CHAIRMAN: Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished delegates, it is my great honour to chair this afternoon meeting, and I do hope that with your constructive cooperation we can fulfil our duty for this afternoon. Now we are going to our first agenda item of this afternoon. This is Agenda Item 27, Amendments to the General Regulations of WFP. The documents for this agenda item are the following: C 91/LIM/24, C 91/LIM/37, C 91/LIM/18. Before discussing this matter, I would invite our Legal Counsel, Mr Moore, to introduce this agenda item.
LEGAL COUNSEL: As has been announced, there are three documents before us on this agenda item: C 91/LIM/18, Amendments to the General Regulations of WFP, C 91/LIM/24, Administration of the WFP Fund, Draft Conference Resolution, and C 91/LIM/37, Third Report of the Resolutions Committee.
The documents and the item itself, fall naturally under two main subjects.
The first and main subject is the consideration and adoption of the revised General Regulations of WFP. The second is the consequential action that the Conference is being asked to take with respect to the implementation of FAO's own financial regulations and the legal basis on which the WFP Fund is to be administered. There are draft Conference Resolutions for your consideration on each of these main topics.
With your permission, Madame Chairperson, I would suggest that the Commission deal separately with each of these subjects. I would like now to introduce the draft Conference Resolution on the amendments to the General Regulations of WFP.
This is a subject that, I feel, needs very little introduction. As you know, the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes, at its first special session in March 1991, decided to submit to the FAO Council a draft Resolution for transmission to this session of the FAO Conference on the membership of the CFA and the revision of the WFP General Regulations. The draft Resolution was endorsed by the FAO Council at its ninety-ninth session in June 1991 and is now being submitted to the present session of the Conference for your approval. Meanwhile, the Conference should note that a parallel submission was made to ECOSOC, that the ECOSOC has endorsed a parallel draft General Assembly Resolution in July 1991 and that that draft Resolution is currently before the UN General Assembly for formal adoption.
You have before you an extract from the report of the ninety-ninth session of the Council formally transmitting the draft Conference Resolution as well as the report of the Resolutions Committee on that draft Resolution. I would merely wish to draw the Commission's attention to one or two points concerning the draft Resolution. First of all, Appendix A to the Resolution sets out the listing of UN and FAO Member States for the purpose of elections to the CFA. I would merely wish to draw your attention to the changes in List E consequent upon the admission of the three Baltic States as new members of FAO, and, indeed, of the UN itself. The actual text of the revised General Regulations of WFP is set out in Appendix B of the Draft Resolution and represents, as you know, a consensus developed within the framework of the CFA, now endorsed by the FAO Council and ECOSOC.
I should point out that the revised General Regulations, if and when approved by the FAO Conference and the UN General Assembly, would enter into force on 1 January 1992.
On the substance of the Resolution, I would merely wish to draw your attention to the recognition in the draft revised General Regulations of the principle of reliance by WFP on the technical services of FAO, including its services regarding global information and early warning systems. Indeed, the Council, in paragraph 273 of its report which is before you, has noted that this principle of reliance on the technical services of FAO has been strengthened and that FAO's technical role in project preparation and evaluation has been expressly recognized in view of its general responsibility for food security and policy in that context.
As I mentioned earlier, I would suggest that the Commission deal separately with the formal subject of the draft Resolution on the administration of the WFP Fund.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you for your introductory statement. Before opening the floor and following the request of our Legal Counsel, I wonder whether I can invite our Deputy Executive Director from the WFP. Sir, you have the floor if you wish to take it.
Salahuddin AHMED (WFP): The Resolution before you marks the culmination of the efforts made by governments for a timely and thorough revision of the guiding regulations of the World Food Programme. It is an expression of the collective will of governments arrived at by consensus in an atmosphere of extraordinary cordiality and understanding. The cooperation displayed by the Secretariats of the United Nations, the FAO and the World Food Programme has been commendable. We look forward to working together in the same spirit, harder and faster. At this moment, it remains for me to place on record on behalf of the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, the Programme itself and all of us in the Programme, our very deep appreciation and gratitude for what has been achieved. It may interest the Commission to learn at this stage that the Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly has, in the meantime, endorsed the corresponding Resolution meant for the General Assembly's approval, which is expected at any time.
CHAIRMAN: The floor is open for discussion, and I wish to remind you of the request of our Legal Counsel to handle these agenda items separately. First, I would like to ask you to comment on the draft General Regulations. So the floor is open. I recognize on my list of speakers that the first is India.
R.C.A. JAIN (India): My delegation views the proposed amendments to the General Regulations of WFP as contained in C 91/LIM/18 with great satisfaction as a success of the protracted debate on the governance of the UN/FAO World Food Programme, and the relationship between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme. My delegation had made its views known at several stages of the discussions in the CFA sessions and the Ninety-ninth Session of the FAO Council held in June 1991 and had happily joined the consensus worked out in the Working Group and in the CFA session held in March 1991. Having got the approval of the FAO Council and the ECOSOC to the proposed changes in the governance of the WFP and the relationship issues, we now commend the proposed amendments to the General Regulations of the WFP for approval by the FAO Conference in order to bring them in force and effect from 1 January 1992. My delegation trusts that with the enlargement of the membership of the CFA, the developing countries, the recipients of the biggest food aid programme in the UN system, would be better able to influence its policies and programmes in meeting the twin challenges of poverty and hunger.
We also believe that with the proposed amendments the symbolic relationship between the WFP/FAO and other bodies would be further strengthened leading to greater effectiveness in tackling the global issues in the field of food and agriculture confronting the world today.
Mohammad Saleem KHAN (Pakistan) : It is with great pleasure that my delegation notes your presence in the Chair. We are happy that you are conducting our proceedings during this important Session. In fact, it is a pleasant surprise. I was not in Commission III when you were elected, and would now like to congratulate you on this election.
Madame Chairperson, as a member of the FAO Council, the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes of the World Food Programme, the ad hoc working group of the CFA on the governance of WFP, and the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters of FAO, Pakistan has been closely associated with the entire Review exercise which concluded with the organizational changes reflected in the amendments to the General Rules of WFP before us today.
We are therefore pleased to see a happy conclusion to this exercise which at times became extremely difficult to sort out. We look forward to working closely with other colleagues under the new arrangements for the CFA. On this occasion, we also wish to express our support for the attached draft Resolution which includes revised General Regulations of WFP.
Madame Chairperson, with your permission I wish to note for record an important agreement between Member States in relation to elections to the CFA. I would request the Legal Counsel and the Rapporteur to look into the possibility of either incorporating this within the report or annexing this as an appendix to the report.
Distinguished delegates would have noticed in the draft Resolution that, under paragraph 2(b) of the Resolution 3(b), one member to the new CFA is to be elected on rotation in the FAO Council between Member States of Group I corresponding to the Asia region of FAO, and Group II corresponding to the Near East region of FAO in List B of Appendix A.
In my honoured capacity as the current Chairman of the Asia Group of the FAO and with the kind consent of my friend, Mr Waleed Elkhereiji, delegate from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the FAO and present Chairman of the Near East region, I would like to note for the record the following agreement on rotation of this seat, and I quote, "the first term of 3 years", i.e. 1991 to 1993, "will go to a Member State of Group II. A Member State of Group I will take over the rotation seat for the next term of 3 years", i.e. 1994 to 1996, "in this arrangement each of the two groups will succeed each other for one term of three years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chairmen of the Near East and of the Asia and Pacific regions after consultation with their respective Member States may inform of any changes to the above arrangement to the Secretary General of the Conference at least seven days before the next scheduled election".
"Member States listed in this Appendix A request the FAO Council to adopt the above agreed rotation for elections on the rotation seat between the two Groups."
Madame Chairperson, as a consequence of the above agreement it has been further agreed that in the forthcoming elections to the CFA at the first session of the FAO Council, the new seat for the two year term will be contested by Member States of Group I, that is Member States which correspond with the Near East region of FAO and the one for the term of one year by Member States of Group II which corresponds to the Asia and Pacific regions of the FAO in List B of Appendix A.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much delegate of Pakistan, Mr Saleem Khan. I really thank you for your kind words. I appreciate your advice for the Rapporteur and for the recommendation. I recognize that our Legal Counsel
took note of it, but he would very much appreciate if you could hand it over to us.
Thank you again, Mr Saleem Khan, for your very, very valuable contribution. Now I would like to give the floor to the next speaker on my list and this is the delegate of Niger.
Sir, you have the floor.
Salha HAIADOU (Niger) : Les amendements qui nous sont recommandés par le document C 91/LIM/18, élaboré par un groupe de travail créé par le CPA, comportent plusieurs aspects constructifs de nature à assurer au Programme une évolution dynamique, donc adaptative par rapport aux situations nouvelles qui pourraient apparaître sur le terrain.
Je voudrais citer ici comme éléments positifs la capitalisation et l'utilisation efficiente de l'expérience et de la technicité de la FAO ainsi que l'ouverture en direction des autres structures des Nations Unies. Ces six régions ont le souci constant des Etats Membres de voir compléter les synergies du système des Nations Unies mais aussi et surtout la rationalité et l'efficacité dans la gestion.
Le deuxième point important c'est la responsabilisation effective du CPA et à travers lui des Etats Membres dans la coordination des activités du Programme mais surtout dans une représentation géographique plus équitable. C'est dire que le réalisme et l'objectivité gagneraient à travers ces rééquilibrages du centre de décision.
Le troisième aspect non moins important est l'autonomie relative du Secrétariat. C'est un plus dans la recherche d'une plus grande souplesse et célérité dans les procédures et les mécanismes d'intervention du Programme.
Le nouveau règlement financier viendra certainement conforter cette possibilité sans pour autant éluder le rôle du Comité financier de la FAO qui demeurera un conseiller technique fort utile au CPA.
C'est pour toutes ces raisons que notre délégation, qui a eu l'honneur de participer pleinement aux travaux du groupe ad hoc et au CPA, soutient les propositions du Conseil relatives aux règles générales révisées du Programme, notamment la résolution soumise à notre approbation. Mais nous pouvons certainement faire plus que cela car les règles et les procédures n'ont de portée effective que si les mécanismes et les moyens sont adaptés aux objectifs. Aussi la réflexion doit-elle se poursuivre sur cet aspect et nous aurons toute latitude de revenir lors du débat sur le point 21 sur les objectifs de contribution au Programme 1993-94. Nous regrettons qu'il ne soit pas intégré au point 27 pour une question d'harmonie et de suite dans les idées.
Major General M. Majid-UL-HAQ (Bangladesh): The draft Resolution for the Conference on Financial Regulations for the World Food Programme as contained in C 91/LIM/24 is indeed a landmark in the history of the Conference of the FAO.
Madame Chairperson, it is needless to say that the Resolution under consideration will be an important contribution in establishing and consolidating further the relationship between the World Food Programme and the FAO. Having served in the past as Chairman of the World Food Programme, CFA, and as a member of the CFA, we have taken part, a constructive part in the CFA as well as in the other group set up to consider the whole amalgam of the issues related to the relationship between these two very important food organizations as well as other relevant issues.
My delegation joins all the previous speakers in registering and recording our deep sense of satisfaction, our deep sense of satisfaction at the outcome which we are going to see very soon with the unanimous adoption of the Resolution under consideration.
We also believe that the enlargement of the CFA will certainly help all of us, all the membership, and certainly including the developing countries whose needs are more than ever before insofar as food assistance and its benefit is concerned.
Before I conclude I would like to put on record my personal appreciation to the creative leadership that was given to our negotiations at various phases by Mr Edouard Saouma, the Director-General of FAO and Mr Jim Ingram, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme.
While I am mentioning their names, they are the leaders, I would also like to put on record very steadfast support for the creative assistance that was given to all of us by the able aides and colleagues and one man certainly I would like to mention is Mr Salahuddin Ahmed, the Deputy Executive Director of the WFP. Madame Chairperson, I would like to thank everybody for having this Resolution tabled and am hoping that this is going to be adopted. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much distinguished delegate of Bangladesh.
The last speaker on my list is Saudi Arabia. I wish to know are there any other speakers from the floor? I recognize the Philippines, yes. Japan, Kenya, the United States of America, Senegal, Lebanon.
Thank you.Now I call the distinguished delegate of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, you have the floor.
Abdullah AL-MUSAED (Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of) (Original language Arabic): In the name of God the compassionate and the merciful, thank you Chairman, for having given me the floor.
We are very happy to see you chair the work of our Commission.
Very briefly allow me to support what was said by Mr Saleem Khan of Pakistan, the Chairman of the Asian Group with respect to rotation as it applies to the Asian region in the CFA, and I am saying this on behalf of the countries in the Near East region.
Horacio M. CARANDANG (Philippines): I wish first of all to voice my satisfaction at seeing you chairing this Commission. The Philippines delegation supports the amendments to the General Regulations of the World Food Programme as contained in C 91/LIM/18.
As a member of the Finance Committee I have taken part in examining the proposed amendments to the General Regulations of the World Food Programme. As you are aware, the Finance Committee endorsed the draft presented before it with the exception of the proviso of the Auditor. The Finance Committee were of the view that there were benefits in having one auditor for the two organizations for the time being because of the complementarity of the two organizations.
Kiichi NARITA (Japan) : My delegation is very pleased to have the Draft Resolution before us here concerning the revision of the General Regulations of the World Food Programme and the membership of CFA.
Japan had a great opportunity to participate in a series of meetings concerning the governance of the World Food Programme, as a member of CFA ad hoc working groups and FAO Council. In these series of meetings we had a very difficult but fruitful discussion, and finally in the last CFA and FAO Council we unanimously approved the revision of the General Regulations of the World Food Programme.
We are now in the final stage here under the FAO Conference. My delegation sincerely hopes that this draft Resolution will be approved unanimously here, and also hopes the World Food Programme has a new era from the beginning of the next year.
Patrick Mutawa NZUE (Kenya): Thank you Madame Chairperson for giving me this opportunity to comment on this agenda item. Allow me to thank Mr Moore and Mr Ahmed for their elaborate although brief introduction to these items.
The delegation of Kenya was fully involved in the negotiations that led to the production of this draft Regulations of the World Food Programme. We remember vividly those difficult times that delegations, some of whom are represented here, had to negotiate throughout the night. We were pleased to come to the end of this arduous task and my delegation wishes to express our thanks to those who supported in particular my Ambassador, under whose Chairmanship these draft Regulations were formulated. Madame Chairperson, we consider these amendments appropriate for the smooth functioning of the World Food Programme, a Programme that commands enormous resources within the entire UN system.
Now that we have been guided by other concerned UN bodies like ECOSOC and UNGA, we hope that there will be no problems in supporting this Resolution.
May I also, on behalf of the Kenya Government thank the very prominent role players in this episode, the Director-General of FAO and James Ingram, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, and all the officers for the cooperation and the maturity they displayed which of course, enabled us to achieve consensus in the process.
Ms Robin MEYER (United States of America): The United States joins other Member Nations who have spoken here this afternoon in supporting the draft Resolution before us. We appreciate the support provided in this effort by the office of the UN Secretary General, the office of the Director-General of FAO, and the Executive Director of the World Food Programme.
We note that the draft Resolution received the unanimous approval of ECOSOC and the FAO Council last June. We strongly encourage the Conference to endorse and approve these recommendations. Approval of the governance changes will increase the accountability of the World Food Programme Executive Director for the resources donated to the Programme. They will also improve the oversight by all members of the CFA for the policies and programmes of food aid to recipient countries during this time of limited resources and competing food aid demands.
Sidaty AIDARA (Sénégal): Après avoir écouté différents orateurs, je crois que je pourrai être bref. Je voudrais cependant saisir cette occasion pour vous dire toute la joie de ma délégation de vous voir à la présidence de notre séance de cet après-midi. Je suis sûr qu'à l'issue de nos travaux nous aurons marqué de nouveaux progrès dans le travail qui nous a été confié au niveau de cette troisième Commission.
Le Sénégal, vous le savez, a toujours apporté son soutien constant au Programme alimentaire mondial. C'est dans cet esprit que la délégation sénégalaise se félicite de l'issue heureuse qui a marqué les discussions sur les nouveaux arrangements au niveau FAO-PAM, sanctionnés par les amendements aux Règles générales du Programme alimentaire mondial qui nous sont présentées cet après-midi pour examen et adoption. Nous ne doutons pas que ces nouveaux arrangements vont permettre au PAM d'être encore plus performant parce que plus efficace et plus autonome.
C'est pourquoi c'est avec beaucoup de joie que nous appuyons ce projet de résolution en espérant bien entendu que les dispositions qu'il contient permettront au PAM d'être encore plus efficace. Nous nous félicitons que la deuxième Commission à l'assemblée générale ait déjà donné son aval au projet de règles générales présentées dans ce projet de résolution. Voilà ce que je tenais à dire et je voudrais terminer en remerciant bien sûr M. Moore pour avoir présenté cette question et M. Ahmed pour avoir complété la présentation de ce point.
Samir ABU-JAWDEH (Liban) (Langue originale arabe): Madame le Président, je suis très heureux de vous voir présider cette séance et je suis tout à fait convaincu que votre sagesse dans la direction de cette commission nous permettra de terminer les travaux en temps voulu, avec un consensus général approuvant le projet de résolution qui nous est soumis et que nous appuyons sans réserve.
Assefa YILALA (Ethiopia): Madam Chairperson, the Ethiopian delegation would like to voice its satisfaction on seeing you chairing this particular meeting of the Commission, particularly when this historical and difficult item is being discussed.
The Ethiopian delegation would also like to express its due regards to the representative of the Executive Director and the Legal Counsel for the explanations they have provided on the item tabled.
At this stage of the development in the revision of the General Regulations of WFP there might be little or none to be added to the work of the CFA, the Finance Committee and the Council which handled it during the various stages of its development. Therefore we would just like to indicate our voice of endorsement for its approval by the Conference, and also thank all those who contributed toward the development and the excellent document that we have before us.
Raphaèl RABE (Madagascar): Ma délégation est également heureuse de travailler sous votre présidence. Si je prends la parole c'est pour appuyer les déclarations des délégations de Tunisie et du Sénégal et bien entendu pour aussi donner notre appui au projet de résolution.
Tout en félicitant tous les protagonistes qui ont oeuvré pour parvenir à ce résultat satisfaisant, je voudrais, si vous le permettez, rendre un hommage tout particulier à Son Excellence M. l'Ambassadeur du Kenya qui n'a ménagé aucun effort pour parvenir à un consensus. Cela est dû, bien entendu, à sa grande connaissance des organisations FAO et PAM. Aussi nous ne pourrons que nous féliciter au vu des résultats obtenus qui sont en quelque sorte le fruit de sa compétence, de sa grande patience et de sa persévérance.
Amor Ben ROMDHANE (Tunisie) (Langue originale arabe): La délégation de la Tunisie est très heureuse de vous voir présider cette Commission. J'exprime l'appui de mon pays, la Tunisie, pour ce qui a été dit par les délégués du Sénégal, du Niger et de Madagascar.
La Tunisie appuie pleinement et sans aucune réserve le projet de résolution qui nous est soumis aujourd'hui en remerciant tous ceux qui ont participé à l'élaboration du projet de résolution en question.
CHAIRMAN: I ask the floor if there are any other delegations wishing to speak on this agenda item. This is not the case, so I will try to summarize our discussion on this item.
I recognize the full support for the Resolution and amendments to the WFP General Regulations and the consensus on this item. It is a great privilege to see the sense of satisfaction in this matter and the successful end of the long historical process we left behind.
I also took note of the agreement on rotation of seats which is referred to in the report. Many delegations mentioned the importance of the reliance on the FAO technical services skills, and appreciation was mentioned toward the Director-General of FAO, the UN Legal Counsel, and the Executive Director of WFP.
This appreciation was also extended to the Chairman of the CFA, the distinguished Ambassador of Kenya. I ask the podium whether anybody here wishes to add anything on this agenda item. As there is nothing, may I turn
to the second part of our debate which was suggested by our Legal Counsel, who will speak on this item.
LEGAL COUNSEL: I should now turn to the second subject under this agenda item, that is the consideration of the draft Conference Resolution on the administration of the WFP Fund. The document before you on this subject is C 91/LIM/24, Administration of the WFP Fund, draft Conference Resolution, and the third report of the Resolutions Committee contained in C 91/LIM/37.
I shall be brief. Regulation 27 of the Revised WFP General Regulations envisages that the WFP Programme Fund should continue to be established by the Director-General under Regulation 6.7 of the Financial Regulations of FAO, while the management of the Fund should be governed by separate financial regulations to be approved by the CFA. FAO Financial Regulation 6.7 provides that Trust and Special Funds and voluntary contributions shall be administered in accordance with the financial regulations of the Organization unless otherwise provided for by the Conference.
You have before you now a draft Resolution of the Conference that would authorize this exception and allow, in its operative paragraph, for the administration of the WFP Fund under separate financial regulations established by the CFA.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for that excellent introductory statement. The floor is open for any delegate who wishes to speak. As no-one wishes to speak, we can take it as approved.
Thank you very much for your constructive cooperation.
We can now turn to Agenda Item 29.
CHAIRMAN: Item 29 is Audited Accounts, financial reports and statements, Volume 3 WFP 1988-89. The background documentation is as follows C 91/7 and C 91/LIM/37. I would ask Mr Mehboob to introduce this agenda item for us.
Khalid MEHBOOB (Assistant Director-General, a.i., Administration and Finance Department): The item under consideration is the audited accounts and the external auditors' report for the 1988-89 biennium for the World Food Programme.
You have before you a document, C 91/7, which contains these accounts. The accounts have been reviewed in depth by the Finance Committee at its Sixty-ninth Session and by the Council at its Ninety-eighth Session. Their comments are found in document CL 98/REP, para 212-214 and in the Conference document C 91/LIM/19.
Both these bodies have endorsed the external auditors' report. In accordance with the financial regulation paragraph 12.10, these accounts are to be approved by the Conference. A draft Resolution is contained in document C 91/LIM/19 which is now before you for its consideration and adoption.
CHAIRMAN: Before opening this to the floor I am going to ask Mr Ahmed, the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme, to speak to you.
Salahuddin AHMED (WFP) : Thank you for calling on me to say a few words.
In view of the statement just made and the documents before you, there is hardly anything for me to add. The CFA, when it looked at the audited accounts for the period 1988-89, unanimously approved the accounts. The Finance Committee also hired the External Auditor himself. He placed on record his satisfaction with regard to the various elements essential for the governments to be satisfied with regard to the accuracy, reasonableness and accounting principles which go behind the accounts. On all these combined factors I have nothing much to add except that I would be prepared to answer questions.
Ray ALLEN (United Kingdom) : May I seek clarification on one point which is whether we are discussing all three audited accounts or just those of the WFP?
Richard STEIN (Secretary, Commission III): I apologize for not having explained that as an administrative matter before we began the item. The reply is that today for practical reasons we have taken up the two subjects involving WFP; so that the audited accounts that we are looking at today are only the financial report and statements in Volume 3 concerning WFP. It was simply a practical matter for persons from WFP to be able to be here and our own scheduling. We are only doing that; the other two volumes will be discussed tomorrow morning.
Ray ALLEN (United Kingdom): I have a short statement on WFP. We are particularly pleased that WFP have again obtained a clean bill of health from the auditors. We think this demonstrates their capacity to manage their own financial affairs. In this connection we also find the comments on WFP's internal audit unit encouraging.
We note with appreciation that the external audit staff were able to place reliance on its work in a number of important areas in carrying out their financial audit.
We also read with great interest the parts of the report which relate to the efficiency of various types of activity carried out by the programme. We attach considerable importance to this aspect of the activity of the External Auditor. We hope that the Executive Director will press ahead with the implementation of the recommendations.
Ms Robin MEYER (United States of America): As my delegation stated at the Ninety-eighth Session of the FAO Council, we greatly appreciate the competent work performed by the Internal and External Auditors in preparing the financial report for WFP for the 1988-89 biennium.
My delegation attaches great importance to this report and the comments made of a management nature by the External Auditor, in addition to the External Auditor's opinion. We are pleased that an unqualified or clean opinion was rendered in the case of WFP.
Since our comments on the Auditor's observations and recommendations were rather lengthy at the 1990 Council Session, we will not repeat them in Commission III. However, we would like to reiterate one point that we touched on in 1990.
The United States strongly supports the harmonization of financial statements among UN system organizations including FAO. Such harmonization will contribute greatly to more meaningful understanding of data in the financial statements.
We understand the Fifth Committee of the UN General Assembly shortly will be addressing this issue. We would hope that the recommendation of the Panel of External Auditors, chaired by the Controller and Auditor General of the United Kingdom, takes steps to standardize financial data unanimously. We are convinced that if the Panel's recommendations are endorsed Member States of UN system organizations will acquire greater confidence and understanding of the financial transactions that enable these agencies, including FAO, to carry out their work effectively and efficiently.
Robert MUEGGLER (Suisse) : La délégation de la Suisse voudrait exprimer son opinion à propos des comptes du Programme ordinaire. Etant donné qu'aujourd'hui, contrairement à l'ordre du jour, ce point ne fait pas l'objet d'un débat, nous apporterons notre contribution lorsque le point sera à nouveau à l'ordre du jour.
Earl W. WEYBRECHT (Canada): As we already commented on the report of the External Auditor of the WFP during the WPCA meeting last year, I will be very brief. We support the recommendations made by the Auditor and urge the WFP, obviously, to implement those recommendations. We believe that comments were made, particularly in terms of the review of ITSH rates, the preparation of a practical guide for the running of fleets, the finalization of a manual for project design, the review of the project monitoring and evaluation system would be particularly helpful
We believe that the use of such management tools will indeed increase the efficiency of WFP operations particularly in the field where we recognize the working conditions are often very difficult.
Finally, Madame Chairperson, I would like to offer my satisfaction to that expressed by others, noting that the Auditor has provided a clean account with no qualifications on the financial statements for the WFP for 1988-89.
Salahuddin AHMED (WFP) : Madame Chairperson, I was not intending to speak and I am not going to make a statement at all, but some points were raised and I think it will be in the fitness of things that I respond to those and I would like to do that very briefly.
First of all, we are grateful indeed for the kind words of appreciation of the work that we are doing. Second, to follow up the recommendations that were made by the External Auditor and also of the Internal Auditor, and on this I would like to inform the governments that we have a strict system of follow-up and that is the Audit Committee of the World Food Programme which is a unit system within the UN organizations that looks into very carefully even before the External Audit comes up for its biennium review for a report to the governing body. And interestingly, it will be for you to know that while in that Audit Committee we have an international auditor, a true professional, sitting there to advise and watch and to alert us if there is something more to be done or something we are ignoring. Also, we invite the External Auditor himself or his representative to sit there while we keep track of things.
So those are the mechanics that we thought we should bring to your notice and we are very careful about this and alert about and try to do our very best on this.
The second point was about the harmonization of the financial statements between the UN system. We must say that we ourselves have been looking into this for quite some time because the reports that we have been submitting to the governments at times are confusing even to ourselves because they have various sources and various objectives and to relate one to the other one needs to study them. We have already undertaken an exercise of our own with a view to rationalizing the various reports to send to the governments so they will know where they stand with regard to the resources at our disposal.
There are two other points with regard to implementation of the recommendations concerning management or otherwise. I will not go into details but I will say that as far as ITSH Review is concerned, it is very important from our point of view for the delivery of the commodities in time and helping the governments with the resources they need and with a view to be able to distribute them within the country.
We have engaged very eminent consultants and the work is about 60 percent done and I think on the basis of that we shall be able to take some action with a view to tackling that issue more appropriately, efficiently and promptly.
With regard to reporting and monitoring, while the matter is very much in hand, the governments, particularly those members of the CFA and others, are aware that we are proceeding with that case. With regard to some other recommendations on the management aspects on some of the operations, while there are some for refinements which have already been done, there are some for excellence which have been taken and there are one or two where action has been contemplated and is under way but could not be taken for reasons beyond our control.
We are very careful about that and I add at the end of my statement that follow-up is a vital thing that we consider if the audit is to have any meaning.
Our thanks for your gratitude for our work and I hope we shall continue to be worthy of that.
CHAIRMAN: I understood that the FAO Finance Committee and the FAO Council have received and endorsed the accounts and the report of the External Auditor. May I say that satisfaction was mentioned in connection with the final report and appreciation was extended to the staff of WFP and the External Auditor for the quality of the paper but at the same time I have to recognize also that WFP was urged to implement the recommendations under discussion.
I think we can close this item and we can turn to the next item which is Item 23, Multilateral treaties deposited with the Director-General. For your information I wish to mention the documentation under discussion, which are as follows: C 91/31 and C 91/31-Sup.1.
LEGAL COUNSEL: Under Rule XXI.5 of the General Rules of the Organization, the Director-General is required to report to the Conference whenever a convention agreement or supplementary convention or agreement concluded under Article XIV of the Constitution comes into force or ceases to be in force or has been amended and the amendments have come into force.
In addition, in accordance with established practice, the Director-General informs the Conference of any developments which may occur in connection with treaties concluded between FAO and Member Nations under Article XV of the Constitution, if there are any such treaties, treaties concluded outside the framework of FAO in respect of which the Director-General acts as depository and the status of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies in respect of FAO.
The two documents before us which have been mentioned, C 91/31 and C 91/31-Sup.1, contain the relevant information on the present status of the treaties to which I have just referred. It should be noted that the statutory report which is now being submitted to the Conference follows the same pattern as earlier reports.
Since the submission of the previous report and as reflected in paragraphs 88 to 90, a Conference of Plenipotentiaries which met in Madrid on 19 July 1990 adopted a Protocol of Termination of the Convention on the Conservation of the Living Resources of the Southeast Atlantic. This is an agreement for which the Director-General acts as depository. The Convention
will terminate when all contracting parties have deposited an instrument of acceptance of the Protocol.
Moreover, as reflected in document C 91/31-Sup.1 a Conference of Plenipotentiaries which met in Dakar, Senegal, on 4-5 July 1991 adopted a Regional Convention on Fisheries Cooperation Among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean for which the Director-General has been asked to perform depository functions.
As reflected in paragraphs 40-43 of document C 91/31, I am pleased to announce that the amendment to Article 1(a) of the Plant Protection Agreement for Asia and the Pacific region relating to the definition of the region which had been approved by the Eighty-fourth Session of the FAO Council in November 1983, came into force with respect to all participating governments as of 23 May 1990. The Conference will recall that it had urged at its last session in November 1989 that the Member Nations concerned accept the amendment in order to bring it into force as soon as possible, so that is a very positive development.
With reference to paragraphs 19 to 25 of document C 91/31, I feel I ought to point out the Conference again at its last session in November 1989 launched an appeal to contracting parties that had not yet accepted the revised text of the International Plant Protection Convention to deposit instruments of acceptance as soon as possible. At that time 15 acceptances were still required in order to reach the two-thirds majority of contracting parties. In conformity with the Conference's recommendation, the Secretariat of FAO took the necessary action to remind countries of this and the number of acceptances required was reached on 5 March 1991. In accordance with Article 13.4 of the Convention, the revised text entered into force on 4 April 1991. It is being reissued and will be distributed during the Session, I understand.
After the issuance of document C 91/31-Sup.l one more country, Bulgaria, has adhered to the International Plant Protection Convention and that was on 8 November 1991. The number of parties to the Convention is now 99. However, in view of the considerable importance of the Convention in strengthening international action against the spread of imported plant pests, especially in the context of international trade, it seems highly desirable that all countries, including non-Member Nations, adhere to the Convention. The Conference may, therefore, wish to appeal again to those states which have not yet adhered to the IPPC, the International Plant Protection Convention, to deposit an instrument of adherence with the Director-General as soon as possible.
In this respect it should be noted that in accordance with Article 8 of the Convention, the Conference at its last session in 1989 fully supported the re-establishment of a regional plant protection body for the Near East. In consultation with the states of the region, a draft agreement for the establishment of a Near East Plant Protection Organization has been drawn up. It will be discussed at the Technical Government Consultation convened by the Director-General to be held in Rome from 14-16 April 1992.
At the request of the Pacific states through the Plant Protection Programme of the South Pacific Commission, a draft agreement for the establishment of a Pacific Plant Protection Organization has also been drawn up by the FAO Secretariat.
Jorge COIMBRA MARTINS (Portugal) : Le document C 91/31 fait un important rapport des traités multilatéraux dont le Directeur Général est dépositaire. La Conférence peut par conséquent se faire un idée générale des liens institutionnels que la FAO entretient avec de nombreuses et importantes organisations relevant des activités de la FAO.
La délégation portugaise veut exprimer son accord à cette procédure au niveau mondial parce qu'elle représente une économie considérable d'efforts et de moyens, en rationalisant et en améliorant les actions d'une façon plus logique. On admet également qu'il y a des duplications de tâches et il devient plus facile de découvrir les zones d'ombre et par conséquent de perfectionner les systèmes, si nécessaire.
La délégation portugaise aimerait faire seulement trois observations: la première concerne l'accord portant sur la création du Conseil général des pêches pour la Méditerranée, d'après les paragraphes 14 à 18 du document en cours d'examen. Le Portugal ne fait pas encore partie de ce Conseil, comme on peut le constater au paragraphe 17, mais a le plus grand intérêt à suivre ces sujets, compte tenu du fait que ces zones sont proches de la côte portugaise et que cela peut avoir une influence surtout dans la zone atlantique, au sud du Portugal, et sur les pêches qui y sont pratiquées. La deuxième concerne la Convention internationale pour la protection des végétaux et les amendements à la Convention approuvés par la Conférence de la FAO à sa vingtième session. Sur ce sujet, on demande au Secrétariat de prendre note que le Portugal ne figure pas sur la liste du paragraphe 24 comme ayant fait le dépôt de son instrument d'acceptation, ce qui a déjà été fait. Cette décision a déjà été décrite dans le Bulletin officiel portugais et communiquée au Secrétariat de la FAO au mois de mars dernier. La troisième concerne l'Organisation européenne méditerranéenne pour la protection des plantes. Le Portugal appuie les conclusions de la troisième consultation, notamment la création d'un secrétariat de la CIPV qui considère qu'il est indispensable et convient au commerce des produits agricoles.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, distinguished delegate of Portugal. I saw that our Legal Counsel took note of your comments. I would like to invite any other delegate who would like to comment on this item. If this is not the case, I would also repeat what has already been mentioned by our Legal Counsel, Mr Moore, that it would be highly desirable for the Member States to adhere to the International Plant Protection Convention and to ratify, if it is not the case so far. So with your permission, I will ask our Legal Counsel if there is anything to add. If not, I would like to propose going to the next agenda item of our work this afternoon. This is Agenda Item 26, the Revision of Conference Resolution 46/57 and the Appendix thereto, Section R of Volume II of the Basic Texts. The documents under discussion and consideration for this agenda item are as follows: C 91/LIM/17, C 91/LIM/37, and C 91/LIM/37-Sup.l. It is my pleasure to ask our Legal Counsel, Mr Moore, to comment and introduce again this agenda item as well.
LEGAL COUNSEL: Part R of the Basic Texts, which was adopted under Conference Resolution 46/57, sets out a number of principles and procedures which should govern conventions and agreements concluded under Articles XIV and XV of the Constitution, and Commissions and Committees established under Article VI of the Constitution. These principles and procedures were adopted by the Conference in 1957. They sought to introduce a greater uniformity into the agreements being adopted within the framework of FAO, and in particular those adopted under Article XIV of the Constitution. One of the premises of these principles and procedures seems to have been that the functioning of Commissions established under Article XIV of the Constitution should be very closely tied up to the functioning of the Organization. Since 1957, a number of developments have taken place which call perhaps for a greater degree of flexibility and autonomy to be allowed to Commissions established under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution. One of these is the development of Commissions with their own independent autonomous budgets. The second has been the developments in the Law of the Sea, the extension of national jurisdiction over fisheries and the consequent need to allow more autonomy to regional fisheries bodies, a number of which are established under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution and are charged with the task of managing fisheries within their areas of competence.
It was indeed from our attempts to conclude an agreement for the establishment of a new Indian Ocean Tuna Commission that a realization of the need for more flexibility in establishing Article XIV Commissions first arose. And it was indeed one of the subsidiary bodies of FAO, the Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission's Committee for the Management of Indian Ocean Tuna, that first suggested the revision of Conference Resolution 46/57 for this purpose.
I will not dwell in detail on the contents of the draft Resolution and the amendments proposed in the Annex to that Resolution. I would merely point out that amendments would allow for more autonomy to regional commissions established under Article XIV in the area of approval of amendments to the basic conventions and agreements, the conduct of their own relations with other international organizations, the adoption of management measures not having financial policy or programme implications for FAO, the method of appointment of the Secretary and other staff of the Commissions, and the adoption of financial regulations and budgetary controls as well as rules of procedure for these bodies.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that two alternative proposals are made with respect to the adoption of amendments to conventions and agreements, as set out in paragraph 8 of Section R of the Basic Texts in the document before you. The first proposal would make very little change in substance to the present procedure, substituting the concept of "confirmation" by the Council for the concept of "approval". The second alternative proposal, that is proposal No. 2, would allow for more
autonomy to be given to Article XIV Commissions to adopt amendments to their own constitutive agreements by allowing them to adopt such amendments. Any amendments adopted would then be reported to the FAO Council which would be given the power to disallow them if it finds that they are inconsistent with the objectives and purposes of the organization or the provisions of the Constitution. Otherwise, they would come into force automatically, and that is the difference. Under this second proposal, amendments would become operative as soon as they are adopted by the Article XIV Commission and would remain in force unless and until they are disallowed by the Council or Conference.
As I mentioned before, the second proposal would therefore allow for a greater degree of autonomy to be given to Article XIV Commissions in this respect and would indeed be more in line with the request made by the Committee for the Management of the Indian Ocean Tuna. The Conference is being asked to decide on which of these alternative proposals should be preferred.
Finally, I should like to draw your attention to the fact that this proposed Resolution and the wording of the amendments to Section R of the Basic Texts have been approved by the CCLM at its Fifty-seventh Session and by the Council itself at its Hundredth Session earlier this month.
Raphaēl RABE (Madagascar): Je remercie le Conseiller juridique pour la présentation de ce sujet. Madagascar est dans l'océan Indien et s'occupe de pêche thonière. Donc nous sommes un peu concernés par la question. Nous apprécions que l'on essaye d'introduire une plus grande souplesse dans les textes et, par conséquent, nous appuyons les amendements.
Mais, Mme. le Président, en examinant les propositions, en ce qui concerne la proposition 2, je ne sais pas dans quelle mesure on pourrait peut-être, dans cette proposition 2, arrêter l'alinéa a) après le mot "approbation". C'est-à-dire: "Les amendements à toutes les conventions et à tous les accords établis en vertu de l'Article XIV devront être approuvés par le Conseil, à moins que celui-ci n'estime souhaitable de les renvoyer à la Conférence pour approbation". La question que je pose est la suivante : est-ce qu'on pourrait arrêter cet alinéa à "pour approbation", ou est-ce qu'on devrait continuer? C'est une question que je pose, mais je n'insiste pas outre mesure, dans la mesure où le reste de cet alinéa est encore utile.
Mme. le Président, je voudrais poser une question concernant le petit i) du paragraphe 33: étant donné qu'on cherche la plus grande souplesse et l'efficacité, je me demande dans quelle mesure il est opportun de faire approuver par le Conseil ou par la Conférence tous les projets coopératifs. Donc est-ce que cela répond à l'esprit de souplesse et d'efficacité que l'on recherche dans les amendements?
Je voudrais quelques explications sur ce point. Mme. le Président, je vous remercie.
LEGAL COUNSEL: It is perhaps easier to answer these questions directly. I think, to a certain extent, both of them refer to how this document is set
out. You should note, I think, that the words which are shaded, as you will see from the footnote, are to be deleted. That is the first point. So I think, certainly, when you deal with the adoption of financial regulations in paragraph 33 on the last page, it is intended that this paragraph 1 should be deleted. I think that has received support from the distinguished delegate of Madagascar. I should also point out that from a legal point of view it is, in our view, anyway, not legally appropriate, for the contracting parties to Article XIV agreements to be given the power to amend those agreements without any reference back to the FAO Council or Conference. I think it is necessary that the Organization retain a vestige of control over those agreements which are established within its framework. It is required, of course, that these agreements be approved by the Council or the Conference in the first place, and I do not think the Organization can abrogate all control over these bodies. It is, I think, legally required that it should retain a vestige of control. We have tried to make that vestige of control as light as possible. It is merely a power to disallow amendments, should they be inconsistent with the Constitution. That power, I think, must legally remain.
CHAIRMAN: I call the delegate of Madagascar. Is the reply satisfactory for you?
Raphaēl RABE (Madagascar): Oui, Mme le Président, mais il y la deuxième question, si M. Moore peut donner quelques explications sur ce point. Est-ce qu'il est vrai que tous les projets coopératifs doivent recevoir l'approbation du Conseil ou de la Conférence?
LEGAL COUNSEL: In fact, that paragraph is to be deleted. The words shaded are to be deleted, and I think we feel the same way as you feel.
CHAIRMAN: I think the question is settled in a very satisfactory way, so I call upon the delegate of Australia. You have the floor Sir.
Peter Gary FRANKLIN (Australia): Madame Chairman, firstly let me say what a pleasure it is to have you presiding over the deliberation and to thank Mr Moore for his characteristically lucid introduction to this item.
In the view of my delegation, the changes proposed to Article XIV arrangements are timely and well-conceived. It intended to enable the bodies concerned, such as the Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission to operate in a more autonomous, effective and efficient manner. I do however envisage the retention by the FAO Council and Finance Committee of prudent and necessary capacities of review.
In pursuit of our objectives of promoting the most effective and efficient functioning of the Article XIV Commissions, we would, like the delegation of Madagascar, wish to record our strong preference for the adoption of proposal No. 2, as set out in page 4 of document C 91/LIM/37-Sup.1.
This proposal would enable Article XIV bodies to amend conventions and agreements concluded under Article XIV of the Constitution subject to the powers of subsequent disallowance by the Council.
We feel this is an entirely appropriate and effective way of enabling the respective Commissions to carry out the mandates while retaining for the Council the appropriate powers of disallowance.
Madame Chairman, we commend the proposed modifications to this Commission and hope that they will receive the necessary support to be adopted by the Conference.
Raphaēl RABE (Madagascar): Dans la version française on utilise le conditionnel "serait". Je pense qu'on le supprime, je voudrais être assuré que ces parties ombrées seront supprimées.
LEGAL COUNSEL: In fact, the words shaded will be deleted as long as the Conference approves this draft Resolution. And the words underlined will be added.
Ray ALLEN (United Kingdom): I can be extremely brief. As we see it the general effect of the amendments set out will be to diminish FAO's central control of these Commissions and their activities and empower the Commissions to act with a measure of independence. Therefore my delegation supports all the amendments proposed.
Regarding the amendment to paragraph 8, two alternative proposals are offered and my delegation would like to support the second proposal. This permits the Fisheries Commission to independently amend its Articles of Agreement by two-thirds majority voting in accordance with any changes and obligations and responsibilities subject to retrospective acceptance by the Council.
CHAIRMAN: Is there any other delegation that wishes to speak? Sorry, this is not the case so we can consider that the Commission approves the draft Resolution and appropriate amendments to Part A of the Basic Texts and agrees with the proposal No. 2, which provides for autonomy. So proposal No. 2 for paragraph 8 of Part A is approved.
Are there any objections? If there are no objections, no comments, discussion on this agenda item is concluded and we can enter into the next item.
CHAIRMAN: The next Agenda Item is 28 which is called Other Matters. Under this heading we have the sub-title, the observations on the terms of
reference of the CCLM. The documentation for this agenda item is C 91/LIM/2. I would invite Mr Stein to comment on this agenda item.
Richard STEIN (Secretary, Commission III): I should like to discuss this item which the delegates will find in document C 91/LIM/27. That document refers to observations which were made on the terms of reference of the CCLM. That is to say, Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters.
The document is a short one, and it recalls that at its Hundredth Session, that is the session of the Council held earlier this month, the Council took note of the Section of the Report of the Fifty-seventh Session of the CCLM in which the CCLM had discussed previously its own terms of reference. At that session the CCLM had suggested that the terms of reference could usefully be reviewed in due course.
The Council also noted the personal remarks of the Chairman of the CCLM, Ambassador Fotis G. Poulides, who has been the Chairman for the biennium 1987-1989 and was re-elected for the biennium 1989-1991. These remarks, that is, the remarks by the Chairman, may be found in the document which I have cited, C 91/LIM/27.
The Chairman expressed the opinion that the terms of reference should be reinforced. The Council noted further that some members of the Council itself had underlined that the composition of the CCLM should take due account of regional representation. The matter before you has been referred by the Council to the Conference for consideration.
I should like to recall that the terms of reference of the CCLM are provided for in the General Rules of the Organization which you will find in this volume called the Basic Texts of the Organization, and they are in Rule XXXIV.3, and that is where the terms of reference of the CCLM are to be found.
Chairman, may I suggest that the Commission may wish to propose that the Conference decide to request the Director-General to submit this matter to the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters, the CCLM, for study and any recommendations which it wishes to make, and that its report on the matter, that is the report of the CCLM, be submitted in due course to the Council, and if the Council so decided, it could in turn submit proposals to the next session of the Conference in 1993. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much Mr Stein.
So the floor is open. We have our proposal before us. The Committee has to propose what has been just said by Mr Stein. The floor is open for your remarks, your proposals.
Can we accept this proposal to request the CCLM to study this question and to prepare a report and then to re-submit it to one of the Council meetings and finally to the next Conference meeting? I am just repeating what has just been said by Mr Stein.
I recognize the United Kingdom.
Ray ALLEN (United Kingdom): I would just like to support the recommendation that the CCLM should take a look at this report to the Council. I think that is a very good idea.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for your proposal. Any other delegations? If not, we can take the note as it was proposed by Mr Stein.
It was so decided.
Il en est ainsi décidé.
Asi se acuerda.
CHAIRMAN: We arrive at our last agenda item of this afternoon's session, Agenda Item 25, Cooperation Agreement between the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund and FAO, and the background documentation is C 91/32
I wish to invite Mr Moore again to present this agenda item before us now.
LEGAL COUNSEL: As you have pointed out the document before you is C 91/32, Cooperation Agreement between the African Development Bank (ADB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Madame Chairperson, at its Fourteenth Session back in November 1967, the Conference confirmed the first Memorandum of Understanding between FAO and the African Development Bank. The Memorandum of Understanding had been approved by the Council in October 1967. This Memorandum of Understanding covered the scope, nature and financing arrangements for cooperative activities between FAO and the ADB. In November/December 1980 the Council at its Seventy-eighth Session approved a new Memorandum of Understanding in order to harmonize it with more recent arrangements and to bring it up to date.
The new Memorandum of Understanding included the African Development Fund as a party to the arrangement for the first time.
In October 1987, the Organization undertook exploratory discussions with a view to revising the existing Memorandum of Understanding. The main reason for seeking a new instrument was, on FAO's side, the wish to bring the Memorandum of Understanding in line with changes made in agreements with other financing institutions, IFAD and UNICEF, for instance, and in particular with respect to cost sharing arrangements.
The purpose of the Cooperation Agreement now submitted to the Conference under document C 91/32 is to lay down the principles of cooperation between FAO and ADB, ADF to further strengthen, foster and further consolidate the existing programme between the Bank, the Fund and FAO and to create a framework through which assistance may be channelled in an effective manner to member countries in the region.
The Director-General submitted the draft Cooperation Agreement to the Ninety-ninth Session of the Council in June 1991. The Council approved the Cooperation Agreement with a view to its signature by the Director-General, subject to confirmation by the Conference, in accordance with Rule XXIV.4(c) of the General Rules of the Organization.
The Council expressed the hope that the Agreement would be signed quickly after the Conference and that full implementation would take place as soon as possible thereafter.
Madame Chairman, in accordance with Article XIII paragraph 1 of the FAO Constitution, the Cooperation Agreement between the FAO and the ADB, ADF is now submitted to the Conference for confirmation.
I think Mr Güsten is here from the Investment Centre and should there be any questions he will be able to answer them on the technical points.
R. GŰSTEN (Director, Investment Centre): I believe Mr Moore has adequately introduced the subject and unless there are specific questions I do not wish to add to them.
Raphaël RABE (Madagascar): Je remercie M. Moore d'avoir présenté ce sujet très important. Ma délégation ne peut, bien entendu, qu'apprécier grandement la coopération entre la FAO et la Banque africaine de développement et le Fonds africain de développement qui encouragent l'intensification de cette coopération pour le bienfait de notre pays et de nos populations. Nous sommes convaincus qu'une telle coopération est garante de l'efficacité des interventions des deux institutions. Par conséquent nous appuyons cet accord sans réserve et souhaitons qu'il produise les fruits que nos pays sont en droit d'attendre.
Bo WILEN (Sweden): My delegation is very pleased to see the new draft Cooperation Agreement between the African Development Bank and the Fund on the one part, and the FAO on the other part. We certainly support its signing.
Taking into account the high degree of complementarity between the two - or if you prefer it three - institutions, we are convinced that the Agreement will form a good basis for further strengthening and developing the already existing cooperative programme between the Bank and the FAO for the benefit of the member countries in the region.
José ELIAS LEAL (México): La delegación mexicana desea expresar su conformidad con el Acuerdo entre la FAO y el Banco Africano de Desarrollo. Nos complace que este Convenio se haya firmado, ya que ello manifiesta la
cooperación plena entre la FAO e instituciones financieras regionales. Ojalá que esta Convención sirva de ejemplo para que se busquen otros, en especial para nosotros, con la región Latinoamericana y del Caribe.
Patrick Mutava NZÜE (Kenya): Thank you, Madame Chairperson. Let me thank Mr Moore for his clear introduction to this item.
We note with appreciation the long and historical links that have existed between the ADB and ADF and the FAO. This cooperation has been of great benefit to the poor African farmers and the rural poor, and it is our hope that this relationship will continue to be translated into many practical ways.
We are appreciative, in spite of reported diversification, of the role being played by the ADB and the ADF especially in the improvement of African agricultural infrastructure and the general development in the rural areas of Africa where the majority of our people live.
We had the opportunity to comment on this issue when discussing in Commission II the review of FAO field activities for 1990-91, and we endorsed the confirmation of this agreement. We once again do the same here. We cannot however fail to call on the international community to commit more resources to these institutions whose vital role in African development we highly appreciate.
R. GŰSTEN (Director, Investment Centre): First I would like to thank the various speakers for their encouraging and supportive remarks with regard to the new agreement with the African Development Bank.
I want briefly to comment specifically on what the delegate from Mexico said. He remarked that this Agreement might be a model on which cooperation with the other Banks might also be drafted, and I think he referred specifically to the Bank in his own region of interest, the Inter-American Development Bank. I think, in an earlier topic today, the subject of the IDB was briefly raised, and it was explained that there is some slight delay in the implementation of that agreement, but once we get round the small cliff that is there in putting together a complete work programme, I think the Inter-American Development Bank agreement will be very similar to that one, similar in the respect that it also covers a three-year work programme. It goes beyond the African Development Bank Agreement in one respect, in that it would specify a certain volume of work in terms of the amount of resources that the Inter-American Development Bank would be willing to put at the disposal of the cooperation between FAO and itself. So the only matter is to get the Agreement to the state of signature and implementation, and then it would be at least as good as this one.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Mr Gűsten, for your information. So the Chair recognized the full support and endorsement for this very important agreement between the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Upon this support the Director-General of FAO should sign the Agreement as soon as possible.
Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Chair had a very pleasant duty this afternoon. With your patient and constructive support we came to the end of our work this afternoon discussing and covering these agenda items, but before concluding, I see the hand of our Secretary.
CHAIRMAN: Are there any questions from the floor? I see there are none. I would like to thank you for your cooperation this afternoon.
The meeting is closed and adjourned until tomorrow morning.
The meeting rose at 17.15 hours.
La séance est levée à 17 h 15.
Se levanta la sesión a las 17.15 horas.
