G. BOLA HOYOS (Colombia): En primer lugar, Sr. Presidente, queremos decir que la delegación de Colombia está muy agradecida al Gobierno de India, su país, por haber permitido que Vd. presida esta importante Comisión.
Sabemos de las altas responsabilidades que Vd. tiene en su propia naoión, y del prestigio mundial de que Vd. goza, Sr. Swaminathan; por eso nos complacemos muy de veras de que Vd. sea nuestro Presidente, y estamos seguros de que bajo su dirección esta Comisión trabajará muy eficientemente.
En este momento, deseamos limitar nuestra intervención solamente a un aspecto de los métodos de trabajo que Vd. ha propuesto en forma muy adecuada.
Ha anotado Vd., Sr. Presidente, que tenemos 57 horas de trabajo a nuestra disposición. Desearíamos expresar el deseo y pedirle que, ojalá, hasta donde fuera posible, coadyuvara esa esperanza de la delegación colombiana, en el sentido de que se produzca un diálogo en el seno de esta Comisión, un diálogo que no se limiten nuestras deliberaciones a oír discursos de cada una de las delegaciones que luego se pierdan en un silencio inútil. Esto ha sucedido últimamente en algunos Comités asesores del Consejo; la Secretaría tiene una lista larga de oradores, todos van hablando y al final ss obtienen conclusiones sin que en realidad haya habido una confrontación de ideas y de experiencias, y un diálogo verdadero entre las delegaciones. Sé que esto no es fácil y que no dependerá de Vd. en todo, Sr. Presidente, pero ojalá fuera posible dedicar de esas 57 horas alguna hora para que haya un diálogo breve entre las distintas delegaciones para que, en ves de limitarnos a que se cumpla una lista de oradores, pueda un orador referirse inmediatamente a la opinión expresada por otro, y así dar un poco de movimiento y de eficacia a los trabajos de esta Comisión, sobre todo sería interesante al disentir el tama fundamental de esta Comisión: el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto.
Es solamente una idea animada de buena voluntad que dejo en sus buenas manos.
CHAIRMAN: I would Certainly commend the suggestion that we have more dialogue than monologue in this Commission wherever possible.
The General Conference, as delegates know, is mainly intended to pass the Budget for the next bieannium. Therefore a very grave responsibility rests on us to discuse the Programme and make such suggestions as we should like to mete to the Conference, because our report goes to the Plenary meeting in the last week of the Conference. We should therefore have a report which reflects the concern and the consensus of this group firmly and clearly.
I. MOSKOVTS (Malta): Are we to discuss the Programme of Work and Budget in general, in its entirety, or chapter by chapter? Should we make general remarks on priorities and afterwards on the individual chapters?
CHAIRMAN: My suggestion would be that we discuss the entire programme and then later, if there is a possibility of a second round, that delegates might like to comment in more detail. We must adhere to the timetable. It will be 19 minutes, subject to constraints. Then delegates could speak a second time if necessary.
A. F. CHCUIHUHT (Bangladesh): Thank you Mr. Chairman. A discussion on the Programme of Work and Budget presupposes a general study of the Programme proposals which are before us, but I at least only saw the documents this morning, so there has been hardly any time for me to study them - and I think this may be the case for some other distinguished Delegates as well. It is therefore not possible to have a general grasp of the whole Programme, so I would suggest an alternative method of going about it, rather than that we take up this Programme item-wise, or subject-wise, as convenient to the Secretariat, that we take up one item or one subject or one suggestion of the proposed Programme and then we can have a debate - it may be better if the Senior Officers of the Secretariat could kindly give their introductory explanation of that portion of the Programme as compared with the last biennium. I think that would be an easier way of giving our suggestions to the proposals before us, rather than having a general discussion such as budget sessions in countries such as your country Mr. Chairman and our coun-try. I think it better that we have a general discussion first rather than item-by-item discussion and decisions right away, followed by resolutions.
P. MASØUD (Pakistan): Thank you. I think, Sir, that we have already spent forty-five mimtes out of the prescribed 57 hours on debating how to proceed, and therefore without such ado I shall read out a general statement on behalf of my delegation, and reserve the right to come back on various subjects, since they are of great importance to my country.
Permit me, first of all, to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, on your election as Chairman of this very important Commission. We would also like to compliment the Director-General for giving as such a clear introduction and explanation of FAO's Programme of Work and Budget for the next bienuium. We have already lent our support to the Director-General's proposal in the Programme Committee, and we would like to reiterate it here in this forum. When we first studied in depth the Summary Programme of Work and Budget 1980/81 we were inclined to be a little critical about the modest increase in the size of the budget. According to the World Development Report 1978 of the World Bank, although the past 25 years had witnessed unprecedented change and progress in the developing world, some 800 million individuals continue to be trapped in "absolute poverty" characterised by inadequate food, illiteracy, disease, squalid surroundings, high infant mortality and low life expectancy. FAO's Fourth World Food Survey 1977 indicated an order of magnitude of about 400 million as a conservative estimate of the number of persons under-nourished in developing countries, an increase of more than 50 million between 1969/71 and 1972/74· Available data further indicates that up to 50 percent of young children in the developing world either suffered from malnutrition of varying degrees or are "at risk". Infant mortality in developing countries ranges between 46 and 122 per thousand, compared with 15 per thousand in the industrialized countries. Therefore, when we are being asked to support a very small real increae in the size of the budget for the forthcoming bieunium, we repeatedly ask ourselves how an additional sum of only 13. 6 million, which is the real increase, would help in implementing, for instance, the objective of the Hew International Economic Order. Redetermination of priorities in the face of virtually irresi-stable and prectically immerable competing claims is a difficult task even ordinarily but when one is dealing with such sensitive matters as food and agriculture, the task becomes even more perplexing. It is therefore, a matter of some gratification to us that we find ourselves in a position to fully sup -port the Programme of Work and Budget 1930-81. A comparison of the budget figures on page 33 of the Finance Committee's report contained in document CL 75/4 would reveal that in 1976-77 the programme increase was 23. 4 percent, in 1978-79 6. 41 percent and in 1980-81 it is only 5. 3 percent. This declining trend is highly disturbing and we feel that it must be arrested, primarily in the interest of the developing countries as also the Organisation. What is even more important, priorities stemming directly from new policies, strategies, special action programmes and decisions by the Conference, Council and other FAO bodies must be covered by adequate resources and even in this context, what is being proposed is the barest minimum.
Mr. Chairman, taking into consideration the global situation, overall strategies, urgent need for ac-tion programme capacities as well as requirements, we fully support the proposed level of the budget and urge all members to accept it without any reservation. Mr. Chairman, as we consider this item under discussion as the most important before the Commission, we reserve our right to take the floor again at a later stage, should it become necessary.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Who would like to take the floor next?
R. B. SINGH (Nepal): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, permit me, Mr. Chairman, to express our congratulations to you on chairing such an important Commission, which is to lock after the entire programme of developmental activities and the required budget for the biennium 1980/81· We fully endorse the Programme of Work and Budget for 1980/81, as submitted by the Director-General Which appears in document C 79/3. In examining the document, we are happy to note the Director-General's plan to decentralize at country level. Secondly, Mr. Chairman, we fell that the Technical Cooperation Programme started by the Director-General in 1977 ham been of substantial help in meeting the urgent needs of the developing countries. We wish that more resources could be made available to this Programme than that which has been proposed by the Director-General for the biennium 1980/81· Further, Asia and the Pacific, being the largest region, and also the region where the majority of the popular-tlon are below the poverty line - and not only that, the region which contains the majority of the world's population Which is poor and malnourished - should receive more attention for urgent developmental activities under the Technical Cooperation Programme, so that benefits are shared by those who are in need of them. The Technical Cooperation Programme in particular must be seriously taken up. This Programme has already shown its very meaningful impact in the region.
J. L. LIJOODI (Kenya): We would also like to make some general comments on the Agenda this morning, and like our colleagues, we may later come back to make more detailed observations on the subject. We first of all would like to thank the Director-General for the brief and olear introduction to the Programme of Work and Budget which we have to start discussing this morning. We have noted with concern the warning contained in his statement about the international food and agriculture situation, which has not improved over the past biennium, and we would like to join others in directing our attention during this Conference to discussing ways and means of bringing about an improvement in the next two years.
We think that our task here is to consider the Programme of Work and Budget which has been laid before us, and to make comments which will support the proposals which have been put forward in order to ensare that we achieve our objectives for the next two years.
Our comments and views on the level of the budget are governed by two major factors. The first is the actual priorities which have been proposed by the Organization, which will go towards improving the food and agriculture situation in the world. The second factor is the international conferences and the events which have taken place over the past two years, which will have direct relevence to the work of the Organization for the next biennium.
On the question of priorities, we are satisfied with the direction of the Organization in the field of improving food production and rural development, and while we would not want to make specific comments on all the items proposed in the Programme of Work and Budget, because we think that would take too much time and all of us would never be able to speak if we were to go on the basis of item by item, we think that the general direction of the Organisation is very much in line with the Programme which we have to tackle in order to improve the world food situation.
We would like to urge nevertheless that the Organization puts more effort into bringing to the awareness of the developed countries the fact that we require more resources to be put into the field of research and investment in order to realize more effective output in the field of food production.
I would now like to come to the question of the events which have taken place over the past two years, to which FAO must react, and take some action to implement these recommendations.
The major eues, Mr. Chairman, are the Conference on Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries, the United Kations Conference on the Law of the Sea which has resulted in the Declaration of Exclusive Economic zones with Programmes which will have to be implemented in order that those countries may be able to exploit the resources available to them.
There was also the World Conference on Agrariam Reform and Rural Development which took place here in July. This Conference came up with specific recemmendations on agricultural and rural development which FAO has to take into account and we are glad to see that all of them have been reflected in the PAD Programme of Work and Budget. Unfortunately all these conferences did not make any financial provision for the implementation of the recommendations they made, in which case the meagre resources available to FAO have to be utilized in order to go towards implementing some of these recommendations. This is besides the normal work of FAO which requires increased budgetary facilities in order to cope
with the problems that are posed by Member countries. As I said earlier, my delegation's comments on the budget are governed by these two factors, and in view of what I have said earlier, the Kenyan dele-gation would like to strongly support the level of the budget as the barest minimum that could be put forward for consideration and, if anything, our views are that the budget is far below the level at which it can properly cope with the problems which are related to the agricultural development and food production in Member countries. And we would like, outside the level of the budget that has been proposed, the Director-General to do his best during the biennium to find out the possibilities of additional financial resources that will enable us to achieve the objectives; otherwise the level of the budget as proposed will not be able to meet the requirements of the Member countries, particularly in the field of ensuring sufficient food supplies and an effective increase in the standard of living of the rural poor. To this effect I would like to register the support of this delegation for the level of the budget and the general direction of the priorities of the Organization.
SULIMAH SID AHMED (Sudan) (interpretation from Arabic): Please allow me, Mr. Chairman, to add my voice to all those who congratulated you on your election, as well as the other officers.
At this very moment the Head of our delegation is addressing the Plenary to support the Programme of Work and Budget proposed by the Director-General and I would like to support that statement here. We do so even though we are convinced of the need to double the FAO budget and to extend its mandate in order to increase agricultural production throughout the world.
We support the FAO programmes because we want this support to be complete, although the programme does not cover all activities. For instance for animal resources during the forthcoming biennium the stress is laid upon the struggle against Trypanosomiasis. Sudan is one of the 37 member states which suffers from this scourge. But this disease does not come at the top of the list of arrival diseases in the Sudan. There is also African Swine fever and several other diseases against which we would like to see this struggle strengthened within FAO. However, we know perfectly well that FAO cannot do everything in view of its very limited resources. There is also the need of developing countries for machinery and equipment, the prices of which have gone beyond the reach of all developing countries. On the other hand wages and salaries have increased so much that there is need for mechanization. Therefore, we propose that FAO should study the possibility of establishing a special programme and a special project to supply the Member countries with this material that they require at reasonable prices. This programme can be financed by long-term loans, by grants and by all sorts of other extrabudgetary financing possibilities.
The list of projects and programmes that the FAO could undertake is a long one, but we know, of course, that in order to be able to cope with all these FAO should have at its disposal the appropriate means. During the last biennium we noticed how dynamic the FAO could be and we are therefore deeply convinced that it spares no effort in order to serve everyone to the extent it can. We therefore address an appeal to all the donor countries asking them to channel their grants through the FAO.
SAIMON PADMANAGARA (Indonesia): Mr. Chairman, first of all may I congratulate you on your election. I think most of us have stated our positions clearly regarding the Programme of Work and Budget in various briefing sessions and have supported it. I think we know that we are all anxious and look forward to hearing from those countries who have not yet positively stated their positions in supporting the level of the budget.
HASIM OGUT (Turkey): As my delegation is speaking for the first time, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, on your election to the chairmanship of this important commission. We believe that under your guidance the Commission will successfully carry out its work in defining programmes that would enable the Organisation to deal effectively with world food and agricultural problems. We believe that FAO should fully implement its Programme of Work and Budget for the 1980-81 Biennium as presented to us. If we want to deal effectively with the problems facing us, especially in the developing countries where population growth rates continue to be high and agricultural production levels are much lower than expected, there is a continuous increase in the need for international assistance in order to increase agricultural production in the developing countries, to provide better nutrition for the people and to fight rural poverty. I believe that FAO should play the leading role in providing this assistance both by using its own resources and by introducing other institutions to take action. My delegation appreciates the steps taken in this direction by the Director-General, Mr. Souma, and the dynamism he has brought to the Organisation in dealing with these problems.
In conclusion we would like to state that the 1980-81 Programme of Work and Budget has been well prepared and my delegation fully supports its level as it is.
CHOUERI (Liban) (interprétation de l'arabe) s Permettez-moi. Monsieur le Président, de vous féliciter à l'occasion de votre élection. Mous avons écouté avec la plus grande attention l'exposé du Directeur général, exposé clair, courageux et équilibré dont nous le félicitons. Ma délégation voudrait appuyer le programme de Travail et de budget pour le prochain biennium. proposé par le Docteur Saouma, directeur général de notre Organisation.
Dans le Programme de travail et de budget qui nous est proposé, nous voyons un souffle nouveau, et cela s'est concrétisé dans l'amélioration des structures existantes et dans la mise au point des différents projets et programmes inclus dans ce document. Ce programme énumère les priorités des proble-mes auxquels fait face la FAO et la facon dont la FAO assaie de les résoudre. En vue d'accomplir cette tâche, devront etrealloués les financements nécessaires. Les politiques et programmes de la FAO ont été acceptés à l'unanimité; nous ne pouvons donc qu'appuyer à l'unanimité le montant du budget qui nous est présenté par le Secrétariat, puisqu, il s'agit en fait d'un montant minimum. Le Conseil, au cours des ses deux dernières sessions, avait proposé l'acceptation du montant du programme et de bud-get après que la question et été discutée à fond au sein des deux comités, le Comité financier et le Comité du Programme.
Nous voudrions ici réitérer notre appui à la décentralisation au niveau des pays et surtout au cours du prochain biennium, car cette politique de décentralisation est la preuve de son efficacité. Nous sommes convaincus que la décentralisation est l'un des aspects nouveaux de la gestion moderne des affaires.
A ce propos, et par l'intermédiaire du bureau de la FAO à Beyrouth, nous avons planifié une stratégie de développement agricole allant jusqu'à l'an 2 000. Cette étude sera complétée au milieu de l'année prochaine.
Nous voudrions réitérer notre appui au programme de coopération technique qui a fait preuve de son efficacité dans la réponse directe et efficace qu'il donne aux demandes des pays en développement.
De même, nous appuyons le concept de la consolidation des travaux sur le terrain et des programmes de terrain; nous voulons appuyer également la coopération entre pays en la développant sous tous ses as-pects. Nous nous félicitons que la FAO ait utilisé les institutions nationales et les experts des pays en développement. Je me réservé de revenir ultérieurement sur ce point.
SAAD SHAMMOUT (Jordan) (interpretation from Arabic): I take advantage of this opportunity to extend to you, Mr. Chairman, my heartiest congratulations on your election. Our hopes and the expectations of the Third World as a whole in facing the challenge which is now before humanity, and the responsibilties FAO has to face as well, all require that no effort be spared and, quite on the contrary, our efforts be increased particularly in the field of teohnical cooperation and the programme on the supply of fertilizers. But in view of the limited means available to the FAO and the Director General, all we can do ie reiterate our support for the level of the Programme of Work and Budget as submitted to us here. I reserve the right to speak again if need be.
SAID TAZI (Maroc) (interprétation de l'arabe): au nom du Royaume du Marec, je voudrais joindre ma voix à celle de ceux qui m'ont précedé pour vous félioiter, Monsieur le Président, à l'occasion de votre élection à la présidence de notre commission.
Je voudrais également exprimer l'appui de ma délégation au Programme de travail et de budget pour le prochain biennium. Et nous pensons que ce programme est fait pour répondre aux object ifs à moyen terme fixés par la FAO bien que le montant du budget, comme l'ont dit la plupart des délégués, ne soit pas suffisant pour faire face à nos besoins, nous pays en développement. Néanmoins, cet appui sera soutenu par certaines remarques que nous voulons formuler la première remarque est la nécessité pour la FAO de consolider le Programme d'opérations techniques étant donné sa souplesse, et répondant aux besoins réels de la plupart des pays en développement, surtout quand il traite de problèmes spécifiques tels que la formation, la recherche agricole et également les secours d'urgence nécessités par les fléaux naturels.
Néanmoìns, ma délegation est d'avis que la FAO ne doit ménager aucun effort en vue de faire participer beaucoup plus les experts nationaux aux Commissions ayant pour objectifs de traiter des problèmes spéciaux dans certains pays en développement. En effet, généralement dans ces commissions on fait participer des experts étrangers n'appartenant pas aux pays en développement concernés, qui ne peuvent dono pas, malgré leur compétence indéniable, en un court laps de temps, être tout à fait au courant de tous les problèmes qu'ils sont appelés à élucider. C'est la raison pour laquelle nous lançons un appel pour la participation des experts venant des pays membres intéressés au sein de ces commissions.
Bien que ma délégation approuve la politique de décentrai isation que la FAO a menée depuis longtemps, nous pensons qu'il est quand même nécessaire de définir les critères et de ne pas appliquer cette décentralisation de façon aveugle, au risque que cette décentralisation, qui est en elle-même une bonne chose, ne devienne en fin de compte une mauvaise chose. Bono il faudra déterminer des critères sur la base desquels cette politique de décentralisation va être appliquée d'autant plus que les représentations dans les pays bénéficient de 16 pour cent du budget général.
De même, ma délégation et mon pays sont d'avis que la FAO s'occupent des problèmes et des pertes après les récoltes mais aussi des aspects sociaux et économiques des structures de consommation dans les pays en développement, structures qui sont la cause de ces pertes après les récoltes. Ces problèmes n'ont pas encore été traités parce que la FAO a évité jusqu'à présent de s' immiscer dans les problèmes sociaux et religieux de certains pays.
M. MADEMBA-SY (Sénégal): Je voudrais tout d'abord réparer une omission que j'ai faite tout à l'heure quand j'ai pris la parole pour la première fois en omettant de vous féliciter M. le Président pour votre élection à la présidence de cette importante commission. Je pensais qu'il était superflu d'insister sur vos qualités, sur votre autorité et votre compétence pour diriger nos travaux. Cela dit, ma délegation appuie le montant du budget proposé ainsi que le Programme de travail pour 1980 - 1981. Vous en avons discuté très longuement, non seulement au sein des comités techniques spécialisés du Conseil de la FAO, mais également lors des dernières sessions, la soixante-quinzième et la soixante-seizième. A ma connaissance, je ne sais pas s'il y a eu un pays qui s'est prononcé contre, notamment au niveau du budget. Je sais simplement qu'il y a eu certains pays qui ont demandé quand même A réserver leurs droits de prendre la parole pour faire dea observations. A cet égard, j'appuie entièrement la suggestion qui a été faite tout à l'heure par le délégué de l'Indonésie, à savoir que tous les membres de la Commission seront vivement intéressés d'entendre ces pays qui ont réservé leur droit de parole sur le Programme de travail et le Programme du budget, qui, je le répète encore, a été recommandé quasi unanimement par le Conseil ft l'approbation de la Conférence.
NGA MA MAPELA (Zaïre): Ma délégation s'associe aux délégations qui ont pris la parole avant nous pour vous féliciter vous-même ainsi que les vice-présidents pour votre élection.
Après avoir pris connaissance du document relatif au Programme de travail et budget pour 1980-1981, document qui, à notre connaissance, a été distribué en temps voulu, ma délégation voudrait une fois encore ici appuyer sans réserve le Programme de travail et le niveau du budget proposés par le Directeur général. En appuyant ce Programme de travail et budget, ma délégation tient à souligner qu'il s'agit en fait d'un programme minimum et d'un niveau de budget qui atteint à peine le niveau minimum nécessaire pour permettre à la FAO de faire face aux problèmes que lui posent les Etats Membres.
Nous voudrions aussi souligner que, de par la vaste expérience que possède la FAO pour mener à bien toutes les activités entrant dans le domaine alimentaire et agricole dans les pays en développement, nous devons, nous, les Etat Membres, mettre à la disposition de la FAO les moyens nécessaires pour accomplir ces activités.
Pour terminer, et tout en nous réservant le droit de reprendre la parole si cela était nécessaire, ma délégation voudrait rappeler ici ce qui est dit au document qui porte la cote C 79/LIM/28, qui est en fait l'extrait du rapport de la soixante-seizième session du Conseil, notamment au paragraphe 36, où il est dit: "Plusieurs membres ont noté avec inquiétude que le niveau du budget proposé est resté le même malgré l'évolution des exigences du Programme et des coûts qui justifierait un niveau plus élevé. ''
KONG CAN-DONG (China) (interpretation from Chinese): Thank you Mr. Chairman for giving me the floor. The Chinese delegation has earnestly studied the Director-General's proposals for the 1980/1981 Programme of Work and Budget and listened with great attention to the previous speakers. We should like to take this opportunity to elucidate our position on the Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium.
The Chinese delegation would like first of all to express its support of the Director-General's guidelines for the work of this Organization in the next biennium, that is to continue to work towards the new international economic order and within that, emphasis on increasing food production in developing countries and increased activities aimed at rural development and emphasizes the technical cooperation among developing countries; and engage accordingly in basic activities of a global scope such as the collection and dissemination of important information, policies and planning of food and agriculture production etc.
We consider that the Director-General's priorities conform with the requirements of the majority of the Member Countries such as the various special action programmes, strengthening of the investments mobilization, control of tryponosomiosis and support to the developing countries in their efficient exploitation and management of EEZ etc.
The Chinese delegation has always been interested in the actual benefit which is obtained by Member Countries, particularly Third World Countries, from the Organization's budget and programmes. Although the FAO Budget will increase for the next biennium the Programme of Work is in the main in conformity with the needs of the developing countries. Hence the Chinese delegation endorses the budget level of $271 million proposed in document C 79/III. It is to be hoped that in accordance with the statement made by the Director-General in the Summary of Budget and Programme of Work emphasis has also continued to be put on actual effectiveness and efficient management of activities; the proposed funds will be used in the most efficient and rational way and maximum benefit will be obtained from these limited resources in assisting the developing countries through improved programmes and increased efficiency. It is our hope and conviction that the Director-General will, within the budget level authorized by the Conference and in the process of implementing the Programme, practice strict economy, draw on all available suggestions and make every effort to direct FAO to play an ever greater role in the struggle to establish NIEO and in assisting the developing countries to achieve self-reliance. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN: I would only like to remind distinguished delegates about the statement made by the Director-General this morning because the distinguished delegate of China referred to a budget figure which is in page 18 of the Resolution, but you may recall the Director-General mentioned that there might be slight modification in this figure of $271 million because of currency exchange problems. Mr. West informs me that they will subsequently give us a revised resolution which will be substituted for the one on page 18 of document C 79/III. That is a final resolution which will go to the Plenary which gives a break-up of the major headlines. There might be a slight deviation from this figure.
MOHAMED DESSOUKI (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic): Mr Chairman I wish to congratulate you on your election to chair this meeting.
Our delegation supports document 79/3 on the Programme of Work and Budget for 1980-81. We congratulate our Director-General and the Secretariat for the excellent paper work and for the very clear and concise explanation of all their activities as well as analysis of the Programme and the necessary budget.
We are convinced that the Secretary-General's statement has provided us with a very clear picture of the situation in the world and for the necessity of an increase in food production and for an improvement in the marketing problems etc. These are problems on the basis of which the Director-General has defined his policies and priorities. This document has reviewed all the FAO resources and compared them with the previous biennium so as to give some explanation as to how FAO has been managing its resources. Very good management despite the fact that there are great economic difficulties in the world.
We wish to support the FAO guideline to increase the Programme of Work and Budget. Development is something which is truly vital and if we do not increase the Programme of Work and Budget - and we are aware that if we support the activities, and my delegation agrees as to the increase of the number of representation in different countries considering how fruitful the activities of the advice bureaux in the countries are, and we likewise wish to support the short-term experts. They should be employed for short-term rather than long-term and we wish to express our pleasure on the number of experts who come from developing countries.
We are, therefore, very pleased with the use of national institutions as far as possible and now on the technical and economic programme all the activities which were highlighted in the Near East Commission meeting show the great interest which is placed by Egypt in FAO activities. We also agree with the Reports and all the annexes which have been appended to these documents. We know that water and soil resources are of paramount importance for agricultural development in our region. We are in agreement on these points, as well as water and land management. This is a way of solving many problems which other countries are faced with. We wish to emphasize the extension of investment in the agricultural field and despite a great number of financial resources we, nevertheless, noted there was a deficit or rather a lack of training at the various steps for the elaboration and im-plementation of projects.
We attach to the input programme a capital interest at the very head of the list. We would place fertilizers since their prices have been going up steeply and they limit the possibilities of member countries. We are likewise convinced that fertilizers supply programmes which have been devised by FAO will have to start due to the lack of financial support to the Programme itself. Our country is dealing with mechanization and with the type of mechanization which is geared to the need of developing countries. This to be made as far as possible despite the production costs we have to face.
We wish to express views on the post-harvest food losses production and on the food security programme for which several sums have been earmarked.
We attach great importance to fishery resources and to agriculture and internal water fisheries. We feel that these are necessary for food security. We wish to give support to all activities in this sector.
As for the Technical Cooperation Programme we feel that this most dynamic Programme has truly responded to the needs of countries. I am convinced that the flexibility with which this Programme is managed will allow it to expand and that this is why we endorse the proposal of the Director-General for this Technical Cooperation Programme.
To conclude, I wish to congratulate FAO on the efforts made in the Arabic translation of the documents. This gives an opportunity to participate in a better way in the efforts made by FAO. This is an attitude which is fully endorsed. And to conclude we wish to support the work and budget programme for 1980-81 biennium and we congratulate the Directo-General on this Programme of Work and Budget.
ZEID EL-JWIERAH (Saudi Arabia) (interpretation from Arabic): The delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes to congratulate you on your election to the Chair of this Commission. And our delegation wishes to support the level of Programme of Work and Budget as was done by our Head of delegation during the Plenary Session yesterday.
Though we shall increase our activities, FAO and the Director-General should nevertheless avail themselves of the experience of consultants from developing countries since they are in a position to understand truly the position of their countries.
A. M. F. FERNANDO (Sri Lanka): Let me like other members who spoke before congratulate you on your appointment as Chairman of this Commission.
We have participated in the discussion preparatory to the work and budget programme in the last Session of the Council meeting and as pointed out by us at these deliberations the Director-General's dilemma is one of not being able to satisfy all the members of the Conference who have accommodated as far as possible what all the developing countries want FAO to do.
I think it would be relevant when taking account of this Programme of Work and Budget that we should take into consideration the speech made, by the Director-General yesterday and also the Independent Chairman of the Conference. There are, therefore, limits to the resources available to the Director-General and we like most Member countries are a little hesitant to accept the Programme of Work and Budget purely because we think it is a little bit muddled. But we fully appreciate the constraints and have no doubt of the Director-General's sincerity and eagerness to present a Programme acceptable to all of us. While supporting the Programme of Work and Budget presented to us, we, however, would wish to reserve the right to intervene later if the need arises to do so.
J. PILANE (Botswana): My delegation would also like to congratulate you on your election as Chairman of this Commission. My intervention will be brief. It is for the sole reason of supporting the Programme of Work as well as the level of the budget. Obviously being a recipient nation my delegation would have been happy with a higher level in view of the challenges to be met in the next biennium, this is the more so, Mr. Chairman, as Botswana is experiencing a serious situation of drought the longevity of which we cannot predict. This means that our limited resources are now being diverted to meet emergencies and, therefore, will be forced to seek more external assistance including that from FAO.
In the interest of my delegation although I support the level of the budget I still reserve my right to intervene should the need arise.
Milan TRKULJA (Yugoslavia): Mr. Chairman, we are exceptionally glad that you have been elected to preside over this Commission. My delegation will certainly do its best do make your task easier.
Since we have made known our views on the Programme of Work and Budget on a number of occasions I will be reasonably brief, confining myself only to the most essential features of the Programme of Work and Budget.
We are very glad that a week ago the Council was able to arrive at a full consensus with regard to the validity of the strategy, priorities and programmes proposed by the Director-General. Our feeling is the same as that expressed by the Director-General this morning, that for the first time in the history of this Organization the membership is now very close to arriving at a full consensus with regard to the main policy issues, priorities and programmes. The Programme of Work and Budget represents a further, logical step in the development of the policy and strategies adopted unanimously by the last Conference and we are on the whole very satisfied with it and fully support it.
I could perhaps synthesize our views by concentrating first of all on decentralization, which has always been for us a substantial issue. Now it is evident that most of the programmes have been substantially redrafted through numerous switches within and between various programmes and sub-programmes, all with the clear intention that the results are recognized at the regional, sub-regional and particularly at the country levels as increasingly efficient support to the efforts of developing member states. However, we are equally glad that the necessary level of general or global activities is maintained. With- in the framework of decentralization we would wish, as always, to emphasize especially the increased use of national capabilities, first of all of developing countries. As the Director-General said this morning, FAO has increased substantially the use of national capabilities, i. e. expertise and, especially, national institutions. We would certainly wish that process to be vigorously pursued in the future.
We have expressed our views on the TCP on many occasions. We feel that not only is it providing this Organization with the so much needed margin of flexibility but also it has proved to be very efficient - to be frank, much more than we originally expected.
We are glad the Director-General is determined to pursue economic and technical cooperation among developing countries. We are now fully convinced that the scheme of FAO representatives is really needed - which, again, to be frank, we had some doubts about two years ago. We now give our full support to this scheme.
We want to support the continuation of the tendencies of the decreasing share of staff component in the regular resources, which makes possible a further increase in the use of consultants and the use of national abilities, to which I have already referred.
We should like especially to underline one of the features of the Programme of Work and Budget, and that is the increasing cohesion between regular and field activities. We welcome very much the indirect programme support for some essential and fully justified extra-budgetary activities.
Coming to the last issue, to Programme level, and I personally have always hate to use the term "budget level," because the budget is a mere consequence of the Programme, speaking in terms of the Programme-budget level, we feel that the proposed increase is a very modest one. As we have already stressed on previous occasions, we feel that a much greater increase in the Programme budget level would have been fully justified in the light of all the relevant factors.
We are aware also that the Director-General has encountered a lot of constraints in developing his proposals and even some pressure on the part of some countries and although he has largely resisted such pressures and, as he repeatedly stressed in the June Council meeting, that he never believed in a kind of automatic increase in resources but only in such an increase which was fully justified.
We are also glad that a very vigorous programme-budgeting method has been applied. I shall not go into details at this stage, but we are fully aware that all programmes and sub-programme s are justified and we want only to reiterate our support to the programme presented by the Director-General.
As I indicated, I have tried to rationalize with the 21 minutes allotted in average but ask to speak again at a later stage.
CD. KELLER SARMIENTO (Argentina): En primer término quiero darle la cordial felicitación de mi delegación por su elección justa y unánime para presidir nuestros debates. Hago extensivo este espíritu de colaboración no sólo a usted, sino a los demás integrantes de la mesa de esta Comisión.
Señor Presidente, mi delegación ha apoyado el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto a través de las diversas instancias en que se ha considerado. Nuestra participación en el Comité de Finanzas ha sido clara y hemos apoyado firmemente el nivel mínimo del Presupuesto de Labores presentado por la Secretaría de la FAO.
Deseamos en especial, y como primera parte de mi intervención, apoyar el Programa de Cooperación Técnica; estamos convencidos de que el monto de 32 millones de dolares adjudicado para este fin es insuficiente. Creemos que de aceptarse el nivel mínimo, tal como parece desprenderse por las resoluciones adoptadas en el Consejo, tal vez sería posible considerar dentro de la FAO la posibilidad de algún desplazamiento interno de fondos o reajuste que permita el potenciamiento del Programa de Cooperación Técnica. Este es un instrumento dinámico, ágil en la vanguardia de acción de la FAO para muchos países que han visto en este instrumento resolver una punta de problemas que de otra manera hubiera sido imposible resolver.
En este sentido es una gran satisfacción para mi delegación comprobar que algunas delegaciones se han referido ya concretamente a esta cuestión, y recuerdo en particular a la delegación de Marruecos.
Otro punto de interés que desea considerar mi delegación es con respecto a la equidad de la distribución de los fondos en el aspecto regional. Para 1980-81 corresponde a América el 11,39 por ciento de los fondos que en el presupuesto de 1978-79 correspondió del 13 por ciento; hay una reducción de la participación de América Latina en la adjudicación de fondos; pero, además de esta reducción para América Latina es sensiblemente inferior que para otras regiones. Esto es particularmente sensible y válido en el rubro de la investigación agrícola; esto está considerado en el programa 2.1.4 del documento 79/3.
El monto asignado para América Latina para la investigación es sólo del 1,36 por ciento del total del rubro adjudicado para la investigación agrícola.
Todos sabemos la importancia que tiene la investigación agrícola para nuestro Continente; todos sabemos que es necesario intensificar la acción en la investigación porque ello producirá resultados multiplicadores y la posibilidad de evitar en lo sucesivo presencia de expertos o consultoría que posteriormente se pagan a precios muchos más caros.
Quisiera, si es posible, que la secretaría me dé algunos detalles sobre si hay alguna razón para esta aparente discriminación para el rubro de investigación en América Latina. Esto surge del cuadro de la página 95 del documento 79/3 en el texto español.
Señor Presidente, me reservo el poder formular nuevos comentarios en el curso del debate y por ahora le agradezco la atención que me ha dispensado al otorgarme el uso de la palabra.
I. MOSKOVITS (Malta): First of all, Mr. Chairman, I should like to congratulate you on your election as Chairman and to express my warm thanks to the Director-General for his very short and lucid introduction of this matter and also, of course, for the very excellent summary which he gave yesterday in the Plenary Meeting on the present state of the food situation and nutrition.
The delegate of Colombia has said that it would be preferable to have a dialogue and not only statements. I see that there were nineteen speakers before me and everybody has said exactly tha same thing, that they accepted the budget level as proposed. Now I should like to voice a discordant note. I cannot accept the level of the budget as we already explained at the June Council Session.
There are three matters before us: (i) the present dark situation of the state of food and agriculture, (ii) the Programme of Work and (iii) the Budget. It is obvious that these three matters should be in accordance.
The state of food and agriculture should correspond, to a certain extent, to the Programme of Work and the Budget should correspond to the Programme of Work. We do not see total accordance between the three. I have the greatest respect for the Director-General and his excellent collaborators who prepared document C 79/3 and have treated it in a scientific way. It is, of course, very comprehensive, but it is not what we need just now in this very dark situation in the state of food and agriculture. It is correct, as the Director-General stated, that 1976 was the turning point in the life of the Organisation and the Director-General, newly elected, brought new ideas and a new life into the work of FAO.
I mentioned before, at the June Session of the Council, that we do not think that the Programme of Work, and particulary the budget, will be enough to carry out all the tasks which FAO is called upon to carry out. Since June, there have been even more important meetings - for instance, the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development; in Vienna there was an important meeting of the United Nations on Science and Technology for Development - and it is very clear that more pressure and more requests will be made upon the Organization. In addition there are other factors - such as the current inflation, which is not very likely to be halted during the coming two years - which must be added, and also the world situation might deteriorate even further.
As regards the innovations proposed by the Director-General in 1976, as a developing country we were particularly interested in the country-focused programmes of FAO, and, in this respect of course in the Technical Development Programme, As has already been mentioned by several previous speakers, there is a need to strengthen the Technical Development Programme and to give it a more important financial basis to carry out the work started with very great success during these last two years. This delegation feels there is also a need to loosen a little bit the strings on the frame, on the terms of reference and the regulations of the TCP.
Analyzing the work of the TCP, it appears that a major part of it is devoted to emergency projects. This trend will have to be continued, as well as the work on the few other activities carried out at present. But, this delegation feels, the TCP should have also new, further functions - and I would like to be a little bit more explicit in this respect.
If we look at FAO's Programme of Work, we see that a great amount of the Programme is carried out through so-called "Special Action Programmes", funded by voluntary contributions. It is not clear whether these voluntary contributions will be required and forthcoming in the future. There are already examples that some of these programmes, decided, voted, and approved by the Conference, are unfortunately slowing down, while others are practically stopped completely. I do not wish to go into details now and mention particular actions of this kind; in the detailed discussion, Mr. Chairman, if you will allow me, I shall come back on this point. I think that in the case that such "Special Action Programmes" have difficulties because of the lack of funds, it would be good if the Technical Cooperation Programme could inject provisionally funds to keep the given programmes alive. Nothing is worse for an Organization like FAO than start projects and not carry them out fully. That is what I would like to say on the Director-General's remarks.
In our detailed discussion, if you will allow me, I shall come back on several of the programmes.
MS. FATIMA H.JAWHAR HAYAT (Kuwait): As delegate for Kuwait, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, on your election. My Delegation has studied C 79/3, and took part in its discussion at the Council. It is for this reasn that we would like to reiterate our congratulations to the Director-General and the Secretariat for the excellent work done. The speech of the Director-General to this Committee clarified the reasons why the Director-General was forced to increase the budget -an increase which really is very slight if you take into consideration the difficulties of that nature in the world today. We would like to reiterate our entire support for the guidelines issued by the Director-General. We are convinced that the Director-General could not accept a lower level than the one which he had proposed. I might even say that we really expected a much more considerable increase of the budget in view of inflation.
So, Mr. Chairman, without taking into account all the economic implications let us try to accept wholeheartedly the increase of this budget, particularly in view of the beneficial effects which this increase will have on field activities.
S.A. MADALLALI (Tanzania): Allow me, Mr. Chairman, to congratulate you on your election to this office as Chairman of Commission II, which is a crucial Commission on all the activities which have brought us here. In this Commission we have to cover the Programme of Work and Budget which is the most important item but we are discussing this item with fresh minds, in order that each delegation may not make the
excuse that the agenda of Commission II was so long that they lost the trend of events in the process of our duties here. The Programme of Work and Budget, for the Tanzanian Delegation, is the barest minimum that we can accept. Many delegations have said the same, and in the views of the Finance Committee of which we are members representig our region, and also in the Council, we have clearly indicated that the level of budgetary allowance advanced by the Director. -General is very-much below the levels which the member countries had expected.
But looking at the problems that confront member countries, particularly in view of world inflation and devaluation of the dollar, we feel that an increase in the level of budget by 2. 6 percent per annum is very modest. FAO is supposed to take on many more programmes than are included in the budget for 1980-81. We support the programme on the control of Animal Trypanosomiasis, the Decentralization Policy of FAO, and the Technical Cooperation Programme, but we would have liked a major programme for the total control if not elimination of such scourges as foot and mouth disease, which plague the possible development of both dairy and meat industries in many of the developing countries to be included in the Programme.
The work put in by the Director-General and the various Committees is really very commendable. The Council examined the recommendations and "felt that the budget level proposed was the minimum necessary to meet the needs of member countries and of the world food situation". My Delegation hopes that those countries which had reserved their views on the level of the budget or who declared that it was still under consideration by their Governments, should now indicate either their full support, or they should point out particular issues under this item, so that my Delegation and other member countries could help convince them that each item in the proposed Budget and Programme of Work for the next biennium has a value - a value which is intrinsic to the success of FAO. Otherwise, Mr. Chairman, my Delegation finds it very difficult to know what to do in order to clear the minds of those who raised reservations.
After we have heard from those member countries, I take it that we shall have the right to reply at a later stage.
B. O. M. CHIYABWE (Zambia): The Zambian Delegation would like to put it on record that we support the proposed Budget and Programme of Work for 1980-81. It is very difficult to single out any deficiencies in this Programme.
It will be equally difficult to satisfy all members here about the action that has been proposed by FAO. It is in this context that we support the Programme of Work and Budget. The various dele-gations have not mentioned anything about forestry. During the last World Forestry Congress, which was held in Jakarta, a number of resolutions were adopted. As the Kenyan delegation mentioned, there were a number of conferences in the past conducted by FAO but no provision was made for the work to support the resolutions. However, in this context I am pleased to note that FAO has included certain actions to accommodate the resolutions which were adopted at the previous World Forestry Conference.
There is this programme on seed exchange, there is also the programme on fuelwood plantations. It is encouraging to see that the forestry work on statistic has been given some prominence. We do not wish to make detailed comments on the Programme of Work and Budget at this stage but we would be pleased to be allowed to intervene at a later date when discussions on detail will commence.
AHMED GARTA (Libya) (interpretation from Arabic): Allow me, on behalf of the delegation of the Arab Libyan Republic to congratulate you on your election to the chair of this Commission, and the other officers.
My congratulations are also addressed to the Director-General for the excellent statement he made on the Programme of Work and Budget for the 1980-81 biennium. Having listened very carefully to the Director-General in the Plenary Session as well as in the Commission, and after having studied the Programme of Work and Budget, we would like to reiterate that in view of the deterioration of the world food situation it was essential for the FAO to have a continuous programme of work in order to put an end to this deterioration. FAO had to find the ways and means to supply 450 million people suffering from malnutrition throughout the world, with the necessary food. So my delegation, which is very concerned with the situation, would like to give its full support to the Programme of Work and Budget as a whole. However. Concerning its implementation, we believe that the level of the budget proposed by the Director-General is the minimum which will make it possible for us to do the necessary work.
CHRISTOPHE SEMAKO YEBE (Bénin): Je voudrais, au nom de la délégation du Bénin, vous féliciter pour votre élection à la tête de notre Commission. La délégation du Bénin appuie pleinement le Programme de travail et budget établi par la FAO. Ma délégation voudrait seulement ajouter que la FAO est capable de mener à bien un programme plus ambitieux, mais bien souvent les contraintes financières font qu'elle est obligée de se contenter du strict minimum. Ce que nous voudrions signaler, c'est que les mêmes pays qui marchandent à la FAO leur contribution, leur bonne volonté pour participer au programme financier de l'Organisation sont souvent les mêmes que ceux qui sont prêts à voler au secours des pays en voie de développement lorsque des catastrophes ou des fléaux surgissent. Nous pensons qu'il y a là un cercle vicieux qu'il faudrait essayer de briser à l'avenir, et nous voudrions inviter les pays développés à faire leur un adage qui dit qu'il vaut mieux prévenir que guérir, car il ne faut pas attendre que le fléau se déclenche et que ce soit seulement sur le plan bilatéral que les pays accourrent aider ceux qui sont en danger.
Je voudrais ajouter ma voix à tous ceux qui m'ont précédé et qui vous ont félicité à l'occasion de votre élection à la présidence, et ma délégation se félicite des efforts déployés par le Directeur général ainsi que par ses collaborateurs dans la préparation de ce Programme de travail et budget pour le biennium 1980-81.
RIAD SAAD-EL-DINE (Syria) (interpretation from Arabic): Mr. Chairman, allow me first of all to add my voice to all those who have congratulated you on your election to the chair of this Commission.
My delegation is pleased to see the efforts that have been made for the Programme of Work and Budget for 1980-81. The Delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic considers that for the medium term objectives, to enable the developing countries to improve their agriculture by 40 percent, those countries must have the necessary input and this input and the means of production are the key to their agricultural development. In any case the aid supplied to the developing countries by the Programme of Work and Budget for the 1980-81 biennium will enable them to solve their problems. I am convinced that the proposals formulated in this way are adequate.
On the other hand the Programme of Work and Budget only partially fulfils the tasks that the FAO has to accomplish in order to put an end to malnutrition and poverty in the world and to increase agricultural production.
Although we are pleased at the relations between Syria and the FAO, which are 25 years old, we still realize that the FAO needs to increase its financial possibilities in order to implement programmes in the field for agricultural development and for livestock production rather than putting them into other administrative activities.
We would like to support the Director-General in the appeal he addresses to the donor countries to increase their contribution so that the FAO may accomplish its duty, which is to put a stop to malnutrition and poverty in the world.
Mrs Laxanachantorn LAOWHAPHAN (Thailand): First of all my delegation associates itself with the previous speakers in congratulating you, Mr. Chairman, on your election to the chairmanship of this important Commission.
As most of us know, this item has already been discussed in various committees, particularly in relation to the priorities of the programme as set out by the Director-General, with the aim of improving the standard of living of the rural poor and increasing the production of food in developing countries, and such priorities were unanimously adopted by the pertinent committee including the FAO Council. As a Member of the FAO Council, my delegation would like to register once more its support for the Programme of Work and Budget as proposed by the Director General. However, there is one point that my delegation would like to make, which is more pertinent to allocation of the budget and it is that more should be allocated to field programmes. While being appreciative of the substantial increase for the allocation of field programmes which constitutes about seven to eight percent of the total proposed budget, the Thai delegation is of the opinion that this percentage, as well as the real magnitude of the field programme allocation, should be even further augmented. This is simply because mainly through field programme activities the impact of the role of FAO can be more significantly felt.
In conclusion, my delegation would like to emphasize that taking into account all the increasing needs of developing countries to be assisted by this Organization and the number of significant activities and programmes offered by the Organization to be
implemented during the next biennium, as well as inflation and the devaluation of the United States dollar, which is unavoidable, it is of the opinion that the moderate level of the budget as presented by the Director General is the most reasonable one for the time being and therefore should be supported by all members without any revision and reluctance.
R. C. SOOD (India): The Director-General has proposed a budget of about 271 million dollars for the 1980-81 biennium as compared with the budget level of 211 million dollars for the last biennium. The Indian delegation feels that the overall size of the budget is fairly modest as it represents a very limited increase in terms of effective programme content of only about 12. 40 million dollars or 5. 87 percent over the last biennium, the rest of the increase being accounted for by cost increases. Our delegations considered it a great pity that in spite of the grim food situation highlighted by the Director General, it has been possible to make such a modest change in effective programme content.
The FAO have a vital role to play in providing a focus of practical measures for food security and food aid on the one hand and in providing a wide range of practical services in technical economic and social fields for food and agricultural developments in the Member Nations. FAO will need assistance in meeting these huge responsibilities which the Budget may barely be able to provide in adequate measure. The Programme of Work and Budget is the result of a very thorough and detailed exercise. This has been examined in depth by the Programme and Finance Committees and by the Council at its last session. The two Committees and the Council agreed that the Programme of Work and Budget is in Conformity with the strategies, priorities and programmes proposed by the Director-General earlier and on which there has been complete consensus. The Council have therefore endorsed the Programme of Work and Budget in its entirety and has recommended it to the Conference for adoption.
At this stage Mr. Chairman, I would not like to go into details of the Programme of Work and Budget which I understand will be taken up later. In view of the global food situation and the needs of the developing countries my delegation feels that this Budget is the minimum that will be suitable for the implementation of the Programme.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegate from Nigeria.
O: AWOYEMI (Nigeria): Thank you Mr. Chairman. I wish on behalf of the Nigerian delegation to join earlier speakers who endorsed the Programme of Work and the level of Budget for the biennium 1980/81. You will all recall that only yesterday the Executive Director of the World Food Council reminded us that five years after the World Food Conference the food gap rather than decrease has continued to increase. The role of the FAO in closing this gap is crucial and for this reason the modest increase in the Budget is the minimum that should be supported at this meeting.
I would also like to give support to the priority given to certain aspects of the Programme, particularly those which have to do with the promotion of economic and technical cooperation among developing countries, particularly in the context of the eradication of Trypanosomiasis in the African region and such pests as locusts.
We share the concern of the Director-General on the decline of contributions to the International Fertilizer Scheme and any action taken by the FAO to revise this trend would be fully supported.
My delegation would also like to support the provision of assistance to nations in the formulation of development strategies which would facilitate the formulation of programmes and projects. I will have time to go into some more details on specific items of the Programme later on. Thank you very much.
J. Hilary MASON (Liberia): Mr. Chairman my delegation wishes to congratulate you on your election to Commission II and would like to endorse the proposed Budget and Working Programme as presented by the Director-General. We are also pleased to note that he spoke of animal Trypanosomiasis eradication in Africa which is a main concern of our region. We would also like to reserve our right to speak at a later date if the need arises.
Heliodoro L. CLAVERIE RODRIGUEZ (Venezuela): Seré muy breve a este nivel de la reunión de la Comisión número II y, antes de nada, deseo que Vd. conozca el beneplácito de nuestra delegación por verle a Vd. en el sitio en que se encuentra. Esperamos que su experiencia y gran capacidad, reconocida, lleve adelante con buen éxito las deliberaciones de esta Comisión. Quisiera, Señor Presidente, dejar para más adelante los detalles en relación con el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto que el Señor Director General ha presentado a consideración de esta Conferencia. Nuestra delegación, tal vez, se encuentra en una posición un poco favorable en relación con algunas otras delegaciones, puesto que hemos participado activamente en la reunión del Comité del Programa y hemos tenido la posibilidad de estudiar el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto más a fondo. Sabemos en este sentido de las dificultades que ha debido afrontar el Director General para presentar a esta Conferencia un presupuesto estructurado en la forma como lo estamos estudiando. El Director General ha tenido serias limitaciones, limitaciones que entendemos y comprendemos; dentro de esas limitaciones y tomando en cuenta la problemática general establecida por los diferentes Estados Miembros de esta Organización, nuestra delegación no tiene inconveniente en aceptar el nivel de presupuesto que se diseña para las labores del bienio futuro de esta casa.
Queremos, sí, dejar sentada una vez más, nuestra preocupación por la aparente falta de dinamismo en la agresividad del presente presupuesto. Ya lo hemos dicho en anteriores oportunidades, y quisiéramos ver un presupuesto de la Organización central en la cual el mundo y el sistema de las Naciones Unidas tiene las esperanzas puestas para solucionar los problemas del agro y de la alimentación.
Quisiéramos ver un presupuesto dirigido con mayor intensidad y mayor profundidad hacia los programas que ataquen más a fondo y con más agresividad los problemas de dicho sector.
No tenemos, dentro de las limitaciones establecidas, ningún inconveniente en aceptar el nivel del presupuesto que el Director General nos pone a consideración.
Queremos hacer nuestras, Sr. Presidente, porque también lo hemos dejado claro en otras oportunidades, las preocupaciones de alguna delegación que nos ha precedido en la palabra, delegación también de nuestra región latinoamericana. Sus preocupaciones son nuestras y las queremos hacer sentir con la misma intensidad. La investigación y los recursos que el presente presupuesto le dedica a nuestra región nos parece a todas luces escasos; no sabemos todavía cuáles han sido las razones. Se nos han dado algunas explicaciones y las hemos aceptado; en todo caso las explicaciones no han sido el cien por cien ajustadas a nuestra preocupación y quisiéramos que las mismas quedaran registradas por parte de nuestra delegación.
Hay programas que específicamente y calurosamente deseamos apoyar como el Programa de Cooperación Técnica; es un Programa pivote de las políticas diseñadas por el Director General cuando tomó posesión de la casa, y han tenido todo el apoyo de nuestra delegación. Nuestra delegación da su apoyo más decidido al Programa de Labores y Presupuesto.
Igualmente, Sr. Presidente, para lo alargar mucho más esta intervención inicial, quisiéremos apoyar las derivantes de la Conferencia Mundial de Reforma Agraria. Venezuela mira con gran positivismo y con un gran espíritu de futuro los programas derivantes del mismo, los resultantes de la Conferencia Mundial de Reforma Agraria en la cual nuestro país tuvo una gran y decidida intervención. Quisiéramos ver estructurada concretamente las políticas derivantes y los compromisos derivantes de esta Conferencia, sin los cuales consideramos que la misma perdería mucho o casi todo de la intención que la llamó.
Eso es a este nivel de la intervención todo lo que deseábamos plantear en este momento y, Sr. Presidente, aludiendo a su intervención positiva haremos posteriores declaraciones con más detalle en este nivel del presupuesto.
M. E. OSSINGA (Gabon) Permettez-moi tout d'abord de m'associer à tous les orateurs qui m'on précédé pour vous féliciter de votre élection à la présidence de notre Comité.
La délégation gabonaise appuie dans l'ensemble le programme de travail et budget tel qu'il est présenté dans le document 79/3, et qu'elle considère comme un niveau minimum. L'effort de décentralisation générale de l'élaboration du programme de budget a été remarquable et relevé par plusieurs délégations.
Dans ce système de décentralisation, nous avons observé tout d'abord la décentralisation pour les thèmes de travail généraux ou traditionnels pour les programmes d'activité par région. S'agissant des grands programmes traditionnels, nous nous félicitons de la détermination et de la clarté des programmes mettant en relief non seulement l'agriculture et la pêche, mais également la forêt et la faune sauvage et sur ce point, nous rejoignons notre distingué délégué du Kenya.
Il nous, apparaît également nécessaire d'insister sur l'intérêt des programmes d'évaluation des ressources naturelles: ressources agricoles, halieutiques, forestières, faune sauvage. L'amélioration des systèmes d'évaluation de ces ressources nous paraît indispensable si nous voulons faire progresser des structures dans des conjonctures de toutes sortes. Mais ce système d'évaluation des ressources naturelles est également lié à l'amélioration des structures adéquates, à la fois du Secrétariat de la FAO, de ses bureaux régionaux et aussi des différents pays membres.
C'est pourquoi notre délégation appuie toutes les actions de la FAO tendant à améliorer la structure d'évaluation des ressources naturelles dans les Etats Membres.
Dans le même esprit, la délégation gabonaise appuie les programmes de soutien à la recherche scientifique en matière agricole tels qu'ils sont prévus dans le document 79/3, notamment en aidant les pays membres les moins avancés dans ce domaine, en créant des instituts nationaux appropriés.
Toujours s'agissant du programme de travail et budget qui nous préoccupe en ce moment, l'effort de notre Organisation en matière de développement rural et de réforme agraire mérite notre appui.
En ce qui concerne les activités de la FAO sur le terrain, ma délégation soutient l'effort en matière de développement des bureaux régionaux et notamment le Bureau de l'Afrique. Nous appuyons aussi le système de représentation de la FAO par pays qui améliore à notre avis l'information en amont et en aval entre les pays et le Secrétariat ainsi que l'efficacité de la FAO.
Haouari MOKHTARI (Algérie): Comme c'est la première fois que ma délégation prend la parole au sein de cette importante Commission, permettez-moi de vous transmettre toutes nos félicitations pour votre élection.
La déclaration du Directeur général ce matin nous a donné toute la dimension du problème à résoudre en matière d'alimentation et d'agriculture par rapport au faible niveau du budget qui nous est proposé.
A différentes occasions, ma délégation a déjà eu à se prononcer pour appuyer le Programme de travail et budget; mais nous avons toujours estimé que le niveau du budget était le niveau minimum que nous pouvions accepter.
Au sein du Conseil, un consensus s'est déjà dégagé sur les priorités, les stratégies, et le Programme, et c'est pourquoi je serai très bref: Ma délégation appuie le niveau du budget qu'elle considère un niveau minimun et se réserve le droit de revenir ultérieurement sur cette question quand elle sera abordée dans le détail.
F. BREWSTER (Barbados): My delegation wishes to congratulate you on your election to the chairmanship of this important Committee. I would also like to express our appreciation of the Director-General's statement of the Programme of Work and Budget which he provided for the benefit of the Committee.
Let me say, Mr. Chairman, my delegation gives support to the Programme of Work and Budget as presented. The proposal for a very special programme, the TCP, brings terrific benefit to recipient countries. My delegation also finds favour in the Chairman's and Director-General's proposals to deal with decentralization and the stepping up of the number of Country Representatives. This support will bring about an effectiveness and flexibility of the Organization. My delegation would have wished for a higher level of budget but circumstances surrounding this minimum level budget have been well documented and my delegation hopes that the efforts of the Director-General to secure extra budgetary finances will be successful.
Let me repeat, Mr. Chairman, my delegation supports the Programme of Work and Budget as presented.
Antonio Rodriges PIRES (Cap-Vert); Au nom de la délégation du Cap-Vert permettez-moi de vous féliciter pour votre nomination comme Président de notre Commission et de remercier le Directeur général de la FAO de la façon claire et précise dont il a présenté le Programme de travail et Budget.
Nous voulons à cette occasion appuyer fermement le Programme de travail et budget présenté par le Directeur général. Nous saisissons cette occasion pour demander aux donateurs des pays amis de la FAO de participer davantage aux programmes tracés par le Directeur général de la FAO en faveur du développement rural et de l'amélioration du niveau de vie des ruraux dans le monde.
Nous appuyons particulièrement le programme de coopération technique et la promotion de la coopération entre les pays en voie de développement, ainsi que la création récente en Tanzanie du Centre de développement rural intégré en Afrique et toutes les décisions prises par la dernière Conférence Mondiale sur la Réforme Agraire.
M. S. MADEMBA-SY (Sénégal): Je m'excuse de demander encore une fois la parole, mais je voudrais intervenir non pas sur le budget dont je crois, on a suffisamment parlé maintenant, mais pour faire une observation en matière de programme de terrain, notamment page 83 et page 85 et particulièrement en ce qui concerne l'élevage.
Je voudrais simplement attirer l'attention de la FAO et mettre davantage l'accent sur des opérations de sauvegarde du bétail. Le Sénégal est une région très affectée par la sécheresse et en conséquence le cheptel a été considérablement éprouvé, et pour justement arriver à sauvegarder le cheptel dont nous disposons au Sénégal, nous avons été amenés à entreprendre une vaste opération de sauvegarde du bétail dont le financement dépasse le cadre de nos propres moyens budgétaires.
C'est ainsi qu'en 1978 ce programme a porté sur quelque 33 000 tonnes d'aliments, pour le volet alimentaire, et en ce qui concerne le volet sanitaire, sur un million de médicaments divers environ. Cette opération a pu être réalisée avec des subventions de la CEE, du SAID, de l'OSRO, de la FAO et de la RFA.
Je termine en attirant simplement l'attention de la FAO et en lui demandant de mettre davantage l'accent sur le Programme concernant l'élevage, sur les opérations de sauvetage du bétail, notamment dans la zone sahêlienne.
CHAIRMAN: I would like to announce the names of three Vice-Chairmen mentioned this morning. We have three Vice-Chairmen from Australia, Nicaragua and Sierre Leone. Mr. T. J. Kelly of Australia, will be one Vice-Chairman; Mr. Erwin Aguilar Garaez from Nicaragua will be another Vice-Chairman and Mr. C. Palmer from Sierre Leone will be the third Vice-Chairman. I am looking forward to working with them. We shall now adjourn and meet promptly at 14. 30 hours.
The meeting rose at 12. 20 hours
La séance est levée a 12h 20
Se levanta la sesión a las 12, 20 horas
