TFIZO1: FAO SAYS PRESS MISREPRESENTED VIEWS ON

UNCLAS ROME 002213 SIPDIS FROM FODAG SENSITIVE STATE FOR PRM A/S DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, EUR/NE, EUR/WE, SA/INS, IO/EDA S. WINNICK USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LPANASUK USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5 NSC FOR JDWORKEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAID EAGR IZ FAO WFP SUBJECT: TFIZO1: FAO SAYS PRESS MISREPRESENTED VIEWS ON IRAQ FOOD SITUATION ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. MISOFFS CONTACTED THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) REGARDING RECENT PRESS REPORTS CONVEYING ALLEGED FAO CONCERN REGARDING THE FOOD SITUATION AND THE PROSPECT OF "STARVATION" IN IRAQ. LAURENT THOMAS, CHIEF OF SPECIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAMS, SAID THAT THE FAO'S VIEWS WERE MISREPRESENTED: FAO DOES NOT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT "STARVATION" IN IRAQ. FAO BELIEVES THAT THE FOOD SITUATION IS BEING WELL HANDLED AND THERE IS NO RISK OF DETERIORATION IN FOOD SECURITY. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) ON MAY 11, 2003, THE GUARDIAN (UK) REPORTED THAT THE FAO BELIEVES THAT IRAQI AGRICULTURE IS ON THE "BRINK OF COLLAPSE" AND MANY OF IRAQ'S PEOPLE WILL "GO HUNGRY THIS SUMMER." A MAY 12 STORY ON THE BLOOMBERG WIRE SERVICE REPORTED FAO'S CHIEF OF SPECIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAMS, LAURENT THOMAS, AS SAYING THE FAO IS "VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IRAQ'S FOOD PRODUCTION CAPACITIES FOR BOTH THE SHORT- AND LONG-TERM." HOWEVER, THE ARTICLE DID NOTE THAT THOMAS DOWNPLAYED THE POSSIBILITY OF A HUNGER CRISIS IN IRAQ. ¶3. (SBU) TO MISSION OFFICERS, THOMAS INDICATED THAT THE GUARDIAN ARTICLE SOUGHT TO SENSATIONALIZE AND RELIED UPON A JUNIOR FAO STAFF MEMBER IN CYPRUS. THOMAS SAID HIS COMMENTS TO BLOOMBERG WERE MEANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD. THOMAS EXPRESSED REGRET THAT FAO VIEWS HAD BEEN MISPORTRAYED, AND NOTED HE HAS SINCE BEEN DESIGNATED THE SOLE SPOKESPERSON FOR FAO ON IRAQ TO TRY TO AVOID SUCH STORIES IN THE FUTURE. ¶4. (SBU) THOMAS ELABORATED THAT FAO AND THE UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) ARE ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH IN TERMS OF THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE IRAQI FOOD SITUATION: THE FOOD SITUATION IS BEING WELL HANDLED AND, IN LIGHT OF THE RE- ACTIVATION OF THE PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, THERE IS NO RISK THE FOOD SECURITY SITUATION WILL DETERIORATE. FAO AND WFP ARE SHARING INFORMATION AND ARE JOINTLY PLANNING A CROP AND FOOD ASSESSMENT MISSION THE FIRST WEEK IN JUNE, WHEN SECURITY IS EXPECTED TO ALLOW ACCESS FOR THE TEAM AND THE HARVEST WILL BE ONGOING. TAMLYN NNNN 2003ROME02213 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED