WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER STATE OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000895

SIPDIS

USDA FOR FAS/LYNN REICH AND DICK HUGHES
STATE FOR E STAFF, IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS AND ROB BERTRAM

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAID EAID EAID FAO AGR AORC FAO AGR AORC FAO AGR
SUBJECT: WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER STATE OF
PLAY

REF: A)ROME 815; B)ROME 164; C)01 ROME 6045; D) 01 ROME

4929; E) ROME 106


1. SUMMARY. THE RESCHEDULED UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 00895 01 OF 03 221143Z
ORGANIZATION (FA0) WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER
(WFS5YL) WILL MEET JUNE 10-13 IN ROME. THE FAO COMMITTEE
ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY (MEETING IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE
WFS5YL) WILL NEGOTIATE THE WFS5YL DECLARATION. THE
DECLARATION IS CURRENTLY A PATCHWORK OF REGIONAL AND G-
77 WISH-LISTS AND WILL REQUIRE MUCH WORK IF IT IS TO
ACTUALLY ADVANCE THE ORIGINAL WORLD FOOD SUMMIT PLAN OF
ACTION. THE U.S. IS LIKELY TO BE ISOLATED IN OPPOSING
DECLARATION LANGUAGE SUPPORTING AN FAO "CODE OF CONDUCT
ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD" WHICH MANY COUNTRIES SEE AS A
MORAL IMPERATIVE AND A SUMMIT "DELIVERABLE." FAO
REGIONAL CONFERENCES ARE ALSO MEETING PRIOR TO THE WFS5YL
AND THE FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL SEEKS FROM THEM SUPPORT FOR
HIS PROPOSAL FOR A "GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST HUNGER;" BUT
THE CONFERENCES ARE MORE LIKELY TO FOCUS ON REGIONAL
ISSUES SUCH AS NEPAD, HIV/AIDS AND TSE TSE FLY
ERADICATION (AFRICA) AND TRADE LIBERALIZATION (LATIN
AMERICA). PLENARY STATEMENTS, ROUNDTABLES, NGO
MULTISTAKEHOLDER DIALOGUES, PARLIAMENTARIANS MEETINGS AND
HIGH-LEVEL PANELS DURING THE WFS5YL WILL PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE U.S. TO HIGHLIGHT POSITIONS ON
POVERTY ALLEVIATION, BIOTECH, FOOD AID AND AGRICULTURAL
TRADE ISSUES. USG SUPPORT FOR RECENT FAO REQUESTS FOR
ASSISTANCE IN BIOTECH WOULD PROVIDE A GOOD ENTRY POINT
FOR ILLUSTRATING HOW THE U.S. SUPPORTS INITIATIVES TO
IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN REGIONS SUCH AS
AFRICA THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGY. END SUMMARY.

WFS5YL LEAD UP
--------------

2. THE LEAD UP TO THE JUNE 10-13 WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 00895 01 OF 03 221143Z
AND A HALF YEARS LATER (WFS5YL) COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING:

-- REGULARLY SCHEDULED FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCES: AFRICAN
CONFERENCE IN CAIRO: FEB 4-8; NEAR EAST CONFERENCE IN
TEHRAN: MARCH 9-13; LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN
CONFERENCE IN HAVANA: APRIL 22-26; ASIA AND PACIFIC
CONFERENCE IN KATHMANDU: MAY 13-17; EUROPEAN CONFERENCE
IN NICOSIA: MAY 27-30. THE NORTH AMERICAN REGION (U.S.
AND CANADA) DOES NOT HAVE A REGIONAL CONFERENCE; THE U.S.
PARTICIPATES AS A MEMBER OF THE ASIA AND PACIFIC
CONFERENCE AND AS AN OBSERVER AT THE OTHER CONFERENCES.
FODAG AND/OR USDA WILL ATTEND THE AFRICA CONFERENCE, THE
ASIA CONFERENCE, THE LATIN AMERICAN CONFERENCE AND THE
EUROPEAN CONFERENCE.

-- JUNE 6-8 SESSION OF THE FAO'S COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD
SECURITY (CFS),THE BODY CHARGED WITH WFS FOLLOW-UP.
THE CFS DATES WERE CHANGED TO ALLOW IT TO SERVE AS THE
"PREPCOM" FOR THE WFS5YL.

REGIONAL CONFERENCES
--------------

3. THE REPORTS OF THE REGIONAL CONFERENCES (NORMALLY
SUBMITTED TO THE FAO COUNCIL) WILL BE SUBMITTED FOR
INFORMATION TO THE WFS5YL. IF THE RECENTLY-CONCLUDED
AFRICAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE (REFTEL A) IS ANY GUIDE,
DELEGATES AT THOSE CONFERENCES WILL HIGHLIGHT AREAS OF
PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO THE FOOD SECURITY OF THE REGION.
(AFRICAN CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS HIGHLIGHTED NEPAD, TSE
TSE FLY ERADICATION AND HIV/AIDS.) FAO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

SIPDIS
GENERAL FOR WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FOLLOW UP, KAY
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 00895 01 OF 03 221143Z
KILLINGSWORTH, TOLD MISOFFS 1/15 THAT THE DIRECTOR
GENERAL (DG) ALSO HOPED THAT THE CONFERENCES WOULD
"CONCEPTUALIZE" HIS PROPOSED "GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST
HUNGER" (REFTEL B). SHE ADMITTED THAT, ABSENT AN AGENDA
ITEM OR DOCUMENTATION ON THE ISSUE AT THE REGIONAL
CONFERENCES, SUCH "CONCEPTUALIZATION" MIGHT BE THIN.
(COMMENT: THE DG URGED SUPPORT FOR THE COALITION IN HIS
STATEMENT TO THE AFRICAN CONFERENCE, BUT PARTICIPANTS
THEMSELVES DID NOT MENTION IT. END COMMENT).

COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY (CFS) JUNE 6-8
-------------- --

4. THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM FOR THE CFS WILL BE
NEGOTIATION AND CONCLUSION OF THE WFS5YL DECLARATION,
MOST LIKELY IN AN OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP (OEWG). THE
DOCUMENT, AS IT EMERGED FROM THE 199TH COUNCIL SESSION
OEWG, IS REPLETE WITH BRACKETS AND INCLUDES TEXT WHICH,
AS A RESULT OF TIME CONSTRAINTS, NEVER EVEN HAD A FIRST
READING BY THE OEWG. THE DECLARATION AS A WHOLE IS
UNBALANCED AND AT THIS STAGE OFFERS LITTLE IN THE WAY OF

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ5761

PAGE 01 ROME 00895 02 OF 03 221143Z
ACTION SSO-00

INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ANHR-00 E-00 TEDE-00 IO-00
OIC-02 SS-00 TEST-00 SAS-00 /002W
-------------- 6A5A1B 221143Z /38
R 221113Z FEB 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2349
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2017
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 000895

SIPDIS

USDA FOR FAS/LYNN REICH AND DICK HUGHES
STATE FOR E STAFF, IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS AND ROB BERTRAM

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAID EAID EAID FAO AGR AORC FAO AGR AORC FAO AGR
SUBJECT: WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER STATE OF
PLAY

SUBSTANCE TO ADVANCE THE ORIGINAL ROME DECLARATION AND
PLAN OF ACTION.


5. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THE USG ARE:
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 00895 02 OF 03 221143Z

- UNDISCUSSED TEXT PROPOSING A CODE OF CONDUCT ON THE
RIGHT TO FOOD;
- TEXT IN BRACKETS WHICH GOES FURTHER ON "THE RIGHT TO
FOOD" THAN THE U.S. WAS ABLE TO ACCEPT AT THE WORLD FOOD
SUMMIT;
- LANGUAGE ON FOOD SAFETY WHICH COULD UNDERMINE THE PRE-
EMINENCE OF CODEX ALIMENTARIUS IN ESTABLISHING FOOD
SAFETY STANDARDS;
- TEXT IN BRACKETS ON THE UPCOMING TRADE ROUND ENDORSING
SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR AGRICULTURE IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES;
- LACK OF ADEQUATE LANGUAGE ON CREATING ENABLING
ENVIRONMENTS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH;
- LANGUAGE ON HUNGER WHICH UNDERMINES THE MILLENIUM
SUMMIT POVERTY REDUCTION LANGUAGE.

RIGHT TO FOOD
--------------

6. AS DISCUSSED IN REFTEL D, THE PROPOSED CODE OF
CONDUCT ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD REDIRECTS THE FOCUS OF FOOD
SECURITY AWAY FROM NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ADVANCES
THE ARGUMENT THAT INTERNATIONAL ACTORS AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR HAVE SPECIFIC LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN PROMOTING
AND PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO FOOD. THE U.S. WILL BE
CHALLENGED TO SHAPE THE RIGHT TO FOOD DEBATE IN A
POSITIVE WAY DURING THE WFS5YL IN THE FACE OF WIDESPREAD
NGO SUPPORT AND A COALITION OF COUNTRIES (PRIMARILY
LATIN, BUT ALSO NORWAY AND ITALY) WHO SEE RIGHT TO FOOD
AS A MORAL IMPERATIVE AND A SUMMIT "DELIVERABLE."

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 00895 02 OF 03 221143Z
OTHER CFS ITEMS
--------------

7. THE CFS WILL ALSO REVIEW RESPONSES FROM COUNTRIES ON
COMMITMENTS 3,4,6 AND RELEVANT PARTS OF 7 OF THE WORLD
FOOD SUMMIT (WFS) PROGRAM OF ACTION. (THESE COMMENTS, --
INCLUDING FROM THE UNITED STATES (REFTEL C) -- WERE DUE
JANUARY 31.) (COMMENT: CFS EFFECTIVENESS IN FOLLOWING UP
THE WFS COMMITMENTS HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY THE POOR
RESPONSE FROM COUNTRIES, AND FAO SENIOR MANAGEMENT DOES
NOT HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR AN IMPROVED RESPONSE RATE AT THE
UPCOMING SESSION. END COMMENT).

