Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME1558
2003-04-11 14:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
FAO TERM LIMITS: AGREEMENT ON 10 YEAR MAXIMUM AND
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001558
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR UNESCO
STATE FOR IO/EDA SHARON KOTOK, SETH WINNICK
USDA/FAS LYNN REICH, DICK HUGHES
MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL
FROM FODAG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR FAO KUNR AORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO TERM LIMITS: AGREEMENT ON 10 YEAR MAXIMUM AND
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01558 01 OF 02 111415Z
NO TRANSITION MEASURES
REF: A) ROME 822, B) SECSTATE 68986
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001558
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR UNESCO
STATE FOR IO/EDA SHARON KOTOK, SETH WINNICK
USDA/FAS LYNN REICH, DICK HUGHES
MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL
FROM FODAG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR FAO KUNR AORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO TERM LIMITS: AGREEMENT ON 10 YEAR MAXIMUM AND
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01558 01 OF 02 111415Z
NO TRANSITION MEASURES
REF: A) ROME 822, B) SECSTATE 68986
1. SUMMARY: THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR ON UN FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) DIRECTOR GENERAL TERM LIMITS
HELD ITS FIFTH AND FINAL SESSION MARCH 29. THE GROUP AGREED
AD REFERENDUM TO A PROPOSAL TO LIMIT TO TWO THE NUMBER OF
TERMS THAT A DIRECTOR GENERAL COULD SERVE, WITH THE FIRST
TERM BEING SIX YEARS, AND ANY SECOND TERM BEING FOUR YEARS.
THE GROUP AGREED THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE SILENT
CONCERNING THE INCUMBENT. ONCE APPROVED BY THE JUNE SESSION
OF THE FAO COUNCIL, THE PROPOSAL WILL GO FORWARD TO THE
NOVEMBER 2003 FAO CONFERENCE FOR FINAL ADOPTION. AS THE
PROPOSAL IS NOT RETROACTIVE, THERE IS NO LEGAL BAR TO THE
CURRENT DIRECTOR GENERAL RUNNING AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE FIVE
SESSIONS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR PROVIDED AMPLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MAJOR DONORS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT, WERE HE
TO DO SO, HE WOULD NOT ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF THOSE COUNTRIES
WHICH FUND THE LION'S SHARE OF THE FAO'S BUDGET. IT ALSO
SENT A CLEAR SIGNAL TO OTHER REGIONS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE
POSITION THAT NEW LEADERSHIP IS AVIDLY SOUGHT. END SUMMARY.
2. THE FOURTH AND FIFTH SESSIONS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE
CHAIR ON FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL (DG) TERM LIMITS MET MARCH 17
AND MARCH 29. THE INDEPENDENT CHAIR OF FAO COUNCIL,
AMBASSADOR MEKOUAR (MOROCCO),CHAIRED THE FOURTH SESSION BY
VIDEO-CONFERENCE, AND THE FIFTH AND FINAL SESSION IN PERSON.
FOURTH SESSION
--------------
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 01558 01 OF 02 111415Z
3. THE FOURTH SESSION WAS DEVOTED TO INCONCLUSIVE
DISCUSSION OF LENGTH OF TERM AND THE QUESTION OF TRANSITION
MEASURES. THE G-77 RALLIED AROUND A SIX-YEAR TERM AND THE
OECD MEMBERS REITERATED SUPPORT FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM. ON
TRANSITION MEASURES, THE U.S., NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA
ARGUED FOR A SPECIFIC PROHIBITION ON THE INCUMBENT RUNNING
AGAIN. THE EU PUT FORWARD ITS PROPOSAL THAT THE DG BE
ALLOWED TO RUN FOR ONE MORE TERM ONLY. THE AFRICAN GROUP
RESPONDED INDIGNANTLY THAT THEY WOULD NOT "NEGOTIATE THE
RIGHTS OF THE DG" TO RUN AGAIN.
4. BRAZIL STATED SPECIFICALLY THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO
REFERENCE TO THE INCUMBENT IN THE PROPOSAL. THE FAO LEGAL
ADVISER RECONFIRMED THAT SILENCE ON WHAT HAD BEEN CALLED
"TRANSITION" MEASURES WOULD BE UNDERSTOOD TO MEAN THAT THE
CURRENT DIRECTOR GENERAL WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED RETROACTIVELY
BY THE AMENDMENT TO THE BASIC TEXTS, AND THEREFORE COULD RUN
AGAIN AND BE TREATED ON THE SAME BASIS AS OTHER CANDIDATES.
AMBASSADOR MEKOUAR SUMMARIZED THAT IF THE CHANGE TO THE
BASIC TEXTS WAS "NOT DIRECTED AT THE CURRENT INCUMBENT" THEN
PERHAPS THE CURRENT INCUMBENT SHOULD NOT BE MENTIONED AT
ALL.
FIFTH SESSION
--------------
5. THE FIFTH AND FINAL SESSION OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR
MET SATURDAY, MARCH 27. ALL MEMBERS AGREED THAT THERE
SHOULD BE A TWO TERM MAXIMUM. ON LENGTH OF TERM, MEMBERS
RESTATED POSITIONS: G-77: 6 PLUS 6, OECD: 4 PLUS 4. THE
U.S., CANADA AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA STATED THAT THEY
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 01558 01 OF 02 111415Z
COULD ALSO CONSIDER A 10 YEAR MAXIMUM. THE AFRICAN GROUP
LEADER STATED CATEGORICALLY THAT SHE "WOULD NOT TAKE BACK
THE FOUR YEAR OPTION" TO HER GROUP. BRAZIL STRONGLY URGED
FOR 6 PLUS 6, ARGUING THAT 6 PLUS 4 INTRODUCED AN
INAPPROPRIATE "POLITICAL ELEMENT" TO THE DISCUSSION AS IT
PLACED AN INCUMBENT ON DIFFERENT TERMS FROM NEW CANDIDATES.
6. LEAVING THE LENGTH OF TERM ASIDE, AMBASSADOR MEKOUAR
TURNED THE GROUP TO DISCUSSION OF "TRANSITION MEASURES."
THE EU RESTATED ITS POSITION OF ALLOWING THE INCUMBENT TO
RUN FOR ONE TERM ONLY, BUT ADDED THAT IT COULD ALSO SUPPORT
SILENCE ON TRANSITION MEASURES. OTHER OECD MEMBERS STATED
THAT THEY COULD ACCEPT SILENCE AND THE G-77 AGREED AS WELL,
NOTING THAT THE IMPORTANT ISSUE WAS NOT TO "DISCRIMINATE
AMONG CANDIDATES IN ANY WAY."
7. TURNING BACK TO LENGTH OF TERM, AMBASSADOR MEKOUAR ASKED
IF MEMBERS COULD SUPPORT TWO TERMS, THE FIRST BEING SIX
YEARS, AND THE SECOND FOUR. THE GROUP AGREED TO THE
PROPOSAL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AUSTRALIA, WHO NOTED THAT
THE DECISIONS WAS AD REFERENDUM AND HE WOULD NEED TO CONSULT
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0036
PAGE 01 ROME 01558 02 OF 02 111415Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 WHA-00 EB-00
EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00
NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 SS-00 TEST-00 DRL-01 SAS-00
/005W
-------------- 54589A 111439Z /38
R 111410Z APR 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9220
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2614
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY PARIS
USEU BRUSSELS 3192
AMEMBASSY MEXICO
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 001558
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR UNESCO
STATE FOR IO/EDA SHARON KOTOK, SETH WINNICK
USDA/FAS LYNN REICH, DICK HUGHES
MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL
FROM FODAG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR FAO KUNR AORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO TERM LIMITS: AGREEMENT ON 10 YEAR MAXIMUM AND
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01558 02 OF 02 111415Z
NO TRANSITION MEASURES
HIS CAPITAL AS HIS INSTRUCTIONS ONLY WENT SO FAR AS
SUPPORTING A TERM OF FOUR YEARS (RENEWABLE ONCE).
ON TO COUNCIL
--------------
8. THE REPORT OF THE FRIENDS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE 124TH
SESSION OF COUNCIL (JUNE 24-28). IF APPROVED IT WILL BE
SENT TO THE FAO COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL
MATTERS FOR A LEGAL SCRUB AND THEN ON TO THE NOVEMBER 2003
CONFERENCE. ONCE ADOPTED BY CONFERENCE, IT WILL BE "APPLIED
FROM THE THIRTY-THIRD SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE IN 2005"
(PER THE 123RD COUNCIL DECISION). THE ELECTIONS FOR
DIRECTOR GENERAL WILL BE AT THE CONFERENCE SESSION IN
NOVEMBER 2005.
COMMENT
--------------
9. THE OUTCOME DOES NOT BAR THE CURRENT DG FROM RUNNING
AGAIN, OR LIMIT ANY RUN TO JUST ONE TERM (AS THE EU HAD
INITIALLY HOPED). ON THE OTHER HAND, WE SUCCESSFULLY
AVOIDED ANY ENDORSEMENT, IMPLICIT OR OTHERWISE, OF THE DG'S
CANDIDACY SHOULD HE RUN AGAIN. IN ADDITION, THE FIVE
SESSIONS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR PROVIDED AMPLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MAJOR DONORS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT, WERE
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL RUN AGAIN, HE WOULD NOT ENJOY THE
SUPPORT OF THOSE COUNTRIES WHICH FUND THE LION'S SHARE OF
THE FAO'S BUDGET. IT ALSO SENT A CLEAR SIGNAL TO OTHER
REGIONS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE POSITION THAT NEW LEADERSHIP
IS AVIDLY SOUGHT. HALL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 01558 02 OF 02 111415Z
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2003ROME01558 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR UNESCO
STATE FOR IO/EDA SHARON KOTOK, SETH WINNICK
USDA/FAS LYNN REICH, DICK HUGHES
MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL
FROM FODAG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR FAO KUNR AORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO TERM LIMITS: AGREEMENT ON 10 YEAR MAXIMUM AND
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01558 01 OF 02 111415Z
NO TRANSITION MEASURES
REF: A) ROME 822, B) SECSTATE 68986
1. SUMMARY: THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR ON UN FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) DIRECTOR GENERAL TERM LIMITS
HELD ITS FIFTH AND FINAL SESSION MARCH 29. THE GROUP AGREED
AD REFERENDUM TO A PROPOSAL TO LIMIT TO TWO THE NUMBER OF
TERMS THAT A DIRECTOR GENERAL COULD SERVE, WITH THE FIRST
TERM BEING SIX YEARS, AND ANY SECOND TERM BEING FOUR YEARS.
THE GROUP AGREED THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE SILENT
CONCERNING THE INCUMBENT. ONCE APPROVED BY THE JUNE SESSION
OF THE FAO COUNCIL, THE PROPOSAL WILL GO FORWARD TO THE
NOVEMBER 2003 FAO CONFERENCE FOR FINAL ADOPTION. AS THE
PROPOSAL IS NOT RETROACTIVE, THERE IS NO LEGAL BAR TO THE
CURRENT DIRECTOR GENERAL RUNNING AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE FIVE
SESSIONS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR PROVIDED AMPLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MAJOR DONORS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT, WERE HE
TO DO SO, HE WOULD NOT ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF THOSE COUNTRIES
WHICH FUND THE LION'S SHARE OF THE FAO'S BUDGET. IT ALSO
SENT A CLEAR SIGNAL TO OTHER REGIONS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE
POSITION THAT NEW LEADERSHIP IS AVIDLY SOUGHT. END SUMMARY.
2. THE FOURTH AND FIFTH SESSIONS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE
CHAIR ON FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL (DG) TERM LIMITS MET MARCH 17
AND MARCH 29. THE INDEPENDENT CHAIR OF FAO COUNCIL,
AMBASSADOR MEKOUAR (MOROCCO),CHAIRED THE FOURTH SESSION BY
VIDEO-CONFERENCE, AND THE FIFTH AND FINAL SESSION IN PERSON.
FOURTH SESSION
--------------
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 01558 01 OF 02 111415Z
3. THE FOURTH SESSION WAS DEVOTED TO INCONCLUSIVE
DISCUSSION OF LENGTH OF TERM AND THE QUESTION OF TRANSITION
MEASURES. THE G-77 RALLIED AROUND A SIX-YEAR TERM AND THE
OECD MEMBERS REITERATED SUPPORT FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM. ON
TRANSITION MEASURES, THE U.S., NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA
ARGUED FOR A SPECIFIC PROHIBITION ON THE INCUMBENT RUNNING
AGAIN. THE EU PUT FORWARD ITS PROPOSAL THAT THE DG BE
ALLOWED TO RUN FOR ONE MORE TERM ONLY. THE AFRICAN GROUP
RESPONDED INDIGNANTLY THAT THEY WOULD NOT "NEGOTIATE THE
RIGHTS OF THE DG" TO RUN AGAIN.
4. BRAZIL STATED SPECIFICALLY THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO
REFERENCE TO THE INCUMBENT IN THE PROPOSAL. THE FAO LEGAL
ADVISER RECONFIRMED THAT SILENCE ON WHAT HAD BEEN CALLED
"TRANSITION" MEASURES WOULD BE UNDERSTOOD TO MEAN THAT THE
CURRENT DIRECTOR GENERAL WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED RETROACTIVELY
BY THE AMENDMENT TO THE BASIC TEXTS, AND THEREFORE COULD RUN
AGAIN AND BE TREATED ON THE SAME BASIS AS OTHER CANDIDATES.
AMBASSADOR MEKOUAR SUMMARIZED THAT IF THE CHANGE TO THE
BASIC TEXTS WAS "NOT DIRECTED AT THE CURRENT INCUMBENT" THEN
PERHAPS THE CURRENT INCUMBENT SHOULD NOT BE MENTIONED AT
ALL.
FIFTH SESSION
--------------
5. THE FIFTH AND FINAL SESSION OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR
MET SATURDAY, MARCH 27. ALL MEMBERS AGREED THAT THERE
SHOULD BE A TWO TERM MAXIMUM. ON LENGTH OF TERM, MEMBERS
RESTATED POSITIONS: G-77: 6 PLUS 6, OECD: 4 PLUS 4. THE
U.S., CANADA AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA STATED THAT THEY
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 01558 01 OF 02 111415Z
COULD ALSO CONSIDER A 10 YEAR MAXIMUM. THE AFRICAN GROUP
LEADER STATED CATEGORICALLY THAT SHE "WOULD NOT TAKE BACK
THE FOUR YEAR OPTION" TO HER GROUP. BRAZIL STRONGLY URGED
FOR 6 PLUS 6, ARGUING THAT 6 PLUS 4 INTRODUCED AN
INAPPROPRIATE "POLITICAL ELEMENT" TO THE DISCUSSION AS IT
PLACED AN INCUMBENT ON DIFFERENT TERMS FROM NEW CANDIDATES.
6. LEAVING THE LENGTH OF TERM ASIDE, AMBASSADOR MEKOUAR
TURNED THE GROUP TO DISCUSSION OF "TRANSITION MEASURES."
THE EU RESTATED ITS POSITION OF ALLOWING THE INCUMBENT TO
RUN FOR ONE TERM ONLY, BUT ADDED THAT IT COULD ALSO SUPPORT
SILENCE ON TRANSITION MEASURES. OTHER OECD MEMBERS STATED
THAT THEY COULD ACCEPT SILENCE AND THE G-77 AGREED AS WELL,
NOTING THAT THE IMPORTANT ISSUE WAS NOT TO "DISCRIMINATE
AMONG CANDIDATES IN ANY WAY."
7. TURNING BACK TO LENGTH OF TERM, AMBASSADOR MEKOUAR ASKED
IF MEMBERS COULD SUPPORT TWO TERMS, THE FIRST BEING SIX
YEARS, AND THE SECOND FOUR. THE GROUP AGREED TO THE
PROPOSAL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AUSTRALIA, WHO NOTED THAT
THE DECISIONS WAS AD REFERENDUM AND HE WOULD NEED TO CONSULT
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0036
PAGE 01 ROME 01558 02 OF 02 111415Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 WHA-00 EB-00
EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00
NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 SS-00 TEST-00 DRL-01 SAS-00
/005W
-------------- 54589A 111439Z /38
R 111410Z APR 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9220
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2614
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY PARIS
USEU BRUSSELS 3192
AMEMBASSY MEXICO
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 001558
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR UNESCO
STATE FOR IO/EDA SHARON KOTOK, SETH WINNICK
USDA/FAS LYNN REICH, DICK HUGHES
MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL
FROM FODAG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR FAO KUNR AORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO TERM LIMITS: AGREEMENT ON 10 YEAR MAXIMUM AND
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 01558 02 OF 02 111415Z
NO TRANSITION MEASURES
HIS CAPITAL AS HIS INSTRUCTIONS ONLY WENT SO FAR AS
SUPPORTING A TERM OF FOUR YEARS (RENEWABLE ONCE).
ON TO COUNCIL
--------------
8. THE REPORT OF THE FRIENDS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE 124TH
SESSION OF COUNCIL (JUNE 24-28). IF APPROVED IT WILL BE
SENT TO THE FAO COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL
MATTERS FOR A LEGAL SCRUB AND THEN ON TO THE NOVEMBER 2003
CONFERENCE. ONCE ADOPTED BY CONFERENCE, IT WILL BE "APPLIED
FROM THE THIRTY-THIRD SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE IN 2005"
(PER THE 123RD COUNCIL DECISION). THE ELECTIONS FOR
DIRECTOR GENERAL WILL BE AT THE CONFERENCE SESSION IN
NOVEMBER 2005.
COMMENT
--------------
9. THE OUTCOME DOES NOT BAR THE CURRENT DG FROM RUNNING
AGAIN, OR LIMIT ANY RUN TO JUST ONE TERM (AS THE EU HAD
INITIALLY HOPED). ON THE OTHER HAND, WE SUCCESSFULLY
AVOIDED ANY ENDORSEMENT, IMPLICIT OR OTHERWISE, OF THE DG'S
CANDIDACY SHOULD HE RUN AGAIN. IN ADDITION, THE FIVE
SESSIONS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR PROVIDED AMPLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MAJOR DONORS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT, WERE
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL RUN AGAIN, HE WOULD NOT ENJOY THE
SUPPORT OF THOSE COUNTRIES WHICH FUND THE LION'S SHARE OF
THE FAO'S BUDGET. IT ALSO SENT A CLEAR SIGNAL TO OTHER
REGIONS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE POSITION THAT NEW LEADERSHIP
IS AVIDLY SOUGHT. HALL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 01558 02 OF 02 111415Z
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2003ROME01558 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED