Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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02ROME5470 | 2002-11-08 08:36:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Rome |
1. SUMMARY: THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) HAS INFORMED FODAG THAT PUERTO RICO SEEKS TO REGAIN ASSOCIATE MEMBER STATUS WITH THE FAO (THIS STATUS HAVING LAPSED DUE TO PUERTO RICO'S INABILITY TO MEET ITS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.) ACCORDING TO THE FAO STATUTES, ASSOCIATE MEMBER STATUS MUST BE REQUESTED BY THE MEMBER NATION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRITORY'S INTERNATIONAL UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05470 100908Z RELATIONS. THE MEMBER NATION ALSO UNDERTAKES TO ENSURE THAT THE ASSOCIATE MEMBER COMPLIES WITH ITS OBLIGATIONS (INCLUDING FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS). THIS CABLE PROVIDES BACKGROUND ON PUERTO RICO'S ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP. END SUMMARY. 2. THE FAO CONSTITUTION (ARTICLE II.11) ALLOWS FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP FOR TERRITORIES THAT ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF THEIR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. THE MEMBER NATION HAVING AUTHORITY FOR THE TERRITORY'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS APPLIES ON THE TERRITORY'S BEHALF AND ASSUMES CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS (THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING THAT THE ASSOCIATE MEMBER FULFILLS ITS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.) 3. THE UNITED STATES (JOHN BOLTON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS) APPLIED ON BEHALF OF PUERTO RICO OCTOBER 9, 1991 AND ACCEPTED THE OBLIGATIONS OF FAO'S CONSTITUTION ON PUERTO RICO'S BEHALF. IN 1993 PUERTO RICO REPORTED TO THE FAO THAT IT COULD NOT MEET ITS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND THAT IT WISHED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE FAO. 4. SINCE MEMBERS (INCLUDING ASSOCIATE MEMBERS) MUST WAIT FOUR YEARS AFTER JOINING TO WITHDRAW, AND SINCE THE WITHDRAWAL COULD ONLY BE MADE BY THE UNITED STATES (ON PUERTO RICO'S BEHALF), PUERTO RICO DID NOT EFFECTIVELY GIVE NOTICE TO WITHDRAW UNTIL DECEMBER 20, 1995. AS THE FAO CONSTITUTION STIPULATES THAT WITHDRAWAL TAKES EFFECT ONE YEAR AFTER NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN (WITH FINANCIAL UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05470 100908Z OBLIGATIONS CONTINUING UP TO THAT TIME), PUERTO RICO OWED USD 75,424.80 IN ARREARS BY THE TIME ITS WITHDRAWAL BECAME EFFECTIVE. 5. CONCERNING THE U.S. OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THE ASSOCIATE MEMBER MEETS ITS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, THE 1995 U.S. WITHDRAWAL NOTICE (FROM THE ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS SIPDIS GEORGE WARD) STATED THAT THE U.S. WAS "INFORMED" OF THE OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS AND THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD "CONVEYED THIS INFORMATION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO RICO WHICH HAS CONFIRMED THAT IT ACCEPTS THE OBLIGATIONS AND INTENDS TO MAKE PAYMENT BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 1996." 6. THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF PUERTO RICO HAS WRITTEN TO THE FAO REQUESTING TO BE RE-ADMITTED AS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER. THE FAO HAS RESPONDED THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE HANDLED BY THE MEMBER NATION (THE U.S.). IN THIS CONTEXT, PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN ADVISED AGAIN OF ITS OUTSTANDING ARREARS WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE PAID OFF BEFORE BECOMING A MEMBER AGAIN. 7. 1991 AND 1995 LETTER OF ACCESSION AND WITHDRAWAL AND OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION HAVE BEEN FAXED TO IO/EDA AND USDA/FAS. FYI, THERE ARE NO OTHER ASSOCIATE MEMBERS AT THE FAO. 8. COMMENT: THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR BACKGROUND ONLY, SINCE, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, PUERTO RICO HAS NOT APPROACHED THE SECRETARY OF STATE REQUESTING THAT THE UNITED STATES APPLY FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBER STATUS FOR UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05470 100908Z PUERTO RICO WITH THE FAO. HALL UNCLASSIFIED > 2002ROME05470 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED |