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