Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME2071
2002-04-29 14:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER: CODE OF

Tags:  AORC EAGR FAO 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 002071 

SIPDIS

USDA FOR FAS/LYNNE REICH AND DICK HUGHES
STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAGR AORC EAGR FAO FAO
SUBJECT: WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER: CODE OF
CONDUCT ON RIGHT TO FOOD
UNCLASSIFIED


PAGE 02 ROME 02071 01 OF 02 291555Z

REF: (01) ROME 4929

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 002071

SIPDIS

USDA FOR FAS/LYNNE REICH AND DICK HUGHES
STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAGR AORC EAGR FAO FAO
SUBJECT: WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER: CODE OF
CONDUCT ON RIGHT TO FOOD
UNCLASSIFIED


PAGE 02 ROME 02071 01 OF 02 291555Z

REF: (01) ROME 4929


1. SUMMARY: A COALITION OF COUNTRIES (DEVELOPED AND
DEVELOPING)IS PROMOTING WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS
LATER ENDORSEMENT OF A VOLUNTARY CODE OF CONDUCT ON THE
RIGHT TO FOOD AS A "DELIVERABLE" OF THE UPCOMING SUMMIT-
LEVEL MEETING. THE UNITED STATES OBJECTED TO A CODE OF
CONDUCT AT THE 1996 WORLD FOOD SUMMIT AND CONTINUES TO
OPPOSE ONE ON THE GROUNDS THAT A CODE WILL DO LITTLE TO
PROMOTE FREEDOM FROM HUNGER, AND IS LIKELY TO STIPULATE
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CONDUCT (NO SANCTIONS/EMBARGOES,
NO GMO'S, ANTI-FREE TRADE) WHICH IS AGAINST U.S. PRIVATE
AND PUBLIC INTERESTS. HOWEVER, IF THE CODE'S ENDORSEMENT
CANNOT BE PREVENTED, A LATIN AMERICAN PROPOSAL -- TO HAVE
AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP UNDER FAO AUSPICES
DRAFT THE CODE -- MAY BE PREFERABLE TO A NORWEGIAN
PROPOSAL TO HAVE THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
DRAFT THE CODE OF CONDUCT. WASHINGTON VIEWS REQUESTED.
END SUMMARY.

BACKGROUND
--------------

2. A CODE OF CONDUCT ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD IS "UNFINISHED
BUSINESS" FROM THE 1996 WORLD FOOD SUMMIT. THE U.S.
SUCCEEDED IN KEEPING OUT A SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO A CODE
AT THE SUMMIT, BUT A LIVELY DEBATE ON THE CODE CONTINUED.
A CIVIL-SOCIETY DRAFTED CODE OF CONDUCT HAS BEEN
CIRCULATED, AND IS FREQUENTLY REFERRED TO IN RIGHT TO
FOOD LITERATURE (AND MIGHT BE DRAWN ON FOR ANY FUTURE
NEGOTIATED TEXT). COMMENT 12 ON RIGHT TO FOOD BY THE UN
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 02071 01 OF 02 291555Z
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (2000)
STATED THAT "THE PRIVATE SECTOR - NATIONAL AND
TRANSNATIONAL - SHOULD PURSUE ITS ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE
FRAMEWORK OF A CODE OF CONDUCT TO RESPECT THE RIGHT TO
ADEQUATE FOOD, AGREED UPON JOINTLY WITH THE GOVERNMENT
AND CIVIL SOCIETY."

WHY IS THE U.S. AGAINST THE RIGHT TO FOOD AND A CODE OF
CONDUCT?
-------------- --------------

3. DRAFTING A CODE OF CONDUCT - IN ADDITION TO BEING A

VERY POOR USE OF FAO'S SCARCE RESOURCES -- WILL NOT HELP
COUNTRIES IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY ON THE GROUND: IF THE
EXISTING CIVIL SOCIETY CODE IS ANY GUIDE, IT WILL BECOME
A POLITICAL DIATRIBE AGAINST TRADE LIBERALIZATION,
AGAINST MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS, AGAINST
SANCTIONS/EMBARGOES AND AGAINST GMO'S. OF EVEN MORE
CONCERN, IT SEEKS TO SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY FOR HUNGER FROM
NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, AND ONTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND
"THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY."


4. FURTHERMORE, IT IMPLIES ACCEPTANCE OF A LEGALLY
BINDING RIGHT TO FOOD WHICH IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE U.S.
POSITION AS STATED AT THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT. THE U.S.
POSITION ON RIGHT TO FOOD IS THAT IT IS A GOAL OR
ASPIRATION TO BE REALIZED PROGRESSIVELY WHICH DOES NOT
GIVE RISE TO ANY INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO REDRESS
VIOLATIONS OR COMPENSATE VICTIMS, NOR DOES IT DIMINISH
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS TOWARD THEIR
CITIZENS.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 02071 01 OF 02 291555Z
CURRENT STATE OF PLAY
--------------

5. ALTHOUGH THE FAO HAS BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE LITTLE
ENTHUSIASM FOR ITS PROPOSALS TO SPEED UP WORK ON THE
STILL-UNFINISHED DECLARATION FOR THE JUNE 10-13 WORLD
FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER (WFS5YL),INTENSE ACTIVITY
IS TAKING PLACE IN AND OUTSIDE OF ITALY ON THE "RIGHT TO
FOOD" SEGMENT OF THE DRAFT DECLARATION. THE GOVERNMENTS
OF ITALY AND NORWAY HAVE SPONSORED (AND GERMANY WILL
SPONSOR MAY 22-23) SEMINARS ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD WITH A
VIEW TO GATHERING SUPPORT FOR A CODE OF CONDUCT ON THE
RIGHT TO FOOD AS A "DELIVERABLE" FOR THE UPCOMING WFS5YL.
(THE UNITED STATES WAS INVITED TO THE ITALIAN AND GERMAN
SEMINARS, BUT WAS NOT INVITED TO THE NORWEGIAN EVENT.)


6. POLITICAL "BUY-IN" HAS BEEN AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN
ITALY, WHERE THE ITALIAN MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE STATED
HIS SUPPORT FOR A CODE AT A SEMINAR ORGANIZED BY THE
ITALIAN MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE JACQUES MARITAIN
INSTITUTE (REFTEL). (COMMENT: MISOFF LEARNED FROM THE
MINISTER'S INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ADVISER THAT THE

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ5339

PAGE 01 ROME 02071 02 OF 02 291555Z
ACTION IO-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00
ITCE-00 WHA-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00
INR-00 ITC-01 NSAE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01
SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 SAS-00 /006W
-------------- 95AD4C 291555Z /38
R 291446Z APR 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3479
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2113
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY OSLO
AMEMBASSY BERLIN
AMEMBASSY CARACAS

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 002071

SIPDIS

USDA FOR FAS/LYNNE REICH AND DICK HUGHES
STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAGR AORC EAGR FAO FAO
SUBJECT: WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER: CODE OF
CONDUCT ON RIGHT TO FOOD
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 02071 02 OF 02 291555Z

MINISTER IS COMMITTED TO A CODE OF CONDUCT, AND FOR
POLITICAL REASONS CANNOT BACK AWAY FROM THAT COMMITMENT.
END COMMENT). SIMILARLY, THE GERMAN SEMINAR IS TO BE
OPENED BY THE GERMAN MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION, RENATE KUNAST.

NORWEGIAN PROPOSAL
--------------

7. A NORWEGIAN NON-PAPER CIRCULATED AMONG EUROPEAN
COUNTRY MISSIONS IN ROME PROPOSES RE-OPENING THE ROME
DECLARATION AND PROGRAM OF ACTION TO INVITE THE HIGH
COMMISSIONER ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO DEVELOP A VOLUNTARY CODE
OF CONDUCT ON THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD, "WITH A VIEW TO
POLICY AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, MEANS AND METHODS OF
IMPLEMENTATION, NATIONAL LEGISLATION AND MONITORING, AS
WELL AS MAKING NATIONAL REPORTING BY STATES PARTIES TO
THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY BODY (THE COVENANT ON ECONOMIC,
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS) MAXIMALLY RELEVANT."

LATIN AMERICAN PROPOSAL
--------------

8. A LATIN AMERICAN GROUP (GRULAC) PROPOSAL TAKES
ANOTHER TACK (VENEZUELA IS THE LEADING COUNTRY AMONG THE
LATINS ON THIS ISSUE): FODAG RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING FROM
GRULAC 4/26/02:

BEING TEXT:
WE UNDERLINE OUR CONVICTION THAT A VOLUNTARY CODE OF
CONDUCT ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD WILL HELP STRENGTHEN THE
POLICIES DIRECTED AT ACHIEVING FOOD SECURITY FOR ALL, AND
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 02071 02 OF 02 291555Z
THEREFORE DECIDE TO ESTABLISH AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL
WORKING GROUP FOR THE ELABORATION OF THE VOLUNTARY CODE
OF CONDUCT WITH A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, IN COORDINATION WITH
THE RELEVANT UN ORGANISMS THROUGH THE FAO SECRETARIAT.
THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP SHALL INFORM THE
COMMITTEE ON FOOD SECURITY OF ITS RESULTS.
END TEXT.

PROPOSED ACTION
--------------

9. ASSUMING THERE IS OVERWHELMING PRESSURE FOR THE WFS5YL
TO APPROVE A CODE OF CONDUCT, FODAG SEES THE FOLLOWING
ADVANTAGES OF THE GRULAC PROPOSAL:

-- THE DRAFTING IS IN THE HANDS OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL
BODY(RATHER THAN THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS)
WHERE THE U.S. CAN PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY;

-- FAO HAS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH CODES OF CONDUCT
(PESTICIDES, FISHERIES). NEGOTIATION OF THESE CODES OF
CONDUCT HAS INCLUDED PARTICIPATION BY INDUSTRY AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS.


10. THE U.S. WOULD NEED TO WORK FOR THE FOLLOWING:

-- CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING;

-- INDUSTRY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION;

-- THE BODY STARTS FROM SCRATCH (NOT USING THE CIVIL
SOCIETY DRAFTED CODE AS A BASIS.) AS AN ALTERNATIVE, THE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 02071 02 OF 02 291555Z
GROUP COULD REQUEST THE CFS TO SURVEY "VOLUNTARY NATIONAL
GUIDELINES" THAT COUNTRIES HAVE ADOPTED, ALONG WITH AN
ASSESSMENT OF THESE GUIDELINES (IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T);

-- IT MUST BE FUNDED FROM VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS (NO
ALLOCATION IN THE 2002-2003 BUDGET);

-- IT MUST FOCUS ON FAO'S AREAS OF COMPETENCE.


11. WASHINGTON GUIDANCE ON THESE POINTS REQUESTED FOR
DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WITH OTHER PERMANENT MISSIONS IN
ROME IN THE RUN-UP TO THE SUMMIT. HEILEMAN

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002ROME02071 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED