Pedro Agostinho KANGA (Angola): C'est avec une grande attention que nous avons lu le document C 95/9 intitulé: Plan à moyen terme 1996-2001. Ma délégation félicite le Secrétariat de la présentation qualitative de ce document qui est très bien élaboré, clair et concis. Ce document, basé sur un cadre politique général nous présente les objectifs stratégiques futurs et concrets que la FAO s'est engagée à mettre en oeuvre ainsi que des renseignements sur ses partenaires extérieurs et nous aussi sommes d'avis que l'intervalle de deux ans pour la mise à jour du Plan à moyen terme soit maintenu car il donnera à l'Organisation le temps d'ajuster les priorités en fonction des circonstances. Nous souscrivons aux défis à relever par les Etats Membres et par l'Organisation ainsi que le rôle fondamental de la FAO tel que décrit au chapitre 1 du document C 95/9.
Il est regrettable de constater, comme décrit au paragraphe 41 que les ressources extrabudgétaires mises à la disposition de l'Organisation ont baissé et que les ressources du budget ordinaire n'ont enregistré aucune croissance réelle mais avec l'augmentation du nombre des Etats Membres et des demandes d'aide, il est pratiquement impossible que la FAO puisse fonctionner. A cet égard, il est vraiment indispensable que les Etats Membres paient leur contribution et que l'on mette à la disposition de l'Organisation des ressources extrabudgétaires suffisantes destinées au fonctionnement de certains organes.
S'agissant des prises accessoires et des rebuts, ainsi qu'il est stipulé au paragraphe 28, il n'est pas vraiment admissible de voir de grandes quantités de poisson capturées et rejetées dans un monde où sévit la faim. A cet égard, des mesures doivent être prises pour réduire ce gaspillage et trouver une solution afin que les richesses servent à la consommation humaine et à la transformation en farine de poisson qui constitue un aliment important pour l'élevage.
Nous nous félicitons et nous encourageons la FAO à procéder au renforcement des réseaux interrégionaux et régionaux ainsi qu'à la création de nouveaux réseaux tel que stipulé aux paragraphes 173 et 174 du document C 95/9. Il ne fait aucun doute que ces réseaux garantiront la disponibilité et la sécurité à long terme du matériel génétique ainsi que la sécurité alimentaire et qu'ils encourageront l'établissement de liens concrets en vue de la collecte, de la conservation et de l'utilisation des ressources génétiques.
A cet égard, nous ne pouvons que manifester notre satisfaction face à l'établissement d'un réseau qui s'occupera des cultures traditionnelles des pays d'Afrique australe et qui nous permettra de les rassembler et de garantir leur conservation.
Nous souscrivons à la place de choix qui est accordée à l'eau, élément indispensable à la production. Les activités commerciales envisagées sont importantes et nous souhaitons que les accords du cycle d'Uruguay apportent des effets positifs au commerce mondial. En ce sens, nous appuyons les activités commerciales décrites aux paragraphes 112 et 114 du document.
Nous tenons également à souligner l'importance du Codex Alimentarius en ce qui concerne l'application des accords de l'Organisation mondiale du Commerce (OMC) et de l'accord relatif aux mesures sanitaires et aux obstacles techniques.
En ce qui concerne l'agriculture et le développement rural durable, nous appuyons toutes les activités énoncées sur ce point.
Hiroaki KISHI (Japan): Firstly, I would like to touch briefly upon the overall aspects of the Medium-term Plan. The first thing to mention is that the structure of this Medium-term Plan focuses on a small number of important issues which make this plan more effective and easier to understand than the previous ones. Turning to long-term planning issues, in view of the importance of longer-term world food security, we agree with the role of FAO to that end. However, in considering it, it may be necessary to discuss fully the nature of the longer-term plan, especially the difference between that and the Medium-term Plan, as well as the content and the time span to be covered.
Turning to Chapter 1, we generally support the content of this. Obviously, freedom from hunger and malnutrition is one of the most important missions of FAO. It is therefore important that the FAO promotes and assists sustainable agricultural development. In this regard, we expect the current structural reform of Headquarters and the decentralization will greatly contribute to making FAO a more efficient and effective organization in the fulfilment of its missions. Moreover, my delegation considers that FAO, as a specialized agency tackling issues of world food and agriculture, should have more input to international discussions in areas such as agriculture, trade and the environment in various fora. It is also desirable that this Organization, which is responsible for world food security, provide appropriate advice to other international organizations discussing matters relating to food and agriculture.
Mr Chairman, as to each sectoral area, I would just refer to areas on which my delegation puts greater stress. In the area of agriculture, the most important problems are posed by population increase and environmental and resource constraints. In this regard, a sustainable increase in agricultural production is most important. In the area of fisheries, we firmly believe that in capture fisheries appropriate marine resource management will enable fisheries to make a stable contribution to food security. Therefore clear priorities should be established for the consideration and implementation of management practices for sustainable development in capture fisheries in addition to developments in aquaculture.
In the area of forestries, it is no doubt important to promote a sustainable forest management.
In addition, we would like to suggest that close sectoral activities between forestry and agriculture are increasing their importance and are one of the unique areas for FAO having a comparative advantage.
Finally, Mr Chairman, I would like to touch upon the questions raised by Mr Hjort regarding resource projections. As a member of the Programme Committee I support the conclusion of the Programme Committee. Thank you.
Ahmad Rusli JOHARDE (Malaysia): Thank you, Mr Chairman. The Malaysian Delegation would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Director-General and his staff for having presented to the Assembly a comprehensive and succinct six-year plan outlining and focusing the scope of trust and FAO's concern and mission into the 21st century. My delegation concurs with the content and proposals incorporated in the Plan. We would, however, like to make some observations and comments.
While we take stock of our past successes on many fronts and are mindful of our failures, the challenges ahead as outlined in the Medium-term Plan are equally daunting. It requires more concerted effort and renewed commitment from all parties to ensure that the Plan is made concrete into a viable and successful action plan and programme.
Drawing upon FAO's 50 years' experience in multilateral and bilateral cooperation, we could at least afford not to frustrate the aspirations and future of peoples around the world dependent on the agricultural sector, especially the 800 million unfortunate people whose regular food requirements continue to be deprived.
As elucidated in the Plan, with the expected slowing down in growth of the agricultural sector and impending erosion of food security, it is imperative that the Plan succeeds so as not only to bring back the necessary confidence amongst us to strive and work harder, but also to gather and attract the required resources from national governments and donors alike. In this regard, it is my delegation's concern that the FAO's partnerships and networking, especially with the private sector and NGOs, be further explored and expanded to the full so that the aspirations of the Plan are communicated and their active participation is sought in realizing our common goals.
The Plan cautions us of the increasingly thin and dwindling resources at our disposal. Resources critical to the growth of agriculture are continually being syphoned to other attractive and so-called strategic sectors of the economy but not always put to better use for humankind and Mother Earth, as is evident from the continuing investment in armaments, emerging and consuming and polluting technologies. In this context, among the early victims to be adversely affected by such budgetary constraints are research and human resource development. At the same time, agriculture requires a research and technological breakthrough parallel to that of the Green Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s so as to catapult production and productivity to greater and unprecedented heights. In this regard it is my Delegation's concern that we multiply our efforts in soliciting national governments and donors and increase investment in agricultural research.
Concurrently, adequate incentive and infrastructure facilities should be provided to attract greater private sector participation in agricultural research. These benefits should also further extend to ensure that the fruits of research could be enjoyed by the private sector through their direct participation in production as well as through contractual arrangement, with the small farmers.
As regards human resource development, continuous upgrading of knowledge and skills should not be allowed to lack because of resource constraint, as its long term benefit should outweigh the cost, though this is not necessarily apparent and tangible to impatient decision-makers and planners. In specific situations a higher initial investment in human resource development infrastructure may be required if member countries are to capitalize on the electronic knowledge base and information highway as well as to subscribe to new modes of training such as distance learning.
The focus on human resource development is consistent with my delegation's interpretation of the people-centred development in which people and their well-being take precedence over the commodities they produce. We believe that the more knowledgeable and skilful farmers are, the more active and relevant will be their participation in their institutions and national economy.
Mr Chairman, my delegation would like to request the Secretariat to consider giving greater focus and priority on value-added activities for rural population under sustainable agricultural and rural development. While primary production remains an important element in food security, nutrition and income generation, value-added activities and products including agro-tourism could provide the needed boost to farmers' income. For example, agro-tourism has generated numerous direct and indirect spin-offs in terms of new economy activities and new products that have benefited the rural population at large.
In conclusion, my delegation would like to acknowledge FAO"s wide-ranging expertise and experience and direct services rendered to Member Nations especially in policy assistance and database formulation, and lastly, FAO's continuing efforts to streamline and decentralize its administrative machinery operations and procedures. The Malaysian Delegation is confident that the main strategic plan consisting of food security and nutrition as well as sustainable and rural agriculture and rural development will light up the path of agriculture and rural communities into the next millennium. Thank you.
Patrick K. LUKHELE (Swaziland): Once again I wish to thank the Secretariat on the very informative document before us, that is the Medium-term Plan document C 95/9.
My delegation concurs with the observation of the Director-General in the Foreword page V that this Plan should provide the various bodies of this Organization such as this Conference with an instrument for assisting in planning the future direction of FAO without necessarily including financial resources.
Coming to the main body of the report, Mr Chairman, I wish to express my Delegation's appreciation to the Secretariat for re-stating for us the mission or basic roles of the FAO as contained in paragraph 38.
The suggestion to reduce FAO statutory bodies in order to reduce costs as contained in paragraph 44 is very interesting indeed. "Perhaps the Secretariat may want to elaborate on this issue at this meeting.
On the issue of investment support, particularly with respect to paragraph 62, my delegation is pleased that the Secretariat estimates do confirm that sub-Saharan Africa does require an incremental investment of 50 percent over past years in order to cope with the future population growth and consumption demand over the next twenty years.
Regarding the issue of food security and nutrition my delegation supports the analysis beginning on paragraph 80. However, we wish to caution against compounding the food problem in countries such as sub-Saharan Africa by suggesting a complete set of possible solutions. It is my delegation's very considered view that the priority in tackling this problem should be production and productivity. It is in this context that my delegation fully supports the Secretariat's emphasis on water resource and irrigation development beginning in paragraph 91. I would, however, appeal that the interventions in irrigation development be extended, funds permitting, to other deserving countries, such as those in Southern Africa, because of very urgent needs.
The recent Symposium in Quebec together with the Ministerial meeting there, convinced my delegation that the millions of poor and hungry people in developing countries require more opportunities to produce their own food than we have previously cared to admit. Consequently, my delegation whole-heartedly welcomes the sections on placing people and women at the centre of development as reported in paragraphs 180 to 181, 182 to 185 and paragraph 190.
Lastly, Mr Chairman, my delegation supports the idea of a six-year rolling plan reviewed every two years.
LE PRESIDENT: Merci d'avoir rappelé que c'est la décision qui nous est soumise.
D.P.D. VAN RAPPARD (The Netherlands): Thank you, Mr Chairman. We are pleased to discuss the third Medium-Term Plan after the resolution in '89 approved the introduction of such a plan. After the first and rather lengthy document we dealt with 4 years ago, we compliment the secretariat with the format of this document. The volume has been reduced considerably and the text is concise and transparent, due to the references made to the concerning parts in the PWB.
The last conferences have been stressing the relation between the Implementation - Evaluation Report, MTP and PWB. These mentioned references are a good effort to make these relations visible and we request to see these back in the next MTP.
The document is based on two overriding themes: Food Security and SARD, which have been mentioned already in other fora. Efforts have been made to cluster FAO's activities under these two themes in a cross-sectoral approach and stressing "FAO in partnership". The MTP emphasizes these are no separate themes, but my delegation thinks in the document there is no obvious relationship between these priority areas.
For my country, UNCED's Agenda 21 and in particular Chapter 14, for which FAO is task-manager, is the framework here.
As in the Den Bosch Declaration, Chapter 14 states that the main goal of sustainable agriculture and rural development is increasing food security Establishing the requirements for SARD needs adaptations in many areas.
In the view of my delegation, FAO should apply this approach and subsequently use this framework for the relevant themes and priority areas.
For achieving this, FAO has to continue vigorously the process in moving away from technical production towards a much broader approach in making the production measures of food security an integrated part of SARD. This implies that overriding theme number two, SARD, will not be restricted to ecological, social and sustainability aspects.
Regarding UNCED, my country is disappointed that FAO's role in CSD's framework and its decisions are not highlighted explicitly.
Finally, may I make some comments to the Director-General's proposal for a long-term plan. My country can support such a plan in principle, but it requires further consideration particularly regarding frequency and its relation to the Medium-Term Plan. This should in my country's view be continued.
Harald HILDEBRAND (Germany): Thank you Mr Chairman. The Secretariat has made a commendable effort in submitting this document short in length at a time when FAO is still in the restructuring process started just 18 months ago, when serious resource limitations again afflict programme planning and execution and when the challenges and expectations ahead are enormous.
In view of the uncertain budget situation, I would like to reiterate what paragraph 43 says -I quote "with respect to FAO's basic role in monitoring and reporting the current situation and outlook for crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry and food" (end of quotation) - that there is still scope for reduction. These proven and vital functions must be preserved because they are indispensable for well-targeted actions by FAO and Member States. Paragraphs 47 and 48 paint a rather optimistic picture of the ultimate effects of the restructuring process in terms of cost effectiveness of assistance measures for countries. The various steps which are expected to favour such a development such as stronger use of national staff, administrative stream-lining in country offices, establishment of sub-regional offices and new cooperation arrangements must be consistently implemented and monitored in order to achieve this goal of higher performance. TCDC and its promotion by FAO should not be omitted in this connection. However, in the view of my delegation, care should be taken for the adequate balance of TCDC tied versus free funds in the Regular Programme. Tying a disproportionately high percentage of Regular Programme funds to TCDC could reduce flexibility and might prevent the staff from mobilizing know-how where available.
My delegation fully endorses food security to rank as top priority in FAO's medium-term planning. This concept implies two important goals: increased production and better access to food for those lacking the means to produce or to buy it. Therefore, production-oriented measures cannot go along without rural development aiming at poverty alleviation and income generation.
As regards the Special Programme in support of food security in food deficit countries, my delegation feels somewhat concerned about the large number of countries that are eligible to be incorporated in this ambitious scheme. This very broad approach could result in hopes and expectations FAO might be unable to fulfil even if many partners were ready to contribute to this Special Programme.
My delegation hopes that FAO, in compliance with its task-manager responsibility for Chapter 112 of Agenda 21 and the UNCED Forest Principles, will fully and actively support the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests, which has just started work under the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD).
The vital importance of biological diversity for sustainable food production and agricultural development, and in particular the high rank of plant genetic resources, are properly reflected in the Medium-Term Plan. Under paragraph 170, reference is made to the revision of the International Undertaking, and the technical, legal and political implications of its adaption to the Convention on Biological Diversity. As the revision process was
intended to culminate with the 4th International Technical Conference in 1996, but has now come to a temporary halt, my delegation would like to stress the need for continuity of this particular aspect. The further preparation of the mentioned Conference and its follow-up must take account of this.
Finally, Mr Chairman, my delegation feels grateful for the well-structured Chapter 3 of the Document. This overview of FAO's manifold relations of partnership and cooperation reminds us of two things: the Organization can rely on many traditional and new partners and should make the best use of these relations with a view to sharing services and avoiding duplication of efforts. But this, in turn, implies the not easy task of good coordination, which, in view of a large number of partners, must not be higher than the effect of cooperation and sharing of services.
On the whole, my delegation is ready to approve the Medium-term Plan as a flexible guideline to FAO's work over the next six years.
As regards the further procedure for the Medium-term Plan, my delegation supports the practice of a rolling six-year plan which would be updated every two years. However, in view of the experience we have had in the past, resource projections should not be included.
Sra. Virginia PEREZ PEREZ (Venezuela): Antes de referirnos al Programa de trabajo, mi Delegación desea hacer la siguiente precisión: si bien es cierto que las dificultades financieras nos hacen estar muy atentos sobre el contenido, alcance y forma del programa, también es cierto que no sería conveniente en estos momentos y, con la presión que ocasiona la aprobación del PLP, iniciar un proceso de eliminación o recortes de programas.
No creemos conveniente que se supriman programas y subprogramas por el solo motivo de reducir costos. Las reducciones y recortes deben basarse más bien en un análisis profundo de los programas y proyectos y la decisión de suprimirlos debería ser ocasionada más por la ineficacia y la no vigencia de los proyectos y/o programas que por la falta o escasez de recursos.
Un trabajo de tal envergadura no debe ser realizado por la propia Organización pues no arrojaría, necesariamente, un resultado totalmente objetivo. Por tal motivo, sugerimos que este trabajo debe ser ejecutado por un pequeño grupo de consultores externos. Mi delegación regresará a este punto al tratar el PLP.
Lo que nos debe preocupar en esta ocasión son las actividades que contribuyen a fortalecer el papel de la FAO como centro de excelencia en el sector de la agricultura y la alimentación, sus funciones de información y de asesoramiento en políticas y asistencia técnica.
Mi Delegación desea reiterar su apoyo a los programas que nos han sido presentados.
Mi Gobierno asigna gran importancia a los siguientes temas:
a) Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial en especial en apoyo de la seguridad en los países de bajos ingresos y déficit alimentario, agua y riego; inocuidad y calidad de los alimentos, en particular en las áreas de sanidad vegetal y pesca responsable; normas sanitarias y análisis, asistencia y asesoramiento en materia de políticas y programas.
b) Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural Sostenible: lo relativo a recursos humanos y capacidad institucional, mejoramiento de semillas; uso idóneo de los insumos y mejoras de la ordenación de los recursos naturales; indicadores y apoyo a la adopción de decisiones en favor de la agricultura y desarrollo rural sostenible; ordenación y conservación de bosques; ordenación de cuencas hidrográficas y desarrollo sostenible de tierras áridas.
c) Actividades de la FAO en asociaciones: Creemos que, incentivando y reforzando las actividades de la FAO en asociación con otros organismos y programas de las Naciones Unidas, así como con organizaciones internacionales no gubernamentales e intergubernamentales e instituciones dedicadas a temas relacionados con la agricultura y la ganadería, se coadyuvará al aprovechamiento de las ventajas comparativas y cada uno de
ellos en su determinado campo de acción, logrando una mayor eficiencia y eficacia en la utilización de los recursos disponibles, a la vez que una disminución, con grandes posibilidades de eliminación de los solapamientos en sus actuaciones.
Ahora quisiéramos hacer algunos comentarios específicos en relación con los programas y proponer que la FAO ofrezca sus servicios a una mayor variedad de participantes en las actividades de desarrollo y del sector privado.
Deseamos también-que se refuerce el Programa Principal: Montes, para lo cual es preciso apoyar las actividades inherentes a la evaluación de recursos forestales, criterios e indicadores y planes nacionales de acción forestal.
Mi delegación apoya decididamente las actividades del Capítulo 3: "Servicio de Desarrollo a los Estados Miembros" y del Capítulo 4: "Programas de cooperación técnica". El impulso a la aplicación y puesta en práctica de los acuerdos CTPD/CTPT debe ser decisivo. A nuestro entender, la FAO debe seguir brindando apoyo a los programas de cooperación técnica, que deben ser considerados prioritarios para la Organización.
En relación con el Capítulo 7, quiero reiterar la importancia que mi país otorga al Programa Principal: Agricultura. Deseamos manifestar nuestro respaldo al reforzamiento de los programas para América Latina y el Caribe.
Quisiéramos resaltar muy especialmente la conclusión expresada en la reunión conjunta del Comité del Programa y de Finanzas en cuanto a la necesidad de conseguir un justo equilibrio entre las actividades normativas y las operacionales.
George APOSTOIU (Roumanie): La Roumanie apporte son appui au Plan à moyen terme et félicite le Secrétariat pour la qualité du document présenté. Réalisé d'une manière équilibrée, le Plan saisit correctement les axes d'une stratégie qui guideront l'activité de la FAO au cours des six prochaines années: l'agriculture et le développement durable, la sécurité alimentaire, l'état nutritionnel pour des millions de personnes, surtout dans les pays en développement.
C'est un document qui sollicite avant tout notre intérêt pour un avenir que nous tous sommes appelés à construire.
Il est intéressant de remarquer que la conception du Plan semble, si je ne me trompe pas, mise sous le signe d'une constatation politique qui ne peut pas nous échapper. Je cite l'introduction du Directeur général: "Une manifestation récente de la fin d'un monde bipolaire, la multiplication des opérations de maintien de la paix, risque d'avoir l'effet certainement non recherché de réduire à la position longue les activités de développement, par ailleurs fort utiles, des organisations internationales."
Aujourd'hui nous sommes à un tournant dans l'histoire de notre institution. C'est pour cela que nous avons besoin d'une perspective jalonnée correctement. La délégation de Roumanie considère que la nouvelle rédaction du Plan à moyen terme correspond à une option rationnelle et traduit assez fidèlement les conclusions des derniers Conseils.
J'aimerais quand même faire quelques remarques.
Pour le chapitre 1, s'agissant du soutien de l'investissement, la FAO propose d'accorder son appui aux pays de l'Europe - je suppose qu'il s'agit des pays en transition - pour formuler les mesures et réformes institutionnelles nécessaires à leur passage à l'économie de marché, et pour faciliter l'établissement de liens plus étroits avec I'Union européenne et les marchés mondiaux. La thèse est correcte mais elle ne doit pas être limitée uniquement aux politiques, ainsi que cela pourrait résulter du paragraphe 59 du Plan.
J'aimerais ajouter qu'il faut trouver le moyen pour arriver à un équilibre entre l'action de la FAO et celle des bailleurs de fonds dans les pays de l'Europe centrale et de l'Est pour accroître l'apport de ces pays au système agricole international.
La Communauté européenne est d'ailleurs consciente, et nous l'avons constaté à la réunion de Killarney, du potentiel de ces pays pour la production de biens alimentaires, de leurs possibilités de coopération et de réflexion sur les questions agricoles et alimentaires.
La sécurité alimentaire mondiale peut être confortée par la revitalisation du potentiel productif agricole de ces pays où la part du secteur privé est devenue importante.
L'intervention de la FAO pour réviser la dynamique de la modernisation agricole et la croissance des capacités de ces pays dans l'utilisation des ressources naturelles dont ils disposent pourrait se révéler fondamentale.
En second lieu, le développement durable pour les pays en transition: le Plan indique une fois de plus correctement qu'il sera important de tenir compte des nouvelles tendances à la privatisation et du retrait de l'Etat de certains types d'activités dont d'autres agents économiques, en particulier du secteur privé, sont plus aptes à s'occuper. Notre délégation souhaite une intervention urgente de la FAO qui viserait à la maximisation des avantages nets du développement économique, tout en maintenant ou en améliorant, au cours des années, la qualité des ressources naturelles et des services qu'elle procure.
Une intervention optimale serait d'assurer aux pays en transition l'assistance d'une contribution directe et bénéfique de notre Organisation.
Troisième point: La FAO et ses partenaires. La délégation de la Roumanie souscrit à la réflexion du Directeur général. Au-delà des liens privilégiés avec les Etats, il faut également compter aujourd'hui avec de nouveaux partenaires, tels que les ONG et le secteur privé. Notre Organisation doit continuer à renforcer sa coopération avec les autres organismes internationaux ainsi qu'avec les donateurs bilatéraux.
D'autre part, il faudra réfléchir à une intégration rationnelle de l'aide financière et de l'aide technique à l'appui des stratégies nationales de développement. S'il y a amplement matière à progrès à cet égard, je me réjouis de constater que l'importance du problème est de plus en plus largement saisie.
Mohamad Walid AL-TAWIL (Syria) (Original language Arabic): My delegation supports the Medium-Term Plan 1996-2001.
We would like to thank the Secretariat for preparing this document which gives the details of the efforts made regarding status of food and agriculture in the world today. It also refers to the main challenges facing our countries, which are trying to achieve sustainable agricultural and rural development.
It seems that the challenges ahead are still large and the natural resources in many countries are limited and threatened. A heavy investment is required in order to tap the unexploited national resources. The developing countries also need assistance in planning, and the use of appropriate technologies. There is a need for this assistance to be extended by FAO to most member countries. In general, we welcome the programmes and projects which mobilize human resources in developing countries in order to enable these countries to solve problems they are facing.
In my country we are undertaking major efforts in order to increase our food production to meet the increasing population needs. Of course, we have agricultural development but we face two major problems. First of all, we face the problem of drought; second, we face the problem of the deterioration of our natural resources. We notice that the Plan has covered these two aspects but, in spite of that, we think special attention should be given to the programmes and projects in the following areas: strengthening the research institutions in the developing countries; transfer of technology to the developing countries; combatting desertification and the maintenance of forests and grazing lands; making use of the genetic resources, not only their collection and maintenance but to make use of these genetic resources in scientific programmes; solving the problems of desertification and drought through the use of new seeds and plants that can resist drought; pollution; the quality of foodstuffs; integrated pest management, and, finally, the study of the impact and effects of the Uruguay Round on the economies of the developing countries.
Aguinaldo LISBOA RAMOS (Cap-Vert): Je tiens à saluer le Secrétariat pour la qualité du document C 95/9, qui est concis et clair et nous présente les perspectives stratégiques de la FAO pour la période de 1996 à 2001. La proposition d'élaborer un tel plan tous les six ans et de le réviser tous les deux ans mérite l'appui de ma délégation.
Je suis heureux de constater que la priorité de la FAO demeure la sécurité alimentaire et le développement agricole et rural durable. En effet, il est douloureux de constater qu'à la veille du Troisième millénaire, 800 millions de personnes souffrent encore de malnutrition et que la situation doit encore devenir plus critique en Afrique subsahàrienne où la pression démographique est toujours forte et la production d'aliments se maintient plus ou moins stable et où la capacité d'importations est faible. Ma délégation espère que des ressources suffisantes seront mises à la disposition de la FAO et des pays en développement de façon à inverser cette tendance. Je pense particulièrement au Programme spécial pour le fonds d'alimentation à l'appui de la sécurité alimentaire dans les pays à faible revenu et à déficit vivrier, au PCT et au PCTC et aux programmes techniques qui visent à augmenter la production et la productivité agricoles. J'aimerais voir les activités du PSPA s'étendre rapidement au plus grand nombre de pays. La dégradation de l'environnement et des ressources naturelles, la destruction des forêts et la surexploitation des ressources halieutiques sont des défis auxquels la FAO continuera de s'attaquer avec détermination. Une solution devra être trouvée aux problèmes des techniques peu respectueuses d'un aménagement correct des ressources halieutiques qui entraînent de grands gaspillages de cette importante source de protéines animales, de même en ce qui concerne la conservation des cultures après-récolte.
L'assistance technique, les informations et les conseils que la FAO donne aux Etats Membres seront facilités et améliorés par les mesures de restructuration et de décentralisation déjà en cours. L'adoption par cette Conférence du Code de conduite de la pêche responsable est une mesure importante pour la pêche et l'aquaculture. Puissent les conditions être maintenant créées pour le mettre en oeuvre. La FAO donne déjà une contribution significative à la commercialisation, à la conservation et au contrôle de la qualité des aliments. L'attention accrue qu'elle accorde à ces activités sera appréciée par les Etats Membres surtout dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre des accords d'Uruguay Round, de la libération du commerce à tous les niveaux et de l'application des normes du Codex Alimentarius.
Je suis heureux que la coopération avec les organisations régionales de coopération et d'intégration soit renforcée et que les liens avec les ONG et le secteur privé soient également renforcés à l'avenir. Je pense notamment au CILS, Comité inter-Etats de lutte contre la sécheresse au Sahel et aux bénéfices que cela apportera aux pays sahéliens.
Enfin, j'aimerais porter à l'attention de cette Commission le fait que j'apprécie le document qui a été élaboré et j'espère qu'il sera possible d'apporter d'autres améliorations de caractère significatif.
Omar TOURAY (Gambia): The delegation from The Gambia greatly appreciates the quality of the documents presented today, including the one we are now discussing, C 95/9.
I say this not as a comment but basically to highlight some of the contents of the documents with which the Gambia is very pleased. We hope that FAO will be able to implement the items that we consider are priority areas.
With reference to paragraph 55, which talks about policy assistance on a regional basis, we suggest that, included in this paragraph should be policy assistance in the area of agriculture and marketing, in particular for the African region where we see very little activity in terms of exchange of agricultural products between African countries. To understand the role that marketing could contribute to regional economic cooperation and to regional food security is of paramount importance to the African region; it should be assisted in this particular area.
Paragraph 48 refers to cooperation or increased efforts to reach out to NGOs in the private sector. We wish, once again, to underscore this activity.
We believe that it is very important because the NGO community and the private sector have very important roles to play in terms of supporting agricultural development throughout the world, but more so in
sub-Saharan Africa where we have seen, through structural adjustment, public sector institutions becoming smaller and some of their roles being taken over by the NGOs and the private sector. So we feel that FAO should not miss this chance in terms of reaching out to these two very important communities, i.e. the NGO and the private sector.
Another area which we have seen mentioned in the document is the development of peri-urban agriculture. I think this is very important particularly again for sub-Saharan Africa where we see a lot of rural overdrift. A lot of people are moving out of the rural areas to the urban areas and they have the skills. Instead of leaving them to be lost inihe city to become drug addicts and pickpockets and just loafing around, I think one could assist the governments to reach out to these people and resettle them to take over activities in peri-urban agriculture, such as small-scale horticulture, small-scale dairy and animal fat programmes, etc.
Another area which my delegation also supports is the EMPRES programme and the impact which we believe it will have on international trade and food security. I think that this should be given a lot of emphasis and we should make sure that it is implemented on a timely basis.
We also welcome the emphasis that is now being given to value-added technologies in terms of product development. Particularly if you talk about the loss of sub-sectors, the sort of projects that one has seen in the past always led to an increase in numbers of animals. At the end of the day we always talked about the numbers degrading the land. At the same time, because we did not include in these projects any value-added technologies in terms of product development, there was no linkage to markets and what we finally got at the end of the day was very negative, because all we did was consolidate and compound the traditional production system where people owned no animals and then the benefits to the economy were not forthcoming where we had degradation and where we had a lot of animals but very few animal products available, and where even animal products were available, particularly during the rainy season, because the technologies were not available to conserve. In the midst of plenty there was still poverty in the sense that most of the products like milk could not be preserved and could not be marketed. In fact, what we then had was a negative impact on nutrition and the income of the people who own these animals.
In short, Gambia totally supports this document and, like the former speakers, we hope that it will come under review every two years.
Winston RUDDER (Trinidad and Tobago): The Medium-Term Plan, together with the other documents which we have reviewed in Commission II so far, the Implementation Report and the Evaluation Report, constitute the main platform and the context within which we are about to discuss the Programme of Work and Budget for 1996-97. In our view, this document provides a strategic framework for the functioning and operation of FAO in the medium term and, as such, we recognize it and its potential as a very important marketing tool for promoting the significant role of this Organization, not only within the membership at large but with its partners and potential partners. I go so far as to say that an appropriate synopsis of this document should be available for consideration by our prime ministers and heads of government because it puts into perspective what the Organization is all about.
Like Australia and others before us, we commend the Secretariat and the Director-General in particular for having responded to the comments made in respect of the previous Medium-Term Plan and providing us with a very useful and concise document which allows us to clearly understand the thrust and direction of FAO over the next six years. In that regard, we completely endorse and support the major planks of this trust, i.e. the focus on food security and nutrition on the one hand and sustainable agriculture and rural development on the other.
Mr Chairman, we are very pleased to see a reaffirmation of the mission and mandate of this Organization as contained within the document and in particular the effort which is being made to reemphasize the fact that FAO must remain, as it was intended to be when it was established, an Organization that seeks to strike a balance between a mix of normative and field-related activities. In our view this is very critical. In that regard, we especially commend the observations and commitments made in paragraph 57 in respect of the Latin American and Caribbean Region adverted to by my colleague from Venezuela, focusing upon what constitutes for us some of the main areas in policy-related support with which we are concerned, namely, the whole question of adjusting to the Uruguay Round, the policy adjustments that we must undertake related
thereto, the issue of food security, the issue of policies and strategies for dealing with trade and trade-related matters.
With respect to food security, we wish to assure you of our equal concern and support for the focus on the issue of chronic malnutrition and food insecurity. We completely endorse the range of actions that have been indicated from paragraph 84 onwards and commend the Organization for focusing not only on production and productivity considerations but also trade and trade-related matters. I think this is an important underpinning for dealing with malnutrition and food insecurity.
With respect to sustainable agriculture and rural development, we point in particular to paragraphs 42-45 focusing on the sound use of inputs, a particularly important consideration in small islands and small developing states which are in fact land constrained and which in the intensification of agriculture could go awry and cause worse effects if we do not have sound use of inputs.
The positive role of forests and an integrated approach to forestry development, adverted to in paragraphs 155-159, is extremely important and therefore we emphasize that work should continue unrelentingly to incorporate forestry research in the activities of the Agricultural Research Centres. That is critical.
We note too, with complete endorsement and support, the focus upon paragraph 164 in relation to small-island developing states, particularly in relation to fisheries development and other aspects of natural resource development, and the emphasis on gene banks in paragraph 173.
Some other delegations have made reference to paragraphs 180 and 181 relating to a people-centred approach to development and the question of the gender issue, and we completely endorse that. We have seen in programmes upon which we have commented in the Evaluation and Implementation Report that their success has in large degree had to do with the extent to which people participated and not merely collaborated in the implementation, but in terms of the conception of the programmes and projects, and therefore identified with their collaboration. Chapter 3 speaks of the extended partnerships in which this Organization has been involved, and in fact it underscores the integrated approach that FAO uses in dealing with its overall mandate, and that is to be commended. My wish and hope is that it is reciprocated by the organizations with which this Organization cooperates.
Mr Chairman, to speak directly, we support the view, as we did in the Programme Committee, that this report should be updated on a biennial basis and remain as a strategic Medium-term Plan for six years updated biennially. I think that it is useful and important.
We also agree that we will cause divisiveness within the Organization to speak about financial commitments over the medium term. However, I wish to see in the Medium-term Plan, in so far as in my view it is a strategic document, some more specific reference to process, to give us the assurance that the intent in terms of the delivery of programme and services as indicated here will in fact come about as a result of what the Organization intends to do by improving its processes and its mechanisms. In short, Mr Chairman, I would wish to see strategies enunciated in relation to mechanisms, guidelines and processes in order to ensure that what is put here may be delivered.
I support entirely the comment of my colleague from Japan who sees a relationship between the decentralization and the restructuring activities and the capacity and capability of the Organization to deliver on the Medium-Term Plan. Therefore, if we are agreed that this could be a useful marketing tool and that we have that within this cover, it improves it considerably. I commend the Organization in this regard.
One last comment, Mr Chairman. I am a little bit concerned about the continuing emphasis on the need for an external management review of FAO. I think that this is completely uncalled for in the circumstances of what has happened over the last two years. I believe that we should allow the Director-General and his management team to manage and deliver and hold them accountable for delivering, and not seek to get involved with micro-managing the Organization. I say this in the context of the concerns which led to that observation, which is merely not that we should have a management review but that management should in their continuing review of the Organization seek to deal with the issues of staff vacancies and so on. That is the context in which the idea and concept of a management review came to be brought forward for consideration.
In fact, what we should be concerned about as the membership is the extent to which the expanded membership of this Organization, accelerated over the last few years, has in fact called for some real reorganization of the arms of governance in terms of ensuring the ability of small, unrepresented countries in these organs continuing to have their interests best satisfied and balanced.
The meeting rose at 10.45 hours.
La séance est levée à 10 h 45.
Se levanta la sesiôn a las 10.45 horas.
