- STATEMENTS BY HEADS OF DELEGATIONS (continued)
- DECLARATION PES CHEFS DE DELEGATION (suite)
- MANIFESTACIONES POR LOS JEFES DE LAS DELEGACIONES (continuación)
CHAIRMAN: -Ladies and gentlemen, the Fifth Plenary meeting is called to order, and may I without further hesitation invite the distinguished delegate of Myanmar to take the floor.
MYINT AUNG (Myanmar): I have the great honour to offer my warm and sincere congratulations to Mr Seymour Mullings on his election as Chairman of the 27th Session of the FAO Conference. We are fully confident that he will steer the Conference to a fruitful conclusion.
At the same time, kindly permit me also to convey my delegation's heartfelt congratulations to Mr Jacques Diouf on his appointment as the next Director-General of the FAO. He carries with him a rich and distinguished background in the management of agricultural development, and FAO is fortunate to have attracted a person of Mr Diouf's stature.
Equally, I wish to join other Member States in offering my delegation's extreme gratitude to the outgoing Director-General, Dr Edouard Saouma, for his invaluable and outstanding contributions to the ideals of the Food and Agricultural Organization.
Mr Chairman, it has been ascertained that the trends in agricultural production remained mixed during the past biennium. Food production recovered strongly in some countries. In some developing countries, however, food production growth barely managed to keep ahead of population growth. On the other hand, food production continued to progress satisfactorily in the heavily populated regions of Asia. The varying scenes were at the same time punctuated with floods, drought and civil strife. As a result, food security remained critical in some parts of the world.
These grave food shortages vividly portray the need for nations to remain constantly engaged in concerted measures for increasing agricultural production. The approach obviously will have to vary from country to country.
The Union of Myanmar is still endowed with substantial natural resources and a very favourable land-man ratio. Under the new market-oriented economic structures in Myanmar, both foreign as well as the indigenous private sector have been allowed to participate in land development for agriculture, livestock, poultry farming, long-term crops and aquaculture. A Central Land Authority and a National Commission for Environmental Affairs administer the process of opening up new lands. Land development measures include not only fallow land and waste culturable land but also land submerged under water in deltic and deep-water areas. In the deep-water areas, we have successfully introduced Integrated Paddy-Fish Cultivation Systems which are compatible with deep-water ecosystems. Our research and development efforts have similarly been transferred on to commercial scales within the last couple of years. It is my pleasure to inform this august gathering that the successful implementation of such an agricultural
production system has led to increased food production in .the form of cereals, fruits and vegetables, and fish and poultry from the unutilized deep-water areas.
The Government is also encouraging and fully supporting the private sector to play the major role in those economically viable investment ventures. Currently, most of the new developments remain confined to perenials such as rubber, oilpalm, cashew and horticultural crops.
The increased production of most major annual crops, however, will be enhanced by maximizing production in existing areas, through multiple cropping. In the quest for higher paddy production, the emphasis will be on stepping up the cultivation of summer paddy. Over 0.8 million acres of summer paddy were successfullly double-cropped during 1992-93, and we are taking measures to increase it to 4 million acres during the current year. It is anticipated that, as a result, the annual production of paddy alone will increase from the current 13 million to 17 million tons. Similar measures were taken for other annual crops as well. The Government has made major efforts for the provision of adequate irrigation water, the provision of agricultural input supplies and increased small-scale agriculture mechanization, the acceleration of technology transfer and the research and development of appropriate crop varieties. We trust that our efforts, to a certain extent, will be contributing towards global food requirements.
We have also pursued with interest the report of the 103rd session of the Council of FAO, We have noted that matters relating to a number of important topics have been referred to this Conference. In the matters of forestry, there is the establishment of a Consultative Group on the Tropical Forests Action Programme. One of the terms of reference for the Consultative Group has been the assessment and generation of funds for National Forestry Action Plans. It is a highly significant aspect, and we hope the Consultative Group will be able to strengthen the flow of international funding resources necessary for achieving the goals and objectives of National Foresty Action Plans.
The FAO has all along accorded invaluable support to our forestry resources management, and we deeply appreciate the assistance rendered. We remain committed to the continued practice of sound forest principles and capacity build-up. During the past biennium, a new Forest Act with more appropriate legal structures was enacted, and now serves as a strong deterrent in preventing and discouraging unnecessary pressure on the environment and timber resources. The export of logs has also been significantly reduced. In lieu, investment in value-added goods, with reliance on raw materials, within the annual allowable cuts have been promoted. We also still strictly adhere to the "Myanmar Selection System", which constitutes one of the timbering practices least disruptive to the environment and biodiversity. At the same time, we remain engaged in the introduction of "Sloping Agricultural Land Technology" in watershed areas, and agro-forestry practices in the dry zone. Incidentally, I have great pleasure to mention that Mr Sang Kyun Choi, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to integrated watershed management in Myanmar, has been awarded the 1992 B.R. Sen Award. The Government of Myanmar, within its limited resources, is trying its best in the conservation of the natural environment, including watershed areas. In this regard, our delegation would like to once again express our warm appreciation and high recognition of the invaluable contributions made by Mr Choi and FAO in our endeavours. We hope for FAO's continuing support and assistance in all these aspects.
Other significant aspects have been the recommendations for the conservation and use of plant genetic resources and the rational management of marine and inland fisheries resources. It is understood that measures are to be undertaken through the voluntary Codes of Conduct. As an agricultural country, we attach extreme importance to both aspects.
The 2 800 kilometre long coastal waters of Myanmar are still endowed with rich fishery resources. There exists an annual maximum sustainable yield of about 1.05 million metric tons. The annual captures at present, however, amount to only about 0.59 million metric tons. In order to develop its potential, fishing rights in specific areas have been granted to neighbouring states for harvesting our still under-exploited resources. The operations are being carried out in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Our marine fisheries are a potential source of food and foreign exchange; and we welcome FAO's efforts in promoting further safeguards for sustaining the productive capacity of the world's fisheries resources. The Livestock and Fisheries Sector constitutes an important component in Myanmar's national economy. We appreciate FAO's continuing support to these sectors, and in particular for the assistance rendered in the implementation of five TCP projects the last biennium.
We have also taken note of the programme priorities outlined in the Medium-term Plan 1994-99. It provides a balanced approach to the problems of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and we hope the necessary resources required for their implemention will be made available. We also hope that FAO's up-dated study "World Agriculture - Toward 2010" will serve as a spur for further international efforts in increasing global food production.
Meanwhile, commodity prices of several major agricultural exports of developing countries continue to decline. Conversely, the prices of agricultural inputs have increased. The growth of the world economy also is still sluggish. Similarly, the multilateral trade negotiations for more liberal and equitable trade remain stalled. The trends in no way have been rewarding to developed and developing countries.
However, it has been encouraging that there has been overall increased food production, in spite of setbacks in the world economy. At the same time it is not a matter for complacency. The world's population continues to grow. In turn, the demands for more food follow suit at increasing levels, and in conjunction, aspirations for better material benefits gather momentum. By the turn of the century the challenges could be quite formidable, and it will be the duty of all nations to be prepared to rise to the occasion. We also hope for FAO's continuing guidance in all these aspects.
Simon CREAN (Australia): May I again congratulate you, Mr Chairman, on your election to the chair of this 27th Session of the FAO. Australians have twice previously had the honour of holding the position and are confident that you will carry out your duties effectively and bring credit to yourself, your country, and your region.
I would also like to take the opportunity of welcoming the many new FAO members, and to pay tribute to the outgoing Director-General. For an unprecedented eighteen years' service, Mr Saouma has acted and directed the FAO in such a manner that he has left a solid foundation on which those following in his footsteps may build.
Australia has had a close association with the Organization since its inception and remains firmly committed to the objectives of FAO. As I said yesterday, we look forward to working with the new Director-General, Mr Diouf, in progressing the efforts of FAO to meet the food and nutritional needs of the world's growing population. This Conference serves to emphasize the challenges we have before us. It provides an ideal opportunity for each of us to discuss what we are doing individually and what we can do collectively through FAO to address them.
Over the past three decades world food supply per person has been trending steadily upwards. On a global basis there is sufficient food available to provide the entire world population with an adequate diet. However, there are significant differences in the level of food availability between regions, especially between the major developed countries of Europe and North America and the developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America.
There is no single direct solution to this problem. The FAO does however provide a universal forum for both developing and developed countries to work together and develop initiatives that secure, sustain and develop the agricultural base. We must share our experiences and technical expertise, the complementarities we all have, to develop more effective programmes and better target our resources.
It is comforting to see the recognition being given in FAO's work to the importance of agricultural research in increasing the world's food production. I am pleased to see the proposed increase in resources for research included in the Programme of Work and Budget for the next biennium.
We can all share in the benefits of being involved in international agricultural research. The benefits are by no means confined to the developing world. For instance, around three quarters of Australian wheat sown today uses genotypes derived from international research. The value of increased wheat productivity since the varieties were introduced in 1974 is conservatively estimated at US$2 billion.
Mr Chairman, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices is a critically important issue not only for Australia but for all FAO member countries.
Our reputation as an efficient agricultural producer is well known - as is our ability to produce clean, quality food products.
Preserving this reputation is vitally important particularly with the growing emphasis at home on building on our traditional agricultural strengths and expanding the range of food products for both the domestic and export markets.
As Minister for Agriculture I have worked hard to develop a range of Government programmes that focus on Australia's natural strengths and provide a basis for securing, sustaining and developing the country's natural resource base.
Our rural industries are responding to the challenge to expand local and international markets, which is not only good for the economy, but, importantly, it creates jobs. Meeting this challenge has served to remind us of the importance of more effectively managing our land, our water and
our vegetation resources. In Australia we have developed a. national strategy for ecologically sustainable development which provides a framework of pursuing the integrated management of our natural resources. It has many elements, in particular the establishment of a National Land Care Programme. This programme involves the three levels of government in our country, together with the rural communities working in partnership, developing approaches to improve the management of our natural resource base. This successful partnership with the community augurs well for similar models in member countries, and we certainly stand ready to share our experiences with you.
The rapid growth in the land care movement in the past few years reflects not only the community's concerns about the environment but also the importance placed on securing the future of Australian agriculture. With this in mind, Australia supports the high priority given by FAO in its future work on the need to focus on sustainability and the implementation of outcomes from UNCED. This includes the implementation of Agenda 21 and matters relating to the International Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Convention on Climate Change and work towards to an international instrument to combat desertification. We believe that in undertaking this work FAO should establish strong links with other UN bodies, including the Commission on Sustainable Development, to avoid duplication and to ensure effective delivery of programmes within the overall UN system. It is also important that available resources are effectively targeted. The focus should be on providing the basic tools from which individual countries can develop their own approaches to address their own individual country problems.
Australia will soon complete a national strategy for the conservation of biological diversity. It will provide an effective framework, involving all sectors of the community, for the conservation and sustainable use of our biological resources. We are also operating fully in the follow-up to UNCED and with FAO and other agencies to develop policies which allow equitable sharing of genetic resources.
Australia is, of course, a signatory to the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources. We have set up a network of eight plant genetic resource centres responsible for conserving the sources of most important field and pasture crops. We have also developed links with other similar resource centres around the world. Another international contribution by Australia is the recent work by its scientists on indicators of agricultural sustainability. This work is being considered with interest by FAO for application in Asia, by the World Bank for project assessment and by the OECD for use by member countries. It may lead to future internationally agreed indicators.
Efforts to improve the environment and sustainable development are something we have in common with many in this Conference today, and I reiterate our preparedness to work with you, to share the experience and develop the solutions.
FAO's emphasis on the facilitation of agricultural trade in its work programme is vitally important. In particular, FAO's activities associated with global harmonization of plant quarantine have our full support. We see them as complementing proposals under GATT for improving market access. We should also like to emphasize the support which Australia gives to the work of the joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme and in particular the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. It is a fine example of what can be
achieved through the close cooperation of the UN agencies. The work is most important to agricultural trade. The draft agreement on sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures in the Uruguay Round foresees a critical role for FAO in agreeing on internationally acceptable standards.
The interaction between trade in agricultural products and the environment is a growing concern, and, as I mentioned earlier, Codex processes have become responsive to environmental concerns. In this regard, Australia has been very pleased to lead the work on developing Codex guidelines for organic foods moving in international trade.
FAO has, in accordance with its charter, focused its attentions on improving fisheries production and has achieved many successes in this field. The natural limits to global fish stocks do, however, mean that future FAO programmes must direct their attention to the sustainable management of fishery resources. Australia welcomes recent FAO initiatives to address the need for sustainability in fisheries production at both the national and international levels. Global awareness of the problem caused by over-fishing has been heightened by the closure of some extremely valuable and historically productive international fisheries.
In our region we continue to maintain an active role in developing sustainable fisheries management and we participated in the recent FAO Consultation on Interaction in Pacific Tuna Fisheries which brought together specialists to review the status of this resource and to set in train collaborative research programmes.
Forests and their management continue to be an important issue for many Member Nations, and for FAO itself. At the Rio Earth Summit, the endorsement of the non-legally binding Statement of Principles on Forests demonstrated the commitment of all nations to promoting conservation and sustainable management of all the world's forests.
We have seen FAO respond promptly to the challenge of UNCED by integrating the outcomes into its programmes and priorities. The core of the UNCED challenge is the achievement of sustainable management for all forests, whether tropical, temperate, or boreal. Tropical timber producers have already committed themselves to achieving this goal, and an increasing number of non-tropical producers, including Australia, have now given balance to the commitment by making the same commitment regarding their own forests. Having already achieved management for sustained yield, Australia is now committed to achieving sustainable management for all forest values.
This goal will be no less a challenge for FAO. With its acknowledged expertise in forestry, it will be expected to take a leading role in assisting members to achieve this target.
Australia is playing a major part in changing forestry land-use patterns in the Asia-Pacific Region through our Development Assistance Programme and the Australian Centre for Internationl Agricultural Research. We were involved in the creation of the Centre for International Forest Research, which is based in Indonesia.
Increased productivity through developments in research, improvements in infrastructure and application of appropriate technologies, as well as generally promoting sustainable agricultural practices, will be the major challenges for FAO in the next millenium.
Finally, I want to refer to the Uruguay Round. because we Relieve that the best assistance package for FAO member countries is a successful conclusion to that Round. There is no more important an issue for this Conference than the 15 December deadline - and I stress this is a real deadline. We must seize this critical opportunity for addresssing many of the challenges we face in the food and agricultural area. The World Bank and OECD have recently estimated that a Round outcome based on the Draft Final Act would provide net benefits to the world economy as high as US$ 213 billion, and yet, despite these potential gains, the conclusion of the Round remains under real- threat, not the least from some industrial countries that stand to benefit most from a broadly-based successful outcome.
As Australia and the Cairns group have consistently made clear, a successful conclusion to the Round must include a genuinely trade-liberalizing outcome on agriculture. Any thought of agriculture being set aside in order to conclude interim or partial agreements must be firmly rejected. Comprehensive tariffication must be part of the access package. There can be no exceptions to tariffication if we are to achieve an equitable result with improved access for all products in all markets.
There is an urgent need also for final acceptance of all the agricultural trade provisions of the Draft Final Act, including quantity and budgetary reductions in export subsidies, commitments on trade-distorting domestic support and endorsement of the negotiated agreement on sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures. Any further attempt to weaken the Draft Final Act's provisions will seriously jeopardize an acceptable outcome on agriculture.
Action must be taken to progressively eliminate those policies which have encouraged over-production in many industrial countries. Only then will we be able to do something about a policy environment which currently permits the OECD countries to annually transfer to their farm sectors around US$354 billion from government budgets and from consumers, forced to pay higher prices for their food.
The Cairns Group, which is made up of 14 non-subsidizing countries, has been an effective force in GATT. That Group met together again today to urge the conclusion of the Round. Australia has played a significant leading role in the Cairns Group, and one of the achievements has been to ensure that developing country interests were heard in the negotiations. Special and differential treatment for developing countries and provisions for dealing with the possible negative impacts of a Round outcome on net food importing countries are examples of what the Cairns Group has been able to pursue.
Whilst it is clear that all food-exporting countries would gain from higher world prices as a result of a Round outcome, FAO rightly has a special interest in the situation for food-importing developing countries. In recognition of a possible short-term impact of a Round outcome on these countries, the Draft Final Act contains a declaration which is aimed specifically at their needs. Developed countries will need to carry out expeditiously their commitments under this declaration.
Australia, instrumental in the foundation of FAO, strongly urges member countries to solidly support a conclusion to the Uruguay Round. It is time we not only considered our own interests but the global interest. As members of FAO, we grapple with enormous challenges in search of solutions
to global problems. It is only through effective trade liberalization that we can vigorously pursue the challenges of world poverty.
Mr Chairman, I am grateful to have had this opportunity to address the Conference. I am confident that it will proceed in a constructive atmosphere and that we will be successful in progressing, or reaching agreement on, the important issues before us and in providing guidance for the future work of FAO.
Moustapha NIASSE (Sénégal): Monsieur le Président, honorables délégués, au nom de la délégation sénégalaise, je voudrais tout d'abord vous féliciter, Monsieur le Président, et féliciter également tous les membres du bureau, pour votre élection à la Présidence de cette 27ème session de la Conférence de la FAO. L'efficacité avec laquelle vous conduisez les travaux me conforte dans la conviction que nous atteindrons sans doute tous nos objectifs.
Mon pays, le Sénégal, s'honore que ce soit sous votre présidence, celle d'un pays ami, la Jamaïque, qu'un de ses fils le Dr Jacques Diouf, se voit confier les destinées de notre Organisation. Je voudrais encore une fois et solennellement remercier l'ensemble de la communauté internationale, l'Afrique, le Tiers Monde en particulier, pour la confiance placée dans ce candidat de l'Afrique.
Mon pays, le Sénégal, voudrait par ma voix témoigner toute sa gratitude à tous les pays membres de la FAO pour cette marque de confiance à l'Afrique en général, et au Sénégal en particulier. Croyez-moi, nous ne ménagerons aucun effort pour mériter cette confiance.
Par ailleurs, nous sollicitons le soutien constant de tous pour le succès du mandat confié au Dr Jacques Diouf. Comme il vous l'a lui-même dit hier, il demeurera le Directeur général de l'ensemble de la communauté internationale, au service de laquelle il consacrera désormais toute sa compétence, son énergie et son dévouement.
Certes, le tiers monde et l'Afrique l'ont dès le départ soutenu. Mais nous savons qu'il a été élu par l'ensemble de la communauté internationale pour le progrès de notre Organisation.
Au demeurant, notre hommage s'adresse donc à l'ensemble de cette communauté internationale, pour laquelle Jacques Diouf demeure dès aujourd'hui le Président de tout le monde.
Je voudrais également saluer tous ceux qui se sont présentés et qui ont accepté volontiers de se retirer au profit de notre candidat et qui ont donc contribué à son élection.
M. le Président, honorables délégués, notre assemblée se réunit à une période de profonde crise et de récession économique sans précédent. En effet, la faim et la malnutrition, l'explosion démographique, la sécheresse, la désertification, la dégradation continue de l'environnement, les guerres, pour ne citer que ces fléaux, connaissent une ampleur de plus en plus grande mettant sérieusement en danger notre Planète.
Les politiques économiques sectorielles sous-régionales, nationales et internationales, doivent de plus en plus s'intégrer pour tenir compte d'une mondialisation toujours croissante des problèmes socio-économiques, ce qui
met évidemment en évidence une interdépendance planétaire .toujours plus forte. A cet égard, les problèmes du monde rural, qui occupent le plus grand nombre de nos populations, ces problèmes demeurent de plus en plus prioritaires. Plus de 750 millions de personnes n'ont pas accès à la nourriture. Celle-ci est surproduite par ailleurs dans certains de nos continents. La répartition de la richesse du monde, comme vous le voyez, n'obéit pas toujours aux règles de l'équité. Dans moins de 40 ans, notre Planète comptera plus de 9 milliards de bouches à nourrir.
C'est dire que la FAO devra mesurer aujourd'hui la responsabilité qui est la sienne pour se restructurer, se réorgamiser et s'adapter à ces nouvelles mutations, à ces nouvelles exigences.
La FAO devra donc, avec tout le monde, en effet, de plus en plus se préoccuper d'actions concrètes sur le terrain et éviter d'être une superbureaucratie qui produit plus de papier que d'aliments.
Nul doute que nous avons les capacités et les compétences nécessaires pour atteindre ce but.
Nous formulons le voeu que cette vingt-septième Conférence prenne les décisions dans ce sens, M. le Président.
Et pour terminer, M. le Président, honorables délégués, je voudrais enfin remercier le Directeur sortant, M. Edouard Saouma, pour les progrès importants qu'il a fait accomplir à la FAO pendant son mandat.
Le chef de l'Etat du Sénégal, le Président Abou Diouf, son Premier Ministre, son gouvernement et l'ensemble du peuple sénégalais tout entier, sont très reconnaissants à M. Saouma pour tout l'effort qu'il a consenti pour le progrès et pour la paix dans le monde.
M. le Président, quant à vous-même, mon pays, le Sénégal, comme je l'ai dit au début, s'honore de voir un fils de la Jamaïque présider cette session, une session pour laquelle nous nourrissons l'espoir encore une fois qu'elle s'attachera à mettre en place des politiques et des programmes conformes aux exigences de l’heure et qui contribueront sans aucun doute à la paix et à la prospérité dans ce monde.
Je vous remercie tous de votre aimable attention.
Roberto ABDENUR (Brazil): Let me first extend my congratulations to Your Excellency on your election to the chairmanship of FAO's Twenty-seventh Conference. As the representative of a country from the Latin America and the Caribbean Group, I am particularly pleased with the choice of a Caribbean politician of Your Excellency's calibre and authority to chair this important Conference. I am confident that, under your wise leadership, our work will yield productive and far-reaching results.
I would also like to present my congratulations to Mr Jacques Diouf, who will soon assume the post of Director-General of our Organization and to formulate my most sincere and warm wishes of success in his mission, no doubt an arduous one. I can, as of now, assure him of the full cooperation of the Brazilian Government.
May I at this point register the profound recognition and appreciation of the Brazilian Government for the work carried out by Dr Edouard saoum in
his long and fruitful stewardship, a period in which FAO's activities grew in scope and significance in spite of the obstacles it had to face and the deep changes in the world scene.
Let me also express our praise and gratitude for the work undertaken by Ambassador Antoine Saintraint in the chairmanship of our Council. His lively personality and humanistic views on the problems of underdevelopment and hunger will be greatly missed.
Through the expansion of mass-media, we are now confronted daily with dramatic pictures, recorded in the four corners of the earth, of emaciated human beings in barren landscapes, where everything seems to be lacking, except suffering. Harsh as these pictures are, they represent only a segment of the overall assault on human dignity perpetrated by hunger, misery, malnutrition and the consequences thereof. While events in the past few years have brought about important alterations in many aspects of our lives, the situation I have just described seems impervious to change. Yet, change it we must. We have the duty of facing squarely the problem of extreme poverty.
The international community has made considerable progress in its efforts to avert the scourge of war; it must now strive to marshall political will and material resources in order to save succeeding generations from the scourge of hunger, malnutrition and misery. It is no longer acceptable that concepts like food security do not find their way into implementable schemes. It defies the most fundamental tenets of human behaviour that in some parts of the world food should be stockpiled in increasingly large amounts, at a staggering cost and to the point of rotting, while elsewhere millions of people are starving.
The expansion of the agricultural production in the developing countries has not been accompanied by a corresponding generation of income. This explains the persistence of hunger. Many developing countries, Brazil among them, have a highly dynamic agriculture for export, while displaying, at the same time, large pockets of absolute poverty.
In this context, it is incumbent upon FAO to highlight the study of mechanisms in the agricultural area to bring about significant increases in the generation of employment and income, so as to provide everyone in the world with the means to acquire food.
In the same vein, I wish to underline the importance of the International Conference on Nutrition convened by FAO last year as an event which raised world awareness of malnutrition in a most effective manner.
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro last year, played a crucial role in furthering international acceptance of the need to combine development strategies with environment protection. This is clearly reflected in the concept of sustainable development.
We believe that the non-binding declaration of principles on sforests adopted at UNCED, together with FAO's mandate in the field of forests, provide an adequate framework to tackle the complex issue of how to ensure the best approach to conservation and the fullest possible contribution of forestry to national economies. We would welcome the strengthening of FAO's activities in the support of national capacity in the field of forestry, particularly in relation to national forestry action plans and programmes.
I would also like to stress the important contribution of FAO and its Commission on Plant Genetic Resources to the preparation of the Rio Conference and, particularly, to the incorporation of valuable principles related to genetic resources into Agenda 21 and into the Convention on Biological Diversity. Brazil will actively participate in the follow-up process of UNCED that is to be undertaken within FAO by the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources, for which close collaboration between the Commission and the governing body and the secretariat of the international Convention on Biological Diversity will be of utmost importance.
One of the most important areas within FAO's sphere of competence is certainly the generation and transfer of technology.
FAO must continue to play a major role in providing technical cooperation and transferring the necessary technology to all developing countries. We believe high priority must be given to strengthening the research and technology programme and the corresponding technical cooperation projects.
Brazil today faces complex economic and social problems. It must introduce structural adjustments and reduce inflation without sacrificing economic growth. But today's Brazil is proud of being an actively democratic country, where the enjoyment of political freedom is at the service of an ample and unhindered debate focused on the revision of worn-out patterns of economic development and on the search for greater social justice.
The Brazilian society and the government, united in an unprecedented nationwide campaign, are today firmly determined to put an end to this tragic situation. The awareness and the mobilization in favour of emergency measures have grown to increasingly significant levels throughout the country, from large cities to the smallest villages in the countryside.
In May last, at the public act held to set up the National Food Security Council, President Itamar Franco pointed out that "poverty being the result of man's selfishness, only the solidarity of the most sensible people can usher in times of justice and well-being for all. Society is being mobilized to rescue one of its parts from poverty and, in so doing, save the whole of itself."
Such words carry a clear message. Overcoming hunger in Brazil and in other developing countries is primarily a task incumbent upon the very societies affected by this scourge. Any attempt at shifting to external factors the main responsibility for the problem would be grossly inappropriate. Hunger stems, above all else, from unjust social structures which must be changed without delay. In our country, the administration echoes the cry of the people, in full awareness of the pressing need for measures leading to a better structure for national income distribution.
At the same time, it is essential not to lose sight of the undeniable fact that doing away with hunger in the developing world will depend also, and to a large extent, on an international environment which is favourable to the strengthening of their production capacity in the field of agriculture and livestock. It does not make sense for the developing countries to strive to reduce distortions in their agricultural policy while developed ones insist on maintaining unfair trade barriers and subsidies which cause serious damage to the whole structure of international production and marketing in the agricultural sector.
As regards Brazil, its highly productive and diversified agricultural sector currently generates US$40 billion yearly, almost 11 percent of Brazil's GDP, and employs almost 13 million people, nearly 23 percent of the labour force. Exports of agricultural and livestock products account for US$13 billion of foreign exchange revenue, nearly 35 percent of our yearly exports in value terms. These data would be substantially higher if we threw in figures for agribusiness, which total roughly a third of the US$400 billion plus making up our GDP,
The comparative advantages enjoyed by the Brazilian agricultural producers would allow them to maintain a strong competitive stance on international markets, were it not for the protectionism and extraordinarily high level of subsidization that developed countries resort to as a way of defending their largely inefficient agricultural sectors.
It is imperative, therefore, that the international community advance toward the liberalization of world trade in agricultural products and the elimination of subsidies by satisfactorily concluding Gatt's Uruguay Round.
We follow with great apprehension the final phase of the ongoing negotiations. I cannot but register our concern about the risks involved in a failure of this Round or the attainment of unsatisfactory results in the field of agriculture.
Gathered in Santiago, Chile, in October, the heads of state and heads of government of the countries making up the Rio Group have made a strong appeal to the industrialized countries in order that the Uruguay Round be satisfactorily completed before the end of this year. They stressed that the draft final act constitutes the base for the completion of the trade negotiations and expressed their deep concern with the attempts to weaken that text.
I am not overstating it if I say that the importance of the Uruguay Round goes well beyond the economic and trade aspects. Its results will have a decisive impact on the very structure of the international order in the years to come. That explains our concern and apprehension at the difficulty experienced by the United States and the European Community in the negotiations on agriculture, even on the simplest commitments. We call upon those countries to join the developing ones in a decisive effort to ensure a complete success of the Uruguay Round.
Finally, let me dwell briefly on one important aspect of the expected outcome of the Uruguay Round, namely the new rules covering trade in agriculture. There is room for a significant contribution by FAO in assisting developing countries to adapt to these rules. In particular, developing countries would benefit greatly from a study of the nature and range of permissible subsidies, as well as of the extent to which they can be resorted to under the new regime.
In the same vein, we must stress our deep concern at the depressed levels of commodity prices on the international markets over the past four or five years. Not only has this not been translated into lower prices to the final consumer in developed countries, but it has had nefarious social consequences in the producing countries.
Brazil has worked tirelessly in the search for an understanding on the question of recovery of commodity prices. We must recognize, however, that today the consuming countries' level of interest and political will to work
together with producers toward mutually satisfactory solutions are dwindling. Consequently, it becomes sometimes necessary to resort to producers' agreements, as was the case in coffee, in order to correct the distortions of the market.
Before concluding my statement, I cannot fail to recall that this year we observe the twentieth anniversary of the passing away of the eminent social scientist Josue de Castro, former independent president of FAO's Council and a scholarly analyst of the problem of hunger in Brazil and the world at large. I pay here a sincere and moving tribute to his memory and to his pioneering work.
Nearly half a century after the publication of his work, through which he strived to awaken the conscience of the world to the ethical, economic and political absurdity of hunger, we acknowledge with sadness that this condition has not disappeared. Regrettably, it has expanded alarmingly in many parts of the world. In the past forty years, despite undeniable progress in technology, mankind has not found definitive answers to its greatest challenges - hunger and malnutrition. Poverty took hold and, with it, pain and suffering.
It is my fervent wish that the work of this Conference will contribute in a decisive manner to break the vicious circle of poverty, so that Josue de Castro's research and analysis may one day become no more than a notable historical reference for future generations.
CHAIRMAN: May I inform Conference that at the conclusion of the next presentation we will interrupt the debate to return for a brief moment to Item 25 which deals with the addition of new members to the Organization.
Allan CRUICKSHANK (St. Vincent and the Grenadines): I am indeed honoured once again to be afforded the opportunity to address this most important gathering, not only as Minister of Agriculture of my country, St Vincent and the Grenadines, but also in my capacity as Chairman of the Standing Committee of Ministers responsible for Agriculture of the Caribbean Community.
We are very proud to have the most senior, experienced and distinguished Minister of Agriculture in the Caribbean the Honourable Seymour Mullings, Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica, as Chairman of this Conference. We are very proud of his performance so far. It seems to me that each day he is getting stronger and better. I am a little worried that if this was a permanent position, we might have lost him from the Caribbean for a little while. This Twenty-seventh Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization is of critical importance to our nations as we attempt to address the burning issues related to agricultural development and world food production and security.
The events which have shaped our world since the political changes in Eastern Europe have been nothing short of dramatic. New nations have since become members of the FAO family bringing with them corresponding demands on the resources of the Organization.
We have witnessed the realignment of forces as superpower-political tensions dissipate, paving the way for greater cooperation among nations in
non-military activities, particularly in technology and for other developmental purposes.
At this stage I want to welcome the new members who have joined us during this session.
While there have undoubtedly been positive developments in the utilization of science and technology for furthering human development, we, however, cannot blind ourselves to the many problems which still confront many nations, particularly those of the developing world.
Conflicts, political turmoil and wars of all sorts have plagued us and millions of people are suffering, especially children.
The phenomena of drought, famine, poverty and hopelessness in diverse parts of the globe, have occasioned greater demands for humanitarian aid and the diversion of resources away from developmental purposes.
It must be remembered that a hungry man is an angry man and hunger and affluence will always be at war. It is our duty, therefore, to pay very close attention to the causes of many of these wars.
As we approach the 21st century, the challenges are enormous but not insurmountable. The FAO has a mandate to confront those problems related to agricultural development and work toward solving them. We, as individual members, have a critical role to play in this entire process if we are to promote agricultural development.
The agricultural sector of my country continues to be the most important sector of the economy in terms of foreign exchange earned, employment generated and percentage contribution to Gross Domestic Product. Our single most important cash crop is bananas. In a situation where 50 percent of country's export earnings hinge on banana sales, one can immediately appreciate our concerns for the survival of this industry.
The new régime governing the banana trade with the European Community is now in place and St Vincent and the Grenadines, and indeed the entire Windward Island producers, have been undertaking the necessary adjustments in the banana industry in order to meet the annual quota requirements of the European Community.
I wish publicly to express my gratitude and that of the Government and people of St Vincent and the Grenadines to the European Community for honouring its commitment under the Lomé Convention in respect of Protocol 5.
While we continue to restructure our agricultural sector and pursue our programme of agricultural diversification, we are mindful of the fact that bananas, our major export earner, must continue to play a critical role in this whole process. The strategy, therefore, is to diversify around bananas, bringing marginal lands now under bananas, into production with other crops.
The development of agriculture is a key issue in the development of my country.
The policy of my Government hinges on the twin issues of land reform and agricultural diversification. In this respect the role of the sector is fivefold:
1. The production of food for domestic consumption
2. The production of exports for generating foreign exchange
3. The production of inputs for the agro-industry
4. The generation of employment
5. The generation of domestic savings
All five are central to the achievement of the overall goal of improving the living standards and social well-being of the entire population.
In order for us to achieve these objectives, we have had to be very deliberate in our approach. Recognizing our limited resources and lack of economies of scale, we have, over the years, developed programmes and projects which, to a large extent, have increased our ability to provide for our people.
We wish to thank FAO in every respect for the support given to us in our drive to this end.
In particular, I wish to mention the Fisheries and Forestry Development Programmes which are well advanced and are rendering great assistance to the people of my country. I wish to thank the Japanese and Canadian Governments for the assistance given to us in this respect, in addition to the technical support given to FAO and all other agencies. The development of the livestock industry is very much on the cards, and the Programme for the eradication of the Amblyomma variegatum from the entire Caribbean, an FAO-funded project, is indeed welcome. It is of special interest to all of us in the Caribbean.
We should not allow food aid to act as a substitute to farmers, genuine farmers, poor rural farmers, women in particular, who are prepared to work faithfully and honestly to produce food to eat and sell to fulfil their physical and financial needs. FAO will have to use its resources and skill to look very carefully at this issue.
I wish now to focus my attention on the wider CARICOM Region and what we have been doing in terms of agricultural development. Let me say first of all that the falling and volatile prices of the major export commodities of the Caribbean countries, as well as the threat to their traditional trading arrangements, have encouraged the governments of the region to pursue policies of agricultural diversification. Despite this, the sector continues to be dominated by one or two major export crops which make a sizeable contribution to most economies in the region.
The sector faces several problems and constraints which impede its growth at the domestic level. These include the pursuit of inappropriate sectoral and macroeconomic policies, structural problems and institutional constraints which provide disincentives to the development of the sector.
Historically, the countries of the Caribbean Community have exported their major agricultural produce to markets in which they received preferential treatment. The concessions offered to ACP states under the Lomé Convention have made it possible for the countries to market their traditional export crops such as rice, sugar and banana, without the fear of losing our very small but significant share of the market for primary goods to larger
producers, non-ACP competitors. The global trend toward free trade poses a threat to the continuation of these special arrangements which for so long have facilitated the survival and development of our agricultural sector and indeed the very survival of our economies.
The fact is, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for economies of our size and nature to survive without some form of arrangement which takes into account the important role of agriculture in the development of our countries as well as the needs/peculiarities of agricultural development in small states such as ours.
We appreciate fully the urgency with which we will have to adjust our economies to meet the demands of the new global economic order. Indeed, it is our goal to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of agriculture in our countries to be better able to participate in a liberalized economic environment. The process, however, is gradual and the pace of change very slow. Moreover, increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of agricultural enterprises, which have traditionally depended on preferential markets, involves a complete restructuring and rationalization of activities to achieve our stated objectives. While we are trying to make the change, if we are getting low prices or no prices, I see the change as being almost impossible.
Policy changes and reforms at the international level can do much to assist us in the process of change and adjustment. We look forward to the completion of the Uruguay Round of the GATT with the hope that the level of support and protection to agriculture offered by developed countries will be reduced.
While we in the developing countries are urged and sometimes forced into reforming our economies toward more open economies and structural adjustments which create more favourable conditions of trade, our counterparts in the developed countries continue to use, and in some cases fight to maintain, protective measures such as export and input subsidies, border restrictions on imports and domestic support schemes, all of which are known to have distortionary effects on free trade.
Developing countries are effectively barred from using those measures both because of the policy reforms mentioned earlier and the tremendous costs involved.
The effects of those reforms on subsistence agriculture is particularly significant as most of the rural poor depend extensively on subsistence farming for both income and employment. It is important, therefore, that we continue to observe and, where necessary, alleviate the impacts of these structural reforms.
Our failure to assist vulnerable groups such as the rural poor is also likely to increase indulgence in practices harmful to the environment with serious consequences which will make it difficult to break the cycle of poverty and malnutrition.
In the context of the Caribbean Community, the alleviation of rural poverty and the development of the rural economy continue to be important issues in the thrust toward development. We intend to seek assistance for human resource development programmes and all other programmes that will help to develop our special island state economies.
Mr Chairman, we in the Caribbean Community are very cognisant of the tremendous challenges before us on the road to self-sustained development, and we have in the past demonstrated our ability to confront challenges and advance our development process. We will continue jointly to address our common problems. However the assistance of the international community will be vitally important. The FAO will be called upon to play a central role in this process.
I wish to conclude by expressing my country's as well as CARICOMS’s appreciation for the valuable assistance rendered by the FAO to us over the last few years, especially during the period of the leadership of Dr Edouard Saouma in very difficult economic, political and financial circumstances.
I wish also to congratulate the new Director-General, Mr Diouf, and I wish to invite him as early as possible to the Caribbean, especially next year when we intend to host a special conference in Barbados on Small Island State Development.
I sincerely hope that the capacity of the FAO to provide assistance will improve. As a region, we are committed to ensure that the mandate of this Organization is fully realized. Let us all continue to renew our commitment and let every country represented here today do what is expected of it. Let us work together to solve the problem of hunger and malnutrition, and the deprivation of our poor and hungry people.
Second Report of the General Committee
Second rapport du Bureau
Segundo Informe del Comité General
CHAIRMAN: I indicated not long ago that we would return to Item 25 which we had not concluded on Saturday, to complete the admission of new members to the Organization. The General Committee had its third meeting about midday, and I would now ask the Secretary-General to read its report.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL: With reference to its first report of 6 November 1993 on the admission of new Member Nations, the Committee reaffirmed its position on the re-admission of South Africa and recommends to the Conference that a secret ballot on this item should take place on Tuesday 9 November 1993 at 16.00 hours. The General Committee, bearing in mind the current status of South Africa within the United Nations Organization, further recommends that should the Member Nations vote in favour of the re-admission of South Africa, the Conference should thereby decide to re-admit South Africa as a member of the Organization, with full
participation rights, to take effect as from the date on which the transitional Executive Council is instituted and commences functioning.
That ends the report of the General Committee.
CHAIRMAN: I would like to advise you that the wording of the resolution to this Conference is the wording that has been agreed on by all parties dealing with the matter of the admission of South Africa to this Organization. The procedure for voting on this matter will be exactly the same as that followed on Saturday when we first examined the Agenda Item and when we admitted nine new members. The quorum is 85 and I am informed that there are at least 118 delegations in the room. Accordingly, we may proceed with the voting.
Is everyone in favour of the report of the General Committee? If so, the report of the General Committee is accepted. We shall therefore proceed to the voting.
George LAMPTEY (Ghana): Mr Chairman, before we proceed to the vote, I would like to bring to the attention of all members of the Conference that the African Group, on the basis of support for this resolution, conveyed by the African National Congress and supported by the PAC, accepts this resolution.
Kiala KIA MATEVA (Angola): En ce qui concerne le point 25, c'est-à-dire la réadmission de l'Afrique du Sud, ma délégation a reçu des instructions formelles de mon gouvernement. La République d'Angola donne son accord de principe pour que l'Afrique du Sud, pays de l'Afrique australe, retrouve sa place au sein de la FAO. Nous formulons le voeu que ce pays mettra son expérience scientifique et technique dans le domaine agricole à la disposition de la Communauté internationale, à travers la coopération bilatérale et multilatérale.
Pour terminer nous appuyons la déclaration du délégué du Ghana qui a parlé au nom du Groupe africain.
CHAIRMAN: I believe we can now proceed to the voting. May I ask the delegates of Australia and Jamaica to serve as tellers and to proceed to the voting area please.
Each voter will be given one ballot paper on which there are three boxes marked "In favour", "Against" or "Abstention". Votes are expressed by placing a cross in the box corresponding to your choice. The Assistant Secretary-General will now call the countries to vote.
Vote
Vote
Votación
CHAIRMAN: The voting is now complete and I will ask the tellers to proceed to the counting area. Whilst the count takes place, we will resume the debate. I invite Mr Waleed A. Elkhereiji to take the Chair.
Waleed A. ELKHEREIJI, Vice-chairman of the Conference, took the chair
Waleed A. ELKHEREIJI, Vice-Président de la Conférence, assume la présidence
Ocupa la presidencia Waleed A. ELKHEREIJI, Vicepresidente de la Conferencia
GENERAL DISCUSSION (continued)
DEBAT GENERAL (suite)
DEBATE GENERAL (continuación)
- STATEMENTS BY HEADS OF DELEGATIONS (continued)
DECLARATION DES CHEFS DE DELEGATION (suite)
MANIFESTACIONES POR LOS JEFES DE LAS DELEGACIONES (continuación)
Erik DERYCKE (Belgique): La Belgique, exerçant en ce moment la présidence du Conseil de la Communauté européenne, j'ai l'honneur, Monsieur le Président, de prendre la parole au nom de la Communauté européenne et de ses Etats membres.
Nous espérons que sous votre direction, cette 27ème session de la Conférence générale de la FAO pourra poursuivre et conclure avec succès ses délibérations.
Permettez-moi de féliciter le nouveau Directeur général de la FAO, Monsieur Jacques Diouf, dont je salue à la fois les mérites et l'expérience politiques, les qualités du diplomate et l'expertise de l’eminent agronome. Je suis convaincu que sa polyvalence professionnelle l'aidera à assumer les lourdes responsabilités qui lui incombent désormais. Il pourra compter, dans sa mission, sur la coopération constructive de la Communauté et de ses Etats membres, en vue des liens qui unissent l'Europe et les pays en voie de développement.
Je voudrais également rendre hommage à Monsieur Edouard Saouma, qui a assuré à travers des années difficiles la direction de cette Organisation.
Je saisis enfin cette occasion pour souhaiter la bienvenue aux 10 nouveaux membres de la FAO.
Monsieur le Président, il y a deux ans, la Communauté européenne était admise parmi les Membres de cette Organisation et le moment semble venu de faire un premier bilan. Il n'est pas exagéré de dire que, du point de vue de ses Etats membres, l'admission de la Communauté européenne à la FAO a renforcé les liens qui les unissent.
Dans bien des cas, cette adhésion a servi de catalyseur à des positions communes, fruits d'efforts de coordination et d'une réflexion menée dans un esprit constructif.
Bien sûr, le travail de convergence des politiques des Etats Membres dans tous les domaines d'activités de la FAO en est encore à ses débuts mais, à ce stade, les résultats sont déjà prometteurs. Ils traduisent à leur manière la réalisation des objectifs du traité sur l'union européenne, à savoir la défense de positions communes dans tous les domaines où les Etats Membres ont des intérêts importants en commun.
De la sorte, la Communauté et ses Etats membres ont l'ambition de contribuer de manière significative à la réalisation des buts originels de cette Organisation qui restent, plus que jamais, d'actualité.
Cette participation s'inscrit en outre dans la logique de la promotion d'un progrès économique et social équilibré, et d'un développement durable qui est l'objectif central de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur l'environnement et le développement et dans le cadre politique mis en place par les Conseils des Ministres de la coopération au développement de la Communauté européenne.
Le suivi de la Conférence internationale sur la nutrition (CIN) constitue un autre pilier du programme de travail à moyen terme. Il reçoit la plus grande attention des Etats membres de la Communauté européenne. Ils espèrent que la mise en oeuvre du plan d'action, qui puise ses objectifs aux sources du mandat de la FAO, mobilisera des moyens appropriés.
Monsieur le Président, le sous-développement économique et les conditions de vie inacceptables de centaines de millions d'habitants de la planète constituent une préoccupation majeure de la Communauté et des Etats membres. Ils contribuent à différentes institutions et programmes des Nations Unies et ont aussi leurs propres accords pour venir en aide à ces pays et ces populations. Pour citer un chiffre, je voudrais vous rappeler que la Communauté et ses Etats membres contribuent pour 45 pour cent dans l'ensemble de l'aide publique au développement (APD) . La moitié de cette assistance est consacrée aux pays les moins avancés (PMA) et pour exprimer cette aide en pourcentage du PNB (produit national brut), nous atteignons 0,43 pour cent, ce qui est sensiblement supérieur à la moyenne des pays de l'OCDE qui est de 0,33 pour cent. Enfin, dans le budget total de la FAO, les contributions des Etats membres de la Communauté s'élèvent à 37 pour cent.
Toutefois, comme je viens de le dire, le bilan de ces trois dernières décennies de développement ne peut guère être qualifié de positif pour toutes les régions du monde.
En cette fin de siècle, la malnutrition frappe encore trop d'êtres humains, la sécurité alimentaire est dans trop de régions compromise par les fléaux que sont les catastrophes naturelles et, hélas, de plus en plus souvent, celles dont l'homme est lui-même responsable.
Ces situations de détresse se sont multipliées, obligeant dans certains cas la communauté internationale à mener de front et dans l'urgence des missions de secours humanitaire et de rétablissement de la paix.
Cette évolution nous oblige, pays du Sud comme du Nord, à une réévaluation approfondie de nos politiques et de leur mise en oeuvre.
Pour ce qui est de la FAO, les Etats membres de la Communauté considèrent que les progrès accomplis dans la lutte pour le développement des moins nantis ont été inégaux selon les domaines d'activités.
Ils sont d'avis que la FAO, comme centre d'information, de collecte et d'analyse des données, a prouvé son rôle irremplaçable.
L'admission de nouveaux membres, principalement d'Europe centrale et orientale, ne pourra que conforter la FAO dans cette mission en améliorant encore la couverture géographique de sa base de données au bénéfice de tous les pays membres.
L'utilité de notre Organisation, comme forum de discussion, notamment pour formuler des normes et établir des codes de conduite, est également
indiscutable. Citons, à cet égard, les travaux menés dans -le secteur phytosanitaire ou photogénétique, le Codex Alimentarius. Saluons plus récemment, dans le domaine de la pêche, l'élaboration d'un accord pour promouvoir le respect des mesures de protection de l'environnement par les bâteaux qui pêchent en haute mer.
Dans d'autres domaines, les résultats des efforts entrepris n'ont pas toujours répondu aux espoirs de la Communauté internationale. Ils suscitent dans certains cas des interrogations quant à l'Organisation de la coopération intergouvernementale au sein de la FAO.
Un travail de rationalisation des activités des Comités intergouvernementaux devrait être envisagé pour éviter la répétition de certains débats à divers niveaux de l'Organisation.
Les Etats membres de la Communauté européenne souhaiteraient aussi que la FAO renforce son niveau d'expertise dans les missions de Conseil technique en politique agricole et alimentaire qu'elle remplit auprès des gouver-nements. La poursuite de cette mission essentielle de transfert du savoir ne peut se trouver compromise par le développement d'autres activités, si souhaitables soient-elles.
Enfin, Monsieur le Président, la FAO déploie également des activités opérationnelles sur le terrain. Il serait souhaitable que ces activités fassent l'objet d'un processus d'identification et de conception plus performant.
Les Etats membres de la Communauté continueront à défendre les activités opérationnelles de la FAO. Elles concrétisent en effet leur engagement en faveur d'un monde plus juste et garantissent également le maintien d'un haut niveau d'expertise. A leurs yeux, un équilibre doit être respecté entre toutes les activités, qu'il s'agisse d'activités normatives, de conseil politique ou de type opérationnel.
L'équilibre du programme d'activités et son exécution fructueuse dépendent au premier chef des ressources dont disposera la FAO.
Les Etats membres sont appelés à se prononcer au cours de cette Conférence sur les propositions de budget dans un contexte de restrictions des crédits disponibles. Dans ce contexte de pénurie de ressources, les Etats membres de la Communauté insistent pour que tous les pays membres paient leurs contributions en entier et ponctuellement. C'est là une obligation fondamentale dont les Etats membres de la Communauté européenne ne manquent pas de s'acquitter. L'effort ainsi consenti n'est ni moindre, ni supérieur à celui requis des autres contributeurs, qu'ils soient petits ou grands. Chaque pays est appelé à faire une contribution en fonction de sa capacité à payer, déterminée par des indicateurs économiques et financiers. Les défauts de paiement représentent des manquements sérieux aux engagements pris, difficilement compatibles avec la volonté d'exercer une influence décisive sur les orientations qui guideront pour l'avenir l'action des Etats membres de la Communauté au sein de la FAO.
A l'instar du secteur socio-économique du système des Nations Unies, la FAO devra elle aussi adapter ses capacités aux nouveaux défis d'un contexte mondial plus incertain que jamais.
Tout d'abord, l'érosion structurelle des ressources consacrées au développement, par suite des restrictions budgétaires opérées dans de
nombreux pays industrialisés, impose une utilisation toujours plus performante des fonds disponibles. L'amélioration de la qualité de l'aide depuis la conception des projets jusqu'à leur suivi doit être poursuivie sans relâche.
A cet égard, la Communauté et ses Etats membres saluent comme un progrès encourageant le travail que le Secrétariat a réalisé pour améliorer la lisibilité et la pertinence des documents relatifs au Programme de travail et à son évaluation. Ils espèrent que les méthodes de travail adoptées seront encore perfectionnées et qu'au fil des versions, ces documents deviendront de véritables outils au service des Etats Membres dans le processus de décision.
Ensuite, la recherche d'une plus grande cohérence et une complémentarité entre, d'une part, les opérations d'urgence à court terme et, d'autre part, les actions de développement durable doit être poursuivie en priorité. La réhabilitation des terres et la remise au travail des populations sinistrées sont l'étape indispensable pour sortir d'un cercle vicieux où les crises humanitaires se succéderaient sans perspective d'espoir pour leurs victimes.
En troisième lieu, il y a la notion de développement durable, qui se révèle être un problème crucial pour l'avenir. Lors de la Conférence de la nutrition tenue à Rome en décembre dernier, les Etats membres se sont déclarés déterminés à éliminer la faim et la malnutrition. Ces derniers sont inacceptables dans un monde qui dispose des connaissances et des ressources appropriées pour y mettre fin. Les Etats membres de la Communauté européenne insistent pour que les politiques et les programmes de développement intègrent dès leur conception les contraintes qui conditionnent l'amélioration durable du bien-être de l'humanité et de son état nutritionnel dans le respect de l'environnement.
Aujourd'hui, le rôle multifonctionnel de l'agriculture s'insère directement dans le concept du développement durable. Il est admis partout que l'agriculture doit à la fois assurer une fonction de production et donc de sécurité alimentaire tout en conservant pour l'avenir les ressources naturelles. Notre devoir est donc de mettre en place des politiques novatrices et cohérentes, intégrant des objectifs qui souvent semblent divergents à première vue. En effet, comment concilier de manière optimale les impératifs d'un développement qui réponde aux besoins croissants, immédiats et futurs, des populations et la préservation de l'héritage biologique pour les générations de demain?
C'est grâce aux capacités imaginatives de l'homme et aux techniques de pointe que celui-ci pourra répondre à ce défi. La biotechnologie et son corollaire, le maintien de la biodiversité, devraient nous apporter sinon des solutions du moins des pistes prometteuses pour atteindre un développement agricole durable. Ce dernier est inconcevable sans le respect des cultures et des traditions de tout un chacun. Il ne peut non plus se passer de la participation des hommes. Il devra en plus sauvegarder un rapport équilibré entre la croissance démographique et les ressources disponibles entre les zones rurales et les zones urbaines. Pour atteindre cet objectif, des instruments spécifiques devront être mis au point en harmonie avec les données socio-économiques du contexte où ils s'appliqueront.
Les contraintes du développement durable débordent largement du cadre des considérations commerciales. Sans une prise de conscience de ce genre, les ressources risquent de ne pas être affectées de manière adéquate au plan
mondial. L'objectif premier de l'Organisation est de vaincre la faim, véritable fléau de l'humanité. En cette fin de siècle, même si les doutes nous assaillent de toute part, la Communauté et ses Etats membres partagent la conviction que, seule, la solidarité peut rendre espoir au village Terre et lui garantir la pérennité. Pour que cet espoir se réalise la maxime de la FAO, Fiat panis, va devenir une réalité pour le plus grand nombre.
Au nom de la Communauté et de ses Etats membres, je vous remercie.
CHAIRMAN: (Original language Arabie): 1 should like to thank the distinguished delegate of Belgium for his kind words and for his statement indicating that the Member States of EEC will continue their support of the field operations of FAO.
PART IV - APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS (continued)
QUATRIEME PARTIE - NOMINATIONS ET ELECTIONS (suite)
PARTE IV - NOMBRAMIENTOS Y ELECCIONES (continuación)
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I now wish to declare the result of the voting for the membership of South Africa.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): Since South Africa has achieved the required majority, I hereby declare that South Africa is re-admitted as a Member of the Organization, with full participation rights to take effect as from the date on which the Transitional Executive Council is instituted and commences functioning. I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate South Africa on its re-admission. I wish every success to the Transitional Executive Council.
GENERAL DISCUSSION (continued)
DEBAT GENERAL (suite)
DEBATE GENERAL (continuación)
- STATEMENTS BY HEADS OF DELEGATIONS (continued)
- DECLARATION DES CHEFS DE DELEGATION (suite)
- MANIFESTACIONES POR LOS JEFES DE LAS DELEGACIONES (continuación)
Juan Agustín FIGUEROA YAVAR (Chile): Me corresponde, Señor Presidente, por segunda y última vez, como Ministro de Agricultura de la República de Chile, dirigirme a esta magna Asamblea, y lo hago plenamente consciente de que estamos atravesando un momento turbulento y crucial en el mundo agrario y rural.
El persistente flagelo del hambre y la desnutrición; una creciente deforestación; alarmante pérdida de recursos naturales por su erosión; la polución de las aguas y del aire; el avance de los desiertos; la pérdida de la biodiversidad; la amenazante transformación de la atmósfera y la persistencia de expresiones de extrema pobreza y pauperismo, nos reflejan un cuadro extremadamente alarmante y dramático. Ha contribuido a que los trazos sean más oscuros y las sombras más profundas en constante deterioro en los precios de los transables agrícolas lo que ha repercutido muy negativamente en los países netamente exportadores que han visto malogrados sus términos de intercambio, disminuyendo sus posibilidades de exportación, amenazar su capacidad de pago de la deuda externa y seriamente reducir los ingresos de los agricultores, tanto pequeños como medianos y grandes.
Para un país en desarrollo y de escasa gravitación comercial internacional como Chile, nuestros medios de acción son también muy limitados. No pretendemos enseñar a nadie ni erigirnos en ejemplo de nadie; pero mostrando el camino por nosotros seguido, con sus errores y aciertos, podemos contribuir a que otros no cometan nuestras faltas y sean aún más exitosos en nuestros aciertos.
Con esta modesta meta, pero valiosa intención, queremos explicarles las tres líneas cardinales de nuestra politicai agraria que apuntan al desmantelamiento de los proteccionismos; a la mejora de la comercialización y al aumento de la productividad.
Desmantelamiento de los proteccionismos. Hemos obtenido, con la más íntima y persistente convicción, que las prêcticais proteccionistas distorsionan gravemente el comercio agrícola mundial y produce un gigantesco daño a los países exportadores, principalmente a los en desarrollo. Las medidas de apoyo interno, las limitaciones de acceso a los mercados, la invocación de pretextos fito y zoosanitarios, y los perversos subsidios a las exportaciones, van construyendo una verdadera ciudadela protegida tras cuyos muros se encuentran prósperos agricultores de países prósperos,
cercados por granjeros en situación socioeconómica crecientemente aflictiva.
La caída de este muro económico no se ha producido y, por el contrario, hemos visto que se ha ido crecientemente artillando y aumentando su altura y su espesor, en expresiones de neoproteccionismo que vulneran incluso los acuerdos de statu-quo adoptados al comienzo de la Ronda Uruguay del GATT.
Nuestra activa participación en dichas negociaciones, nuestra pertenencia al grupo CAIRNS, en procura de un espacio en la mesa de negociaciones para obtener la multilateralización de la rotativas; nuestra clamorosa voz en todos los foros internacionales en que hemos participado, son una muestra de la decisión de nuestra inquebrantable voluntad de no cejar en este objetivo. Reitero aquí lo que muchas veces hemos manifestado, en el sentido de que la fecha límite para la Ronda de Uruguay expire el 15 de Diciembre próximo, y que ella no finalizará si no se produce un acuerdo equitativo y equilibrado respecto de la agricultura.
También hemos intentado los caminos bilaterales para obtener mejores accesos a los mercados y en este ámbito se inscriben los múltiples tratados de libre comercio y acuerdos de complementación económica, que hemos firmado, además del uso de mecanismos regionales, tales como la ALADI y el SELA.
Tampoco hemos eludido recurrir a las sedes jurisdiccionales internacionales y así hemos provocado sucesivos paneles en el GATT cuando hemos estimado que nuestros derechos se encuentran conculcados.
Quiero, sin embargo, dejar muy en claro que nuestra adhesión a los principios del libre comercio están inspirados por una visión realista y pragmática, de manera que reconocemos las peculiaridades y situaciones propias de cada país y región.
Así será indispensable aplicar criterios de gradualidad y reconversión. No debemos nunca olvidar que en el centro de la problemática está el hombre y los principios y posturas ideológicas se acuñan y son válidos sólo en función suya.
Mejora de la comercialización. La post-cosecha y comercialización es en nuestro país una gravísima limitación, sobre todo para los pequeños y medianos agricultores. Esfuerzos de todo un año y más, y la aplicación de técnicas adecuadas, muchas veces se ven frustradas por grandes pérdidas en la guarda y en el transporte, o por expresiones de mercado que encarecen sustancialmente los insumos o hacen que la cadena de intermediación sea la gran beneficiaria, con desmedro de las justas expectativas de agricultores y encarecimiento para el consumidor.
Todos los esfuerzos dirigidos a mejorar la infraestructura de transporte, acopio y preservación, a organizar a los productores para mejorar su mercadeo de insumos y productos y tratar de corregir toda expresión distorsionante del mercado, tales como monopolios y oligopolios, a propender a un acceso expedito a las fuentes crediticias, a incrementar el ahorro y la capitalización, son caminos que hemos emprendido y que han dado fructíferos resultados.
Siempre en la perspectiva de la comercialización, hemos procurado que el consumidor cuente con la mayor información posible, de manera que sea él
quien, por esta vía, provoque el mejoramiento de todos los- eslabones productivos.
En esta iniciativa se anota la ley de tipificación de la carne, los distintos reglamentos de comercialización y las exigencias de exacta rotulación.
Es digno de destacarse también el esfuerzo conjugado del sector publico y privado para la apertura de nuevos mercados. Nuestra diplomacia, el propio Presidente- de la República, y nuestros esforzados e imaginativos empresarios, han jugado un papel esencial aumentando y diversificando nuestro comercio a posiciones que hace 20 años eran inimaginables.
Aumento de la productividad. Nuestro país ha puesto especial acento en los aumentos de la productividad. La investigación científica, el aumento sustancial de la transferencia tecnológica, el privilegiar las ventajas comparativas y competitivas, el cuidar rigurosamente nuestro patrimonio fito y zoosanitario, el estimular poderosamente las nuevas obras de irrigación con una enorme inversión pública, el mejoramiento de puertos y vías, apuntan en su conjunto a un incremento productivo.
Estamos convencidos que la mejor respuesta para nuestros productores, es poner la tónica en altas calidades y una gran variedad de oferta, lo que estará destinado a satisfacer los mercados más exigentes, siempre dispuestos a pagar los mejores precios.
Medio ambiente v pobreza rural. Las tres referidas líneas fundamentales se encuentran atravesadas por dos grandes preocupaciones que han sido un norte constante en nuestra política: La preservación del medio ambiente y la biodiversidad y la superación de la pobreza rural. Somos conscientes de que estas son dos caras de una misma medalla y entre ellas se produce un vicioso fenómeno de retroalimentación. Por esto es por lo que debemos atacar ambas en forma simultánea. Nuestra obligación ética y solidaria con el hombre de hoy y de mañana nos impulsa a una irrenunciable tarea para procurar las dos finalidades señaladas: democracia y respeto a los derechos del hombre, actual y futuro, y a su entorno nuestra adhesión a la democracia en esta visión omnicomprensiva es absoluta e incommovible.
La FAO y su tarea. En la gigantesca gama de urgentes requerimientos a los que me he referido no hay un arma más poderosa que esta Organización. Su fortalecimiento es una obligación ineludible, indisolublemente ligada a la solidaridad como valor cultural esencial. Como toda obra, es perfectible y debe estar constantemente sujeta a mejoras en eficiencia y productividad. En tal sentido, creemos necesario poner énfasis en su descentralización y en lo urgente que resulta focalizar también situaciones nuevas tales como las economías agrarias en transición, muy particularmente en el centro y el este europeo, tarea hasta ahora no emprendida.
No quiero terminar mis palabras sin reiterar mi gratitud para aquéllos que apoyaron nuestra postulación a la Dirección General de este Organismo. La muestra de lealtad de América Latina y el Caribe, la profunda amistad de algunos países europeos y la solidaridad de otros en varios continentes, nos comprometen. Seguiremos estrechamente asociados a este Organismo y nuestros mejores hombres están dispuestos a contribuir con su talento al éxito común.
Mis últimas expresiones sean de admiracicm a la obra de Edouard Saouma, inteligencia superior y espíritu luchador y tesonero, que condujo a la FAO
hacia su modernidad y actual proyección. Le rindo un cordial homenaje por su obra señera.
Issa KALANTARI (Iran, Islamic Republic of): First and foremost, on behalf of myself and the delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran, I should like to offer my most sincere congratulations to your Excellency on your appointment as the Chairman of the Organization's Conference.
On behalf of my Government, I would also like sincerely to congratulate His Excellency Mr Jacques Diouf, the distinguished newly-elected Director-General of the Organization, and assure His Excellency of the full support of my Government for his endeavours. Moreover, I extend my wholehearted gratitude and appreciation to Mr Edouard Saouma, the out-going Director-General, who made every possible effort to bring about the goals of the Organization throughout his tenure.
We live in a world where so many changes are occurring expeditiously and similtaneously, and well-established patterns are undergoing substantial alterations, yet unfortunately our main task, that is, alleviation of hunger and poverty, is changing in a negative direction.
We believe the world should be based not only on efficiency but on equity of rights, which is a great challenge for all of us as well as the Organization.
We believe now is the time when political decisions, probably more than ever, may shape our eventual destiny.
Integration of technological research, with socio-economic and policy research together with the full utilization of traditional technologies and modern biotechnological methods, should be placed among the priorities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The theme of this year's World Food Day was biodiversity, which underlined the significance of plant and animal genetic resources.
Genetic resources are the common heritage of mankind and should be preserved and freely available for the benefit of the present and future generations.
The FAO's Commission on Plant Genetic Resources should play the role of a leading international forum for negotiations on these very vital resources.
Every country's food security and nutritional status heavily depends upon its co-ordinated national policies as well as international commitments.
The Organization's Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95 is accepted by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, provided that the Director-General is granted the authority to suggest new plans for transferring credits between chapters.
As for FAO's 1994-99 Medium-term Plan, we insist that the issue of human resources development be the Organizations's first priority in all its agricultural activities. In the light of Agenda 21 of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro some key points within the concept of sustainability and development should be highlighted and underscored through the FAO's functions.
Firstly, due to the lack of financial facilities, and in order to meet their basic needs, the farmers of developing countries overexploit their natural resources and environment and thus bring about the destruction of such resources. Therefore, socio-economic development is of prime importance in those countries and can eventually lead to environmental protection.
Secondly, in the developing countries, the problems of the sustainability of agricultural development activities usually emanate from the lack of agricultural research, agricultural inputs and environmentally sound technologies on the one hand, and improper agricultural practices on the other. Thus, special attention should be paid to these essential needs of the developing world within the framework of FAO's functions.
Thirdly, we are of the strong opinion that natural resources are the basic source for and supportive of every kind of agricultural development and that increased attention should be called to the conservation of such resources in every region of the world, in particular the developing countries.
The time is ripe for taking decisive steps to conserve and sustainably utilize the world's forest resources. In this respect, it should be noted that there ought to be an equitable burden-sharing for the sustainable development of the world's forests by all countries and for all types of forests in all ecological zones. In line with this approach, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations should assist its developing Member Nations in the deliberation and implementation of their national forest action programmes in accordance with their specific needs.
Learning from the past examples of overexploitation of fish stocks, the recent uncontrolled and fast-increasing fishing efforts in the Indian Ocean will most certainly lead to economic, if not also biological, problems in the course of time. To avoid this, we call for immediate collective management of fisheries directly by the bordering countries.
In this respect, the Islamic Republic of Iran is keenly interested in any cooperative fishing venture with other bordering states.
It is evident that the current status of the international agricultural commodities trade is totally harmful for the developing countries. Unfortunately, in spite of the spread of hunger and malnutrition in the Third World, major producers keep reducing the prices of agricultural commodities through export subsidies, and thus damage the status of production in such countries.
Here I should like to point out the agricultural achievements of Iran's Five-Year Development Plan: during the period, we achieved the average annual growth performance of 5.3 percent by the integrated implementation of projects in the fields of soil and water, research, training and extension, agronomy, animal husbandry, fishery as well as natural resources together with the development of mechanization and inducing comprehensive changes in the structure of exploitation systems.
In conclusion, allow me to raise two points which I should like to be taken into consideration by the new Director-General, Mr Diouf.
One is the expansion of this valuable practice of introduction and appraisal of the most diligent and hard-working farmer, expert,
administrator, and researcher from different continents who have achieved success in contributing something of high significance to the world's food and agriculture.
The second is to consider an innovation in the procedure and agenda of the FAO Conferences and General Meetings. I understand this current way of holding these very eminent gatherings has come to a point of monotony and boredom, which has, for decades, been practising without any variety and newness. I suggest it is now high time for it to undergo some change and novelty.
In the end, wishing this Conference all the success, I hope we will take all advantage of the opportunities created by this gathering.
Niphon PROMPHAN (Thailand): Mr Chairman, Director General, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen on behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the People of Thailand, I am deeply honoured to address the Twenty-Seventh Session of the FAO Conference. I shall begin by congratulating you, Mr Chairman, and the Vice-chairman upon the elections to the bureau of this Conference.
I also wish to extend my sincere congratulations to the new Director-General of the FAO, Mr Jacques Diouf. His election to the leadership of this Organization is indeed a tribute to his personal qualities and experiences as well as to the friendly country of Senegal. I want to assure the new Director-General of our full cooperation to him and to the activities of the Organization.
I would also like to place on record our appreciation of the work of the FAO under the leadership of Mr Edouard Saouma, Director-General of FAO, during his terms in office. This is the last FAO Conference he is attending in his present capacity. We wish him and his family happiness, good health and a very long and successful life.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome the new members of the FAO today. We sincerely hope their membership will be of mutual benefit to the new members as well as to the FAO.
May I recall that in 1992 there were two historical conferences concerning the better world community: firstly, the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Brazil; and, secondly, the International Conference on Nutrition in Rome.
The world community is seriously concerned about the world's environment which has been deteriorating at an alarming rate. The recommendations of UNCED regarding food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries have placed multiple demands for action at international, regional and national levels on governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations.
FAO has played and continues to play a major role in following the outcome of UNCED. My delegation notes with satisfaction the measures taken by the FAO in introducing sustainability criteria in all FAO activities, streamlining the FAO Special Action Programmes and contributing to UNCED and its follow-up. We also support the medium-term plan (1994-99) . The main priority is to operationalize the International Cooperatives Programme Framework for sustainable agriculture and Rural Development.
At the national level, the Government of Thailand has responded positively and promptly to the outcome of UNCED. The 7th National Economic and Social Development Plan (1992-96) emphasizes quality and sustainability in the areas of human resource development, the quality of life, the environment and the natural resources. My Government would like to see the funding mechanisms -- namely, the Global Environment Facility -- fully assisting governments in solving global environmental problems and transferring appropriate technology.
Regarding -the Second Conference, ICN, my delegation is very grateful to the FAO and the World Health Organization who successfully convened this conference in Rome. We hope the FAO will continue to work closely with other UN organizations in the years to come. My delegation fully endorses the activities carried out by the FAO along the line of the ICN's Declaration on Nutrition and Plan of Action. Our experience in Thailand indicates that community-based nutrition intervention programmes have a better chance of sustainability.
You may recall that in 1991, the FAO Conference endorsed the proposal to set up a Secretariat for the International Plant Protection Convention within the framework of FAO Plant Production and Protection Division. The major aim of this unit is to facilitate trade in agricultural products. This unit will also provide expertise in cases of disagreement on the impact of plant quarantine measures in trade, at the request of the contracting parties in GATT.
Today, we are grateful to the progress of this unit and would like to endorse the establishment of the expert committee on phytosanitary measures to be appointed by the Director-General of FAO, in which the experts are nominated by the Regional Plant Protection Organizations. May I point out that unjustified quarantine restrictions would definitely be used to limit the free flow of agricultural trade, particularly from developing countries. I would therefore urge the FAO to always be aware of the principles and procedures of the international harmonization of plant quarantine. This is necessary to prevent the unjustified use of quarantine as a barrier for agricultural trade.
My delegation is pleased to see the attention given to the Uruguay Round of the GATT by the world community. Moreover, the agricultural negotiation is a crucial part of the Round, not only for consumers and producers in developed countries but also for developing countries where distorted prices and limited market access are affecting agricultural development and employment which are harmful to the efficiency of world food producers. The date of 15 December 1993 is a real deadline and it cannot be extended. The remaining two months must be used to ensure that the Round is successful. Therefore, on behalf of my delegation, I strongly urge that member countries of FAO who participate in the negotiation should fully support the efforts of GATT Director-General and commit themselves, as always, to work positively and constructively, aiming to achieve a genuine liberalization in agricultural trade.
The marine resources of the world and the freedom to fish in the high seas are a common heritage and the right of mankind. For some time, however, it has been evident that fishing grounds are over-exploited. As a result, there has been a growing awareness of the harmful effects of over-exploitation of the marine resources on the ocean's ecosystem. Therefore, my delegation very much welcomes the initiative of FAO in developing a Code
of Conduct on Responsible Fishing, following the Cancun Declaration of May 1992. We are also in agreement with the scope of the Code.
With regard to the reflagging of fishing vessels for the purpose of avoiding internationally-agreed conservation and management measures on the high seas, my delegation appreciates the FAO initiative to develop the International Agreement on the Flagging of Vessels Fishing on the High Seas. We hope this agreement will be accepted by all parties concerned.
As you know, forestry is widely recognized as a fundamental resource in the process of diversifying rural employment opportunities and generating income for those living in the rural areas. My country has always been strongly of the view that FAO is the head agency in the field of forestry in assisting the Member Nations to implement forestry plans. In order to respond to the UNCED's call for more attention on forestry activities, my delegation is very pleased that the Director-General has tried to increase the resources for the FAO Forest Department since the 103rd Session of the FAO Council.
With regard to the establishment of a Consultative Group on the Tropical Forests Action Programme under Article VI.5 of the FAO Constitution, my delegation has no difficulty in supporting the Consultative Group. However, we wish to see this Consultative Group starting work as soon as possible. My country would ensure our concerted and coordinated cooperation with the Consultative Group in solving tropical forestry problems.
My delegation is very pleased with the theme of the 1993 World Food Day, namely harvesting nature's biodiversity. It is, in fact, related to the statement recently made by the FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Obaidullah Khan. We also note that biodiversity is concentrated more in the developing regions, particularly in the tropics and sub-tropics, than in the industrialized nations.
Sustainable agriculture and rural development, which is central to the FAO's programmes, highlights the need for the conservation of genetic resources and biodiversity. My delegation welcomes the FAO's role in building up the capacity of developing countries to conserve and use biodiversity as a means of reducing hunger and poverty. Therefore, I would urge the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific to implement the programme of action along these lines in its future programmes. It would be very much appreciated if the FAO (RAPA) could concentrate its activities more on biodiversity in the next biennium 1994-95.
In relation to the Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95, my delegation wishes to support the proposed budget of US$676.9 million. FAO has definitely a major role to play in food matters, especially with regard to the channelling of technical assistance to those countries in need. I would, therefore, like to express satisfaction with the priority that the FAO gives to the Environment and Sustainable Development Programme in the Programme of Work and Budget submitted for the consideration of this Conference.
May I now turn to the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP). My delegation feels that this programme is of a very high value, due to its catalytic role in rural agricultural development. The Programme normally responds promptly to the needs for technical assistance of developing countries in the production of food and agriculture, fisheries, forestry as well as in emergency cases. Mr Chairman, you might recall Resolution 9/89 at the
25th Session of the FAO Conference. My delegation regrets -that the resources available for the TCP in 1994-95 have been reduced since the Conference endorsed that Resolution.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to inform all distinguished delegates that Thailand will host the forthcoming session of the FAO Intergovernmental Group on Rice in Bangkok from 28 November to 2 December 1994. Thailand will be most honoured if distinguished delegates could participate in this meeting. Our invitation also extends to the authorities concerned as well as private sectors in your own capitals. Rice production is one of Thailand's most specialized economic activities in agriculture. We would, therefore, like to share this expertise with the world community, in particular the FAO Member Nations and the international organizations which are interested and/or engaged in rice production, consumption and trade.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I thank the delegate of Thailand for his statement, and also for his kind invitation t o the FAO Intergovernmetal Group on Rice in Bangkok.
Bjorn WESTH (Denmark): To begin with I wish to congratulate you, Mr President, on your election. I also congratulate and welcome the nine duly elected Member States of FAO and the re-admission of South Africa. Let me further congratulate Mr Diouf who yesterday was elected Director-General of this Organization for the coming six years. I also wish the outgoing Director-General, Mr Saouma, a pleasant retirement.
The general economic downturn which started in 1990 continued in 1993, and the prospects for recovery are still uncertain. At the same time, the world is undergoing rapid changes. Many new states are emerging with a democratic rule and some regions which for long periods have been troubled by conflict are now following a more peaceful road. Although there are still conflict areas in the world I hope that the new democratic and peaceful trend will expand further in order that in the future our attention and, indeed, additional resources can be directed towards improving the lives of the world's population.
Here in FAO we should aim at increasing food production as well as food security and at assuring a more even distribution and easier access to the food produced in this world. However, an increase in world food production is still threatened by natural and man-made disasters and population growth. In spite of encouraging trends, still more people than ever are hungry. There are now an estimated five hundred million hungry people in the developing world. This is unacceptable.
The enviromental issue in agriculture, forestry and fisheries is of concern not only to individual nations; it is an international issue which does not respect frontiers.
The fight to ensure freedom from hunger cannot be won unless the planet's natural resources and environment are safeguarded. The commitments undertaken by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio must be implemented. We have to solve this problem in collaboration through global action. The UN System, including FAO, must participate by providing the best possible framework to secure the necessary international action and cooperation in this important area.
Denmark has a long-standing and firm commitment to support, the poor and underprivileged people in the world. The main priorities of our development policy are sustainable development and improved economic and social conditions for the poorest groups of people in the poorest developing countries.
Rural development, food production, and food security are key elements in reaching these objectives and therefore we take an active part in the work of FAO.
Last year Denmark spent 1 percent of our Gross National Product on Official Development Assistance. If more countries would meet this target, we would be able to increase dramatically the volume of financial support for developing countries. In this connection, I fail to understand why a large proportion of FAO Member Nations including some of the more important ones, have not paid their assessed contribution on time and in full to FAO. An organization with 2/3 of its Member Nations in arrears is an organization in serious crisis.
Some ten years ago, my Government started a dialogue for an accelerated reform process here in FAO in order to revitalize the Organization. The outcome of that process (in the form of reintroducing a medium-term plan) was encouraging, but has so far not sufficiently answered the call for reforms.
Let me clearly underline that to me and to my Governmethere is no alternative to an effective United Nations Systemandinthe importansectors of food agricultur, fisheries and forestry. Werequian efficient FAO.
With the Nordic UN Project, Denmark and the other Nordic countries have put forward concrete proposals for much needed reforms in the governance and financing of the UN's development activities. We strongly hope that substantial decisions will be taken during this General Assembly on these issues. But that alone does not ensure the reform process. I feel that the time is overdue for a far-reaching reform also of the Specialized Agencies.
My Government wishes to call for better cooperation in the UN System in order that the tragedy of hunger can be eliminated altogether. The hunger situation is being dealt with in an unconcerted manner in too many different fora, leading to a dispersion of the UN's efforts in this area. We call for a much clearer definition of areas of responsibility between the different UN agencies. This would at the same time bring about a higher level of responsiveness.
A reform of FAO must include a fundamental change in our working methods. It is not in accordance with today's customs that we spend so much time in meetings. The complex system of a "3-week Conference", "The Council" and the numerous "Technical Committees" together with the way decisions - or lack of them - are being arrived at and recorded, must be streamlined and simplified. We require a transparent system where, at the end of the Conference or any other meeting, as responsible ministers we have clearly in front of us what action we must take on returning home.
It is evident that reforms are required. Efforts should be made to eradicate waste and mismanagement so that contributions can be utilized for the optimum benefit of the developing countries and not lost in bureaucracy
and inefficiency. The continued solidarity and support of .Danish taxpayers ' and many others depend on that.
The Organization must further sharpen its priority setting and even phase out some activities which are marginal. We should give higher priority to strategy and policy setting. We must stop measuring our success in millions of dollars spent. Concrete results must be the yardstick by which we measure. This measure could, for example, be a decrease in the unacceptably high number of hungry people in this world.
We have to re-establish confidence in the FAO, and we have to ensure that it can serve as an effective forum for exchange of views on technical matters and also as the global agricultural summit. I would therefore like to extend to the new Director-General an invitation to discuss with us and other interested parties ways and means to reform FAO. Without reform, I am afraid that other channels will be increasingly used.
The Danish Government is committed to ensuring that the questions of human rights and democracy are integrated into the work of FAO. This includes freedom from hunger and the integration of women in the development process as aspects of human rights in FAO's work.
My Government looks forward to a conclusion of the GATT negotiations at the end of this year. In this connection, account should be taken of the vital interests of the developing countries.
Denmark is also closely following the political and economic changes in Central and Eastern Europe, developments which inspire new optimism for our common future.
Let me conclude by repeating that in this rapidly changing world, and for the purpose of increasing efficiency in the UN System, my government is committed to a reform of the entire UN System. FAO, as one of the major and most important UN Specialized Agencies, should be in the forefront of such a process. I therefore invite the new Director-General, together with the Member States, and with the support of the highly skilled staff of the Organization, to embark on a reform process aimed at equipping the Organization to meet the enormous challenges of the coming decades.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I thank the Head of the Danish delegation for his statement, which we have listened to with great interest, especially as far as his appeal for deep-reaching reforms in the work and functioning of our Organization is concerned. We all agree, but I think we should be extremely prudent when talking about changes in order to avoid making mistakes. I give the floor now to His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture of the Tunisian Republic, Mr Mohamed Ben Rajeb, and I should like to take the opportunity to welcome him amongst us in spite of the difficult situation he has to face.
Mohamed Ben REJEB (Tunisie) (Langue originale arabe): Monsieur le Président, Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs, permettez-moi tout d'abord, Monsieur le Président, de vous exprimer au nom de la délégation tunisienne, à vous-même et à Monsieur Jacques Diouf qui vient d'être élu au poste de Directeur général de la FAO, nos plus chaleureuses félicitations et nos voeux les plus sincères. Je voudrais également féliciter les participants à cette vingt-septième session de la Conférence de notre Organisation, en
cette circonstance privilégiée, pour avoir su accorder leur confiance à des hommes éminemment compétents jouissant d'une vaste expérience.
Je voudrais également transmettre au Dr Edouard Saouma, Directeur général sortant au nom de mon pays et de notre Président, Son Excellence Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, l'expression de toute notre estime et lui rendre hommage pour les hauts faits qui ont marqué son mandat et pour la rigueur et la vigueur avec lesquelles il a su diriger la FAO, lui conférant un rôle d'avant-garde dans le développement de l'agriculture et la lutte contre la faim et la-misère dont souffre l'humanité.
En Tunisie, nous estimons à sa juste valeur l'effort aux multiples facettes déployé par la FAO dans ces domaines et croyons en son rôle au service de la sécurité et de la paix. D'ailleurs, les événements que connaît le monde d'aujourd'hui sont là pour confirmer la pertinence de l'appel lancé par le Président de la République tunisienne du haut de cette tribune le 16 octobre 1991 qui disait: "la FAO devrait accorder une priorité absolue dans ses programmes relatifs à l'agriculture, aux projets ayant la sécurité alimentaire pour objectif. Nous avons la ferme conviction que le monde ne saurait connaître paix et sécurité tant que n'aura pas été assurée la sécurité alimentaire pour l'ensemble des nations. Aussi est-ce pour nous un devoir d'appeler du haut de cette tribune à l'élaboration d'une Charte de solidarité internationale en vue de bannir à jamais le spectre de la faim, dans les plus brefs délais".
Ceci est de nature à nous inciter tous à oeuvrer au renforcement des capacités de notre Organisation et à la consolidation de ses efforts afin qu'elle puisse jouer pleinement son rôle dans la réalisation de l'objectif de la sécurité alimentaire mondiale sur la base d'un développement agricole intégral et durable, susceptible de garantir le droit à l'alimentation qui vient en tête des droits fondamentaux de l'homme parce que synonyme du droit à la vie.
Monsieur le Président, Mesdames et Messieurs, les programmes d'action soumis à la Conférence de notre Organisation tiennent clairement compte des questions essentielles qui préoccupent la communauté internationale en matière d'agriculture et d'alimentation. Priorité y est accordée au besoin de donner à la FAO les moyens nécessaires pour qu'elle puisse accomplir son rôle dans la promotion de nouveaux modèles qui répondent tous aux exigences d'un développement durable, de la préservation des ressources et des écosystèmes et de l'aplanissèment des difficultés techniques et économiques, conformément aux recommandations de la CNUED et de la CIN.
De telles orientations sont susceptibles d'imprimer un nouvel élan à l'action de notre Organisation et de donner à son rayonnement une ampleur inédite, notamment en matière d'optimisation des ressources naturelles qui constituent un patrimoine commun à l'humanité tout entière.
Nous appuyons vigoureusement les programmes et initiatives ayant pour objectif de protéger les forêts et les ressources hydrauliques tout en mettant l'accent sur les forêts méditerranéennes eu égard aux nombreux périls qui les menacent, affaiblissant leur action de protection du sol, de développement des ressources hydrauliques et de préservation des ressources biologiques, végétales et animales. Aussi doit-on leur accorder un intérêt particulier, notamment en ce qui concerne le renforcement du couvert forestier, la lutte contre les prédateurs et les incendies ainsi que l'entretien du couvert végétal et la lutte contre la désertification due à
l'érosion éolienne et celle causée par les eaux de ruissellement, contre la salinisation des sols et l'avancée des sables.
La désertification risque de s'aggraver du fait de la rupture des équilibres cultural, forestier et pastoral dans nombre de pays méditerranéens à climat aride ou semi-aride, dont notamment ceux de l'Afrique du nord, menaçant des centaines de milliers de cultivateurs et d'éleveurs dans leur subsistance et leur travail.
Nous sommes convaincus que la communauté internationale a pris conscience de ce danger. A ce propos, un projet de convention internationale de lutte contre la désertification est en cours de préparation, conformément aux dispositions du Point 12 du plan d'Action 21. La Tunisie est particulièrement fière du fait que son expérience en matière d'aménagement des terres et de lutte contre la désertification, puisse servir de référence pour une telle Convention.
De même, ne devons-nous pas perdre de vue l'importance accrue revêtue par la question des ressources phytogénétiques in situ et ex situ, menacées de disparition et qui requièrent de la part de la communauté internationale qu'elle fasse preuve d'une ferme volonté pour établir les bases d'une coopération et d'une complémentarité véritables afin de préserver ces ressources et permettre à tous d'en profiter, dans la mesure où elles constituent un patrimoine commun à l'humanité dans son ensemble.
Monsieur le Président, Excellences, Mesdêimes et Messieurs, la FAO est plus que jamais appelée à jouer un rôle déterminant dans la mise en valeur et le renforcement des capacités propres des Etats Membres soucieux de développer leurs potentialités agricoles et de revitaliser leurs échanges commerciaux, compte tenu du fait que leurs économies dépendent dans une large mesure du secteur agro-alimentaire. Aussi, attendons-nous avec beaucoup d'intérêt les résultats des Négociations d'Uruguay Round dans ce domaine, dans l'espoir qu'ils permettent d'accroître lai part des pays concernés dans le commerce mondial des produits agro-alimentaires.
Si notre Organisation parvient à s'acquitter de son rôle de sensibilisation de la communauté internationale à ses problèmes, le tableau que j'ai brossé de la situation de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation dans le monde en sera plus clair.
Le Plan d'action à moyen terme et les programmes de l'Organisation pour la prochaine période biennale montrent que nous sommes déjà convaincus de l'opportunité d'un tel rôle. Alors, autant oeuvrer à lui donner les moyens adéquats pour qu'elle puisse l'assumer pleinement.
Monsieur le Président, la Tunisie a tenu à introduire les réformes nécessaires en vue d'assurer le décollage tant espéré du secteur agro-alimentaire tout en y associant un effort particulier pour l'amélioration des conditions de vie dans les zones rurales.
Convaincus que le développement agricole, dans une situation comme la nôtre, passe d'abord par le renforcement des ressources naturelles et leur préservation, nous avons entamé à partir de cette décennie la mise en oeuvre d'ambitieux plans intégrés de mobilisation des ressources hydrauliques, de protection du sol, de renforcement du couvert végétal et d'aménagement des parcours. Par ailleurs, nous avons prévu d'importantes mesures d'incitation pour les projets productifs et les investissements dans les secteurs de production agricole et celui des industries
agro-alimentaires orientées vers la consolidation de la sécurité alimentaire du pays et la réalisation de l'équilibre.
Grâce à cette politique volontariste du Président Zine El Abidine Ben Ali qui a fait de l'examen des questions et des dossiers relatifs au secteur agricole un point permanent à l'ordre du jour des réunions mensuelles du Conseil des Ministres, le secteur de l'agriculture a pu réaliser d'importants résultats positifs.
Désormais,- nous aspirons au renforcement de nos capacités en matière de stockage, de transformation et de frigorification afin de pouvoir utiliser la totalité de la production et éviter les pertes. Dans ce sens, nous comptons beaucoup sur l'intensification de la coopération avec la FAO et les pays frères et amis ainsi qu'avec les institutions spécialisées concernées et sur leur soutien pour nos programmes ambitieux dans le domaine agricole d'autant que nous avons commencé dans un premier temps par fonder notre effort sur nos propres moyens. Par ailleurs, nous serons heureux de mettre nos compétences et notre expérience au service des autres pays qui voudraient en profiter sur le plan bilatéral ou multilatéral.
Concernant l'amélioration des conditions de vie dans les zones rurales, la Tunisie a entrepris l'extension des programmes d'electrification et d'approvisionnement de ces zones en eau potable, la construction de routes et de voies agricoles, la promotion de la condition de la femme et le relèvement du niveau de ses aptitudes, les femmes assurant 30 pour cent de la charge de travail dans les campagnes.
Enfin, en matière de solidarité nationale, l'accent a été mis sur les zones d'ombre montagneuses isolées par le biais de programmes intensifs d'infrastructures de base et d'équipements sociaux tout en assurant aux habitants de ces zones les moyens de subsister en vue de les soustraire au statut de marginaux exclus et de briser le cercle vicieux des besoins insatisfaits et de la pression accrue sur les rares ressources naturelles de base dont ils disposent.
Monsieur le Président, l'humanité tout entière aujourd'hui est tournée vers nous et attend avec impatience les résultats de cette Conférence historique de la FAO qui se réunit dans une conjoncture mondiale caractérisée par des mutations qui influenceront de manière décisive l'évolution de notre monde dans les décennies à venir. Faisons donc en sorte de ne pas décevoir ses attentes et son aspiration à garantir un avenir meilleur pour le monde de demain et les générations futures dans le monde entier.
Merci pour votre attention.
Balram JAKHAR (India): Let me at the outset, on behalf of my delegation, as well as of the Government of India, extend to you, Mr Chairman, our congratulations on your unanimous election as Chairman of the Conference. I also offer my felicitations to the Vice-chairmen of the Conference. I take this opportunity to welcome the new member countries into the FAO family.
The Food and Agriculture Organization will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its foundation on 16 October 1995. Looking back over the years, it is evident that FAO has risen to the challenge posed by the global problems of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. We support the proposed three-day Symposium on the theme "A Planet to Feed: the
Challenges" on the eve of the 50th anniversary, as well as other arrangements suggested by this august body for this occasion.
Despite the improvement in the global cereal supply last year, severe food-supply problems have persisted in many parts of the world. The situation is grave in many parts of Africa and can only be mitigated by food aid. A combination of drought and civil unrest in Somalia has pushed over half the population to the brink of starvation. The food supply situation in some parts of the world is particularly serious and I am confident that FAO is seized of -the problem.
Global agricultural production last year rose by about 1 percent, after having stagnated in 1991. Regional agricultural performances, too, ranged from mediocre to weak. In developing countries, agricultural production rose by 1.7 percent, which is about half of the average growth of the previous decade. The outlook for the current year also points to an average output
On our part, we have tried to make a significant contribution to the recovery of global output of agricultural commodities, particularly cereals, thus ensuring food security for the masses. Indian agriculture has made rapid strides since Independence. The country has achieved a large measure of self-sufficiency in foodgrain production and has also acquired sufficient resilience. The production of foodgrains has gone up from 51 million tonnes in 1950-51 to an all-time high of around 180 million tonnes during 1992-93, resulting in a marked increase in per capita availability. The country is also on the threshold of self-sufficiency in oilseeds, and there has been substantial enhancement in the production of sugarcane and cotton, as well.
We have thus been able to tackle the problem of feeding an increasing population and are also addressing ourselves to the problems of hunger and malnutrition. The demographic growth rate, however, continues to cause concern. India will have an estimated 941 milliion people by the year 1997 and our population would cross the 1 billion mark by the year 2001. We are conscious that this trend has to be halted and have launched several measures to control our population growth.
India, today, is poised to increase both agricultural production and productivity as also ensure food security for the growing population. The increase in production, though very substantital, has brought in its wake uneven development across regions and crops and it will be our endeavour to rectify the imbalance in the growth of eastern, hilly, rainfed and drought-prone regions. We also aim to prevent the degradation of land and water resources and everging ecological imbalances due to increased biotic pressure on land.
The per capita availability of land has been diminishing leading to restricted management options and low income levels. We, threfore, propose various policy measures for consolidation of holdings and prevention of fragmentation. We also aim at diversification of agriculture and promotion of horticulture, fisheries, dairy, livestock, sericulture, etc. which will help raise incomes in the rural areas. We are also conscious that value addition in agriculture can only be achieved by a concerted thrust in increasing processing, marketing and storage facilities. These are imperative for the development of agriculture processing industries which are the key areas for the development in agriculture.
We intend to focus on agricultural research, develop economically-viable and location-specific technologies for rainfed, drought-prone and irrigated areas, and also strengthen institutional framework for farmers' education and training in improved farm techniques. Priority and thrust areas have been identified to accelerate R&D output in critical areas and developing appropriate rural technologies. To promote growth of agricultural productivity, we are laying emphasis on the emerging areas of research in bio-technology, genetic engineering, tissue culture, bio-insecticides and phermones.
We plan to accelerate the development of rainfed and irrigated horticulture, floriculture, aromatic and medicinal plants and plantation crops that feed backup support for exports. We are encouraging efficient use of marginal lands and augmentation of biomass through agro and farm forestry. We are emphasizing the importance of the creation of irrigation facilities and strengthening of infrastructure. The strategy envisaged for meeting this objejctive is bestowing of priority attention on the completion of ongoing projects, ensuring speedy transit to irrigated agriculture and optimum use of water through Command Area Development Programmes, installation of sprinkler and drip irrigation systems in water-scarce and drought-prone areas and encouragement of minor surface water and irrigation schemes.
In order to provide adequate and timely supply of certified and quality seeds of suitable varieties at reasonable prices, we have taken up a National Seeds Project with World Bank assistance. Under this project, strengthening of the seed sector, both public and private, has also been envisaged for which necessary assistance for the development of infrastructure facilities is provided. Agricultural universities have also been provided assistance for varietal improvement and infrastructure development for beeder seed production.
Fertilizer is one of the key inputs for increasing crop productivity and consumption of fertilizers increased to 12.7 million tonnes in terms of nutrients during 1991-92. Efforts are being made further to increase the consumption of fertilizers. Realizing the importance of soil fertility, we have been laying emphasis on balanced use of fertilizers like micro-nutrients and organic manures. We are also making special efforts to produce and popularize the use of biofertilizers.
A major strategy adopted to provide an incentive to increase crop production is the policy of providing support to the farmer by ensuring a procurement/minimum support price and organizing purchase operations through public and cooperative agencies. Our endeavour is to correct the terms of trade so as to make them favourable for agriculture thereby increasing the flow of resources and substantially augmenting the rate of capital formation in agriculture.
A number of policy initiatives and reforms have been undertaken by my Government since 1991 and the agriculture sector in India would stand to benefit by these changes. New trade policies have been introduced aimed at simplification, quick response time, transparency and incentives for exporters. Export Oriented Units engaged in activities related to agriculture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, horticulture, floriculture, pisciculture, poultry and sericulture are entitled to various benefits under the new Export-Import policies. Our aim is, therefore, to provide a range of additional options to the agriculture sector to stimulate investment and growth.
Our Agricultural Policy Resolution which is being finalized aims to achieve all the measures spelt out by me and we shall spare no effort to achieve our objectives.
Animal husbandry is an important sphere which has a viable role in diversifying agriculture, increasing employment opportunities and incomes for the weaker sections. India is endowed with livestock resources of considerable genetic diversity with fair traits of adaptability to withstand environmental stress and inadequate levels of nutrition and management. With its large livestock population, India has vast potential for meeting the growing needs of rapidly increasing human population in respect of animal protein. We are, therefore, laying special emphasis on projects and programmes for enhancing the production of various species of livestock through genetic improvements and effective health cover. We have programmes to preserve important indigenous breeds. We have identified thrust areas for progressive genetic improvements of important cattle breeds which also include programmes for genetic conservation and development of indigenous breeds.
With concerted efforts, the per capita availability of milk has gone up substantially and we intend to augment it further. Similarly, per capita availability of eggs has increased two and a half times during the last two decades or so. This has enabled us to raise nutrition levels through increased availability for animal proteins in the form of milk, eggs and meat.
The main objectives of fisheries development in our country are enhancement of fish production and earning from export of fishery products, welfare of fishermen and improving their socio-economic conditions, etc. The various fisheries schemes/programmes are aimed at achieving these objectives. We have also taken up fishery development programme for conservation/ preservation of a number of endangered, rare and threatened fish species as also for strengthening the facilities available for equatic organisms in the country. The use of genetic engineering would be particularly of great help in aquaculture.
As you are aware destruction of ecologically essential and economically viable resources poses a threat to mankind. Fortunately, there is greater awareness among the comity of nations on the need to tackle this problem. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development stressed the need to conserve our bio-diversity for the use of present and future generations. Conservation of bio-diversity has now become an universal axiom which is uppermost in all our minds. FAO had appropriately selected the theme of "Harvesting Nature's Diversity" to mark the World Food Day this year, which was celebrated by us in a befiting manner.
Genetic variability in plants which has been the basis of our agriculture for millions of years, continues to provide the genetic base for the development of new improved crop varieties. The Indian region is an important centre of origin of important crop plants. It is the centre of origin and diversity of a variety of agri-horticultural crops including rice, beans, sugarcane, citrus, mango, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants. In fact, nearly 160 domesticated species of economic importance, over 3 0 species of their wild relatives are native to our region and constitute an invaluable reservoir of genes and it is our endeavour to protect, preserve and develop them.
The growing importance being attached to biodiversity and -environmental consciousness represents, in a manner of speaking, a case of the wheel turning full circle. Farming in India has been carried out for over 2 000 years now and the humble Indian farmer has always been "green" in his approach to the land. It is not as though the concepts which have gained acceptance in our environmental lexicon today are new. The underdeveloped farmers all over the world have been practising these for ages. Farmers in India have been following farming practices that are ecologically sound, based on practices that have evolved over generations. The introduction of new technologies has undoubtedly played a major role in increasing agricultural productivity but has had its inevitable spin-off effects. Today, the international community has come to realize these adverse effects and the thrust now is towards the formulation of environment-friendly technologies.
I may mention, by way of example, the growing popularity and emphasis on the use of bio-fertilizers. Organic manures have been used for centuries in India by our farmers and it is in a way, ironic, that we are today engaged in a campaign to emphasize its importance. We must guard ourselves against becoming prisoners of technology and must realize that nature itself can provide solutions to many of our problems.
My country provides an excellent example of the concept of diversity, whether in people or in plants. Our strength lies in this very diversity. An infinite variety of plant and animal life survives in India from the snowy reaches of the Himalayas to the Southern-most tip of the sub-continent. This diversity has existed over millenniums and the Indian people have always respected and preserved this diversity. Our own scriptures and religious texts have always upheld the need for conservation of this awesome diversity and our people have, therefore, always lived in perfect communion with nature. This diversity is the underlying strength even in crop development and it is possible, therefore, for different varieties to be cultivated today, as has always been done. We must avoid attempting to impose an industrial uniformity on agriculture, if this diversity is to survive. Each country has developed over generations its own farming systems and ethos and no attempt should be made to impose an alien system on it. We must not try to impose or institutionalize frameworks on the farmer's actions cutting-off the link which exists between him and nature and which is responsible for this rich diversity.
I also find that there are attempts to appropriate the diversity of nature for pecuniary gains. What had been for ages nature ' s bounty to man is sought to be commercialized and exploited by a few. The humble neem leaf, long recognized for its medicinal properties and used as a pesticide in India has been patented. It is a matter of some concern that some countries are resorting to practices that would deprive people the world over from enjoying what in essence is their natural right. We must raise our voice against this practice that robs us of our common inheritance.
Mr Chairman and friends, I have tried to acquaint you with some of the recent developments which have taken place in the Indian economy, with particular emphasis on the agriculture sector. My Government has always been alive to the need to provide access to food to the vulnerable sections of the population. I sincerely hope the deliberations of this Conference will help the international community to find viable solutions to major problems and assist in creating the way for sustained growth of agriculture in different countries of the world.
CHAIRMAN (Original language Arabic): I thank the distinguished delegate of India who highlighted the development aspects in his country, especially with regard to agriculture and animal production and the desire of India to increase productivity while conserving biodiversity.
Hermann REDL (Austria): It is a particular honour and privilege for me to present to you this policy statement of the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Fischler, who regrets that, in view of other commitments, he is unable to attend the 27th Conference of FAO.
First of all, may I congratulate you on your election, Chairman. I would also like to congratulate the Deputy Chairman of this Conference. May I also take the opportunity to congratulate Mr Diouf, the newly-elected Director-general of FAO and wish him every success for the future of our work. I would also like to wish the 27th Conference of FAO much success.
In the last few years considerable changes have taken place in many parts of the world. There are new economic blocs all over the world. If we look at the EEA process, there is a new Europe. There are GATT negotiations. There is also the situation of the countries in the Third World. Therefore, agriculture and forestry become important key factors in international relations.
World markets, in spite of intentions and declarations, will be faced with the same problems as before. There will be new suppliers. There will not be an unlimited increase in demand. Eastern countries are beginning to dabble with private enterprise. The paradox of the problems in the Third and Fourth World has not yet been solved.
Many approaches have been tried, especially in GATT but also in the OECD and in the United States in order to try and solve these problems but there is a risk. It is that of isolation. It is, therefore, necessary to reduce competition and try to solve the problem of unfair subsidies. It is not possible to try and solve these problems exclusively through economic and market conditions. For long-term agriculture to be sustainable and ecologically oriented is not the same as for production to be reckless and exploitative, farmers and workers to have social security as opposed to exploitation and to have farms or enormous agricultural factories. Substantial ecological problems, such as carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere and depletion of the ozone layer, are global in nature. We must be aware of the fact that we have to deal with highly sensitive consumers who are aware of the issues of soil, air, water and food quality. Protection and permanent security of vital resources such as the soil, air and water are going to be the key survival questions.
The environment which in previous decades was considered an obstacle to progress has now become focused on any policy that deals with future guidelines. For harmony to exist between the environment, the economy and social compensation we have to find new approaches in agricultural policy. I feel that in drawing up new strategies the FAO is going to have to play a much more important role. I have, therefore, taken note, with great satisfaction, that in the FAO’s future Programme of Work the environment has been given particular priority.
Environmental problems demand international cooperation and speedy action.
The environmental issue is one that has a direct effect on agriculture, global warming, soil pollution and erosion. A reduction of farm land and deforestation of tropical forests are some of the main problems. Under these changed conditions new tasks arise for agriculture in food production and preservation of vital resources. Agriculture has to assume a new role. What is this new role? For agriculture, especially in Europe, it is multi-functional in nature at the moment. That is something that has been recognized internationally. The communique prepared by the Agricultural Ministers in the OECD in Paris in March 1992 inserted a special chapter dedicated-to this subject in order to ensure the multi-faceted functions of agriculture; food supply and continuous production in periods of crisis; to develop and ensure security of new raw materials and energy sources; to preserve and cultivate the landscape; to ensure security and utilization of natural resources and to ensure that the economic, social and cultural structure of the rural areas are protected.
The reform of the agricultural policy initiated in Austria in 1987 has, as its objectives, to secure a sustainable, small-scale agricultural and forestry programme throughout the whole country. The concept of an environmentally friendly agricultural policy has proved an example to others.
Permit me now to make some comments on the prominent work of the FAO for 1994-95.
Austria welcomes the priorities established within the FAO Programme of Work and Budget. However, to agree to these priorities and activities, it means that Member States must assume their responsibilities as the statutes in the FAO indicate.
The proposal made by the Director-General on the budget for 1994-95 which provides for zero growth is, of course, satisfactory in view of world-wide problems but it is realistic.
May I express the hope that this proposal meets with broad consensus at this Conference.
The medium-term plan submitted by you, Director-General, for 1994-99, document C 93/23, is, in my opinion, the right approach in order to fulfil the FAO's future activities. However, current up-dating of programmes will be necessary. The matter of financing these programmes should be examined with great care.
The concept of establishing the Programme of Work and Budget has proved sucessful. Concentration on division of work according to where it is required seems to be extremely urgent. I am thinking especially of Europe and closer coopeeration between the OECD and the EEC.
Due to the political changes in Europe, we think it is necessary for the FAO's work in Europe to take into account this new situation. For a new Europe there is a lot of hard work in front of us. The fields of extension of education and in-service training, therefore, should have our full support.
Austria will do everything it can in order to support the FAO's activities, both at regional and global level. This will apply to agriculture as well as to forestry.
We have followed with interest the work of the World Food .Programme. I can assure you that Austria will also contribute in a constructive manner in the future to ensure that we alleviate the need arising from disaster areas. We hope that the Food and Agriculture Organization will be able to count on active support from all its Member States and therefhore make a valuable contribution to the benefit of mankind.
Sadeq Amin ABU-RAAS (Yemen) (Original language Arabic): On behalf of the delegation of the Yemeni Republic, it is my pleasure to express our congratulations to all the officials elected to run the 27th session of the FAO General Conference. We place confidence in these persons. We would also like to express our deep appreciation for the excellent preparation of the Conference.
It is a pleasure for me to stand here before this forum once again to deliver the statement of the Yemeni Republic which sheds light on the agriculture and nutrition situation in our unified republic which chose the path of democracy and development to which we all aspire.
We hope that through common action we will be able to achieve the objectives set for the agricultural sector and economic and social development in general.
In this respect I should like to share with you some reflections on the constraints impeding the development of the agriculture sector as well as the prospects for the overall development of our country.
As you all know, the Yemeni Republic was unified in May 1990. Hence, the agriculture surface was horizontally increased as well as the population. Under the current economic, social and environmental conditions and faced with a decline in resources and an annual population increase rate of 3.1 percent, the performance of the traditional agriculture sector has slowed down. Actually, this sector absorbs 60 percent of total manpower, whereas its contribution to the gross national product does not exceed 30 percent.
In this new situation we are faced with enormous difficulties, especially the increasing demand for agricultural development projects in a country whose land surface amounts to 555 000 square kilometres (leaving aside the empty quarter) and with a population of the order of 14 million. Such demands cannot be met by the country alone. This is so not only in Yemen but in most developing countries. Such a situation requires additional support and assistance, especially from international agricultural organizations, banks, international development funds and friendly countries with capable development potential, so as to help those projects come into being within the scope of overall development.
As you know, the Republic of the Yemen is suffering from many problems, especially that about one million expatriates have returned to the country from the Arab Gulf States. Their return has caused many social and economic pressures, taking into account the limited potentialities, either in terms of creating working opportunities for these people or absorbing them in all economic sectors, particularly the agricultural one, or in terms of providing them with basic and social services. Hence, in order to overcome this problem it is essential to mobilize all our potentialities and to strengthen our cooperation with international organizations and funding institutions, at the forefront of which is FAO.
As far as the agricultural and nutritional situation in Yemen is concerned, the food gap has improved remarkably during the 80s and 90s in terms of the production of vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, cereals and dairy products. On the other hand, the consumption of sugar and rice, two food items that are not locally produced, has grown. Added to that, basic food items, especially wheat, are being increasingly imported. In 1992 the total wheat imports of the country amounted to 1 100 000 tons. Thus, this gap is no longer an economic or trace problem but rather a food security problem.
In this connection, I should mention the fact that the Yemeni Government is currently implementing a programme that aims at improving sources of income and rationalizing government expenditure so as to solve most of our structural economic problems and to rearrange the economic and living conditions in all sectors of production and services at the level of our national economy.
Agriculture in the Yemen is facing many environmental problems since it is mostly dependent on rainfall. Thus it has been suffering from excessive waves of drought, the deterioration of soil fertility as a result of soil erosion and desertification of agricultural lands, the collapse of mountaineous agricultural terraces due to its difficult conservation and excessive use of underground water.
Speaking of the Government's efforts in the field of agricultural development, the state, within the limit of its means, is sparing no efforts to expand agricultural development projects while trying to have a just distribution of such projects. The state also constructs dams and water barriers in order to be able to irrigate more agricultural lands. The Ministry of Agriculture is trying to encourage and enhance the roles of research, extension, development and lending institutes through giving loans to small farmers, the introduction and spread of modern technology and agricultural inputs. The state is also initiating the reclamation of agricultural lands and tries to solve the problems resulting from the previous land reclamation law. Accordingly, the agricultural policy adopted by Yemen aims at narrowing the food gap, through efforts by all development sectors, to focus our energies on the solution of our economic problems faced by the national economy in general and the agricultural sector in particular. Thus, we have adopted an agricultural development policy to stop and to narrow this food gap through the enhancement of the interaction between this significant strategic sector and other sectors of the economy, so there would be mutual complementarity in order to improve the agricultural production situation in Yemen.
The Yemen Government is trying to encourage investment in both the agricultural and fishing sectors, particularly since the length of our coast is of the order of 2 500 km. By virtue of the 1992 Yemeni investment law, concessions and facilities are being provided by the state in all fields of investments to national, Arab and foreign investors without any discrimination.
We should always remember the sufferings of the Iraqi people and the economic problems they are faced with, particularly the deteriorating health conditions and the diseases resulting from poor levels of nutrition and the policy which aims at subjecting the Iraqi people to hunger, and from the severe shortage of medicines and medical equipment. All these conditions have led to the death of hundreds of thousands of children, women and elderly people as a result of this unjust international embargo. In the light of this humanitarian situation, I appeal to you all, through
this international development forum, to take a responsible attitude and call for the lifting of this embargo.
Before concluding, I would like to thank the friendly countries in general and international organizations and funds, at the forefront of which is FAO, for their effective contribution to the field of agricultural development; and for their efforts to support and develop the agricultural sector, particularly for helping Yemen to eradicate the desert locust plague. Had it not been for this assistance the situation would have been totally different. This assistance took the form of pesticides and the necessary equipment.
We in the Republic of Yemen look forward to developing our cooperation with the FAO further under the newly elected Director-General, Mr Jacques Diouf, in order to enhance the activities of the agricultural sector in achieving our common objectives.
Finally, I wish our Conference every success in handling all the issues inscribed on its agenda.
Jerry GANA (Nigeria): The Nigerian delegation is indeed delighted to attend the 27th Session of the FAO Conference. On behalf of our delegation, may I join other delegates in congratulating you very warmly, Mr Chairman, on your election as Chairman of this Conference. We are impressed by the manner in which you have been directing the affairs of this Conference.
May I also, on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, congratulate the Director-General elect, Mr Jacques Diouf, on his election. We wish him a most successful tenure of office. In the same spirit, I wish to pay tribute to the outgoing Director-General for his immense contributions to the growth of FAO as a centre of excellence for food and agriculture.
We salute the outgoing Independent Chairman of the Council for his leadership and for his contribution to this Organization. The Secretariat of the FAO also deserve commendation, not only for facilitating the work of FAO but also for reproducing such excellent papers for this Conference. We want to join other delegates in welcoming the new members to FAO. We welcome them warmly to the family of the FAO.
This Conference is being held at a time when a substantial proportion of humanity is going through a most severe economic recession. The Cold War has disappeared only to give way, it seems, to a serious economic crisis, especially in developing countries. We had hoped that the end of the Cold War would free resources from the huge costs of armaments into peaceful development of infrastructure, food, agriculture, health, education, and so on. But millions of people in developing countries still sleep with empty stomachs, with other millions yet severely undernourished. Enlarged food security must therefore become a top priority programme.
In the battle to increase food production vastly to feed the growing millions, environmental degradation has set in with ravaging consequences. Yet we must produce food; we must produce industrial raw materials. The time has therefore come for us to intensify the concept and practice of sustainable development.
In view of massive pressures on the carrying capacity of the earth, the concept of sustainable development has become highly relevant. It is
correctly argued that if the objective of development is to improve people's choices, then it must do so not only for current generations but also for future generations. In other words, development must be sustainable and balanced.
To quote the World Commission on Environment and Development, "sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". That is to say, current consumption cannot be financed by incurring debts that future generations must pay. It also means that development must not endanger the natural systems that support life on earth: That is, the atmosphere, water resources, soil resources and living organisms.
Thus sustainable agricultural development must be an integrated strategy of rural transformation that ensures that land resources are exploited in such a wide manner as to ensure their preservation for future generations. Appropriate farm assistance must therefore be developed for each ecological zone so as to ensure sustainable crop production processes while preserving the strategic land resource base for future generations.
For agricultural development to be sustainable it must also generate popular participation, because "when people set their own goals, develop their own approaches and take their own decisions, human creativity and local problem-solving skills are released, and the development that arises therefrom is more likely to be self-sustaining". The concept of sustainable development must therefore 'weave development around people, not people around development'.
Mr Chairman, to achieve the concept of sustainable development we appeal for the developed world increasingly to help to channel more resources into the developing countries so as to increase the capacity of such countries to be able to develop their resources wisely.
We suggest that international financial institutions re-examine their strategies with a view to ensuring greater flow of investment funds to developing countries. The decline of investments, especially in Africa, and the burden which these countries have to bear, have compounded our difficulties and raised the ugly prospects of growing misery of our populations. These difficulties are further aggravated by such external factors as the increase in real interest rates, unfavourable exchange rates, falling prices of such commodities as tea, coffee, cocoa, etc. My delegation would therefore appeal to these organizations and other international organizations and countries that we reach a speedy and favourable conclusion of the GATT negotiations so as to facilitate access to markets for commodities from developing countries.
Turning to the budget and programmes of the FAO, I wish to confirm that we support the budget for the biennium 1994-95 and the priority programmes FAO will be implementing during this fiscal period. We recommend that Technical Cooperation Programmes which bring the FAO closer to small-scale farmers be given greater emphasis.
Mr Chairman, I am delighted to observe at this juncture that the Nigerian agricultural system is growing at about 4 to 5 percent, well ahead of population growth which has been estimated at 3.3 percent. Our collaborative efforts with the World Bank have paid off in a number of projects. Our agricultural development projects have stimulated growth of the agricultural sector. Experiences have confirmed that for effective and
sustainable agricultural programmes there is an urgent need to involve communities in the design as well as in the implementation of programmes.
To sustain our efforts, we appeal for even greater support as we seek to: a) ensure access by farmers to vital production inputs such as good seeds, fertilizers and agrochemicals; b) ensure that the provision of support services are prompt, adequate and cost-effective; c) provide reliable sources of farm credit, within the framework of fair recovery terms; d) facilitate access to such basic needs as good water, healthcare, education, shelter and transport; e) ensure increased productivity, improved incomes and rising standards of living for farmers; f) facilitate access to viable and profitable markets for farm produce; g) promote rural industrialization to facilitate processing of agricultural produce, and finally, emphasize that efficiency must always be combined with equity and total justice because the poor tend to drop out of the market place if market forces are allowed to operate fully. We believe that social safety nets must be designed to help the poor and the weak, while promoting efficiency. As a delegation we believe that FAO is doing an excellent job for the people of the world and look forward in the years ahead to working with the Organization so that together we will fight and win the battle against hunger.
CHAIRMAN: (Original language Arabic): We thank the delegate of Nigeria for his speech. We have taken note of all the achievements he has mentioned with regard to Nigerian agriculture.
Before we close today's meeting I give the floor to the Secretary of the Conference.
LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL ADJOINT: Je vous remercie M. le Président. Le Secrétariat n'a pas reçu toutes les interventions de congratulations qui avaient été annoncées ce matin. Je parle évidemment des congratulations au nouveau Directeur général.
Nous voudrions demander de les faire parvenir au plus tôt et pas plus tard que demain matin, de façon à pouvoir compléter les procès-verbaux de la journée d'hier.
The meeting rose at 18.50 hours.
La séance est levée à 18 h 50.
Se levanta la sesión a las 18.50 horas.
