Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME1032
2003-03-13 05:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001032
SIPDIS
IO/EDA FOR WINNICK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2013
TAGS: AORC FAOAORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO TERM LIMITS: OPTIONS
CLASSIFIED BY: LUCY TAMLYN, ALTERNATE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001032
SIPDIS
IO/EDA FOR WINNICK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2013
TAGS: AORC FAOAORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO TERM LIMITS: OPTIONS
CLASSIFIED BY: LUCY TAMLYN, ALTERNATE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
1. (C) THERE IS SHARP DIVISION IN THE OECD GROUP OVER
TRANSITION MEASURES ON THE APPLICABILITY OF TERM LIMITS FOR
THE CURRENT FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL (DG). THE EU IS READY TO
ALLOW THE DG AN OPPORTUNITY TO RUN FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM
(NON-RENEWABLE) IN 2005 AS PART OF A PACKAGE WHICH WOULD
INCLUDE A CHANGE TO THE FAO BASIC TEXTS TO INTRODUCE TERM
LIMITS. AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND DO NOT SUPPORT
ALLOWING THE INCUMBENT TO RUN AGAIN BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT A
SPECIFIC PROHIBITION MAY CAUSE THE G-77 TO BACK OFF SUPPORT
FOR TERM LIMITS ALTOGETHER. THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR MUST
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 01032 01 OF 02 130620Z
COME TO AGREEMENT SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OR RISK
DEFERRING THE POSSIBILITY OF ACHIEVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE
FAO BASIC TEXT FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) THE OECD GROUP MET ON MARCH 12 TO DISCUSS THE
APPROACHING MARCH 17 MEETING ON FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL TERM
LIMITS. THE GREEK AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THE EU POSITION: THE
EU SUPPORTS A FOUR YEAR TERM RENEWABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL FOUR
YEARS. AS A FALL-BACK THEY WOULD SUPPORT A SIX YEAR TERM
RENEWABLE FOR FOUR YEARS. IN BOTH CASES THEY WOULD ALLOW THE
INCUMBENT TO RUN AGAIN AS A CANDIDATE FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEAR
TERM (NON-RENEWABLE). THE EU INTENDS TO MEET WITH REGIONAL
GROUPS TO "EXCHANGE VIEWS" BEFORE THE MARCH 17 MEETING.
3. (C) THE DELEGATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA REPORTED THAT
ALTHOUGH THE ASIAN GROUP LACKED A COMMON POSITION OVERALL,
MANY KEY COUNTRIES SUPPORTED A TERM OF FOUR YEARS RENEWABLE
ONCE (THAILAND, PHILIPPINES, INDIA). NONETHELESS, THESE
COUNTRIES WERE UNLIKELY TO BREAK RANKS IF THE LARGER G-77
SOUGHT A LONGER TERM. WHILE ASIAN GROUP MEMBERS DID NOT HAVE
A POSITION ON TRANSITIONAL MEASURES, KOREA NOTED THAT HE HAD
NEVER HEARD FROM ANY OF THOSE MEMBERS THAT THE INCUMBENT MUST
BE ALLOWED TO RUN AGAIN. THE DELEGATE OF AUSTRALIA REPORTED
THAT HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH TWO KEY G-77 COUNTRIES, PAKISTAN
AND BRAZIL INDICATED THAT FOUR PLUS FOUR WAS "DEFINITELY
FEASIBLE."
4. (C) THE DELEGATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA ASKED THE EU IF
THEY WERE NOT WORRIED THAT THEIR POSITION ON TRANSITION
MEASURES "SENT A SIGNAL" CONCERNING THE 2005 ELECTIONS AND
POSSIBLE OECD SUPPORT FOR THE INCUMBENT WHICH WOULD AFFECT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 01032 01 OF 02 130620Z
THE FIELD OF CANDIDATES AND THEIR POTENTIAL SUPPORT. HE
ASKED IF IT MIGHT NOT BE BETTER TO HAVE AGREEMENT THAT THE DG
IS AN INCUMBENT LIKE ANY OTHER, RATHER THAN SINGLING HIM OUT
FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT. IN RESPONSE, THE EU EXPRESSED ITS
CONCERN THAT THIS APPROACH MIGHT ENCOURAGE THE DG TO RUN FOR
A FOURTH TERM.
5. (C) U.S. DEL AGREED THAT WE SHOULD NOT SEND ANY SIGNAL
WHICH COULD BE INTERPRETED AS SUPPORT FOR A THIRD TERM AND
NOTED THAT IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT THE EU BE MORE DIRECT WITH
G-77 INTERLOCUTORS CONCERNING THE EU DIRECTIVE BARRING EU
MEMBERS FROM VOTING FOR ANY INCUMBENT WHO HAS SERVED 12
YEARS. THE EU RESPONDED THAT THE EU DIRECTIVE WAS "NOT
GERMANE" AND THEY WOULD NOT RAISE IT.
6. (C) U.S. DEL ALSO NOTED THAT THAT POLITICAL PRESSURE
NEEDED TO BE MUSTERED IN ORDER TO GET THE MESSAGE TO THE DG
THAT HE SHOULD NOT RUN AGAIN FOR A THIRD TERM. SHE NOTED IN
THIS REGARD THE GENERALLY HELD VIEW THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN
FOUR MORE YEARS, AND WAS UNLIKELY TO RUN FOR A FOURTH TERM.
U.S. DEL WARNED THE EU THAT ITS CONSULTATIONS WITH REGIONAL
GROUPS SHOULD NOT RESULT IN THEM BRINGING A "FAIT ACCOMPLI"
TO THE TABLE ON MARCH 17 AS THIS WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR GROUP.
7. (C) THE DELEGATE OF CANADA OPINED THAT SILENCE ON THE
QUESTION OF TRANSITION MEASURES MIGHT BE PREFERABLE. IF THERE
WERE NO TRANSITIONAL MEASURES, THE GENERAL INTERPRETATION
WOULD BE THAT THE DG WAS FREE TO RUN LIKE ANY OTHER
CANDIDATE; THE OECD WOULD HAVE SENT NO SIGNAL ON WHETHER IT
WOULD CONDONE HIM SEEKING A THIRD TERM OR NOT. IN THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ROME 01032 01 OF 02 130620Z
INTERIM BETWEEN THE DECISION IN 2003 AND THE ELECTIONS IN
2005, OECD MEMBERS COULD LOBBY AGAINST A DIOUF CANDIDACY.
THE DELEGATE OF AUSTRALIA WARNED THAT THE ABSENCE OF CLEARLY
LAID OUT TRANSITIONAL MEASURES (PRO OR CON) RAN THE RISK OF
CREATING CONFUSION AND FORCING THE ORGANIZATION TO CONTINUE
THE PROCESS OF EXAMINING THE QUESTION, THEREBY TYING UP
SCARCE RESOURCES. NEW ZEALAND ARGUED THAT TERM LIMITS WAS A
"PACKAGE" AND THAT THE OECD WOULD HAVE TO GIVE SOMETHING UP.
THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO GIVE UP THE MINIMUM -- WHICH IN THIS
CASE APPEARED TO BE THE EU OPTION OF ALLOWING THE INCUMBENT A
FOUR YEAR TERM ONLY.
8. (C) COMMENT: WE DO NOT EXPECT MORE THAN TWO MORE MEETINGS
(INCLUDING THE MARCH 17 MEETING) ON THIS ISSUE. THE FRIENDS
OF THE CHAIR MUST COME TO AGREEMENT ON A PROPOSAL TO FORWARD
TO THE JUNE COUNCIL OR RISK DEFERRING THE POSSIBILITY OF
ACHIEVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FAO BASIC TEXTS FOR ANOTHER
FOUR YEARS. ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO JOIN THE EU IN SUPPORTING
AN AMENDMENT TO THE BASIC TEXT TO ALLOW FOR FOUR TERMS
RENEWABLE ONCE WITH EXPLICIT MEASURES STATING THAT THE DG MAY
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0331
PAGE 01 ROME 01032 02 OF 02 130620Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 EB-00 EUR-00 TEDE-00
INR-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 SS-00 SAS-00 /002W
-------------- 438CB0 130620Z /38
O 130514Z MAR 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8706
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 001032
SIPDIS
IO/EDA FOR WINNICK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2013
TAGS: AORC FAOAORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO TERM LIMITS: OPTIONS
RUN AGAIN FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM. ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE BASIC TEXTS TO ALLOW FOR FOUR YEARS
RENEWABLE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DG HAS THE SAME
RIGHTS AS ANY OTHER NEW CANDIDATE (EITHER EXPLICITLY OR BY
THE ABSENCE OF ANY "TRANSITION MEASURES"). THE FIRST OPTION
HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF ATTAINABILITY AND SIMPLICITY: THE
DRAWBACK IS THAT IT PRACTICALLY INVITES THE DG TO SPEND
ANOTHER FOUR YEARS IN THE JOB; THE SECOND OPTION RUNS THE
RISK (WHICH WE JUDGE SMALL) OF HIM SPENDING ANOTHER EIGHT
YEARS IN THE JOB. IT HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF NOT SENDING ANY
SIGNALS ON MEMBER SUPPORT WHICH MIGHT DETER POSSIBLE
CANDIDATES FROM SEEKING THE POSITION. END COMMENT.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 01032 02 OF 02 130620Z
HALL
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2003ROME01032 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
IO/EDA FOR WINNICK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2013
TAGS: AORC FAOAORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO TERM LIMITS: OPTIONS
CLASSIFIED BY: LUCY TAMLYN, ALTERNATE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
1. (C) THERE IS SHARP DIVISION IN THE OECD GROUP OVER
TRANSITION MEASURES ON THE APPLICABILITY OF TERM LIMITS FOR
THE CURRENT FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL (DG). THE EU IS READY TO
ALLOW THE DG AN OPPORTUNITY TO RUN FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM
(NON-RENEWABLE) IN 2005 AS PART OF A PACKAGE WHICH WOULD
INCLUDE A CHANGE TO THE FAO BASIC TEXTS TO INTRODUCE TERM
LIMITS. AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND DO NOT SUPPORT
ALLOWING THE INCUMBENT TO RUN AGAIN BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT A
SPECIFIC PROHIBITION MAY CAUSE THE G-77 TO BACK OFF SUPPORT
FOR TERM LIMITS ALTOGETHER. THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR MUST
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 01032 01 OF 02 130620Z
COME TO AGREEMENT SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OR RISK
DEFERRING THE POSSIBILITY OF ACHIEVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE
FAO BASIC TEXT FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) THE OECD GROUP MET ON MARCH 12 TO DISCUSS THE
APPROACHING MARCH 17 MEETING ON FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL TERM
LIMITS. THE GREEK AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THE EU POSITION: THE
EU SUPPORTS A FOUR YEAR TERM RENEWABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL FOUR
YEARS. AS A FALL-BACK THEY WOULD SUPPORT A SIX YEAR TERM
RENEWABLE FOR FOUR YEARS. IN BOTH CASES THEY WOULD ALLOW THE
INCUMBENT TO RUN AGAIN AS A CANDIDATE FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEAR
TERM (NON-RENEWABLE). THE EU INTENDS TO MEET WITH REGIONAL
GROUPS TO "EXCHANGE VIEWS" BEFORE THE MARCH 17 MEETING.
3. (C) THE DELEGATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA REPORTED THAT
ALTHOUGH THE ASIAN GROUP LACKED A COMMON POSITION OVERALL,
MANY KEY COUNTRIES SUPPORTED A TERM OF FOUR YEARS RENEWABLE
ONCE (THAILAND, PHILIPPINES, INDIA). NONETHELESS, THESE
COUNTRIES WERE UNLIKELY TO BREAK RANKS IF THE LARGER G-77
SOUGHT A LONGER TERM. WHILE ASIAN GROUP MEMBERS DID NOT HAVE
A POSITION ON TRANSITIONAL MEASURES, KOREA NOTED THAT HE HAD
NEVER HEARD FROM ANY OF THOSE MEMBERS THAT THE INCUMBENT MUST
BE ALLOWED TO RUN AGAIN. THE DELEGATE OF AUSTRALIA REPORTED
THAT HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH TWO KEY G-77 COUNTRIES, PAKISTAN
AND BRAZIL INDICATED THAT FOUR PLUS FOUR WAS "DEFINITELY
FEASIBLE."
4. (C) THE DELEGATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA ASKED THE EU IF
THEY WERE NOT WORRIED THAT THEIR POSITION ON TRANSITION
MEASURES "SENT A SIGNAL" CONCERNING THE 2005 ELECTIONS AND
POSSIBLE OECD SUPPORT FOR THE INCUMBENT WHICH WOULD AFFECT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 01032 01 OF 02 130620Z
THE FIELD OF CANDIDATES AND THEIR POTENTIAL SUPPORT. HE
ASKED IF IT MIGHT NOT BE BETTER TO HAVE AGREEMENT THAT THE DG
IS AN INCUMBENT LIKE ANY OTHER, RATHER THAN SINGLING HIM OUT
FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT. IN RESPONSE, THE EU EXPRESSED ITS
CONCERN THAT THIS APPROACH MIGHT ENCOURAGE THE DG TO RUN FOR
A FOURTH TERM.
5. (C) U.S. DEL AGREED THAT WE SHOULD NOT SEND ANY SIGNAL
WHICH COULD BE INTERPRETED AS SUPPORT FOR A THIRD TERM AND
NOTED THAT IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT THE EU BE MORE DIRECT WITH
G-77 INTERLOCUTORS CONCERNING THE EU DIRECTIVE BARRING EU
MEMBERS FROM VOTING FOR ANY INCUMBENT WHO HAS SERVED 12
YEARS. THE EU RESPONDED THAT THE EU DIRECTIVE WAS "NOT
GERMANE" AND THEY WOULD NOT RAISE IT.
6. (C) U.S. DEL ALSO NOTED THAT THAT POLITICAL PRESSURE
NEEDED TO BE MUSTERED IN ORDER TO GET THE MESSAGE TO THE DG
THAT HE SHOULD NOT RUN AGAIN FOR A THIRD TERM. SHE NOTED IN
THIS REGARD THE GENERALLY HELD VIEW THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN
FOUR MORE YEARS, AND WAS UNLIKELY TO RUN FOR A FOURTH TERM.
U.S. DEL WARNED THE EU THAT ITS CONSULTATIONS WITH REGIONAL
GROUPS SHOULD NOT RESULT IN THEM BRINGING A "FAIT ACCOMPLI"
TO THE TABLE ON MARCH 17 AS THIS WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR GROUP.
7. (C) THE DELEGATE OF CANADA OPINED THAT SILENCE ON THE
QUESTION OF TRANSITION MEASURES MIGHT BE PREFERABLE. IF THERE
WERE NO TRANSITIONAL MEASURES, THE GENERAL INTERPRETATION
WOULD BE THAT THE DG WAS FREE TO RUN LIKE ANY OTHER
CANDIDATE; THE OECD WOULD HAVE SENT NO SIGNAL ON WHETHER IT
WOULD CONDONE HIM SEEKING A THIRD TERM OR NOT. IN THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ROME 01032 01 OF 02 130620Z
INTERIM BETWEEN THE DECISION IN 2003 AND THE ELECTIONS IN
2005, OECD MEMBERS COULD LOBBY AGAINST A DIOUF CANDIDACY.
THE DELEGATE OF AUSTRALIA WARNED THAT THE ABSENCE OF CLEARLY
LAID OUT TRANSITIONAL MEASURES (PRO OR CON) RAN THE RISK OF
CREATING CONFUSION AND FORCING THE ORGANIZATION TO CONTINUE
THE PROCESS OF EXAMINING THE QUESTION, THEREBY TYING UP
SCARCE RESOURCES. NEW ZEALAND ARGUED THAT TERM LIMITS WAS A
"PACKAGE" AND THAT THE OECD WOULD HAVE TO GIVE SOMETHING UP.
THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO GIVE UP THE MINIMUM -- WHICH IN THIS
CASE APPEARED TO BE THE EU OPTION OF ALLOWING THE INCUMBENT A
FOUR YEAR TERM ONLY.
8. (C) COMMENT: WE DO NOT EXPECT MORE THAN TWO MORE MEETINGS
(INCLUDING THE MARCH 17 MEETING) ON THIS ISSUE. THE FRIENDS
OF THE CHAIR MUST COME TO AGREEMENT ON A PROPOSAL TO FORWARD
TO THE JUNE COUNCIL OR RISK DEFERRING THE POSSIBILITY OF
ACHIEVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FAO BASIC TEXTS FOR ANOTHER
FOUR YEARS. ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO JOIN THE EU IN SUPPORTING
AN AMENDMENT TO THE BASIC TEXT TO ALLOW FOR FOUR TERMS
RENEWABLE ONCE WITH EXPLICIT MEASURES STATING THAT THE DG MAY
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0331
PAGE 01 ROME 01032 02 OF 02 130620Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 EB-00 EUR-00 TEDE-00
INR-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 SS-00 SAS-00 /002W
-------------- 438CB0 130620Z /38
O 130514Z MAR 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8706
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 001032
SIPDIS
IO/EDA FOR WINNICK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2013
TAGS: AORC FAOAORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO TERM LIMITS: OPTIONS
RUN AGAIN FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM. ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE BASIC TEXTS TO ALLOW FOR FOUR YEARS
RENEWABLE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DG HAS THE SAME
RIGHTS AS ANY OTHER NEW CANDIDATE (EITHER EXPLICITLY OR BY
THE ABSENCE OF ANY "TRANSITION MEASURES"). THE FIRST OPTION
HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF ATTAINABILITY AND SIMPLICITY: THE
DRAWBACK IS THAT IT PRACTICALLY INVITES THE DG TO SPEND
ANOTHER FOUR YEARS IN THE JOB; THE SECOND OPTION RUNS THE
RISK (WHICH WE JUDGE SMALL) OF HIM SPENDING ANOTHER EIGHT
YEARS IN THE JOB. IT HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF NOT SENDING ANY
SIGNALS ON MEMBER SUPPORT WHICH MIGHT DETER POSSIBLE
CANDIDATES FROM SEEKING THE POSITION. END COMMENT.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 01032 02 OF 02 130620Z
HALL
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2003ROME01032 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL