Thomas A. FORBORD (Chairman, Commission III): REP/6 contains our Commission's Report on two agenda items. The first is the financial position of the Organization, including the status of contributions and the Commission's action on a recommendation to eliminate the discount scheme. That recommendations was not accepted by the Commission.
The second agenda item is information and an address to the Commission by a Representative of the Staff Organizations. The full address is available in the Verbatim Report of the Commission.
These are short reports and I hope they can be adopted en bloc. However, before you take that action, let me publicly thank the rapporteur of Commission III, Mr Ly of Senegal, for preparing such short, concise reports, the bureau of the Commission for their support to me in the operation of the Committee and all those who participated in making it what I felt to be a very efficient operation.
CHAIRMAN: Do you have any comments on this report ? If there are none, we consider the report adopted.
Draft Report of Plenary - Part VI (from Commission III), was adopted
Le projet de rapport de la Plénière - Sixième partie (de la Commission III), est adopté
El proyecto de informe de la Plenaria - Parte VI (de la Comisión III), es aprobado
CHAIRMAN: We now proceed to the adoption of C 95/REP/3 and I give the floor to the Chairman of Commission II.
Jacques LAUREAU (Président, Commission II): Monsieur le Président, chers amis, je voudrais moi aussi exprimer mes remerciements au Président du Comité de rédaction, M Aboul-Naga, qui exerçait en même temps la lourde responsabilité du Groupe des 77, et à tous les membres de la Commission qui ont fait part, les uns vis-à-vis des autres, de l'attitude la plus constructive possible.
Bien entendu, l'événement de cette Commission II a été l'adoption du budget et du Programme de travail 1996-97, auquel nous avons procédé sous la forme de l'acceptation d'une résolution, vendredi tard dans la soirée. Ceci a été le résultat, je le rappelle, d'un travail long de compromis réciproques.
Mais je voudrais souligner que d'autres aspects des travaux de la Commission II sont également importants. Il n'y a pas que le budget du biennium à venir. Il y a aussi deux points importants sur lesquels des décisions ont été prises.
D'abord, en ce qui concerne l'exécution du budget 1994-95, l'importance du suivi et de l'évaluation en tant qu'instrument de gestion a été soulignée et acceptée par l'ensemble des membres de la Commission, ainsi que la notion de synergie entre le Programme ordinaire et le Programme de terrain, notamment en ce qui concerne les activités normatives de la FAO.
Un certain nombre de remarques de détails ont été faites par ailleurs sur l'insuffisance de l'exécution d'un certain nombre de thèmes qui avaient été mentionnés antérieurement à l'exécution du Programme.
Sur la question du Plan à moyen terme 1996-2001, il y a un accord général pour reconnaître que le document présenté par le Secrétariat et le Directeur général était un document concis et utile. Le principe proposé par le Directeur général d'un terme de six années pour ce Plan à moyen terme, avec une révision tous les deux ans, a été accepté, tandis que l'utilité par ailleurs d'un Plan à long terme, qui pourrait être établi après le Sommet mondial de novembre 1996 sur l'alimentation - d'autres disent: la sécurité alimentaire - a été évoquée et implicitement ceux qui se sont exprimés avaient à l'esprit de tenir compte de facteurs lourds d'évolution, comme la démographie, le réchauffement du climat, toutes sortes de facteurs qui dépassent largement l'évolution à moyen terme. Donc cette idée a été également non seulement envisagée, mais de fait acceptée.
Je soumets donc à l'approbation de la Conférence les points 14 et 15, c'est-à-dire l'exécution du budget 1994-95, et le Plan à moyen terme 1996-2001, puisque le point 16, c'est-à-dire le budget, a été approuvé vendredi dernier.
CHAIRMAN: Do you have any comments on the Report?
Paragraphs 1-2 approved
Les paragraphes 1-2 sont approuvés
Los párrafos 1-2 son aprobados
PARAGRAPH 3
PARAGRAPHE 3
PARRAFO 3
Thomas A. FORBORD (United States of America): There is just a small oversight in paragraph 3 of item 14. It now indicates that the Programme Committee has recommended a change in timing for the Programme Implementation Report. That should refer to the Programme and Finance Committees, because both have made the recommendation. It says in the second sentence of that paragraph that the report should be submitted to the Programme Committee. That also should read "Programme and Finance Committees" as the Finance Committee has responsibility for looking at the budgetary implementation of the Programme.
CHAIRMAN: Do you have any other comments on it? If not, the Report of Commission II, which is C 95/REP/3, is adopted.
Paragraph 3, as amended, was adopted
Le paragraphe 3, ainsi amendé, est adopté
El párrafo 3, así enmendado, es aprobado
Draft Report of Plenary - Part DI (from Commission II), as amended, was adopted
Le projet de rapport de la Plénière - Troisième partie (de la Commission II), ainsi amendé, est adopté
El proyecto de informe de la Plenaria - Parte III (de la Comisión II), así enmendado, es aprobado
CHAIRMAN: I have an announcement to make which comes from the Peoples Republic of China through its Mission to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome: "Mr Chairman and Secretary-General, you are kindly requested to recall the stand of the Chinese delegation on the budget level for 1996-97 as expressed earlier during the debate in the Second Commission. The Chinese delegation supports any proposal on the budget level for 1996-97 through consensus. Therefore, the Chinese delegation would like to confirm our agreement and support to the Programme of Work and Budget level of US$650 million for 1996-97 based on consensus.
The Chinese delegation expresses its regrets for not having been present at the Plenary Meeting held on the evening of 22 October 1995 due to unforeseen circumstances. With personal regards, Chinese delegation".
DRAFT REPORT OF PLENARY - PART VIII (from Commission I)
PROJET DE RAPPORT DE LA PLENIERE - HUITIEME PARTIE (de la Commission I)
PROYECTO DE INFORME DE LA PLENARIA - PARTE VIII (de la Comisión I)
Thomas YANGA (Président, Commission I): J'ai l'honneur de présenter à la plénière de la Conférence le projet de rapport de la Commission I qui porte la cote C 95/REP/7, portant sur les points de l'ordre du jour 8, 9 et 10, sur l'ajustement agricole international, l'élargissement du mandat de la Commission des ressources phytogénétiques, et les normes phytosanitaires.
Le deuxième document, le C 95/REP/8, porte sur les points 11, 12 et 13 de l'ordre du jour concernant le code de conduite pour une pêche responsable, la version révisée du Plan d'action pour l'intégration des femmes dans le développement et rapport d'activité, et l'objectif de contributions au Programme alimentaire mondial ONU/FAO pour 1997-98.
CHAIRMAN: Do you have any comments on these two reports? If you have no comments, the two reports of Commission I have been adopted.
Draft Report of Plenary - Part VII (from Commission I), was adopted
Le projet de rapport de la Plénière - Septième partie (de la Commission I), est adopté
El proyecto de informe de la Plenaria - Parte VU (de la Comisión I), es adoptado
Draft Report of Plenary - Part VIII (from Commission I), was adopted
Le projet de rapport de la Plénière - Huitième partie (de la Commission I), est adopté
El proyecto de informe de la Plenaria - Parte VIII (de la Comisión I), es aprobado
Thomas A. FORBORD (United States of America): The Conference has approved a resolution urging Member Nations to complete the ratification process of the Flagging Agreement. It is my pleasure to announce that last week, just after Commission II approved that resolution, the United States Congress gave final authorization to the US acceptance of that agreement. President Clinton has announced his intention to sign that authorization into law very shortly. My Government expects to deposit its ratification instruments before the end of November.
DRAFT REPORT OF PLENARY - PART IX (from Commission I)
PROJET DE RAPPORT DE LA PLENIERE - NEUVIEME PARTIE (de la Commission I)
PROYECTO DE INFORME DE LA PLENARIA - PARTE IX (de la Comisión I)
Thomas YANGA (Président, Commission I): J'ai l'honneur de présenter aux Membres de la Conférence le document C 95/REP/9 relatif aux points 7 (Sommet mondial de l'alimentation) et 13 bis (La situation du criquet pèlerin et les mesures à prendre) de l'ordre du jour.
Ce document comporte, à la page 3 du texte français, un projet de résolution relatif au point 7, qui concerne le Sommet mondial de l'alimentation, projet qui a fait l'objet de longues discussions et de très laborieuses négociations au sein de la Commission pour parvenir à un consensus.
De même, en ce qui concerne le point 13 bis, il comporte un projet de résolution qui a été adopté par consensus au sein de la Commission I.
Paragraphs 1 to 8 approved
Les paragraphes 1 à 8 sont approuvés
Los párrafos 1 a 8 son aprobados
PARAGRAPHS 9 to 13
PARAGRAPHES 9 à 13
PARRAFOS 9 a 13
Nasreddine RIMOUCHE (Algérie): Monsieur le Président, permettez-moi de prendre la parole pour attirer l'attention de la Conférence sur une erreur qui s'est glissée dans la page de garde du document C 95/REP/9 où il est dit, au titre du point 13 bis de l'ordre du jour: "Sommet mondial de l'alimentation". Il faudrait remplacer ce titre par "La situation du criquet pèlerin et les mesures à prendre".
Paragraphs 9 to 13, as amended, approved
Les paragraphes 9 à 13, ainsi amendés, sont approuvés
Los párrafos 9 a 13, así enmendados, son aprobados
Draft Report of Plenary - Part IX (of Commission I), as amended, was adopted
Le projet de rapport de la Plénière - Neuvième partie (de la Commission I), ainsi amendé, est adopté
El proyecto de informe de la Plenaria - Parte IX (de la Comisión I), así enmendado, es aprobado
The meeting was suspended from 15.20 to 18.00 hours
La séance est suspendue de 15 h 20 à 18 heures
Se suspende la sesión de las 15.20 a las 18.00 horas
CHAIRMAN: Before we proceed with the adoption of the reports I have an announcement to make from the Irish delegation. I am going to read the text as it was given to us by the Irish delegation. The Irish delegation has asked me to inform the Plenary that, when the vote for the adoption of the budget of FAO for the biennium 1996-97 was called, Ireland did not reply. The Irish delegation is now in a position to give its support to the budget level of US$650 million.
Moussa BOCAR LY (Sénégal): A la fin du paragraphe 25 de la version française, il faut ajouter l'Ukraine après "aux Gouvernements du Belarus, de la Fédération de Russie".
CHAIRMAN: Are there any other comments? As there are no other comments, C 95/REP/10 is adopted.
Draft Report of Plenary, Part X, was adopted
Le projet de rapport de la Plénière, dixième partie, est adopté
El proyecto de informe de la Plenaria, parte X, es aprobado
SECRETARY-GENERAL: With regard to C 95/REP/11,, paragraph 6 on page 2, there is an error on the last line where it states that the Head of the Iraqi delegation had passed away on Friday 19 October. It was in fact Friday 20 October. Please correct that mistake.
Ekoué Kandé ASSIONGBON (Togo): Au premier paragraphe de la première page, il est question d'une déclaration qui figure à l'annexe, mais le numéro de l'annexe n'est pas porté. Je ne sais pas si on peut l'adopter comme cela en attendant d'avoir le numéro.
CHAIRMAN: We will enter the number later. Are there any other comments? Then I consider C 95/REP/11 adopted.
Draft Report of Plenary, Part XI, was adopted
Le projet de rapport de la Plénière, onzième partie, est adopté
El proyecto de informe de la Plenaria, parte XI, es aprobado
CHAIRMAN: We will proceed to C 95/REP/12. Do you have any comments? Then I take it that C 95/REP/12 has been adopted.
Draft Report of Plenary, Part XII, was adopted
Le projet de rapport de la Plénière, douzième partie, est adopté
El proyecto de informe de la Plenaria, parte XII, es aprobado
CHAIRMAN: We go now to the last report, C 95/REP/13. The Secretary-General has a comment to make and a correction.
PARAGRAPH 3
PARAGRAPHE 3
PARRAFO 3
SECRETARY-GENERAL: May I draw the attention of the honourable delegates to page 2, paragraph 3? It is proposed that paragraph 3, which is so brief as not to be of any real use, be struck out and replaced by the single paragraph on C 95/INF/20, which I propose to read so that you will know exactly what we wish to be inserted.
I will repeat: paragraph 3 as it stands is struck out and replaced by a new paragraph 3 which reads as follows: "The Director of the Office for External Relations introduced document C 95/INF/20, "Collaboration within the UN System and with other organizations". In his introductory statement attention was drawn to the integrated framework for international climate-related programmes, also called the Climate Agenda, and to ECOSOC resolution "Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations".
"The Conference was informed that both matters would be placed before the FAO Council at its 111th Session in October 1996. The Conference took note of the document."
Mr Chairman, that is the paragraph we propose as the new paragraph 3.
CHAIRMAN: After this statement, do you have any other comments? If there are no comments, I consider report C 95/REP/13.
Paragraph 3, as amended, approved
Le paragraphe 3, ainsi amendé, est approuvé
El párrafo 3, así enmendado, es aprobado
Draft Report of Plenary, Part XIII, as amended, was adopted
Le projet de rapport de la Plénière, treizième partie, ainsi amendé, est adopté
El proyecto de informe de la Plenaria, parte XIII, así enmendado, es aprobado
CHAIRMAN: We now proceed to the report C 95/LIM/32 which is the last report of the General Committee.
SECRETARY-GENERAL: You will see that this is the fifth report of the General Committee in which the General Committee recommends that the Conference adopt a resolution on the appointment of the independent chairmen of the Council, in accordance with the provision of Rule XII of the General Rules of the Organization: that on page 2 the General Committee confirms its recommendation to the Conference on the amount of US$525 000 as the sum payable by the EC for the biennium 1996-97.
Under the Item "Payment of Contributions", the General Committee calls on the Conference to adopt 11 resolutions for the following countries: Afghanistan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Gambia, Grenada, Jamaica, Liberia, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Suriname and Yemen, containing payment plans to liquidate their arrears.
However, given the financial situation of the Organization, the General Committee recommends that the Conference encourages these members to make every effort to accelerate their payment of arrears, with a view to paying in full over a shorter period of time, preferably over two years.
The Conference would therefore request the Director-General to continue to work with these members to accelerate the payment of their arrears. This is basically what is contained in C 95/LIM/32.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Secretary-General. After the Secretary-General's explanation, and having read the report, do you have any comments?
Kenji SHIMIZU (Japan): It seems to me there is a technical mistake on page 2 with respect to the payment of contributions for Afghanistan. Paragraph 1 line 2 reads: "Through the payment often equal instalments". It seems to me that this is a technical mistake.
CHAIRMAN: There is a space between "of" and "ten". Are there any comments?
Abdesselem ARIFl (Maroc): Dans le texte français, page 8, au sujet du règlement de la contribution du Suriname, je ne comprends pas ce que signifie le paragraphe 2: "le défaut de paiement de ce montant rendra le plan nul et non avenu". En ce qui concerne le Suriname, il ne s'agit pas d'un plan. Je propose de biffer ce 2.
CHAIRMAN: Paragraph 2 reads: "the first instalment" before "payable". We are talking about one instalment. It is not a plan; it is an instalment plan with one instalment. That is the explanation given to me. Are there any other comments on that?
The Fifth Report of the General Committee was adopted
Le cinquième rapport du Bureau est adopté
El quinto informe del Comité General es aprobado
LE DIRECTEUR GENERAL: Mesdames, Messieurs les Ministres, Excellences, Mesdames, Messieurs.
Au soir de nos débats, lorsque tout le monde est fatigué, je veillerai à faire une intervention courte, essentiellement pour vous remercier de la qualité des travaux de cette Conférence.
C'est ma première Conférence en tant que Directeur général, et je dois dire que j'en sors réconforté, j'en sors encouragé, surtout par l'atmosphère qui a prévalu tout au cours des débats.
Je le disais il y a quelque temps, certaines décisions vont être difficiles, mais nous vivons dans un monde difficile, et il faut que la FAO donne l'exemple d'une capacité d'adaptation à un environnement difficile. Nous le ferons, comme je l'ai indiqué, avec toute notre volonté de bien faire, avec toute notre loyauté dans l'application de vos décisions.
Nous vous demandons aussi de vous aider, dans la mesure où, comme vous le savez, les besoins de nos Etats Membres sont importants, les défis auxquels nous sommes confrontés sont grands, et la situation des pauvres dans le monde est de plus en plus difficile.
Donc, au-delà du budget, nous comptons sur votre coopération à travers vos contributions volontaires.
Nous comptons sur votre coopération à travers votre participation aux activités de l'Organisation sous forme d'experts, et les Programmes de coopération entre pays en développement sont un exemple de contribution à l'activité de l'Organisation.
Nous comptons sur votre coopération à travers le soutien que vous apportez au fonctionnement de nos bureaux nationaux, régionaux ou sous-régionaux, parce que les pays qui reçoivent ces bureaux contribuent à leur fonctionnement.
Nous comptons sur votre coopération à travers la participation de vos chercheurs, de vos universitaires, dont nous avons besoin pour garder le niveau d'excellence de cette institution.
Mais au-delà de la question des ressources, qu'elles soient humaines ou financières, nous avons surtout besoin de votre soutien politique, parce que cette institution repose sur votre solidarité, cette institution repose sur votre désir de coopérer, votre désir de travailler ensemble, votre désir d'un commun vouloir au profit de ceux qui n'ont pas accès à ce qui est disponible tous les jours pour certains.
Encore une fois, tous mes remerciements pour votre soutien, tous mes remerciements pour m'avoir fait confiance dans les discussions, pour m'avoir consulté, pour avoir considéré que je suis le Directeur général de tous les Etats Membres. Je puis vous assurer que je continuerai d'exercer mes fonctions dans l'esprit d'universalisme qui caractérise cette Organisation et dans le souci de veiller à ce que cette Organisation soit à la hauteur des idéaux de nos pères fondateurs.
Applause
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CHAIRMAN: Thank you Director-General. I will now ask you to be patient while I make my own statement. This is the last statement of the Conference.
Director-General, distinguished delegates, with the approval of the General Committee Report we have concluded the Agenda which we approved on the first day of this Conference on 20 October 1995. This means that the Conference has ended two days ahead of schedule.
Two years ago the delegates of the 27th Conference Session recommended reducing the period of the Conference to two weeks, rather than three weeks as in the past. On the first day of this session of the Conference, I pointed out to you that, although we had a shorter period in which to conclude our work, there were many important agenda items to be examined and decided upon.
Today, thanks to your cooperation and the hard work of the Secretariat, we are able to say that we have successfully performed our task. I wish to express my deep appreciation to all delegates for their cooperation and understanding. The successful completion of the Conference was only possible with your support. Special mention is also given to the approval of the Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium by consensus.
Although shorter than previous sessions, the work of this Conference was of equal importance. We had the privilege of welcoming to the Organization five new members to whom I wish every success in the development of their agricultural sectors and the improvement of the living conditions of their rural population.
All delegates will recall we had the benefit of listening to the very interesting and inspiring 19th McDougall Memorial Lecture delivered by Professor Mugnozza of the University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
The election of Mr José Ramón López Portillo as Independent Chairman of Council was also significant. He has successfully guided the work of the Council for the last two years and his re-election to the post was only natural. While congratulating and thanking him for the wise remarks he made during his acceptance speech, I wish him every success in the forthcoming period. I also thank him most warmly for the support he has extended to me during my Chairmanship.
Special thanks are also due to the three Vice-Chairmen for the supporting role they have played as Vice-Chairmen of the Conference. It is obvious that whilst we were discussing the world food situation in Plenary, the three Commissions were busy. They had the good fortune of having three distinguished people as Chairman, namely, Mr Yanga of Cameroon as Chairman of Commission I, Mr Jacques Laureau of France as Chairman of Commission II, and Mr Forbord of the United States as Chairman of Commission III. I am convinced that it is to the credit of the Commissions that the Reports which they presented to the Plenary were accepted without too much debate. I take this opportunity to express my congratulations to the Chairmen of the three Commissions for the excellent work accomplished.
Finally, I thank the members of the Secretariat who have been instrumental in helping me to overcome any difficulties during the Conference. I want to say a special word of thanks to the Director-General himself, Mr Diouf, to the Deputy Director-General Mr Hjort, to the Secretary-General Mr Zenny, to the Assistant Secretary-General Mr Röbbel, to the Chief of Conference Operations Mr Linley, to Legal Counsel Mr Moore, and all those from the Secretariat who gave me the fullest possible support.
I extend my thanks to all those persons who have worked behind the scenes and the secretaries who have worked late hours to prepare all the documents which have come before us every day. I thank the interpreters and the messengers for all their willingness to help us communicate with each other.
We will meet again in two years. As we decided we will be in Rome from 7 to 20 November 1997. Our Organization is now 50 years old with a fine record of achievement. Let us try to help the Food and Agriculture Organization to achieve an even more productive performance in the years to come so that hunger and malnutrition will be eliminated from the world. Goodbye and God bless you all.
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Adel Mahmoud ABOUL-NAGA (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): On behalf of my country's delegation, as well as the delegations of the Group of 77 - and your beautiful country, Cyprus, is a member of the Group of 77 - I would like to express our great gratitude, thanks and appreciation to you, Mr Chairman, for your wise leadership and sagacity during our deliberations at the 28th Session of the General Conference of FAO.
There is no doubt that we have arrived at a historical point for this Organization. We celebrated its 50th Anniversary and there is no doubt at all that the decisions we have taken are going to have a profound effect both in the short- or medium-term of this Organization. We would like to thank you once again, Mr Chairman, and your Vice-Chairmen, for achieving all those matters in such a short span of time.
I take this opportunity to thank all the delegations for the spirit of cooperation and solidarity we have achieved in dealing with all the matters we have looked at. I would like to express my own personal thanks and those of the Group of 77, to the Director-General for his cooperation and for the tremendous effort he has exerted, together with his Secretariat, so that we were able to reach a consensus on all the matters dealt with at this Conference. Further effort will need to be exerted after we have finished our work here in order to give flesh to the resolutions and decisions we have agreed upon, especially those which relate to the Programme of Work and Budget, although the level of the Budget was less than the one we had agreed upon.
Mohamad Walid AL-TAWEL (Syria) (Original language Arabic): Allow me to speak on behalf of Mrs Souad Abdallah, the Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Syria at the FAO. She offers her
apologies for not appearing here personally because she is not feeling too well.
On behalf of the delegation of the Arab Republic of Syria and on behalf of the countries of the Near East, which my country heads, I thank the Chairman of the Conference for the successful direction of our deliberations here, as well as the Director-General and the Secretariat for exerting every effort to guide this Organization and the circumstances it is going through and in rationalizing expenditure, all in order to serve the interests of members, especially the developing countries.
We thank the Secretariat for the excellent documents submitted to us: we thank the interpreters and the translators - everybody who has participated in making the Conference successful. We applaud the spirit of cooperation and solidarity which led us to the consensus we are witnessing and which helped us to achieve such tremendous results. This is ample witness to the trust we have in the person of the Director-General and in the Organization itself. Even though the Budget we have agreed upon is less than we had hoped for, I thank everybody who contributed to the consensus, especially His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the President of the Group of 77.
We have every confidence in the Director-General. We know the Organization will deal with those funds in an ideal manner so that all of us can benefit, especially the developing countries amongst us.
The World Food Summit has been convened for next year. This will be a very important factor and I am sure all countries will honour their financial obligations to the Organization. This is our Organization. It is the lighthouse and the hope of the poor and hungry in this world.
The future will be a rosy one, a happy one, if we can cooperate - whether we be advanced or developing countries.
I would like to thank all of you. We wish the Organization every success and may you return to your countries peacefully and in safety.
Jorge FIGUEREDO FRATTA (Paraguay): La Delegación de Paraguay hace llegar su felicitación y agradecimiento al Presidente de la Conferencia por su brillante labor y conducción de la Conferencia de la FAO. También desea augurar éxito al Director General y expresa también su agradecimiento al Secretario General, señor Röbbel, y a todas las personas que han colaborado en el desempeño de esta Conferencia. Muchas gracias a todos.
Inatio AKARURU (Cook Islands): I cannot go back to the South Pacific without expressing the gratitude of all the delegations that have come from that area to you, Mr Chairman, the Director-General, the members of the staff of the Secretariat, the leaders and the members of all the delegations who have attended this Conference, for the manner in which the business of this Conference has been conducted. We thank you, Mr Chairman, most sincerely and we also thank the Director-General for the reduction of the number of days of our meeting. Three weeks away from our countries, as was the case before, is a very long period, especially for those of us who come from the other side of the world.
Through me, therefore, they wish to express to you, Mr Chairman, to the Director-General and to all the staff of the Secretariat, their gratitude for shortening our Conference and for the hospitality which has been extended to all those who have come from the South Pacific. We wish those who are returning to their own countries well, and may God bless each and every one of us.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, delegate of the Cook Islands.
With that statement by the delegate of the Cook Islands, the work of the Twenty-eighth Session of the FAO Conference is concluded.
I thank you all. Have a good trip back home.
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The meeting rose at 18.45 hours.
La séance est levée à 18 h 45.
Se levanta la sesión a las 18.45 horas.
