CHAIRMAN: On Friday the matter of a message to the Pope was raised by the delegate of the Cook Islands and received general support from the Conference. I wish to inform you that in accordance with the Resolution of Conference, I sent a message to the Pope and I would just like to read the message sent to His Most Emmiment the Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State, Secretariat of State:
"Your Eminency, on behalf of the delegations to the 27th Session of the FAO Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and in my own name, I have the honour to extend to His Holiness the Pope John Paul II through your high offices our deepest sympathy for yesterday's incident during our audience with him as well as our warmest wishes for his prompt recovery. On this occasion I wish to extend to His Holiness John Paul II our sincerest appreciation for the noble words of encouragement in our efforts to resolve world food problems and for the extraordinary example of courage that he has set for all of us. Our prayers are with him."
This was the message sent by me on your behalf.
Christian BONAPARTE (Haїti): Monsieur le Président, la vingt-septième session de la Conférence de la FAO se réalise à un moment où mon pays est confronté à l'une des crises les plus aiguës de son histoire, crise provoquée par le refus systématique d'une poignée de militaires de respecter la volonté de tout un peuple librement exprimée lors des élections de décembre 1990, et ce en défi ouvert aux normes les plus élémentaires du droit international. Tout un pays, en dépit des forces contraires, continue de croire, au bord du désespoir, au concours de la communauté internationale pour assurer ses droits à la vie et à la recherche du bonheur.
Au nom du gouvernement constitutionnel, je profite de l'occasion pour féliciter la FAO d'avoir, tout au long de ces deux longues années de crise, respecté rigoureusement les résolutions des Nations Unies et de l'Organisation des Etats américains visant à appuyer le peuple haïtien dans ses efforts pour la restauration de la démocratie.
Les tendances à la globalisation de l'économie mondiale liées à une révolution technologique sans précédent ont eu indubitablement leur influence sur l'agriculture et l'alimentation des peuples. Elles ouvrent une ère de compétitivité et d'efficacité qui ne peut être que bénéfique pour le progrès humain et pour la prospérité des peuples. Pour des pays extrêmement pauvres comme le nôtre, elles offrent une opportunité peu commune de faire un bond vers la modernité et d'améliorer le sort de nos populations.
Bien des pays du tiers monde ont fait des efforts considérables pour s'adapter aux nouvelles circonstances de l'économie internationale. Durant
les sept mois au pouvoir du président Jean Bertrand Aristide, le Ministère de l'agriculture avait commencé à mettre sur pied les bases sûres pour la modernisation du secteur agricole avec des perspectives de forte collaboration des organismes de coopération internationale et régionale, en particulier de la FAO. Malheureusement, ces espoirs de fructueuse coopération ont été violemment fauchés après le coup d'Etat du 30 septembre 1991. Nous comptons pouvoir les revitaliser une fois rétablie la démocratie en Haїti.
Toutefois,- force est de constater qu'en dépit des possibilités d'augmentation de la productivité du secteur agricole, les problèmes de l'alimentation et de la nutrition demeurent encore plus cruciaux pour une grande partie de la population mondiale.
Face à la tendance à une amélioration qualitative de la diète dans les pays riches, les nouveaux minima de calories et de protéines recommandés par la FAO continuent de subir une dégradation alarmante pour l'ensemble des pays du globe. En d'autres termes, les efforts de modernisation de l'agriculture ne sont pas accompagnés d'un plus grand bien-être pour l'ensemble des peuples. Tout au contraire, il y a eu un mouvement en sens contraire, ce qui pose question s'agissant des lignes de stratégie et des modalités d'application.
Par ailleurs, en dépit des conférences, séminaires, réunions, déclarations et prises de position multiples de la part de gouvernements et divers types d'organismes en faveur d'un développement durable, peu a été effectivement fait dans ce sens. La logique de la rentabilité à court terme du capital gagne du terrain, imprimant d'une façon inexorable son rythme dévastateur aux relations de l'homme avec la nature. Ainsi, des millions et des millions de familles de petits producteurs appauvris se voient acculées à écorcher l'environnement pour y soutirer les maigres ressources nécessaires à une survie indigne d'un être humain. Et comme ultime solution, des millions de personnes abandonnent chaque année la campagne pour se réfugier dans des bidonvilles immondes, préférant vivre dans une promiscuité abjecte que de mourir d'un simple tétanos en pleine lune.
Dans cette fuite désespérée vers la survie, les femmes prennent le devant. A elles, le milieu rural offre encore moins qu'aux hommes des possibilités de croissance. Bien souvent, dépossédées de leur droit à l'héritage familial au profit des hommes, plus sensibles aux pénuries de la famille, dotées d'une capacité plus diversifiée pour le travail, plus souvent forcées à se laisser exploiter, elles sont les premières à souffrir des effets de la désarticulation du monde rural.
Comment donc parer à cette macro-céphalie anarchique de nos grandes villes? Comment redonner un sens à l'urbain et au rural dans nos pays?
Une plus grande compétitivité dans les relations commerciales à travers des mesures de libéralisation et d'une meilleure dotation technologique apparaissent comme des préalables requis pour le développement rural. Mais à la longue, elle a beaucoup de chance de se retourner contre lui si elle n'est pas capable de se combiner ou de s'articuler avec d'autres éléments susceptibles d'une dynamisation à long terme. D'ailleurs, elle n'a de sens que dans la mesure où elle peut contribuer à augmenter le bien-être de la population. Aucune mesure de politique, aucune stratégie de développement ne saurait avoir de sens en soi. Elle ne saurait être bénéfique à long terme. Elle contribue à renforcer la domination d'un petit groupe oligarchique.
Ici se pose la nécessité de l'équité et de la participation réelle des acteurs dans le développement, vieux thèmes qui reviennent toujours sur la scène mais qui, dans la réalité, n'ont fait l'objet que de timides politiques de la part des gouvernements et des organismes internationaux.
Monsieur le Président, à notre sens, les problèmes de base auxquels est confrontée l'agriculture aujourd'hui après de louables efforts pour augmenter sa performance ont pour cause principale une considération insuffisante de ces deux facteurs. Sagement combinés avec une politique d'augmentation de la compétitivité, ils auraient évité la polarisation désastreuse des acteurs avec les conséquences relatives sur la sécurité alimentaire et sur la nutrition chez les groupes vulnérables. La résolution des problèmes mondiaux de l'alimentation et de la nutrition ne peut prioriser une approche d'importation d'aliments et encore moins de l'aide alimentaire permanente.
L'expérience a démontré que l'aide alimentaire peut bien servir d'appoint à une politique tendant à assurer un revenu décent aux producteurs ruraux à travers une augmentation de leur production. Mais elle a aussi dévoilé le mal-fondé de la prétention de fermer les portes à la compétition internationale. Cette vision étriquée de la politique agricole s'est traduite par un manque d'attention vis-à-vis de l'économie paysanne. Dans les pays à faible poids du secteur paysan, elle n'a pas eu de graves effets sur l'alimentation de la population mais elle en a eu dans ceux où la structure agraire est à dominante de petites exploitations, comme c'est le cas d'Haїti. Elle a remarquablement contribué à aggraver la situation alimentaire dans une bonne partie de la population, situation à laquelle les politiques d'aide alimentaire et d'importation d'aliments n'ont apporté qu'un faible palliatif. Pour nous, Monsieur le Président, l'une des manières les plus efficaces d'attaquer le problème de l'alimentation en Haїti est sans nul doute de favoriser les productions locales susceptibles d'accroître l'offre d'aliments et surtout d'assurer un revenu minimum aux familles vivant en milieu rural, dynamisant ainsi la demande de produits de première nécessité et limitant les risques de sous-alimentation et de malnutrition. Tout cela ne peut se faire que par une volonté manifeste de démocratiser les structures de production en milieu rural. C'est aussi la meilleure façon de fixer les populations dans leur lieu d'origine et d'éviter l'exode effréné vers les villes et vers d'autres pays avec les conséquences désastreuses que nous connaissons tous.
Toutefois, ceci ne va pas à l'encontre de la nécessité urgente de dynamiser le secteur industriel, de le transformer en une source importante de création de nouveaux emplois. Mais, si nous voulons coupler le développement industriel à une adéquate politique alimentaire, il nous fait prioriser les industries locales susceptibles de dynamiser en aval la production de matières premières d'une part et, d'autre part, d'être sources de revenus même modestes pour les familles vivant en milieu rural.
Nous croyons fermement qu'une politique de développement rural devrait pouvoir allier des mesures tendant à la compétitivité internationale et visant l'équité et la participation de la population. La modernisation ne doit pas seulement toucher une petite élite de producteurs. Elle n'aurait d'effet positif soutenu que si elle cessait d'être l'apanage d'un petit groupe et si elle cherchait les moyens d'atteindre le plus grand nombre possible d'acteurs, même si les effets immédiats paraissent timides.
La solution est sans doute dans une articulation intelligente des deux approches. Toute démarche tendant à simplifier le problème et à le réduire
à l'un de ces éléments risque de créer des blocages et d'annuler les possibles effets multiplicateurs des actions entreprises.
Il ne fait pas de doute que la FAO devrait renforcer son expertise et son appui en matière de stratégie de développement rural et de sécurité alimentaire, en fonction des nouvelles tendances de l'économie internationale et des multiples expériences d'échecs enregistrés en matière de politique alimentaire et de nutrition.
Dans les pays pauvres, comment concilier une franche ouverture de marchés agricoles avec la sécurité alimentaire? Comment réaliser une modernisation en faveur de la majorité des producteurs? Autant de questions complexes qui n'acceptent pas de recette et encore moins de solution simpliste.
Plusieurs chercheurs et spécialistes en matière agricole ont reconnu que la République d'Haïti possédait une paysannerie profondément inventive dans la gestion de ses maigres ressources. Cependant, non seulement elle n'a pas eu l'appui qu'elle méritait de l'Etat, mais elle a souvent été considérée par celui-ci comme un ennemi à abattre: une paysannerie sans nul droit, traquée par les pouvoirs en place, mais tenace au travail. Aujourd'hui, elle est la proie d'une répression aveugle de la part du pouvoir militaire. Multiples sont les projets à réaliser, soit directement avec les paysans, soit avec l'appui d'organisations non gouvernementales ou de la coopération internationale qui ont été brutalement détruits à partir du coup d'Etat qui a mis en exil le Président Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Le nombre de petits producteurs assassinés ou forcés de prendre le maquis ne se compte plus. Leur crime? Avoir voté massivement pour le Président Aristide et avoir continué de manifester en faveur de son retour, en faveur du retour de l'état de droit.
Nous sommes conscients que ce n'est pas ici le lieu idéal pour dénoncer les violations des résolutions prescrites par la Charte des Nations Unies. Mais force est de rappeler brièvement ces faits, car nous demeurons plus que jamais convaincus que l'agriculture ne peut se développer en dehors d'une ambiance démocratique. Les exemples en ce sens ne se comptent plus. La grande vague de démocratisation qui secoue le monde a plus de peine à atteindre le monde rural que le monde urbain. Bien des pays pauvres continuent à être les victimes de la rapacité d'une oligarchie démodée et de la violence des forces dites de l'ordre. Les réformes agraires n'ont pas eu lieu ou bien n'ont pas eu la vertu escomptée de démocratiser les structures existantes. Le monde rural fait d'emblée partie de ce qu'on a appelé les majorités silencieuses.
Au terme de mon intervention, Monsieur le Président, je m'en voudrais de ne pas réaffirmer l'état de régression alarmant de notre agriculture, aggravé par la crise politique qui secoue Haïti depuis plus de deux ans. En dehors d'une solution démocratique, les perspectives de règlement de cette crise sont plutôt sombres. Une intervention urgente et de grande envergure, capable d'assurer un niveau de production alimentaire suffisant aux populations rurales et urbaines et d'arrêter la dangereuse dégradation de notre environnement, paraît la seule alternative valable et notre seule planche de salut. C'est donc justement là que nous souhaitons vivement recevoir l'appui de la FAO et de tous les pays membres de cette prestigieuse institution.
J'aurais pu, dans cet exposé, vous donner des chiffres, Monsieur le Président, mais puisque nous sommes dans une enceinte traitant de
l'agriculture il vaut mieux recommander de planter du riz, de planter du maїs ou de planter du sorgho; mais il faut aussi planter des hommes.
Most Rev. Alois WAGNER (Holy See) : I have the honour to convey to the participants of the 27th Session of FAO Conference the best greetings of the Holy Father who has very much appreciated your best wishes. He tried to greet everyone as he was going out but he was blocked a little bit through his falling down on the right hand.
His Holiness Pope John II is sending the Blessing of the Almighty God for a fruitful outcome of this Conference.
Mr Chairman, Mr Director-General, Permanent Representatives, ladies and gentlemen. Taking the floor in this assembly of experts, first of all I wish to congratulate Mr Mullings upon his election as Chairman of the Conference. I take this opportunity to thank all those who attended the Audience which Pope John Paul II granted to the participants of this Conference.
I feel the need to address particular greetings to Mr Edouard Saouma, who has for so many years led this Organization with a high level of professional competence combined with a deep devotion to the aims, activities and the "cause" of FAO.
To Mr Jacques Diouf, chosen by this Conference to bear the weighty responsibility of leading the largest of the specialized agencies of the United Nations System, the delegation of the Holy See has the pleasure in offering its congratulations, while encouraging him in his delicate task, and it confirms its solidarity with the future action of the Organization.
The Holy See's support, as everyone knows, is different from that of Member States. Nevertheless, it is no less explicit and effective. FAO was the first of the International Organizations with which the Holy See established permanent relations.
The items on the Agenda show that the agricultural sector is the focal point of all economic activity, even in a world that seems to be more and more conditioned, in every aspect, by the experiences of advanced technology. Moreover, agriculture represents the basic reference point not only for all activities aiming to promote the development of peoples and nations, but also for general economic growth worldwide.
Consequently, the agricultural policies themselves put into effect by both developing and developed countries should not be conditioned by this opinion, nor should they pay attention only to the profits gained from agricultural products, while neglecting direct action in rural areas on behalf of those living there.
In fact, the guidelines given by FAO in the document Agriculture Towards 2010, in the agricultural aspect, the agricultural sector and related food production require the utmost attention both from national policies and from action which is proper for international cooperation.
The delegation of the Holy See considers particularly important the question of the imbalance between world agricultural production and the decrease of production levels in the areas considered at risk where underdevelopment, environmental degradation, demographic increase and other
socio-economic factors help to create and maintain poverty, and bring about conditions for a new food crisis.
In spite of the universal affirmation of the global nature of the economy, the agricultural policy guidelines of some of the biggest agricultural producers are mainly directed by internal price mechanisms. Such a national focus neither looks to eventual consequences in the "areas of poverty" nor raises the question of how to coordinate farm policies with development needs in the poorest countries.
In this perspective it is impossible not to mention the unanimous conclusions of FAO's Regional Conferences and other FAO meetings, about the manifold negative effects on production, trade, and distribution - and therefore on food security - of the long-stagnant GATT negotiations. It seems that especially the rural world hopes for concrete results from the happy conclusions of the Uruguay Round.
It is not the Holy See's role to give technical suggestions about economic theories or policies, but it is convinced that international economic policies should never be guided by the particular aims of single states or groups of states.
Looking at matters from the perspective of human dignity and the solidarity of mankind, we encourage the economic decision-makers of the largest nations to commit themselves to searching for original solutions, as well as to give their support to all bilateral and multilateral cooperation which could make possible the sustainable development of the whole rural world at the same time as preserving the rights of farmers.
Attention to internal problems, however serious they may be, must always go hand in hand with attention to claims for a just order of world trade, and particularly to the voice of the weakest countries asking for a place in the world economy, in order to achieve full development for their rural population.
Mr Chairman, the delegation of the Holy See hopes that this exchange of experiences will not remain only a mere item of information, but will become a basis for FAO action in the matter of environment. In fact, the conclusions of the Rio Summit call for FAO to engage in the realization of the main issues of Action 21, particularly in the Medium-Term Plan 1994-99, with special reference to land use and fishery and forestry resources.
FAO is called to apply its experience to the conservation of agricultural, forestry and fishery resources. In fact, thanks to FAO much has already been done to protect the ecosystem. One of the main difficulties remaining is to bring about the full realization of the conclusions of the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development convened by FAO already in 1979.
Finally, we wish to call upon this Conference to assure that in the actions of FAO the development process is not focused only on technical aspects or upon those related to production alone, because here efforts at education are indispensable. Education for development is, therefore, the main issue in specific FAO activity.
The Holy See delegation hopes that FAO will recognize and emphasize the role and the approach of non-governmental organizations.
In this perspective the Catholic Church, through their institutions engaged in social role by action and in development activities all over the world, can assure FAO of support and collaboration. In fact, the development of the rural poor and the central role of agriculture are important elements of the Social Teachings of the Church. These priorities are emphasized in all Encyclical Letters.
Mr Chairman, these are hopes of the Holy See's delegation for the conclusions of this Conference. Together with the rural communities, we look forward to a renewed dedication to actions and to international cooperation with respect to the challenges arising from agricultural activities in favour of people in rural areas.
Nguyen MANH DUNG (Viet Nam): Permettez-moi tout d'abord de vous adresser, Monsieur le Président, les félicitations les plus chaleureuses de ma délégation pour votre élection à la présidence de cette importante Conférence. Je suis fermement convaincu que, sous votre direction, ce sommet de l'agriculture aboutira à des succès escomptés.
Ma délégation est très heureuse de l'élection de Monsieur Jacques Diouf au poste de Directeur général de la FAO. Son élection est un hommage bien mérité rendu à ses éminentes contributions à la sécurité alimentaire globale ainsi qu'au développement agricole. Soyez sûr, Monsieur le nouveau Directeur général, du soutien et de la pleine coopération de mon gouvernement dans l'accomplissement de votre noble mission.
Monsieur le Président, depuis plusieurs années, on assiste à une sensible amélioration de l'approvisionnement alimentaire des pays en développement. Mais la faim est loin d'être vaincue. Elle résulte des catastrophes naturelles et surtout de la pauvreté et des guerres. Cette situation est d'autant plus inquiétante que la population du monde s'accoît chaque jour de 250 000 personnes et que les termes de l'échange continuent à se dégrader.
Il est donc impératif d'augmenter considérablement la production agricole, d'accroître les rendements tout en préservant la qualité et la diversité de la nature. Et pour ce faire, il faut poursuivre les réformes agraires ou structurelles, mobiliser le monde scientifique, favoriser l'avènement d'un nouvel ordre économique international juste et équitable, et renforcer la solidarité et la coopération internationales qui, dans ce monde interdépendant, sont bénéfiques à tous les pays - développés et en développement.
Créée pour relever les plus grands défis de l'humanité, ceux de la faim et du développement, la FAO, dès sa naissance, a axé ses fonctions fondamentales et son rôle constitutif sur ces objectfs. Aujourd'hui personne ne peut nier que la FAO est devenue l'une des organisations internationales les plus efficaces dans la lutte contre la faim et pour le développement dans le monde. Et cela, malgré les difficultés financières énormes qu'elle a rencontrées ces dernières années.
Ma délégation a examiné avec soin le Programme de travail et budget pour 1994-95 et est prête à se rallier au consensus lors de son adoption. Elle exprime sa satisfaction à l'égard des priorités que la FAO accorde au progamme de développement durable et aux problèmes de l’environnement.
La présente situation économique mondiale n'est pas idéale pour l'accomplissement de la noble et difficile mission de la FAO qui doit travailler dans les deux prochaines années avec plus de contraintes financières. Cela supposerait une répartition rationnelle de ses ressources et une amélioration de l'efficacité de ses services.
Depuis sa création, le Programme de coopération technique a beaucoup aidé les pays en développement à débloquer les situations de crise dans la production agricole. Ma délégation estime que ce programme est très utile et devrait- être maintenu. Il est regrettable que les ressources réservées au TCP connaissent une certaine réduction dans les deux années qui viennent.
Au moment où un grand nombre de pays, en particulier ceux en développement, sont en train d'effectuer des réformes agraires et structurelles, l'étude des politiques agricoles et la formation dans ce secteur s'avèrent très nécessaires et constituent des domaines où la FAO devrait promouvoir pour pouvoir aider efficacement ces pays à éviter des erreurs parfois catastrophiques.
Depuis plusieurs années, à travers sa politique de rénovation économique, le Gouvernement vietnamien a engagé le pays dans une économie de marché. Il a mis en application de nombreuses réformes agraires encourageant les paysans à travailler la terre pour leur propre compte, supprimant le contrôle des prix, attribuant aux paysans les droits à long terme à la terre... Grâce à ces réformes, le Vietnam a enregistré des résultats importants dans la production agricole. Pour la première fois depuis des décennies, notre pays a atteint l’autosuffisance alimentaire et est devenu exportateur de riz. Cependant, Monsieur le Président, il nous reste beaucoup à faire pour arriver à une réelle sécurité alimentaire et pour améliorer le niveau de nutrition de la population. Des efforts ont été déployés pour la mise en oeuvre des orientations suivantes:
Premièrement, assurer en 1993 une production vivrière de 24,5 millions de tonnes malgré les calamités naturelles qui ont frappé une bonne partie du centre du Vietnam; promouvoir la culture intensive de riz; éviter cette culture dans les régions présentant moins d'efficience économique, surtout quand celle-ci s'avère désastreuse pour l'environnement; multiplier les variétés de riz de bonne qualité et bien résistantes aux intempéries ainsi qu'aux insectes.
Deuxièmement, diversifier la production agricole en faisant valoir les avantages de l'écosystème de chaque région et en rehaussant l'efficience de la mise en valeur des terres; développer l'élevage ; imprimer un nouvel élan à l'économie jardinière; développer la culture du caféier, de l'hévéa, du thé, contribuant ainsi à la réalisation du programme de reboisement.
Troisièmement, accorder une digne attention au développement et au perfectionnement de l'industrie agro-alimentaire en la considérant comme la clef pour augmenter la valeur et l'efficience de l'agriculture. Cette industrie aidera à améliorer la qualité des produits traités au Vietnam, répondant aux besoins du pays et renforçant la capacité de concurrence des produits vietnamiens sur le marché mondial.
Pour favoriser le développement de l'agriculture et l'édification d'une nouvelle vie à la campagne, nous avons pris de nombreuses mesures. Récemment, l'Assemblée nationale du Vietnam a adopté "la loi agraire amendée et modifiée". Cette loi a créé les conditions fondamentales
susceptibles d'encourager les paysans à investir dans la culture intensive et dans le défrichage, de mobiliser les capacités de 10 millions de familles paysannes, le concours de l'Etat aidant, dans la mise en valeur des terres cultivables. Nous continuons à favoriser le développement de l'économie familiale tout en renouvelant les coopératives agricoles sur la base des services prestataires à l'avantage de l'économie familiale. De nouvelles politiques ont été adoptées pour favoriser le transfert de technologie et la production comme celle sur le prêt de capitaux aux paysans qui permet d'augmenter le pourcentage des bénéficiaires des crédits de l'Etat.-
Une partie de ces crédits sont accordés aux familles pauvres à un taux d'intérêt convenable. Quant à celle relative aux prix des produits agricoles, elle a pour objectif d'assurer l'intérêt légitime des paysans en cas de risques dans la production.
Dans son oeuvre d'édification, le Vietnam a bénéficié d'une assistance effective de la FAO. Je voudrais saisir cette occasion pour exprimer la gratitude de mon gouvernement et de mon peuple pour cette précieuse aide. Nous accordons une grande importance à la coopération avec la FAO et continuons à apporter notre soutien aux efforts déployés par la FAO et par son Directeur général dans la lutte contre la faim et pour le développement.
Je ne peux terminer, Monsieur le Président, sans rendre particulièrement hommage à Monsieur Edouard Saouma, Directeur général sortant de la FAO. Par le talent, la sagesse politique, la détermination et l'inlassable dévouement dont il a fait preuve depuis 18 ans, Monsieur Saouma peut être légitimement fier des résultats très importants qui ont marqué son mandat, même dans les circonstances les plus difficiles. Le Gouvernement et le peuple vietnamiens sont reconnaissants à Monsieur Saouma pour l'effort qu'il a consenti pour la coopération, le développement et la paix dans le monde.
Baron VAEA (Tonga): As Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, I am deeply honoured to address this Assembly on behalf of my Government and the people of Tonga.
I am glad to congratulate you on your unanimous election to the Chair and efficient manner in which you have steered our Conference.
I commend Dr Edouard Saouma very highly for his vision and leadership of FAO during the past 18 years. As he surmised in his statement, the challenges are tremendous and overpowering and the survival of the human race is at stake. I highly commend him on his tireless endeavours to uphold the objectives of FAO.
I take this opportunity also to extend our warmest congratulations to the new Director-General, Dr Jacques Diouf, on his election.
I am very impressed with the quality and thoroughness of the various country statements, all of which have raised key issues that are relevant and applicable to many countries, including Tonga. However, from the point of view of a small island developing state, I would emphasize the following issues :
Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture: I acknowledge and endorse those programmes of FAO that deal not only with direct food aid and emergencies but with all aspects of production, from land preparation to post-harvest, marketing, consumption and nutrition. This includes reference to the 12 Special Action Programmes for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development. Tonga benefits greatly from these to include root crops development and processing, strengthening of the planning capability of our Ministry of Agriculture; agricultural statistics, virus disease management campaign, feasibility studies on livestock, participation in short training programmes, workshops and seminars on extension, quarantine and pest management. I am glad, too, that food security is still our primary aim in Tonga. We are blessed with a robust, rotational mixed-cropping system that has survived and sustained our people for many generations. Due to degradation and destruction of the ecosystem by certain modern farming practices, I would suggest to FAO perhaps seriously to consider the merits of existing successful traditional farming systems around the world.
Technical Cooperation Programmes(TCP): Tonga has taken advantage of these great opportunities, and we have found TCP projects to be of great value to our agricultural developments. I wish to confirm our strong support for the continuation of TCP programmes.
Trade Liberalization: Tonga's economy is agriculturally based and we exist with the inherent disadvantages of smallness, remoteness, sea-locked and geographical isolation. We are, however, fortunate in finding limited opportunities in seasonal "niche" marketing. We have had some success in squash export to Japan and vanilla to the United States and France. Nevertheless, we are continually confronted with the barriers of quarantine restrictions, duties and tariffs, low prices, far-reaching quality standards, excessive costs of sea and air transport and supplies, preferential treatments and severe competition with other nations. To us, the small island developing nations, we find these barriers to be most frustrating and disheartening. It is in this context that I, together with other Commonwealth Heads of Government, in recognizing the importance of trade liberalization to economic growth and development, issued the Limassol Statement of the Uruguay Round in which we reaffirmed our commitment to comprehensive, equitable and balanced conclusions of the Round by December 15, 1993. In the meantime, the small island nations of the Pacific are grateful to the United States of America for its concern to encourage mutual trade and investments with the countries of our region. On the same token, I commend highly the efforts of FAO and associated organizations on global harmonization of plant quarantine.
Tonga is very supportive of the FAO Forestry programmes, and has taken advantage of FAO training programmes and technical services. Though we do not have large land areas of forests, Tonga still experiences environmental and soil degradation due to reducing forest cover. We urge particular attention to agro-forestry in small island nations of the Pacific, and the growing of trees to provide windbreaks and protection from soil and ocean erosion and salt sprays. It is of interest for FAO to realize that large areas of coconuts in Tonga are senile and require immediate milling before they die and fall to the ground. It is our Government's wish to upgrade the living standards of her people by constructing dwelling houses in rural areas. These senile coconut trees should be milled for construction materials. It is hoped that FAO would see its way clear and assist in this project.
Mr Chairman, emphasis has been directed to the importance of women in development in most countries of FAO, and Tonga is no exception. The Tongan women are actively participating in various development projects with great enthusiasm. Tonga commends FAO on its efforts and promotion of women's welfare throughout the world. Our Ministry has benefitted from participation in FAO-sponsored workshops on nutrition, home economics and rural development. We anticipate more involvement of Tongan women in the FAO Women in Development Programmes.
We are thankful for the assistance by FAO, technical advisors, consultants and training on aquaculture, research, data collection and general fisheries development, from which we have benefitted greatly. I would like to commend the efforts made by FAO on the Draft Agreement to promote compliance with international conservation and management measures by fishing vessels on the high seas. We are supportive of this in principle.
Grégoire MOUBERI (Congo): Dans cette ville de Rome, berceau de la civilisation moderne, nous voilà réunis pour parler des problèmes vitaux de l'humanité afin de tenter d'imaginer de manière collective et concertée des solutions appropriées.
L'accueil et l'hospitalité du Gouvernement italien ne sauraient être ignorés car la réussite de ces assises en dépend. Que le Gouvernement et le peuple italiens amis trouvent ici l'expression de notre gratitude. La présence du Président italien à l'ouverture de l'actuelle session est la preuve supplémentaire de son attachement aux idéaux de notre Organisation.
Monsieur le Président, je voudrais rendre hommage à votre auguste personne pour votre brillante élection à la présidence de notre Conférence. Mes hommages s'adressent aussi à tous les membres élus du bureau de la Conférence.
L'occasion est aussi toute agréable de témoigner notre gratitude à Monsieur Edouard Saouma dont le mandat vient de prendre fin. Le Dr Edouard Saouma a été un infatigable serviteur de notre cause commune. A lui, toute notre reconnaissance. Je suggère, Monsieur le Président, que la FAO reconnaissante consacre à notre serviteur émérite un symbole souvenir à la hauteur des précieux et loyaux services rendus à notre Organisation.
Nous venons d'élire un nouveau Directeur général. Nous saisissons cette opportunité pour lui présenter nos sincères félicitations.
Depuis l'avènement en 1991 de la démocratie dans notre pays, les pouvoirs publics multiplient les efforts pour relancer la vie socio-économique nationale. Dans le domaine agricole, ces efforts destinés à le réorganiser sont constitués pour l'essentiel des réformes en profondeur conçues, dans la plupart des cas, avec le concours technique de la FAO.
La relance suppose aussi un effort de coopération plus accru. Dans ce domaine, la FAO a fait preuve de beaucoup d'attention à notre égard. Tout dernièrement une délégation a séjourné pendant près de trois semaines dans notre pays.
Le Professeur Pascal Lissouba, Président de la République du Congo, évoque avec beaucoup d'à-propos l'application intelligente de la science et de la technologie dans nos économies. Il est humainement impossible de vaincre la pauvreté, la sous-alimentation sans changer fondamentalement les ressources
mentales et culturelles des acteurs économiques. Autrement dit, comment se nourrir au 20ème siècle en utilisant les techniques du néolithique? Il n'est pas possible, croyez-nous, de parvenir à une autosuffisance en maintenant les structures et mécanismes de production, de distribution et d'échanges en leur état actuel.
Les réformes que l'on peut proposer, les stratégies que l'on peut adopter, les résolutions que l'on peut prendre ne peuvent avoit un impact réel qu'à condition d'intégrer la dimension modernisante à l'agriculture, autrement dit d'intégrer la science et la technologie, ce qui est, à notre avis, capital. Nous souhaitons que le prochain mandat soit consacré non au transfert mécanique des savoirs mais à la promotion de la recherche -développement pour nos économies. Le principe scientifique reconnu est que l'on ne procède pas à une recherche sur ce qui a fait l'objet d'une découverte préalable. Cela suppose que l'Afrique peut parfaitement tirer profit de l'essor extraordinaire de la science du 20ème siècle.
Je voudrais, fût-ce très brièvement, réaffirmer ici les sentiments de la délégation de mon pays concernant les points que nous considérons comme les plus importants de l'ordre du jour de notre Conférence.
Nous approuvons les axes de priorité qui sont proposés à notre Organisation pour l'exercice 1994-95, à savoir le suivi des résolutions de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur l'Environnement et le Développement et de la Conférence Internationale sur la Nutrition ainsi que l'appui envisagé au programme forestier. Mais en même temps, nous pensons aussi que certains programmes importants, tels que l'appui aux programmes de lutte intégrée contre les ravageurs et la valorisation de la biodiversité, devraient continuer de bénéficier d'une réelle attention de la part de notre Organisation.
De même, le programme de coopération technique à travers lequel notre Organisation apporte une aide technique d'urgence aux pays membres devrait également continuer de bénéficier de davantage de ressources.
Sans vraiment adopter l'idée de la croissance zéro, nous sommes obligés de faire contre mauvaise fortune bon coeur en acceptant la base de 676,9 millions de dollars qui a été proposée pour le budget 1994-95 de notre Organisation. C'est pourquoi nous continuons d'espérer que, dans un avenir proche, ce niveau sera augmenté de façon à permettre à notre Organisation de disposer pleinement des moyens de sa politique.
Nous ne nous inquiéterons jamais assez des méfaits du protectionnisme et de la baisse prolongée et généralisée des prix des produits agricoles à l'exportation. Alors que nos cris de détresse se perdaient dans le désert, voilà que la France, durement touchée elle aussi, vient de révéler à nouveau ces méfaits, confortant ainsi notre position sur cette question. Comme elle, nous souscrivons pleinement à l'idée d'une conclusion rapide et fructueuse des négociations commerciales de l’Uruguay-round aboutissant à un accord équilibré et prévoyant un traitement particulier et différencié pour les pays en développement.
Voilà, très brièvement présentés, les axes de nos efforts actuels de relance du secteur agricole dans notre pays ainsi que les sentiments de la délégation qui m'accompagne sur quelques sujets brûlants inscrits à l'ordre du jour de notre Conférence.
Je voudrais, avant de terminer, vous assurer, Monsieur le Président, que la délégation de mon pays ne ménagera aucun effort pour faire aboutir, dans un esprit d'ouverture propice au consensus, tous les points inscrits à notre ordre du jour.
Plein succès à la 27ème Conférence: tel est le message du Président congolais, le Professeur Pascal Lissouba, agronome de formation à l'endroit de notre forum. Il joint ainsi sa voix à la nôtre pour contribuer à la recherche de solutions aptes à éliminer la faim de notre planète.
Dimitri DAMIANOS (Greece): First allow me to convey Minister Moraitis' warmest greetings to the 27th Conference of FAO. He regrets that a heavy schedule made it impossible for him to participate in person.
On behalf of my delegation, I would like to congratulate you as well as the other members of the bureau for your election to the Chair.
On behalf of the Greek Government and the Minister of Agriculture, please let me offer my warmest congratulations to Mr Jacques Diouf for his election as Director-General of FAO.
You will permit me to add, however, our deep appreciation to Mr Edouard Saouma's sincere efforts to strengthen FAO's role as a forum contributing to the struggle against hunger and malnutrition and promoting the political dialogue among our nations.
The general economic environment is rather gloomy. The recession which started in 1990 is still present and the prospects for recovery in the near future are weak. Furthermore, the recent political changes have added to the problem of economic social and political instability, which is a major obstacle in the process of economic recovery.
Nevertheless, stability and the well-being of all nations depend greatly on the ability and will to surpass the present impediments by strengthening political dialogue and international cooperation, in achieving specific goals in an effective manner.
Despite significant differences between developing and developed countries, many functions of the agricultural sector should operate in both groups. In particular, three principal objectives should underline policy-planning:
- the first one effective production and food distribution;
- second sustainable agricultural development which is promoted by
the protection of the environment conservation of natural resources
and biodiversity
- and the third rural development.
Thus integrated policy approaches which address simultaneously the above issues should be employed. This is the way we understand the application of the Common Agricultural Policy in our country, as a member of the European Union.
The issue of effective production and distribution of food is a very complex one. It requires at least, first, the promotion of structural adjustment through the adoption of more market-oriented agricultural policies and, second, food security.
As you know, the European Union has already proceeded to a radical reform of the main part of its Common Agricultural Policy and 1993, this year, it the first year of operating the new policy. The reasons, whether internal or external, have been already properly analysed, so I am not going to repeat the relevant arguments. However, I would like to underline that agricultural reform is a difficult and long-run objective requiring concerted actions by all participants as well as flexibility in the choice of the means for its implementation.
The challenge before us is to achieve a more market-oriented agricultural sector and, at the same time, to ensure adequate income and acceptable living conditions for our farmers. It is very important to secure stability in domestic markets, while meeting the legitimate concern for low-income producers, thus reducing income inequalities within agriculture and the rural sector.
The successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round Multilateral Trade Negotiations on an equitable and balanced base, which we wish and envisage, could contribute significantly to an international economic recovery. Regarding agricultural negotiations, I would like to point out that the final agreement should not jeopardize the durability of the CAP and should not undermine its basic principles.
Allow me to draw your attention to the central issue of food security. Hunger and malnutrition is an old problem of humanity with dramatic socio-economic consequences. The International Conference on Nutrition, which took place in December 1992, here in Rome, provided us with two very useful instruments; namely, "The World Declaration of Nutrition" and "the Plan of Action", which should guide our future actions to reduce global hunger and malnutrition and to improve the nutritional status of the world populations.
The International Conference on Nutrition recognized that the main causes of hunger and malnutrition are poverty, social inequality and lack of education. The study examining the prospects for "World Agriculture Towards the Year 2010" which is under consideration in the present Conference, indicates that some 650 million people will continue to suffer from hunger and malnutrition through the year 2010. This prospect sends a clear signal for intensifying our efforts at the national as well as the international level to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.
We agree with the conclusion of the Brudtland Commission, that the reconciliation of the long-term objective of sustainable development with the short-term objectives of increasing agricultural and food production, as well as income for the present generation, is a difficult task.
Indeed, we understand that developed and developing countries attach different priorities to the protection of the environment. However, we believe that development should be viable and lasting. The protection of environment, the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, were the focal points of the debate of UNCED. Agenda 21 provides us with a comprehensive philosophical approach for achieving sustainable agricultural development.
Agriculture can have adverse effects on the environment. It can contribute either to the protection of nature and of the environment, or the deterioration of its quality. Specifically, agricultural reform could contribute positively to environmental protection and to the conservation
of natural resources, only if it leads to the adoption of less intensive and more environmentally-friendly methods of production.
Therefore, if we want to enhance the beneficial effects and reduce the negative impact, we have strong reasons to incorporate environmental aspects in agricultural policies by adopting:
- measures of positive and negative financial incentives;
- management agreements regulatory measure and so on.
The role of the farmer or the rural citizen as the guardian of both the rural world and the environment has not been fully appreciated. Especially, farming activities in the mountainous and less favoured areas are of high importance, both socially and environmentally. Therefore, these activities have to be maintained and enhanced. In this regard, we believe, there is a clear need to support farmers living in the ecologically fragile areas.
The issue of rural development will be my last and final point, Mr Chairman. Agriculture is the main but not the only activity in the countryside. Therefore, an intersectoral approach is needed for the development of rural areas. Rural development objectives are much broader to those pertaining to agricultural development, and aim at allocating more effectively the existing resources in rural areas.
Rural development, however, is not only an issue of increasing rural finance, improving infrastructure in rural areas, enhancing the adoption of new and appropriate technologies, or coping with the problem of inefficient and ineffective institutions; it is also, and most importantly, an issue of development of human resources.
In this regard, the active participation of farmers or other citizens living in rural areas in the local organizations that promote rural development is of great importance. Finally, particular emphasis should be given to the role of women in the development process, by encouraging and promoting their contribution in social and economic activity. The elimination of sex discrimination should be one of the basic policy objectives, in order for our society to use efficiently the human resources.
Especially we should focus on the participation of rural women in social and cultural activities which should be promoted along with the cultural development of the rural areas. Otherwise, rural women would not realize that they belong in the society of the community where they live. We believe, therefore, that we should introduce specific policy measures aiming at improving social care and other activities and services in rural areas, thus enabling women to realize their full potential.
Ibrahim ADAM (Ghana): It is my greatest honour and pleasure to address this 27th Session of the FAO Conference.
On behalf of my delegation from Ghana and on my own behalf, I would like to join previous speakers in congratulating you for doing such a good job in conducting the affairs of this Conference. I would also like to seize this opportunity to congratulate Dr Saouma for the able manner in which he has guided FAO through stormy weather.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this particular Conference is very significant to my delegation and also, I believe, to several of us here. It coincides with the 48th Anniversary of the founding of FAO and also now gives us a distinguished son of Africa as the new Director-General. It also coincides with the first anniversary of parliamentary democracy in my country, Ghana.
Perhaps at this juncture it would be wise for us to revisit the visions of the founding fathers of this august body. We all know what FAO stands for, and that is that its principal objective is to eliminate hunger and want from within the rank and file of mankind. The founding fathers of FAO came out of some very useful visions which, I think, are as relevant to us today as they were several years ago when the Organization was being founded. These men of vision, as I would call them, realized at that time, Mr Chairman, that poverty was the main cause of hunger and malnutrition in the world. They also believed and indeed expressed that progress by individual nations, that is, the attainment of a higher standard of living by individual nations, would go a long way to solve larger economic problems. They concluded that freedom from want could not be achieved without effective collaboration among nations.
Well, as I said earlier, these observations are so very relevant today, especially in light of the fact that poverty, whether man-made or unavoidable, plenty of bountiful harvests and hunger in the midst of surpluses are still co-existing in the world, notwithstanding the tremendous gains made in the areas of science and technology and transport and communication.
I do not really want to say that the world is unable or, rather, that man is unable to feed himself. We all know that, despite the fact that our populations are growing in leaps and bounds, we have the means of feeding ourselves.
It is our belief, that is, the Ghana Delegation's belief, that the non-fulfilment of the second belief or aspirations of the founding fathers of FAO, that is, freedom from want, cannot be achieved without effective collaboration among nations as the result of various factors. And, Mr Chairman, if you will permit me, I would say that the most important of these is our inability to collaborate to the extent to which the founding fathers expected us to as Member Nations.
This statement does not imply that FAO has failed in its mission. It only indicates that in spite of the tremendous progress made over the past years, a lot more needs to be done not only by FAO as an organization but by all Member Nations of the United Nations, rich or poor, large or small, North or South, developed or developing. No country should let any opportunities slip by, no matter how small, in contributing its share towards ensuring that this world becomes a little more pleasant for the poor and the hungry.
It is a matter of regret to observe that after seven years of negotiations, the nations of the world have not been able to achieve the objectives of the Uruguay Round even though it is clear that the benefits of freer world trade in addressing world poverty and hunger will far outweigh the difficulties that some of the least developed countries may face.
I believe it is not beyond the capacity of the world to put in place measures that will minimize the adverse impact of freer world trade on the
most disadvantaged nations in spite of the ongoing worldwide economic downturn.
I need not remind distinguished delegates that FAO and the United Nations were themselves set up to provide united responses to global crises with political, economic and agricultural dimensions similar to the current global situation.
I am referring particularly to the fact that the ongoing recession, with its attendant high and rising levels of unemployment and widening fiscal deficits, is tending to undermine the united approach needed to address the global recession problem - hence the difficulty in concluding the Uruguay Round.
The process of economic restructuring in the former USSR and other centrally-planned economies has resulted in high rates of inflation in that part of the world, as well as loss of significant market outlets there for the products of many developing countries, including Ghana.
The net result of these unfavourable global economic situations is that many developing countries continue to experience increasing poverty and hunger. Admittedly, some of these problems can be traced to regional conflicts including wars, drought, desertification and environmental degradation as a result of rapid population growth, inter alia.
The external debt position of most developing countries continues to deteriorate. Today most indicators of the degree of indebtedness such as debt-to-exports ratio, debt-to-service-to-exports, debt-to-GNP ratio, debt originated from agriculture-related projects, and so on, do not give much room for optimism. Indeed indications are that there is a net transfer of financial resources from developing countries to donor countries by way of debt and interest repayments, thus putting additional strains on the economies of most developing countries.
While we must pay our debts, we believe that in the spirit of international cooperation, a more humane combination of debt reduction and rescheduling will make it possible to ensure net positive transfers of financial resources to the poor members of this body of nations without sacrificing the interests of the nations in transition in Eastern and Central Europe.
Speaking of these nations, I note that it has become fashionable to claim that they would drain resources destined for the developing world. We do not wholly accept this cliche. Some competition there must be, but in our view there are enough resources world-wide, if only the rich would be more generous, to address the concerns of both groups of nations. In FAO in particular the historic marginalization of the Eastern and Central European nations must be reversed, and the undoubted human and technological resources of that region must now be tapped.
We notice with satisfaction that the difficult and painful structural adjustment programmes initiated by a large number of developing countries have started to bear fruit by way of increases in private capital flows into these countries even though there are severe regional disparities. In this regard, I am happy to inform distinguished delegates that Ghana continues to offer very attractive conditions for private investments in a wide range of activities.
Our aim is to secure for agriculture the stimulus of additional purchasing power for our hardworking small-scale farmers through sound development of agro-based industries. To improve the competitiveness of our industries, we have removed subsidies on all inputs and eliminated price controls in favour of attractive investment incentives. Hence our desire to see the elimination of agricultural subsidies worldwide to pave the way for a freer trade in agricultural products for the benefit of the countless rural poor.
I would want to conclude my address by making three special appeals. First, I wish to -appeal to all nations to work together to ensure the speedy and successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round in order to release the potential benefits of a freer and expanded world trade. The founding fathers of FAO believed that equal access to materials and markets serves to expand production and purchasing power and is therefore indispensable to any comprehensive programme that seeks to advance agriculture. With a larger number of developing countries being able to increase their agricultural production at home in response to a subsidy-free international market for agricultural commodities, the few food-importing countries who will be adversely affected by a freer agricultural trade can be better targeted by FAO and the World Food Programme for special attention, thus making the impact of these two organizations better felt.
My second plea goes to my African colleagues and all those who helped in electing the new Director-General. The casting of the ballot is the easy part. Now the hard work begins. There should be a special effort on the part of all to endeavour to pay their contributions to FAO, even in small installments, in order to demonstrate our commitment to the Organization in more concrete terms.
Finally, I would like to appeal to all Member Nations of this fine International Organization devoted to the elimination of poverty and hunger to give the newly appointed Director-General their fullest financial, technical, political and moral support to justify the conviction of the founding fathers that "freedom from want cannot be achieved without effective collaboration among nations".
Raphaël RABE (Madagascar): Le Ministre d'Etat à l'agriculture et au développement rural m'a demandé de vous transmettre ses voeux de succès et de réussite. Il aurait bien voulu conduire lui-même la délégation malgache à cette Conférence, mais il n'a pu malheureusement s'absenter du pays, les affaires urgentes requérant sa présence étant nombreuses. Il vous présente ses excuses.
Nous voudrions d'emblée vous féliciter pour votre brillante élection à la présidence de cette vingt-septième session de la Conférence. Nos félicitations s'adressent également à tous les membres du Bureau.
Permettez-nous de joindre notre voix à celles des délégations qui se sont déjà exprimées pour réitérer nos vives félicitations à M. Jacques Diouf, élu Directeur général de la FAO. Le Gouvernement de la République de Madagascar l’assure de son appui chaleureux et permanent dans l’exécution de son noble mandat. En M. Jacques Diouf, nous sommes sûrs d'avoir choisi la personne capable de donner un nouveau souffle à l'Organisation et de mobiliser la communauté internationale au moment où le sort de l'humanité semble désespéré.
En effet, comment pourrait-on ne pas céder au pessimisme et être en proie aux préoccupations les plus profondes quand des foyers de guerres civiles, des génocides et des guerres tribales s'allument un peu partout dans le monde? La fin de la guerre froide et du conflit idéologique est-ouest avait fait entrevoir un avenir plein d'espoir et de prospérité à l'humanité car les ressources incommensurables consacrées à la fabrication d'armes auraient pu servir à promouvoir le développement, à vaincre la malnutrition et la pauvreté.
Ce sont malheureusement les fabricants d'armes qui ont trouvé et continuent à trouver leur compte dans cette situation. Jamais leurs activités n'ont été aussi florissantes. Et l'ONU, au lieu de se pencher sur les problèmes urgents de développement, se trouve dangereusement entraînée dans des conflits armés qui s'éternisent et épuisent les ressources insuffisantes dont elle dispose. Les crédits affectés pour rétablir la paix représentent trois fois le budget de l'Organisation: 600 millions de dollars en 1992, 2 milliards 800 millions de dollars actuellement, et il semble qu'ils pourront atteindre 4 milliards 300 millions de dollars. Nous ne pouvons que formuler le voeu que toutes ces hostilités cessent au plus vite et que les belligérants trouvent très rapidement la voie qui conduit vers la paix.
Un autre conflit, non sanglant au demeurant mais non moins menaçant, est celui qui oppose les parties prenantes aux négociations commerciales multilatérales du GATT. En vérité, la situation est pour le moins compliquée et incompréhensible, car ceux-là mêmes qui prônent, comme valeur incontournable, le marché libre, s'emploient à s'y soustraire. Nous, pays en voie de développement, souhaitons vivement que les confrontations stériles cessent car les conséquences d'une guerre commerciale sur nos économies ne peuvent même pas être imaginées.
Le manque à gagner des pays en voie de développement exportateurs dû aux politiques protectionnistes des pays industrialisés avoisinerait les 100 milliards de dollars; aussi n'est-il point difficile de comprendre pourquoi ces pays souhaitent vivement que les négociations aboutissent au plus vite.
Dans nos pays, démocratie et économie de marché sont devenues la condition sine qua non du développement, si ce n'est de l'aide extérieure. Les pays d'Afrique en savent quelque chose puisque c'est devenu un impératif dans la mise en oeuvre de leur programme d'ajustement structurel. Madagascar n'a pas échappé et n'échappe pas à la règle; les péripéties pour arriver à la troisième République ont été longues et sont douloureuses; sans un soutien vigoureux, agissant et soutenu de la communauté internationale, y compris des institutions financières et des organisations internationales, les sacrifices de la population seraient vains et la paix gravement menacée.
De nombreux pays africains partagent les mêmes préoccupations que nous; c'est la raison pour laquelle, à Tokyo, ils ont été unanimes à déclarer que "la véritable finalité des réformes politiques et économiques est de combattre la pauvreté et d'améliorer le bien-être de tous. Pour cela, il faut que les programmes d'ajustement structurel comprennent davantage de mesures destinées à offrir aux pauvres de plus grandes possibilités d'emplois rémunérateurs et un accès plus large à des services sociaux efficaces, tout en veillant à les protéger, dans la mesure du possible, des effets négatifs que peuvent avoir ces programmes sur le plan social".
Il est à signaler, d'après le dernier rapport de la CNUED sur le commerce et le développement, que c'est l'Afrique qui détient le record dans
l'application des programmes d'ajustement structurel aussi bien en intensité qu'en fréquence. Il n'est donc pas étonnant de constater que c'est dans la région que les soulèvements populaires ont été les plus nombreux; les sacrifices consentis et les privations dépassent, la plupart du temps, la limite du supportable.
Il n'est pas possible de continuer à exiger de ces populations d'autres sacrifices et il est temps de venir à leur secours, à court terme, par des aides alimentaires et sociales appropriées et, à plus long terme, en leur assurant des emplois leur permettant d'améliorer leurs revenus.
Les institutions et organisations internationales telles que la FAO ont un rôle d'assistance important, sinon déterminant, à jouer dans nos pays pendant cette période critique. Nous avons besoin de la FAO pour doter le pays de ressources humaines capables de concevoir des programmes et projets de développement appropriés et de les exécuter correctement. Nous avons besoin d'elle pour renforcer les institutions nationales de recherche et de développement et pour promouvoir le transfert et l'utilisation locale des nouvelles biotechnologies appliquées à l'agriculture. C'est la raison pour laquelle nous avons besoin d'une Organisation forte et vigoureusement soutenue par tous les Etats et toutes les organisations membres; c'est aussi la raison pour laquelle nous souhaitons qu'on lui garantisse des ressources suffisantes. A cet effet, le niveau du Programme de travail et budget 1994-95 est à notre avis un minimum au-dessous duquel l'action de l'Organisation devient inefficace et nous invitons la Conférence à l’approuver à l’unanimité.
L'appui que notre délégation accorde au Programme de travil et budget ne devrait pas nous interdire de regretter que le Programme de coopération technique continue de représenter un faible pourcentage du budget malgré la résolution de la Conférence le fixant à 17 pour cent. Nous souhaitons que les très nombreux témoignages de soutien qui ont été signifiés par les membres au Programme de coopération technique se concrétiseront par une nette reprise du Programme dans le sens indiqué par la résolution 9/89 de la Conférence.
Voter le budget est un acte positif vis-à-vis de l'Organisation mais cela n'est pas suffisant, loin s'en faut; il est nécessaire de la doter des ressources requises. "La FAO ne peut rendre de bons services qu'en s'appuyant sur un budget régulièrement approvisionné" a déclaré la délégation française dans son discours, la même délégation précisant qu'il n'est pas acceptable que les pays solvables paient leur contribution avec retard. Nous faisons nôtres ces commentaires.
Nous voudrions cependant, pour notre part, inviter la Conférence à adopter des mesures permettant à tous les Etats Membres, y compris ceux en difficulté, de contribuer financièrement. Une des mesures paraissant vraiment appropriée et encourageante serait la possibilité, pour les pays dont la monnaie n'est pas convertible, de payer partie ou totalité de leur contribution en monnaie locale. La Conférence devrait prendre des décisions dans ce sens pendant la présente session, tel que l'a d'ailleurs suggéré le Conseil lors de sa 104e session.
La meilleure solution est bien entendu de soutenir les efforts de ces pays dans la mise en oeuvre des programmes et projets de développement leur permettant de disposer des devises dont ils ont besoin; si leurs produits d'exportation étaient convenablement rémunérés sur le marché mondial et si leurs disponibilités en devises ne servaient plus à acheter les produits
alimentaires qu'ils pourraient produire sur place, ils n'auraient pas de problèmes pour remplir leurs obligations financières et ils pourraient devenir des partenaires valables et fiables.
Faire des pays du Sud des partenaires fiables et viables devient une condition sine qua non de la paix et de la sécurité mondiale dans le futur. Dans son ouvrage intitulé "Paysans du Nord et du Sud, gagner ensemble ou perdre les uns contre les autres" le Directeur général de la FAO nous indique que "l'humanité prospère ne pourra préserver ses valeurs en érigeant des barrières contre un monde extérieur qui lui est indispensable". Huit cents millions de personnes mal nourries et de santé précaire constituent une poudrière difficile à contenir et à contrôler. Beaucoup de hauts responsables des pays industrialisés ont compris qu'il faudrait aider les pays à trouver des solutions sur place pour ces populations deshéritées, mais aucune action concrète n'a jusqu'à présent été prise dans ce sens.
Nos pays continuent à s'appauvrir car ils consacrent les ressources dont ils disposent à régler leurs dettes au lieu d'investir dans le développement. Concernant la région Afrique, certains chefs d'Etat africains pensent qu'il faudrait un Plan Marshall si l'on voulait vraiment la délivrer de la situation catastrophique dans laquelle elle se trouve.
En attendant, nous pensons pour notre part que nous pouvons déjà engager la lutte contre la pauvreté avec détermination et beaucoup de chances de succès si nous utilisons comme il faut les outils précieux dont nous disposons; je voulais parler des institutions du système des Nations Unies ayant leur siège à Rome, leaders en matière de développement agricole et rural, c'est-à-dire la FAO, le FIDA et le PAM. Nous sommes convaincus que la conjugaison de leurs efforts mettrait en échec les goulots d'étranglement et ouvrirait la voie à un vrai développement agricole durable.
Il est inutile d'innover, faisons tout ce qui est en notre pouvoir et en notre capacité pour renforcer ces institutions, afin que la quatrième reconstitution des ressources du FIDA, qui surmonte actuellement des difficultés, puisse trouver une issue favorable, afin que le Programme de travail et budget de la FAO soit approuvé à l'unanimité et son Programme de terrain renforcé.
A ce sujet ma délégation ne peut que se féliciter de la déclaration positive de M. René Steichen, de la Commission des Communautés européennes, lorsqu'il précise que la Commission est décidée à approfondir et à amplifier sa coopération avec la FAO, coopération qui porte déjà sur 11 millions de dollars et susceptible d'être portée à 15 millions de dollars supplémentaires. Enfin, le PAM devrait disposer des ressources en espèces et en denrées alimentaires décidées par le CPA.
Nous voudrions clore notre discours en souhaitant la bienvenue aux dix nouveaux Etats Membres. Leur adhésion démontre une fois de plus l'attachement de la communauté internationale à l'Organisation qui va bientôt célébrer son cinquantième anniversaire. Toutes leurs expériences nous seront précieuses et nous les assurons de notre coopération profonde et soutenue.
Joze OSTERC (Slovenia): At the outset I would like to congratulate His Excellency Ambassador Jacques Diouf on his election as the Director-General
of FAO and assure him of the full support and cooperation -of my country. It is my sincere hope that under his able guidance FAO will successfully deal with many pressing issues even more effectively.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude and respect to the Director-General Dr Edouard Saouma for his untiring efforts towards solving worldwide food and agricultural problems. I am wishing him all the best for the future.
Allow me as well to thank all speakers for their kind words of congratulation at Slovenia's admission to FAO.
I consider it a special honour to be able to address this Plenary Session of the 27th General Conference of FAO as the representative of Slovenia. Since Slovenia is a new member of FAO, please allow me to begin with a short introduction.
With only two million inhabitants, Slovenia is a small country. It lies at the borders of Central Europe and the Balkans, bordering Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. Important routes from Western to Eastern Europe and the Balkans pass through Slovenia. It also lies on the shortest route leading from the Adriatic sea to Central Europe and the Baltic region. Due to its geographic position and easy access, Slovenia became a meeting point of trade routes and nations. All this has influenced its development.
The people that lived in the territory of the present-day Slovenia 2000 years ago produced the famous wine known as "Pucinum", a favourite of the wife of the Roman Caesar Augustus. After the arrival of the Slovenians in this region during the 6th century, agriculture developed rapidly, especially later during the 18th and 19th centuries when Slovenia was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In fact Slovenian farmers were already able to read in the 18th century. At the end of the 18th century they obtained the first specialized books on animal husbandry. Between 1764 and 1767 the provincial agricultural associations were established which were managed according to democratic and cooperative principles. These associations encouraged the genetic selection of animals and agricultural plants. Consequently, our agriculture was one of the most developed in Central Europe. Its high level of development was confirmed by the prize received at the Paris World Fair in 1867 and by the fact that Slovenians were at that time selling high quality cattle for breeding and apples to Austria, Bavaria and Italy.
After the First World War, links with Western Europe were largely cut off and development slowed down. It almost came to a standstill after the Second World War. Agrarian law and related regulations restricted land ownership to only ten hectares and the Yugoslav-planned economy presented an obstacle to the market orientation of agricultural production. As a consequence, when Slovenia gained its independence in 1991 its agriculture was confronted with numerous problems.
Farmers own 83 percent of all agricultural land, while 17 percent is temporarily owned by the State. Our farms are small and on average comprise only 3.7 hectares of arable land or 4.6 hectares of agricultural land. Only a small proportion (18 percent) are full-time farms, the rest belonging to part-time farmers, who also own over 70 percent of all agricultural land. Such a small-scale land ownership structure results in higher costs of production. The topography of Slovenia is not especially favourable for farming. For this reason the farms tend to be small, covering unsuitable
hilly terrain, and two-thirds of the farm areas are classified in the land category of difficult farming conditions. This also means that our agricultural production is expensive.
Until 1991, while still within the former Yugoslavia, Slovenian agriculture was part of the Yugoslav economic area and operated under Balkan conditions. In particular, Slovenia developed its food-processing industry and certain other types of agricultural production, such as the production of poultry meat, for the needs of Yugoslavia. Since Slovenia abounds in grassland and pasture, the raising of livestock developed rapidly and this resulted in surplus production of milk. Today we are facing the problems of unbalanced production and a substantial loss of the former Yugoslav markets. Such shortcomings cannot be eliminated overnight.
This year the Slovenian Parliament adopted a strategy for the development of agriculture. The deputies, who were democratically elected as the representatives of the people, decided on the ecosocial development of agriculture taking the family farm as the basic unit of agricultural production. The adopted law on cooperatives will ensure the association and organization of farmers according to cooperative principles. The implementation of the law on denationalization will ensure the return of land to some of the farmers from whom it was unjustly expropriated after the Second World War. This will make possible the establishment of some larger farms with over ten hectares of agricultural land, although most will remain small for a long time to come.
With the adoption of the strategy for the development of agriculture we decided to strive permanently to enlarge the size of our farms. For this purpose Slovenia passed a law establishing the Agricultural Lands and Forests Fund. The essential aim of the law is to regulate the traffic in agricultural real estate.
The available or unused agricultural plots will thus be leased on a long-term basis to professional farmers. This should contribute to a more rapid increase in the number of professional farmers and hence to greater agricultural productivity. Because of the unfavourable topographic conditions for farming as well as psychological and economic reasons, the greatest part of the agricultural land will remain in the ownership of part-time farmers. Small and part-time farmers can obtain rapid results by improving their knowledge and adopting labour-intensive production processes. For example, Slovenia lacks garden produce, which is an appropriate production activity for small farmers.
In order to offer farmers as much knowledge as possible we have ventured to organize and modernize agricultural education. Every school will be provided with some farmland where young people will be given practical training in agricultural techniques and where farmers will be given specific demonstrations. The schools are organized regionally and should become the centres for transferring new knowledge into practice. The public extension service that collaborates with schools is similarly organized on a regional basis. In Slovenia there are at present eight agricultural schools and 300 agricultural advisers.
One of the characteristics of Slovenia is the variety of its natural habitat, which has contributed to the richness of its range of cultivation and farming tradition. This is an important segment of European farm culture which we are duty-bound to preserve. But we can preserve it only if the countryside remains populated. To achieve this the countryside must be
properly organized and housewives, who usually play an important role in this, must be given proper training. For this purpose we are already establishing schools for farm women and are underaking projects to organize the countryside. Some of the projects are run in cooperation with FAO organizations. We are certain that these initiatives will improve the social and economic circumstances of the Slovenian farmer.
Since Slovenia has only limited possibilities in agriculture, it will have to define its priorities, in which it must achieve the best quality which will help it to reach higher prices for its products on international markets. With acceptable prices it will be possible to reduce the negative effects of the smallness of our farms.
We will pay special attention to promoting environmentally-acceptable and integrated agriculture. By so doing we will protect our fertile land. In this respect we will strive to preserve genetic material and the genetic variety in plants and animals. In the production of fruit we are, for example, establishing an orchard with an assortment of over 100 traditional Slovenian species of apple trees.
Slovenia occasionally experiences serious drought, as it did this year. Consequently, we are preparing an irrigation project which we hope to build in the next few years.
I have listed some of the most important problems which Slovenian agriculture is facing and the tasks which we hope to accomplish. We are certain that the institutions and experts of FAO can offer us invaluable assistance in this. In turn, we are also prepared to offer our assistance, since we are aware that only those who have received can also give. Compared to the developed countries, Slovenia is perhaps in many ways better able to help the underdeveloped because we are closer to them in ways of thinking and can therefore understand them better.
We made our request for membership in FAO so that in accordance with our abilities and possibilities we could contribute to the greater success of FAO in the building of a more just and pleasant world.
Ahmed Abu EL GHEZT (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): I would like to extend my sincere congratulations and deep appreciation to Mr Jacques Diouf, the newly-elected Director-General. We are confident that, out of his sense of belonging to the developing world and particularly to Africa, and considering his vast experience in their pressing problems and his deep knowledge of the many international variables surrounding us that necessitate further cooperation and interdependence based on constructive dialogue and the principle of participation, he will lead our Organization forward towards the achievement of the objectives for which this Organization was established and which are clearly identified in its Constitution.
I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to extend to Dr Edouard Saouma our deep thanks for the efforts he has deployed during the past 18 years while managing this Organization, and wish him every success and happiness in his future life.
Several events are troubling the world, which unfortunately have an adverse effect on international endeavour in all fields. Those events can by no means be separated from our scope of interest. It is regrettable that at
the same time when we are attending this Conference thousands of people are dying from hunger and malnutrition in many parts of the world for reasons that are not directly arising from poverty or deteriorating economic conditions. They are, unfortunately, due to political, tribal, ethnic and ideological conflicts and eruptions that leave behind their fire as their first victims innocent women, children and the elderly. In this respect Somalia and Bosnia Herzegovina are alive in our conscience.
The difficult economic conditions faced by the world at large and by the developing world in particular, in terms of recession, unemployment and decline of raw material prices, jeopardize the economies of the developing countries. In addition, the constraints faced by the trade negotiations of the Uruguay Round are factors that cause this Organization to shoulder a special responsibility which deserves to be supported so as to enable it to serve the developing countries.
Document C 93/3, Programme of Work and Budget 1994/95, indicates in the part concerning the financial position of FAO that the world economic recession, which began in 1990 and continued up to 1993, will persist. The document also refers to the fact that economic growth of industrial countries, whose share of world production amounts to 75%, is still less than expected. The high unemployment rates that are continuing to increase, the considerable cash deficit, which is ever-widening, and the high indebtedness accompanied by its negative impact, make it incumbent upon us to cooperate at the international level in mutual understanding. This cooperation must also be based on principles of participation and dialogue. Stress should be placed on the regional dimension of cooperation in order to lay down the foundations of stability that lead to economic and social development with special emphasis on science and technology in the face of these challenges.
FAO's Constitution clearly identifies its responsibilities for achieving food security for member developing countries through extending technical expertise and strengthening the capacities of national cadres to implement and manage development programmes and projects.
Hence, my delegation stresses the importance of supporting this Organization in order to increase its effectiveness as well as its capacity to achieve food security, optimum utilization of natural resources, sustainable agricultural development and protection of the environment.
Being one of the founding fathers of this Organization in 1945, my country attaches high importance to its activities, particularly those aimed at achieving economic and social development. My delegation took note of the Report of the Programme and Finance Committees, and have actually taken part in the Programme Committee and the 103rd Session of our Council. We approve of the budget level. However, we believe that this budget level, which is almost the same as that of the 1992-93 budget, is the minimum level that should be maintained so as to secure for the Organization the continuation of its programmes, projects and activities. Hence, my delegation believes that the FAO proposed regular budget for the biennium 1994-95 should be complemented by extrabudgetary resources. In this way the Organization's activities could be strengthened at the regional level and the emergency operations could continue, as well as the long-term construction projects, with the usual increase in appropriations in the field of animal diseases and pests, and through the world system of Early Warning.
My delegation welcomes the efforts deployed by the Director-General towards an increase of resources in the programme management and support services to maintain the economic and technical efficiency of programme performance. We stress our support for the Technical Cooperation Programme of FAO. The TCP assistance has had a positive impact on the development programmes in many developing countries, and in cases of emergency and relief operation.
Egypt, with its agricultural civilization that dates back thousands of years, attaches great importance to agriculture as a source of employment, food security and foreign exchange. The agricultural sector is one of the pioneering sectors as far as economic reform policies are concerned, be they pricing, marketing or institutional. Such policies aim at liberating this sector and turning it into a market economy, while at the same time encouraging the private sector. These reforms are compatible with the political, economic and social developments, be they international, regional or national, since they all aim at achieving economic efficiency and social justice within the purview of sustainable development.
During recent years, new orientations have been taken in this sector in terms of the abolition of certain rules limiting surfaces that should be cultivated with crops, the system of mandatory delivery of certain crops, the government constraints that were imposed on the private sector in the export and import of agricultural products, the distribution of agricultural input. On the other hand, some institutional reforms were undertaken. The Agricultural Credit and Development Bank has been transformed into the Agricultural Development Bank. Private investment has been encouraged to participate in this field in the form of joint ventures. The Government's role is today confined to research, extension and support services and the collection and provision of economic and statistical information.
Concrete and positive results had been achieved by economic and structural adjustment programmes. They are reflected in the improved performance rate of the agricultural sector, the expanding reclamation and cultivation of lands by farmers and the increasing rate of self-sufficiency in crops. My country, Egypt, welcomes regional cooperation in the fields of common interest for the countries in the region, such as the combating of epidemic diseases that affect animal wealth, the eradication of the desert locust pest and in the management and investment of fisheries. We also welcome trainees from the developing countries in the agricultural sector.
FAO plays a major role in the implementation of the resolutions adopted by two most important conferences that were held in 1992. These were Agenda 21, adopted by UNCED, which focused mainly on issues related to sustainable development and conservation of natural resources, and the World Declaration on Nutrition and the Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference on Nutrition. In this respect, I would like to emphasize the common nature and the organic correlation between those two conferences, since both of them deal with increasing agricultural production levels, improving the means of developing and distributing resources and the combating of diseases resulting from malnutrition, the eradication of poverty and its negative impact on the environment and nutrition, on housing, education and services. Hence, the follow-up of the implementation of the decisions and resolutions adopted by those two conferences is the only effective means to achieve the vital objectives for which the two conferences were held.
In conclusion, I wish the Conference every success in achieving the results we aspire to, and we wish this great Organization continued success in the service of mankind which seeks a decent and free life, as well as prosperity and progress for our peoples.
K.M. KANGAI (Zimbabwe): At the outset, I wish to express our appreciation for your having been elected to the Chairmanship of this important conference. We wish to thank you for the manner in which you are handling some key issues. Zimbabwe also would like to express our gratitude to the incoming Director-General, Mr Jacques Diouf. We will do everything in our capacity to support him, and we are confident that he will be able to execute his duties in a very, very, very effective manner, taking into consideration that he is a man who comes from the developing countries. We also wish to express our gratitude to the outgoing Director-General, Mr Edouard Saouma, who has provided very diligent services throughout the period he has been Director-General.
My statement will focus specifically on two FAO reference papers, namely, "The State of Food and Agriculture 1993", and "Agriculture: Towards 2010". These two papers have profound implications, not just for our deliberations at this session, but for the whole future of world agriculture.
In particular, I note that global agricultural production only rose by about one percent in 1992, with Africa recording a six percent fall in per capita agricultural production. Further, it is distressing to note that although we had projected in 1987 that the goal of food-for-all by the year 2000 would be achievable, this is no longer the case. This has necessitated the need for FAO to revise their perspectives for food and agriculture to the year 2010.
Since our 26th Session in 1991, there have been significant changes affecting the agricultural sector in the Southern African region, from which we can draw lessons for the future. The first one is the severe drought of 1992 during which the Southern African region received the lowest rainfall ever recorded in the history of the region, with disastrous consequences for the level of crop and animal production.
To illustrate the magnitude of the drought problem, cereal production and shortfall in all the ten Southern African countries of SADC, as estimated in March 1992, indicated that aggregate cereal production would fall to 6.2 million metric tonnes, or just over half of normal production. It was further estimated that an unprecedented 7.9 million metric tonnes of cereal would need to be imported, compared to an annual norm of less than 1.7 million tonnes. In addition, South Africa, a traditional maize exporter, estimated its own cereal import needs at 5.5 million tonnes. This meant that over 13 million tonnes of cereal, representing a six-fold increase above normal imports, would need to be imported into the region from overseas. Inevitably, this resulted in severe logistical problems for the port, road and rail system. I am pleased to say that, with the help of the international community, the import programme was handled in an efficient and timely fashion. The danger of starvation was averted.
There are a number of short-term and long-term lessons to be drawn from the drought experience. The drought has contributed to an increased awareness of the need for accurate early warning systems, effective donor coordination, cost-effective national and village level food reserve stocks, flexible intra-regional trade policies, transport preparedness, and
a more liberalized domestic trading environment. In the medium to long term, drought mitigation activities need to be enhanced by improved water storage and irrigation, construction of permanent input distribution warehouses, livestock management systems which take account of recurring drought. In Zimbabwe we now have a programme to construct over the coming years a medium-sized dam in each of the 55 districts of the country in addition to several large-sized national dams.
This programme requires a lot of funding for dam construction and irrigation: development. It also provides significant opportunities for external donors and private investors who want to invest in Zimbabwe. A National Farm Irrigation Fund was created under the Agricultural Finance Corporation to provide attractive credit facilities for large-scale commercial and smallholder irrigation projects. Donors are being encouraged to channel their assistance through this Fund, or directly for dam projects.
We not only have to respond in an effective manner to the immediate needs which result from the drought, but also to provide direct assistance to farmers to enable them to recover from the disaster. Our drought recovery programme in Zimbabwe involved the distribution of seed, fertilizer and breeding stock and the provision of tillage for small-scale farmers. The programme has produced positive results, which has led to the situation in which we have become once again a net exporter of food in terms of increased production. For example, in the 1992-1993 marketing year, which was affected by the drought, the Grain Marketing Board purchased only 12 000 tonnes of maize from local farmers, but this figure went up to a remarkable 1.3 million tonnes this year as a direct result of our drought recovery programme and reasonable rainfall. These figures exclude substantial levels of farm retentions and informal trade. Similar levels of recovery also occurred with other crops. This impressive performance has taught us some useful lessons in regard to future strategies for sustainable small-holder production and the sector's ability to respond to positive incentives.
The second area of change is in regard to policy reforms in agriculture which have continued within the overall framework of the structural adjustment programme adopted in 1991. The adjustment strategy is aimed at restoring macro-economic stability through fiscal and monetary restraint, supported by improvement of external competitiveness through a responsive exchange rate policy, and establishing a more diversified and efficient productive base through structural reforms, especially in the agricultural sector.
This strategy is already producing positive results. The encouragement of a more outward-oriented agricultural sector is providing further incentives for export expansion. Increased availability of farm inputs due to liberalization is inducing productivity growth and the expansion of food production. The increased role of the private sector in agricultural marketing is encouraging diversification and efficiency by providing farmers with alternative marketing incentives and processing opportunities.
Measures are in place to address any negative aspects of reform, in particular through the provision of carefully targeted assistance to cushion vulnerable groups. Substantial improvements have been made in the nutritional status of pre-school children, and infant mortality rates have declined sharply as a result of improvement in household food security. A combination of price and non-price incentives, including land reform, are
being provided to farmers to encourage diversification and sustained food security.
It is in this context that I fully support the efforts by FAO to look beyond the year 2 000 and alert governments to take early action to reverse any negative trends in food and agricultural production. FAO field programmes and advisory services should continue to work hand in hand with member countries to translate these programmes into concrete action. In this way we can reach the goal of food for all, if not by the year 2000 then very shortly afterwards. We should never lose sight of this goal - it is of such great importance to many people, particularly in Africa.
Gürsu OKURER (Turkey) : At the outset, I wish to congratulate you on your unanimous election to the Chairmanship. My delegation is confident that with your well-known professional qualities you will guide our deliberations towards a successful outcome.
We would also like to place on record our appreciation to the Director-General for his outstanding performance in steering the work of FAO for the past 18 years. Mr Edouard Saouma certainly deserves a special tribute for his distinctive and dedicated contribution to the efforts aimed at promoting the ideals of this Organization.
We also take great pleasure in expressing our sincere congratulations to Director-General Elect Mr Jacques Diouf and assure him of our full support and cooperation in his challenging task to lead this important UN Agency until the start of the next century.
My delegation welcomes and salutes the new members of our Organization. We take joyful pride in the fact that, with some of them, Turkey enjoys close ties of kinship, language and culture. Their presence and contribution will surely enrich and strengthen FAO and they, in turn, will benefit from membership of this Organization.
I feel particularly privileged to express the views of my Government at this occasion which appears to have a historic importance. Indeed at this particular juncture when the world food and agriculture problems have reached a peak and when multilateral institutions face growing pressures, our Conference has the great responsibility of giving the right impulse to FAO so as to enable it to strengthen its role and raise its efficiency.
In the past two years, since the 26th Session, the overall economic environment which directly affects developments in agriculture and in the food situation continued to be beset by uncertainties. Growing debt problems, continuing protectionism, high interest rates, unfavourable terms of trade and insufficient flows of financial resources still hamper the efforts of many developing countries to redress their economy. The darkest side of the global economic picture is the large number of developing countries that continue to see their situation worsen.
Agriculture is still the sector which is most affected by the adversities of world economic conditions. People dependent on agriculture still carry the heaviest burden of national adjustment policies, and the world still falls far short of the objective of ensuring freedom from hunger for all.
The fact that the world produces abundant supplies of food and agricultural products is no relief for most of the food-deficit, low-income countries
and their rural populations. The structural imbalances in the world's agricultural output and trade system continue to perpetrate the paradoxical situation whereby embarrasing surpluses and serious shortages, affluence and malnutrition, co-exist on our globe.
We certainly share the opinion that the best long-term hope for the prosperity of the world as a whole rests in the development of developing countries. We believe that, although the developing countries' self-help efforts are essential, stepped-up actions on the part of the international community and, in particular, of the developed countries bearing a decisive weight in the management of world economy, are very much needed for bringing about a sustained global recovery. At the close of the twentieth century and with the economic policies of all countries converging as never before, the time has come to lauch a concerted effort to create an international economic environment more congenial for growth and sustainable development.
We are aware of the present economic difficulties faced by some industrialized countries, particularly by those in Europe. We, at the same time, believe that domestic problems and budgetary constraints should not divert our attention from our long-term and traditional challenge to reduce hunger and poverty and to attain sustainable development through international cooperation.
We regret that the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations has not yet been concluded. This raises fears of ever-increasing protectionism. Since trade is a major vehicle for developing countries to break free of the burden of external debt and to pursue their development efforts, the necessary political will must be displayed for a successful conclusion of these negotiations.
In this rather gloomy picture, another sore point is the external financial assistance to agriculture. The decline in the external assistance to agriculture is a regrettable trend which should be reversed with utmost urgency. The present level of official development assistance to this sector should be increased and, more important still, multilateral concessional channels should be reinforced, especially through the replensihment of IDA and IFAD.
International action is even more essential in the field of food security.
Africa is still the continent most seriously affected by food shortages requiring emergency assistance. Fourteen countries in the region are currently facing exceptional food emergencies and half of these countries are also being affected by civil strife. Ongoing conflicts in other parts of the world, particularly in the Balkans and the Caucasian regions, have caused severe food shortages, massive displacements of people and grave human suffering.
My Government considers the international action in the fields of development and humanitarian assistance as an essential component of the peace-building efforts.
Turkey, stretching to the utmost her budgetary means, continues to be increasingly active as a donor and contributor in the field of economic and humanitarian support and solidarity.
Since the beginning of 1992, my Government has implemented an economic assistance package which includes technical assistance, project financing, training grants and soft loans, made available to 32 countries in four continents. We are firmly committed to continue our efforts in this domain. To increase efficiency in terms of coordination, we have set up the Turkish International Cooperation Agency.
Over the same period, 28 countries in three continents stricken by natural and/or man-made disasters, have received a total of 213 million US dollars-worth of humanitarian aid from Turkey, in cash or in kind, as well as in various forms of refugee relief and accommodation.
The UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in 1992 was a major event to broaden the scope for economic development in a sustainable manner. This Conference has accelerated the universal push towards global sustainable development. Turkey believes that this momentum is now irreversible. We appreciate FAO's contribution to the formulation of Agenda 21 and hope that it will continue its leading role in the implementation of the global strategy, particularly in the areas of combating deforestation, desertification and drought; sustainable agriculture and rural development; sustainable development and exploitation of marine resources.
The second major event in 1992 was the International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) held jointly by FAO and the World Health Organization. ICN was an important and complementary step towards raising the awareness of the international community so as to place human nutrition and well-being at the centre of the Agenda for development. We endorse the outcome of this Conference and expect that within its follow-up activities FAO will develop appropriate programmes which will strengthen the momentum gained in this important field.
We welcome the initiatives taken by FAO to assist the eastern and central European countries with a view to developing the agricultural potential of these countries. We share the view that FAO should continue to play a prominent role in defining new strategies for the future of European agriculture with special emphasis on sustainable agricultural and rural development, natural resource conservation and environment protection.
It is also true that a new geographic horizon opens up to FAO with the changing world conditions. FAO can play a catalytic role in the search for means of accelerating the integration of the newly independent Republics of the former USSR into the global economy.
Turkey holds the view that a good way to work towards agricultural and rural development is through regional and sub-regional cooperation. The political changes of the past few years have broadened the opportunities for such cooperation. In full awareness of this promising trend, Turkey has taken the initiative to launch a comprehensive scheme for expanded cooperation among the countries of the Black Sea region. The development of agriculture and agro-industries is identified as one of the main fields of cooperation among the participating countries in the Black Sea region.
Now let me turn to the proposed Programme of Work and Budget for the coming biennium. Turkey approves the strategies, priorities and programmes proposed by the Director-General in his "Programme of Work and Budget for 1994-95". Our support is mainly based in the fact that these proposals reflect the result of a long process to which all member countries,
including mine, have largely contributed. We appreciate in particular the overall approach which aims to devote maximum available resources to technical and economic programmes including TCP, to refine programme priorities based on the outcome of the two major international conferences, namely UNCED and ICN and to increase efficiency.
To sum up, we consider that, given the present budgetary and financial constraints, the proposals before us seem to be realistic and balanced enough to deserve a consensus, including the budget level which foresees no net growth but even a slight nominal decrease in terms of assessed contributions, as a consequence of difference in exchange rates between the US dollar and Italian lire.
Before concluding, I would like to reaffirm my Government's willingness to participate more actively and effectively in FAO's work. We believe that our level of development, our agricultural potential, our expanding technical and food assistance are important assets which will allow us to assume greater responsibilities in FAO's activities.
I would like to close my remarks by expressing confidence that this Conference will give a new impetus to collective endeavours aimed at achieving the main objectives of the FAO.
Noah M. NKAMBULE (Swaziland) : May I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election to the Chair and for the success with which you have conducted the elections and the entire deliberations of the Conference up to this point in time. We wish you God's blessings through the remainder of the Conference agenda.
Allow me also to pay tribute to the outstanding leadership of the incumbent Director-General, Dr Edouard Saouma, who has led our Organization with excellence for the past eighteen years. His invaluable contribution to this Organization will remain visible for generations to come. We wish him good health and prosperity in the new life that lies ahead of him.
On behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, the Government and People of the Kingdom of Swaziland, I would like to express our heartfelt congratulations to the new Director-General, His Excellency Dr Jacques Diouf, for his ultimate victory in a highly contested election. Through him, we believe that our Organization will be able to successfully address the challenges that lie ahead. Swaziland would like to assure him of her fullest support. It is our prayer that the Almighty God guides, protects and gives him wisdom as he discharges his duties and the responsibilities of this high office.
I also wish to welcome and congratulate the ten new members of FAO, and in particular, our neighbour, the Republic of South Africa. We look forward to their active participation and full commitment to the goals and ideals of this Organization.
Swaziland ranks among the smallest countries of the world and is one of the smallest members of this noble Organization. It is also handicapped in many ways as a land-locked country. In spite of its disposition between its two giant neighbours, the Republics of South Africa and Mozambique, Swaziland has pursued a free market economic policy in its development plans and programmes since its independence in 1968. This policy has played a vital
role in our efforts to develop and improve our resources and the quality of life of our people.
While this policy has had positive results on our Gross National Product and per capita income, as measures of economic performance, thousands of our rural people remain poor, unemployed and untouched by these benefits. The statistics that appear so positive are attributable to a few large private sector organizations which have boosted income levels for only a small proportion of our population. There is a skewed distribution of income. What is most unfortunate is that the economic indicators have tended to portray a false impression to the international community about the economic status of our country.
Consequent to this distortion, Swaziland has been inadequately classified and unfairly denied access to soft loan packages and the benefits offered by the international community to most developing countries. As a result, our rural poor have remained marginalized and desperate. The recent drought of 1991-92 only made the situation worse as thousands of our rural populations lost their limited means of survival and existence. Vast areas of crops were devastated while large numbers of livestock died as a result of loss of grazing and the drying up of water resources. We nevertheless cherish most sincerely the assistance rendered to Swaziland by the FAO and the international community during the distressful time when we faced the worst drought in living memory. In this regard, Swaziland would appeal to the international community for assistance in the development of her water resources as a long term insurance measure against the recurring droughts.
Only a few amongst us would know the painful experience of being poor and marginalized. Swaziland know the pains and the cries of the poor and the hungry. The world's poor cannot continue to survive on marginalization just as the world's rich cannot continue to relish at the expense of the poor. It is a naked fact that most of the world's raw materials are produced and processed either through cheap labour or with high technology which displaces the poor through retrenchments. Furthermore, it is the poor in the developing world who have to pay heavily for the finished products at the end of the day. This is a non-win situation, a vicious cycle which keeps pushing the disadvantaged to the brink of dismay and desperation. Our contention is that the world economy must be based on partnership and not merely on competitive advantage.
There is no doubt that technological advancement has boosted agricultural production worldwide. However, it is unfortunate that such technology can be afforded by a very few in proportion to the world's population. Furthermore, the few who can afford access to those benefits are the ones who are cushioned by massive subsidies especially in the world's rich countries. On the other hand, the poor farmers in the developing countries find that their products can hardly compete in the international markets against the subsidized products. This in itself is some form of protectionism against the developing countries whose low protective capacity and marginalization are thus perpetuated. While we favour the liberalization of trade, we feel that measures should be taken to safeguard the interests of smaller countries which have limited domestic markets for their produce. Export-driven economic growth is fundamental to agricultural development in Swaziland.
We are making these highlights simply to raise the conscience of this august Conference on some of the negative effects of agricultural protectionist policies and how they perpetuate the marginalization of the
world's poor. It is hoped that this Conference will take a clear stand on the issue of subsidies in the interest of sustainable agricultural growth in developing countries. We believe, Mr Chairman, that it is essential for the developed countries to seriously consider the removal of agricultural subsidies and create a fair and equitable climate in international trade that would attract and stimulate increased agricultural production in the developing countries. If the money that went into subsidies were directed at stimulating agricultural growth in developing countries, our Organization would move closer towards achieving its fundamental objectives.
The Kingdom of Swaziland is very proud to be a member of this Organization whose noble goal to combat hunger, pain and suffering and to conserve as well as preserve the world's natural and non-renewable resources we highly cherish. We are very happy to note in this regard that these objectives were expounded and embraced by the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED) and the International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) in 1992. We, in Swaziland, support the measures taken by this Organization to integrate the strategies and plans of action adopted by these two Conferences into the FAO Programme of Action. We remain committed to the principle of sustainable development enshrined in the Global Action Plan as documented in Agenda 21.
However, there is no doubt that this wider agenda will place enormous strains and put new challenges on this Organization in view of the meagre resources that must now support numerous programmes. On the other hand,we note with much sadness that during the past twenty years up to 1990, the level of Africa's population which is chronically undernourished has remained virtually static with only a marginal drop from 35 percent to 33 percent, a mere 2 percent change. Meanwhile, tremendous strides in this area were made in other developing regions, where drops in the undernourished populations were as follows: from 40 percent to 19 percent (21 percent change) in Asia and the Pacific; 22 percent to 12 percent (10 percent change) in the Near East and 19 percent to 13 percent (6 percent change) in Latin America. The need, therefore, exists for renewed commitment on the part of our Organization to assist in bringing more improvements on these figures particularly in the Africa Region. The multilateral approach and the monetization of food aid programmes of this Organization have no doubt played a major role in the significant strides seen in the regions which recorded marked successes.
The Kingdom of Swaziland, pursuant to the noble objectives of this Organization, has embarked on an exercise to review its sectoral policies and to develop long-term programmes that would ensure sustainable agricultural development and the conservation of its natural and nonrenewable resources. Our immediate goal remains that of attaining self-sufficiency in our basic food stuffs. In view of our limited resource base, we have no option but to intensify rather that extensify our agricultural production systems.
It is of utmost importance that we employ policies and programmes that will allow our rural populations to engage in sustainable agricultural production while participating actively in the conservation of our natural resources. Our rural people must adequately feed themselves as well as generate enough surplus for sale. In this way, they will continue to participate actively in the economy of the country while ensuring food security at the homestead level. Our determination towards this goal cannot
be realized without the support and assistance of this Organization and the international community at large.
RIGHT OF REPLY
DROIT DE REPONSE
DERECHO DE RESPUESTA
Kutaiba M. HASSAN (Iraq) (Original language Arabic): Thank you, Mr Chairman, for allowing me to exercise the right of reply to respond to the comments and remarks made by the delegates of Kuwait, United States of America, Britain, Saudi Arabia and France on the statement of the Iraqi delegation. May I, on behalf of the Iraqi delegation, make the following remarks on the comments of the delegates mentioned above.
Mr Chairman, the five delegates said something which is in total contradiction with the preamble of the Constitution of this Organization which stipulates that the countries, by approving this Constitution, are determined:
1) to raise the nutrition levels and living standards of their peoples. Indeed this is what the Iraqi delegate has asked for in his statement, the bulk of the population of my country is facing a dire state of famine and malnutrition, particularly the vulnerable groups of children under five years of age. This was also emphasized by the new Director-General of this Organization, Dr Jacques Diouf, in his statement to the Conference after his election.
2) to enhance the efficiency of the production and distribution of food and agricultural products. This is, again, what the Iraqi delegation has called for, as a large proportion of agricultural inputs are lacking as a result of the aggression and continuing blockade against us.
3) To liberate mankind from famine... Here again my delegation warned that our people are on the verge of a dangerous human disaster, namely an extensive famine.
Mr Chairman, some of the five delegates pointed out that this forum is not the appropriate one for the discussion of this issue. Others called for the continuation of the economic (agricultural and food) blockade against Iraq.
I am really surprised to hear such an argument from delegates who have come to Rome to participate in a general Conference of an international organization whose main concern is to provide food to the peoples of the world in the best possible manner, and to liberate mankind from famine. Yet, here they are calling for a continuation of a man-made famine to which a whole people is exposed when such a situation can be controlled and avoided.
It is all the more surprising, Mr Chairman, that one of the delegates said that the sanctions do not include food and medication. This argument may be due to a great misunderstanding... why?
First, because the five countries together with others have frozen all the Iraqi financial assets in those countries. Secondly, because the sanctions included preventing Iraq from exporting its basic commodities and products.
It is only obvious that a developing country without any assets abroad and unable to export its products and commodities will find itself in an impossible situation and incapable of obtaining food and medication. Any way out is a miracle, and this situation is equivalent to an embargo.
What I have said so far in my right for reply is within the framework of food, famine and agriculture. So how can this forum be inappropriate for this issue as they have said.
I would like to affirm, Mr Chairman, that the call of the delegates mentioned above for the continuation of the embargo is a clear demand for the continuation of food insecurity in my country and for exposing the large majority of its people to famine and malnutrition. This is in total contradiction with the stipulations of the Constitution of our Organization and the objectives for which we are gathered here today.
This appeal (for the continuation of the blockade) come to confirm the argument submitted by the Iraqi statement that the blockade against my country continues according to a predetermined and well-calculated plan aiming at jeopardizing the food security of the Iraqi people and thus fulfil the objectives of a predetermined policy. The statement also clearly indicated that certain countries who impose their will upon the Security Council and the United Nations refuse to enable Iraq to import the basic agricultural inputs.
My delegation, Mr Chairman, thinks that we have to be careful at this stage, hoping that this image will not be reflected upon the members of our great organization and hoping that this organization will not be affected by the views of a few who wish to impose their hegemony upon it.
My delegation hopes that this Organization will always ramain independent in its decision-making process. Indeed, the independent Chairman of the Council, in his wonderful statement to the Conference, warned us clearly against these dangers. We hope FAO will remain independent in its decisions as Dr Edouard Saouma has managed through his courage to maintain it throughout the 18 years of his management.
Therefore I would like to reiterate that my delegation expects this Conference to take a just and equitable decision calling for the implementation of the recommendations of the joint FAO-WFP mission, namely to urge the international community to respond promptly and find a solution for this crisis. Indeed, the experience has proven over the last three years that sanctions, whatever their justification, and I repeat whatever their justification, lead to a generalized state of deprivation and expose the majority of the Iraqi population to a state of severe famine and malnutrition. The commission recommended and I quote "The permanent solution to the present food situation lies in revitalizing the Iraqi economy, which is only possible through the activation of international trade with this country."
Thank you for you kind attention.
The meeting rose at 12.45 hours.
La séance est levée à 12 h 45.
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.45 horas.
