de demandes des Etats Membres.
La solution adoptée pour l'exercice 1992-93 ne devrait pas constituer un précédent pour les futurs Programmes de travail et budget. Pour notre délégation, la base logique à utiliser pour l'établissement du budget de l'exercice 1994-95 est le montant de 676,9 millions de dollars approuvé à l'unanimité par la dernière Conférence. En ce qui concerne la fixation des priorités, nous approuvons les deux priorités fondamentales sur le suivi de
la CNUED et de la CIN, sans oublier d'autres priorités telles que les avis de politique générale, les ressources génétiques végétales et animales, l'appui aux programmes de lutte intégrée contre les ravageurs, aux plans d'action forestiers, l'appui de la FAO au développement des ressources humaines, etc.
Mais à la suite des besoins identifiés à la fin de ces deux grands événements de 1992 et des situations d'urgence auxquelles la FAO doit faire face, nous sommes convaincus que le budget du Programme ordinaire ne suffira pas pour couvrir toutes les activités identifiées. Il s'avère donc indispensable de mobiliser des ressources extrabudgétaires.
En ce qui concerne le Programme de la coopération technique, point n'est besoin de rappeler le rôle important et efficace qu'il joue pour répondre aux multiples demandes de nombreux pays en développement. Mais nous regrettons que malgré les efforts déployés, qui ont permis une maigre augmentation de 11,7 pour cent à plus de 12,3 pour cent, le niveau décidé par la Conférence de 1989 soit encore loin d'être atteint. A cet égard, nous souhaitons que dans le futur Programme de travail et budget soit renforcé le PCT, conformément aux objectifs énoncés dans la Résolution 9/89 de la Conférence.
S'agissant du cadre du budget, nous nous félicitons des estimations des accroissements des coûts, ramenés à 76 millions de dollars des Etats-Unis au taux de change budgétaire actuel.
Au titre du Grand Programme Agriculture, ma délégation approuve les principaux domaines et se félicite de l'allocation de ressources supplémentaires aux avis en matière de politiques et à la lutte contre les ravageurs.
S'agissant du Grand Programme Pêche, nous appuyons les priorités proposées et nous ne pouvons que manifester notre satisfaction que les ressources budgétaires de ce Grand Programme aient été ramenées au niveau initial.
S'agissant du code international de conduite pour une pêche responsable, ma délégation approuve la nécessité de son élaboration, en accord évidemment avec les organisations internationales appropriées, pour éviter tout double emploi. Vu les ressources limitées de l'Organisation, nous sommes d'avis aussi que la mobilisation des ressources extrabudgétaires est indispensable pour convoquer les consultations techniques.
Nous nous félicitons particulièrement de l'accroissement des crédits alloués au Grand Programme Forêts, ceci permettra un renforcement des activités forestières de la FAO. Vu les innombrables sollicitations des Pays Membres dans ce domaine, nous pensons que les ressources extrabudgétaires sont indispensables.
Le Centre d'investissement est toujours pour nous très important, nous pensons que le maintien des services d'investissement à leur niveau actuel est indispensable car il mobilise de grandes ressources financières pour investir dans le secteur agricole des pays en développement.
S'agissant du coefficient d'abattement pour les mouvements du personnel, élaboré sur la base de 3 pour cent, ma délégation souscrit pleinement à cette approche et nous sommes d'avis que cette question soit reprise à l'avenir et soit également examinée par le Commissaire aux comptes. Il est
vrai qu'un coefficient réduirait l'efficacité de l'exécution des programmes par l’Organisation.
Pour terminer, ma délégation appuie le projet de résolution sur les ouvertures de crédits pour 1994-95, avec les ajustements nécessaires suite aux variations du taux de change dollar/lire.
LE PRESIDENT: Merci pour votre intervention et pour votre soutien au Programme de travail et budget ainsi qu'au projet de résolution qui sera soumis à la Plénière.
António MAGALHÃES COELHO (Portugal): Le document C 93/3 que le Secrétariat a préparé à notre endroit pour ce débat afin que nous donnions notre appréciation et prenions une décision est très complet et profond et contient aussi de vastes informations.
Le Secrétariat a jugé bon d'élaborer un programme de travail et budget, qui réunit toutes les conditions, de façon à obtenir un consensus.
Nous constatons que ce document veille à subordonner le programme à des orientations générales et aux priorités du Plan à moyen terme de 1994-99, envisagées par les organismes directeurs et consultatifs de la FAO, en incluant les Conférences régionales de la FAO et prête une plus grande attention aux avis de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur l'environnement et le développement (CNUCED) et à la Conférence internationale sur la nutrition (CIN) , pour les plans d'actions qui nécessiteront la mobilisation des ressources extrabudgétaires.
Nous constatons aussi que les observations relevées par quelques pays lors du Conseil de juin ont été prises en considération afin de renforcer la dotation aux secteurs des pêches et des forêts.
En ce qui concerne le dernier secteur, nous tenons à faire remarquer, encore une fois que, parallèlement à la grande importance de la forêt tropicale, nous ne devrons pas oublier les zones tempérées si ravagées par les incendies et les pluies acides, les régions de savane et de forêts où se déroule la plupart des activités agricoles de subsistance et aussi les zones arides et sous arides, où les phénomènes de désertification se manifestent d'une façon très notable.
Ma délégation appuie l’élaboration du code de conduite pour une pêche responsable, le plus tôt possible, en accord avec la décision de la cent quatrième session du Conseil.
Nous considérons que les moyens destinés à la représentation régionale de la FAO pour l'Europe devront être convenablement ajustés à la nouvelle réalité afin qu'elle puisse faire face, en ce qui la concerne, aux demandes d'assistance pendant cette période de transition pour les systèmes d'économie de marché, faites par de nombreux pays d'Europe centrale et orientale.
La délégation portugaise donne son avis favorable aux considérations faites par le Directeur général dans l’introduction du document et considère que la proposition du budget est réaliste, sur une base de 676,9 millions de dollars, invariable depuis 1990-91, étant donné que le niveau de 645,6 millions de dollars fixé pour les années 1992-93 résulte d'un compromis
considéré comme exceptionnel. Ce ne doit pas être un précédent et, par conséquent, ma délégation donne son appui au Programme de travail et budget proposé pour 1994-95 en approuvant le projet de résolution respectif.
Mme Colette TAQUET (Belgique): La Belgique souhaiterait faire part de sa position sur les divers problèmes que regroupe ce point de l'ordre du jour. Suivant votre conseil, Monsieur le Président, nous nous bornerons à soulever quelques aspects du programme d'activités pour aborder ensuite certains aspects budgétaires.
Nous notons avec beaucoup de satisfaction que le Secrétariat a pu tenir compte des recommandations des Etats Membres pour limiter les réductions de ressources dans les grands programmes forêt, pêche et agriculture.
Nous apprécions également que le Programme technique ait reçu des ressources additionnelles qui valoriseront les activités opérationnelles de cette Organisation. Toutes ces modifications, opérées au bénéfice de tous les membres, nous encouragent à continuer le dialogue avec le Secrétariat dans un esprit constructif.
A cet égard, nous nous interrogeons avec inquiétude sur le sort futur du Centre d'investissement de la FAO, au vu des réductions drastiques de ressources qui sont envisagées. L'argumentaire présenté au par. 37 et suivants du Programme et budget de travail ne nous a pas convaincu. Nous craignons que les services offerts aux Etats Membres ne souffrent de cette rationalisation un peu sévère à notre goût.
Nous avons pris connaissance du document d'information C 93/LIM/23, consacré au code de conduite pour une pêche responsable. Nous réitérons notre appui à la décision prise par le comité et approuvée par le Conseil de la cent troisième session, d'accélérer l'élaboration de ce code. Cette tâche doit être traitée de manière prioritaire avec des ressources suffisantes.
Cette Commission doit également examiner d'importantes questions budgétaires. Pour commencer, je voudrais réaffirmer au nom de mon gouvernement notre ferme conviction que seule la base de 676 millions de dollars peut servir de référence pour la fixation du budget pour le prochain biennium. Cette position se fonde sur des arguments juridiques que nous avons déjà eu l'occasion d'exposer. Ils sont d'ailleurs acceptés par une très large majorité de membres. C'est pour nous la seule manière de respecter la décision prise à l'unanimité lors de la vingt-sixième Conférence en 1991 qui avait adopté un programme de travail estimé à 676 millions de dollars.
Le montant de 676 millions de dollars représente à notre avis un compromis acceptable entre les demandes croissantes que les membres adressent à l'Organisation et les difficultés budgétaires que traverse un grand nombre d'entre eux.
Ce contexte difficile justifie à nos yeux le respect d'une croissance réelle nulle qui doit garantir à l'Organisation une relative stabilité de ses ressources. En aucun cas, nous ne sommes partisans d'une amputation des ressources de la FAO. Nous espérons que ce niveau budgétaire pourra être adopté par consensus, ce qui donnerait à notre nouveau Directeur général un témoignage concret du soutien unanime des membres de cette Organisation.
En tout cas, la Belgique s'opposerait à ce que le budget du Programme de travail pour le prochain biennium ne soit pas assorti d'une ouverture de crédits d'un niveau identique.
Certains points particuliers du Rapport du Comité financier appellent des commentaires de notre part. Tout d'abord, nous saluons les efforts du Secrétariat qui a répondu positivement à diverses demandes de modification du document C 93/3, notamment celle qui concerne la réduction des hausses de coûts.
Lorsqu'il est question du règlement des arriérés au par. 1.8 du document CL 104/4, nous prenons acte de l'annonce par un membre du paiement d'une somme importante comme partie de versements attendus. Nous nous rejouissons de cette bonne nouvelle et espérons que d'autres membres feront des annonces similaires.
D'aucuns pensent que le versement subit de ces arriérés pourrait déstabiliser les finances de l'Organisation. Nous voudrions savoir si le Secrétariat partage ces craintes. Si tel est le cas, nous pensons que les Etats défaillants, les grands débiteurs en premier lieu, devraient convenir avec le Secrétariat d'un calendrier de versement de manière à amortir les effets de ces secousses budgétaires, le cas échéant.
Si l'on envisage le problème à plus long terme, on peut effectivement redouter que le financement du budget de l'Organisation soit plus difficile, une fois que la source du remboursement des arriérés de contribution se sera tarie. Notre délégation n'a pas de solution magique à proposer face à ce problème complexe. Mais il nous semble que ces circonstances incertaines justifient d'autant plus la base budgétaire de 676 millions de dollars. Toute réduction de ce montant ne risque-t-il pas d'accentuer l'écart entre les contributions à payer aujourd'hui et celles à venir?
En ce qui concerne l'utilisation des arriérés, nous souhaitons que l'on s'en tienne strictement au respect du Règlement financier et de son article 6 la.
Toute somme constitutive d'arriérés doit être versée au Fonds général. Il y va des fondements mêmes de notre Organisation. Aucun membre, lorsqu'il paye sa contribution ponctuellement n'est en droit d'exiger qu'elle soit affectée à telle ou telle dépense. Il nous est dès lors très difficile d'accepter qu'une prérogative de ce genre soit reconnue à un Etat qui doit des sommes considérables à l'Organisation.
Le Directeur général a proposé dans l'introduction du document C 93/3 d'utiliser les versements d'arriérés comme une ristourne aux contributions dues par les membres pour le prochain biennium. Cette proposition nous laisse un peu perplexes. Il serait plus prudent, selon nous, de ne pas affecter les sommes attendues, mais de redistribuer aux Etats Membres les reliquats éventuels au terme de l'exercice 1994-95.
On a déjà beaucoup discuté du coefficient d'abattement. Nous dirons simplement qu'il existe selon nous un lien logique entre le taux de vacance effective et ledit coefficient. Nous nous réjouissons que ce problème soit soumis à une vérification externe et au Commissaire aux comptes. Pour le prochain biennium nous pensons qu'un taux voisin de 5 pour cent serait approprié.
Voilà, Monsieur le Président, les quelques considérations que nous livrons à 1 ' attention de tous les membres en réitérant notre soutien au Programme de travail et budget pour le prochain biennium.
LE PRESIDENT: Je vous remercie de votre contribution extrêmement positive à nos débats.
Je vous remercie également d'avoir si justement évoqué la résolution qui a été adoptée par la Conférence en 1991 sur le niveau de la base budgétaire.
Mme Fatma LARBI (Tunisie) : Je tiens à féliciter Monsieur Shah pour l'excellente présentation qu'il a donnée du Programme de travail et budget et je voudrais confirmer également que le Chef de la délégation de mon pays, lors de la plénière mardi dernier, a insisté sur l'importance des objectifs de programme et sur le fait que ceux-ci sont en parfait accord avec les objectifs de l'Organisation tels qu'ils figurent dans son acte constitutif.
Je tiens à attirer votre attention sur l’augmentation des requêtes émanant des pays membres, ce qui nous amène à nous demander si la présentation de la constellation budgétaire permettrait à cette Organisation de satisfaire toutes les demandes qui augmentent et ce, quelles que soient les améliorations qui peuvent être apportées à la qualité des activités. Nous voyons qu'il serait important à l'avenir que les budgets tiennent compte de l'accroissement de la démographie afin que l'Organisation puisse assigner suffisamment de ressources et activités de programmes à tous les habitants de la planète.
Ma délégation a déjà eu l'occasion de dire à la réunion du Comité de programme, que ce budget n'est pas à la hauteur des aspirations et des attentes des pays, surtout à la suite de la recommandation de deux conférences internationales sur l'environnement et le développement, d'une part, et sur la nutrition, d'autre part. Ces deux conférences ont présenté des recommandations qui constituent une responsabilité historique pour cette Organisation, de façon à pouvoir garantir un développement durable et un avenir meilleur pour notre planète, afin de lutter contre la faim qui restera un fléau pour l'humanité à la fin de ce siècle. Ce siècle a connu de grandes conquêtes, telle que la conquête de l'espace, alors qu'ici sur terre nous ne parvenons pas à nourrir plus de 600 millions d'êtres humains.
Nous acceptons malgré nous un budget de 676,9 millions de dollars pour les motifs qui ont déjà été présentés antérieurement par ma délégation mais je crois que nous devons appeler l'attention de tous sur le fait qu'il est nécessaire de revoir cela à l'avenir de façon à ce que nous n'ayons pas à affronter de nouveaux défis encore plus difficiles. Nous appuyons les propositions présentées pour renforcer le Programme de coopération technique, mais ce programme n'est pas suffisamment bien doté dans ce budget. Cela ne répond pas aux attentes de la Conférence de 1989 et nous insistons donc pour dire que ce programme doit recevoir un traitement spécial pendant les années à venir car un grand nombre de pays membres en développement qui ont des problèmes techniques dans le secteur agricole doivent pouvoir bénéficier de l'aide de cette Organisation et doivent lui trouver le soutien dont elle a besoin pour réaliser les objectifs fondamentaux de notre Organisation tels qu'ils figurent dans son acte constitutif.
Ma délégation appuie sans réserve ce qui a été dit par le délégué du Mexique à propos de la constitution d'une commission sur l'élevage et c'est là une question qui occupe une grande majorité de pays de l'Organisation. Quant au coefficient d'abattement pour les mouvements de personnel dans les années à venir, nous souhaitons voir s'améliorer dans une large mesure la situation de ce personnel.
XU NANSHAN (China) (Original language Chinese) : I should like to thank the Secretariat for having prepared document C 93/3. We should also like to thank Mr Shah for preparing the Programme of Work and Budget. We should like to make some comments on this item of the agenda.
First, with regard to the budget level, we have noted that, on the one hand, as the world population increases and environmental resources dwindle, the FAO is grappling with increasingly difficult challenges, and on the other hand for various reasons the FAO will have to deal with very serious financial problems.
The Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95 submitted by the Director-General calls for a zero growth budget. This stems from the Director-General's effort in trying to reconcile various positions. We feel that it is acceptable to take the budget level for 1992-93, that is to say US$676.9 million as the budget base level for the Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95. We hope that the Conference can adopt this with a consensus.
Secondly, with regard to the lapse factor, included in the growth increases, we agree with the 3 percent used by the Director-General in preparing the Programme of Work and Budget but, given that the lapse factor is not just a technical question when preparing the budget but is also a determining factor if the budget level corresponds to reality, we suggest that we should examine this question and call in the External Auditor to make the issue more transparent.
Thirdly, with regard to which priorities and budget allocations should be increased, we agree with the Director-General. We feel that this should meet the needs of the UNCED activities.
With regard to the strategic objectives and aims of FAO, we feel they should be in keeping with the changing situation in agriculture and nutrition, but we have also noted that the total appropriations for the major programmes such as Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, as well as TCP, have increased in relation to the sketch of the budget programme we have for 1995 which was examined by the Council in June. This points to a rather substantial decrease vis à vis the last budget period. We are concerned about this, and hope that the Director-General will adjust insofar as possible the programmes to ensure that there are some savings, particularly with regard to the TCP. Since the TCP was set up it has played a very substantial role in terms of training, advice, emergency assistance, preparation of projects and the TCDC has also been looked at. Member States have borne in mind FAO's work, and TCP has been given great importance by the developing countries. We have noted that the amount earmarked for TCP in the Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95 has increased when compared to the summary sketch. Also, bearing in mind some of the changes that have taken place in the exchange rate, we note that the share of TCP in the Regular Programme will be 12.3 percent, but we are very sorry that this percentage is far from the goal of 70 percent established by
Resolution 89/9 of the Conference. This does not tally with the current reality or with the growing needs of developing countries.
When readjusting the programmes and activities, we would like the Director-General further to increase productivity and inject more efficiency with a view to cutting back on administrative costs and increasing the amount earmarked for the TCP.
Ms Katalin BAKK (Hungary): Mr Chairman! My delegation wishes to express its appreciation on the Director-General's proposed Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95. It is rightly felt that his energetic leadership has been vital to achieving a zero real growth. We would like to emphasize that zero growth in the document before us programme priorities such as sustainable development, genetic resources, policy advice and assistance to fisheries and forestry and so forth have been adhered to.
Every other year the debate on the Programmes of Work and Budget are showing what an immense load of work the Organization is doing and what an even more immense and rightly claimed activity it fails to cope with. It is therefore that programmes and subprogrammes can hardly be discussed without a simultaneous reference to financial and resource implications.
My delegation is satisfied with the main thrust of FAO activities planned for the forthcoming biennium. We feel that the PWB is increasingly walking on a tight-rope trying to reconcile growing demands with - optimistically spoken - stagnating resources. The present international economic and financial environment is eminently unsuitable to reconsider the resource side of the Programme taking the growing number of uncertainties into consideration. I am not only referring to long-debated issues such as the lapse factor or support costs but also to the increasing shakiness of the ERM (Exchange Rate Mechanism) and the Lira rate adopted by the Conference and the implications to derive thereof.
Mr Chairman! My delegation can go along with the Programme of Work and Budget as proposed by the Director-General and it is our desire to have it adopted by consensus.
Hungary is just now trying to overcome a not too happy economic period, though we have always strictly observed our scheduled payments. My delegation would like to call Member Nations' attention to pay arrears enabling thus the Organization to proceed with the operations as planned.
There are two comments I would like to make on the Programme of Work and Budget. One is taking due note that in the regional breakdown of the proposed activities Europe's share has slightly increased. The increase was slight indeed, for example from 1.77 in the 1992-93 biennium to 2.5 percent in the present one, though showing the realization of FAO priorities mentioned many times and at many documents before us. We would appreciate FAO having an open mind should the justified amount of requests from the Region exceed that reckoned with in the Programme.
The other point I would like to bring forward concerns the Technical Cooperation Programme and I am sure that many - perhaps most - delegates will agree with me. TCP being the only unprogrammed and urgent project possibility giving practical assistance to countries and objectives qualifying is widely appreciated as a cost-efficient though extremely liked and useful tool in FAO’s hand. We feel a pity the relatively low priority
TCP is getting in the Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95. If I may be permitted to make a cross reference to other agenda items I would like to mention the reports on programme evaluation and implementation where the efficiency of TCP projects are ranked pretty good. This delegation would like FAO to use up possible savings and other windfall proceeds to strengthen Technical Cooperation Programme.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous sommes arrivés au terme de la séance de la matinée. Nous avons débordé le temps imparti et je m'en excuse auprès des interprètes.
J'aimerais compléter la liste des orateurs qui souhaitent intervenir cet après-midi. Pour le moment, sont inscrits sur la liste les pays suivants: Egypte, France, Cameroun, Indonésie, Royaume-Unie, Chili, Kenya, Roumanie, Inde, Iran, Pologne, Suisse, Nigeria, Libye. Je m'arrêterai là mais je tiens à vous informer que la liste sera close au cours de la séance de l'après-midi.
Nous nous retrouverons à 14 heures 30. La séance est levée.
The meeting rose at 12.55 hours.
La séance est levée à 12 h 55.
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.55 horas.