LEVEL OF ATTENDANCE
--------------

8. IT IS TOO EARLY TO GIVE AN ESTIMATE OF EXPECTED
ATTENDANCE BY HEADS OF STATE. WE HAVE HEARD HEADS OF
STATE OF URUGUAY AND COLOMBIA MAY ATTEND. ARGENTINA,
CHILE, BRAZIL AND PERU ARE NOT EXPECTED TO SEND HEADS OF
STATE. AFRICA IS EXPECTED TO BE WELL REPRESENTED. OECD
REPRESENTATIVES IN ROME DO NOT HAVE A GOOD IDEA ABOUT
OECD REPRESENTATION, ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTAND THAT SPANISH
PRESIDENT AZNAR MAY ATTEND (SPAIN WILL BE HEADING THE
EU). BRIEF APPEARANCES BY THE ITALIAN PRESIDENT AND
PRIME MINISTER ARE EXPECTED.

WFS5YL SIDE EVENTS
--------------

9. THREE WFS5YL ROUNDTABLES ARE SCHEDULED. EACH COUNTRY
IS INVITED TO ATTEND ONE ROUNDTABLE (ALL ROUNDTABLES WILL
DISCUSS THE SAME CFS-ENDORSED TOPIC: "WFS PLAN OF ACTION
-- RESULTS ACHIEVED, OBSTACLES MET, AND MEANS OF
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 00895 02 OF 03 221143Z
OVERCOMING THEM"). AN NGO MULTISTAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE WILL
TAKE PLACE DURING THE WEEK. A HIGH-LEVEL PANEL WITH
INVITED GUESTS ON "POLITICAL WILL" (POSTPONED SINCE FALL
2001) IS EXPECTED TO BE SCHEDULED DURING THE SESSION. THE
ITALIAN HOSTS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO ORGANIZE A
PARLIAMENTARIANS SESSION.

NGO ARRANGEMENTS
--------------

10. WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT SECURITY AND ACCREDITATION
PROCEDURES WILL NEED TO BE MUCH TIGHTER THAN DURING THE
FIRST WFS, FAO ORGANIZERS APPEAR RELATIVELY RELAXED ABOUT
THE UPCOMING EVENT (PARTLY AS A RESULT OF HAVING
ESSENTIALLY GONE THROUGH A DRY RUN IN 2001). THEY ARE
NEGOTIATING PLACEMENT OF AN NGO FORUM IN A SITE A 15
MINUTE WALK FROM FAO (THE FORMER ROME CITY ABATTOIR) AND
HAVE REITERATED THAT THE NGO'S COMING TO THE WFS5YL ARE
"NOT ANTI-FAO" (IN CONTRAST TO THE 2001 GENOA G-8 SUMMIT
WHICH MANY NGO DEMONSTRATORS HOPED TO CLOSE DOWN).
(COMMENT: WE EXPECT ANTI-GMO PROTESTORS TO BE OUT IN

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ5763

PAGE 01 ROME 00895 03 OF 03 221143Z
ACTION SSO-00

INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ANHR-00 E-00 TEDE-00 IO-00
OIC-02 SS-00 TEST-00 SAS-00 /002W
-------------- 6A5A1E 221143Z /38
R 221113Z FEB 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2350
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2018
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 000895

SIPDIS

USDA FOR FAS/LYNN REICH AND DICK HUGHES
STATE FOR E STAFF, IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS AND ROB BERTRAM

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAID EAID EAID FAO AGR AORC FAO AGR AORC FAO AGR
SUBJECT: WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER STATE OF
PLAY

FORCE. END COMMENT)

COMMENT
--------------
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 00895 03 OF 03 221143Z

11. U.S. PLENARY INTERVENTIONS AND PARTICIPATION IN SIDE
EVENTS AND OTHER EVENTS (SUCH AS PRESS CONFERENCES)
PROVIDE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO ARTICULATE U.S. POSITIONS
ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION, THE IMPORTANCE OF BIOTECH FOR
IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES, THE UPCOMING AGRICULTURAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS,
AND USE OF FOOD AID. WE EXPECT THAT MEDIA INTEREST WILL
BE HIGH, AND USDELS (INCLUDING NGO AND CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATES) SHOULD BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT
WITH ITALIAN AUDIENCES (AND MEDIA) ON BIOTECH AND OTHER
TOPICS OF BILATERAL AS WELL AS MULTILATERAL INTEREST. IN
THIS REGARD, WE WOULD HOPE THAT RECENT FAO REQUESTS FOR
U.S. SUPPORT FOR A BIOTECH NETWORK IN AFRICA, AND FOR
ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING A BIOTECH IPR STRATEGY (REFTEL
E) MIGHT BE GIVEN A FAVORABLE RECEPTION BY INTERESTED USG
AGENCIES. THESE LOW COSTS PROJECTS MIGHT SERVE AS A GOOD
MEETING POINT BETWEEN OUR RHETORIC AND THE MEETING AT
HAND. HEILEMAN

UNCLASSIFIED

>
2002ROME00895 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED