WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER: INFORMAL

UNCLAS ROME 002188

SIPDIS

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

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAID FAO AGR
SUBJECT: WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER: INFORMAL
DISCUSSION OF DRAFT DECLARATION


1. SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: AT THE INSTIGATION OF
THE INDEPENDENT CHAIR OF THE FAO COUNCIL, A GROUP WILL
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MEET INFORMALLY MAY 18 TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON THE DRAFT
DECLARATION FOR THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER.
GUIDANCE REQUESTED NO LATER THAN MAY 16 ON THE DRAFT TEXT
FOR USE DURING THE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS. END SUMMARY.


2. AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF FAO'S
SEVEN REGIONAL GROUPS, CHAIRED BY THE INDEPENDENT
CHAIRMAN OF THE FAO COUNCIL, IT WAS DECIDED TO MEET AT
THE FAO ON MAY 18 TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON THE TEXT OF A
DRAFT DECLARATION FOR THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS
LATER (WFS5YL). THE STARTING POINT IS THE HEAVILY
BRACKETED DRAFT THAT WAS LEFT UNFINISHED WHEN THE OPEN-
ENDED WORKING GROUP (OEWG) LAST MET IN JUNE, 2001. THE
COMPOSITION OF THE MEETING WILL REFLECT THE COMPOSITION
OF THE OEWG AND THE TWO CO-CHAIRS ARE TO REPRESENT BOTH
THE G-77 AND OECD GROUPS.


3. SEVERAL DELEGATIONS (AND THE DIRECTOR GENERAL) HAVE
PUSHED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO ADVANCE NEGOTIATION OF THE TEXT
OF THE DECLARATION IN ORDER TO CONCLUDE EARLIER THAN HAD
BEEN AGREED LAST NOVEMBER, I.E. BY THE COMMITTEE ON FOOD
SECURITY (CFS) JUNE 6-8. OTHER GROUPS, MOST NOTABLY THE
EUROPEAN REGION, HAVE INSISTED THAT THE TIMETABLE AGREED
TO AT THE LAST COUNCIL BE RESPECTED. SEVERAL REGIONAL
GROUPS HAVE CONSULTED INTERNALLY, BUT TO DATE THERE HAS
BEEN NO EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AMONG THE GROUPS.


4. THE EU HAS EXAMINED THE DECLARATION AT THE EXPERT
LEVEL IN BRUSSELS AND STARTED A SERIES OF CONSULTATIONS
WITH OTHER GROUPS IN ROME, BUT HAS NOT AGREED AMONG
MEMBER STATES ON A FINAL TEXT. THEY MEET AGAIN IN
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BRUSSELS MAY 15. THE EU HAS IDENTIFIED PARAS 8, 12, 13,
15, 16, 17, 19 AND 21 AS PROBLEMATIC.


5. PROGRESS IS MIXED ON AMONG THE G-77 GROUPS. THE LATIN
AMERICAN GROUP REPORTEDLY HAS AGREED ON A TEXT, BUT
OTHERS IN THE G-77 ARE STILL STAKING OUT THE GROUND
RULES. THE MIDDLE EAST GROUP PROPOSED DISCUSSION OF
BRACKETED TEXT ONLY, REJECTING PROPOSALS TO INTRODUCE NEW
LANGUAGE. THE CO-CHAIR FROM THE AFRICA GROUP EXPRESSED
THE VIEW THAT THE OEWG IS CLOSE TO AGREEMENT ON MANY
POINTS BUT NEEDS TIME FOR DISCUSSION. THE ASIA GROUP IS
DIVIDED BETWEEN THOSE WHO PREFER TO STICK TO THE AGREED
TIMETABLE AND THOSE PUSHING FOR ADVANCEMENT.


6. WHILE THE EU, US AND AUSTRALIA STRESSED THAT SUCH A
MEETING SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A NEGOTIATION,
REPRESENTATIVES AGREED AN INFORMAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS
WOULD FACILITATE PREPARATIONS FOR THE COMMITTEE ON FOOD
SECURITY WHICH MEETS JUNE 6-8. ALTHOUGH IT WAS AGREED
THERE SHOULD BE TWO CO-CHAIRS, THE MAIN STICKING POINT
THAT REMAINS IS WHO WILL REPRESENT THE OECD SIDE.
(IRANIAN AMBASSADOR NOORI NAEENI WILL CHAIR FOR THE G-
77). THE IRISH REPRESENTATIVE WHO CHAIRED THE CFS AND
OEWG IS NOT ABLE TO COME TO ROME IN ADVANCE OF JUNE. THE
INDEPENDENT CHAIR SUGGESTED THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PROGRAM
COMMITTEE, WHO IS FROM THE NETHERLANDS, BUT HE WILL NOT
BE AVAILABLE. ANOTHER SUGGESTION WAS THAT THE U.S.
(ACTING PERM REP),AS A MEMBER OF THE CFS BUREAU, CO-CHAIR
THE MEETING.


7. ACTION REQUEST: DEPARTMENT GUIDANCE REQUESTED ON THE
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TEXT OF THE DRAFT DECLARATION FOR USE DURING THE INFORMAL
DISCUSSIONS MAY 17. OF PARTICULAR USE WOULD BE:
---INDICATIONS OF WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE TEXT
REPLACED WITH LANGUAGE DRAWN FROM ANOTHER AGREED TEXT
(E.G., THE MONTERREY OUTCOME ON FINANCING OR THE DOHA
AGREEMENT ON THE NEW TRADE ROUND);
-- INDICATIONS OF TEXT WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE TO THE U.S.


8. WHILE THERE WILL BE STRONG PRESSURE TO REFRAIN FROM
INTRODUCING NEW PARAGRAPHS, THE INFORMAL MEETING WILL BE
THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO FLOAT ANY NEW TOPICS WHICH WE MAY
WISH TO SEE COVERED IN THE DECLARATION.


9. DEPARTMENT GUIDANCE ALSO REQUESTED ON U.S. CO-
CHAIRING WITH AMBASSADOR NOORI NAEENI THE INFORMAL
EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON MAY 18. HEILEMAN

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002ROME02188 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED