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A. Admission of new member nations
B. Arrears of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
C. Election of Council members
D. Method of balloting for elections to CCP and COFI
E. Term of office of MR. Maurice Gemayel as chairman of the Council
F. Appointment of the Independent Chairman of the Council
G. Appointment of member government representatives to the joint staff pension committee

638. The Conference had before it the applications for membership from:

639. Both the above applications were submitted within the time limit prescribed by Rule XIX of the General Rules of the Organization. They contained or were supplemented by the formal instruments required under Article II of the Constitution, and were thus found to be in order.

640. The Conference proceeded to a secret ballot on the two applications, in accordance with Article II-2 of the Constitution and Rule XII-9 of the General Rules of the Organization.

641. The results of the voting were as follows:

Number of ballot papers issued: 105

Admission of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic

Admission of the People's Republic of Southern Yemen

642. The Conference accordingly admitted the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the People's Republic of Southern Yemen as Members of the Organization.

643. In connexion with the membership of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the Conference noted the recommendation of the Fifty-Third Session of the Council regarding the liquidation of the outstanding arrears of the contributions arising from the withdrawal of that country from FAO on 27 December 1950. The Conference accordingly adopted the following resolution which had been prepared by the Finance Committee and Council in regard to the liquidation of arrears:

The Conference

Noting that the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic's arrears of contributions on re-admission to the Organization amount to $141 291. 50;

Decides:

644. The Conference elected the following Member Nations for membership in the Council:

Period: November 1969 - 31 December 1972

Regions and Seats Members

Period: 1 January 1971 - November 1973

645. At its Fourteenth Session, the Conference decided that a modified system of balloting for elections to the above committees would be adopted on a trial basis at the elections to be held by the Council at its Fiftieth Session, on 24 November 1967. The Council was to reconsider the matter at its Fifty-First Session in the light of the experience gained. At its Fifty-First Session, the Council considered the views expressed by the Committee on Fisheries on this system of balloting and agreed with that Committee that the system should be given a longer trial. While the Council had not formally expressed itself on the question of whether the modified system should continue to be applied for elections to the Committee on Commodity Problems, the Conference felt that both committees should be treated on the same basis.

646. The Conference approved the Council recommendation that the modified system be given a longer trial period and that it should again be applied at the elections to the CCP and COFI to be held by the Council at its Fifty-Fourth Session. The Conference decided to review the question at its Sixteenth Session, in the light of any recommendations submitted by the Council, with a view to taking a final decision on the balloting system to be applied for elections to these two committees.

647. The Conference adopted by acclamation the following resolution:

The Conference

Considering that the term of office of Mr. Maurice Gemayel expires at the close of the Fifteenth Session of the Conference;

In recognition of the performance of the Independent Chairman throughout his two terms of office, which is particularly appreciated;

Commends him for his effective conduct of the discussions in the Council, the tact with which he was able to solve the delicate problems that arose in the Council, his great impartiality, and the genuine independence he showed in every situation;

Expresses to Mr. Maurice Gemayel its gratification, good wishes and recognition of the remarkable work he has done as the Independent Chairman of the Council during a time that witnessed the birth of a new strategy responsive to the true requirements of development in the great majority of the Member Nations of the Organization.

648. Having proceeded to a secret ballot in conformity with Rule XII. 9 (a) of the General Rules of the Organization, the Conference adopted the following resolution:

The Conference

Having proceeded to a secret ballot, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XII of the General Rules of the Organization;

Declares that Mr. Michel Cépède is appointed Independent Chairman of the Council for a period of two years, that is, until the end of the regular session of the Conference to be held in 1971; and

Having noted the recommendations submitted by the General Committee in conformity with Rule XXIII of the General Rules of the Organization;

Decides that the conditions of appointment, including the allowances attached to the office of the Independent Chairman of the Council, shall be as follows:

649. In accordance with Article XX of the Regulations of the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, the Conference appointed three members and three alternates to the Staff Pension Committee for the period from 1 January 1970 through to 31 December 1971, as follows:

Dr. Vittorio de Asarta

Mr. M. I. K. Khalil

Mr. E. Lühe

as Members of the FAO Staff Pension Committee, and:

Mr. Kyo Ando

Mr. Paul J. Byrnes

Mr. Max de Calbiac

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