PUERTO RICO REQUESTS FAO ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

UNCLAS ROME 001800

SIPDIS


STATE FOR IO/EDA WINNICK, L/UNA FOR ARBOGAST, USDA/FAS
FOR R. HUGHES

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC RQ FAO
SUBJECT: PUERTO RICO REQUESTS FAO ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

REF: (02) ROME 5470


1. SUMMARY: PUERTO RICO SEEKS TO REGAIN ASSOCIATE
MEMBER STATUS WITH THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
ORGANIZATION (FAO) AND HAS REPORTEDLY ASKED THE U.S.
SECRETARY OF STATE TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST. FAO

SIPDIS
CORRESPONDENCE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF PUERTO RICO
(COPIED TO THE U.S. MISSION) CALLS ATTENTION TO PUERTO
RICO'S OUTSTANDING ARREARS OF USD 75,424.80. END
SUMMARY.


2. REFTEL COVERED THE HISTORY OF PUERTO RICO'S ASSOCIATE
MEMBERSHIP WITH FAO (NOW LAPSED). IN A LETTER DATED
APRIL 23, 2003 FROM DIRECTOR GENERAL JACQUES DIOUF TO
FERDINAND MERCADO (SECRETARY OF STATE OF PUERTO RICO),
COPIED TO THE U.S. MISSION, DIOUF WELCOMED THE NEWS THAT
"PUERTO RICO HAS REQUESTED THE SUPPORT OF THE U.S.
SECRETARY OF STATE" FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP AND CALLS

SIPDIS
ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT PUERTO RICO STILL HAS ARREARS
OF USD 75,424.80. (LETTER FAXED TO S.KOTOK, IO/EDA
4/29/03).


3. AS NOTED IN REFTEL, THE FAO CONSTITUTION 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.) HALL

NNNN
2003ROME01800 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED