124TH FAO COUNCIL PREVIEW

UNCLAS ROME 002546

SIPDIS


USDA FOR FAS/LYNN REICH AND DICK HUGHES
STATE FOR IO/EDA SETH WINNICK, OES/ENV JULIE GOURLEY AND
IO/S GEORGE ABRAHAMS
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS
ATHENS FOR CLEVERLY

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAGR KUNR FAO
SUBJECT: 124TH FAO COUNCIL PREVIEW
Ref: a) Rome 01685, b) Rome 01558


1. Summary: The 124th Session of the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council will meet June 23-
28, 2003 in Rome. Items of particular importance to the
U.S. during this Council session will be: an agenda item
on Director General term limits; a U.S.-requested agenda
item on reporting on World Food Summit follow-up; the
Program of Work and Budget 2004-2005 (including the
proposal for a split currency assessment) and a proposal
for a second Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators. End
summary.


2. The 124th session of the FAO Council will meet June
23-28, 2003 in Rome. The 49-member Council is charged
with, inter alia, reviewing the world food and
agricultural situation and related matters; making
recommendations on the current and future activities of
the organization, including its program of work and
budget; exercising control over the financial management
of the organization and making recommendations to the
conference on amendments to the basic texts. Independent
Chair of Council, Ambassador Aziz Mekouar (Morocco) is
expected to return to Rome to chair the Session,
Important issues for the upcoming session are highlighted
below:


3. Agenda item 1, Adoption of the Agenda.
--------------
The Council will have before it the U.S. request to add
an agenda item on reporting on World Food Summit follow-
up. The EU supported the request by separate
communication to the FAO Director General. We understand
from the Secretariat that a short background paper will
be prepared. If the Council agrees to add the item to
the agenda, U.S. delegation will need to be prepared to
take the lead on discussion and next steps.


4. Agenda Item 3, Summary Program of Work and Budget
-------------- --------------
The Council will have before it the Summary Program of
Work and Budget (SPWB),recently reviewed in the Finance
and Program Committees. No decision on the final budget
level will be taken at the Council; U.S. delegation
should reiterate points made on the budget during the
Finance Committee (support for Zero Nominal Growth) and
in the technical committees (support for standard
setting, in particular, the Interim Commission on
Phytosanitary Measures).


5. Agenda Item 9, Report of the Committee on Agriculture
-------------- --------------
The Council will have before it the reports of all of the
technical committees. U.S. intervention should
reiterate, in particular, points on the Food Chain
Approach to Food Safety, on Biosafety and on
Biotechnology made during COAG (reftel a).


6. Agenda Item 13, the Number and Length of Term of the
Office of the Director General
-------------- --------------
Misoff queried the Secretariat concerning documentation
for this agenda item, which is still not available.
According to the FAO Legal Counsel, FAO is waiting for a
Report from the Independent Chair of Council on the
conclusion of the Friends of the Chair meetings on this
subject. The first Chair's report contained explicit
language on the incumbent's rights to run again. The
U.S., EU and Canada informed the Chair by writing that
this was not consistent with the agreement reached at the
Friends of the Chair (reftel b). In the absence of a
Report from the Chair, the FAO Legal Office does not feel
that it can proceed to draft proposed changes to the FAO
Basic Texts. Comment: This item is particularly important
as any change to the Basic Texts must be approved by
Council and be notified to members 120 days before the
Conference. End comment.


7. Agenda Item 13, Report of the Finance Committee
-------------- --------------

The Council must approve the proposed scale of
assessments and the proposed change to the Finance
Regulations allowing for national project execution.

Other items from the Finance Committee will be for
Council comment and information. USDel should speak on
the question of a split currency assessment, which will
be taken up again at the September Finance Committee
session.


8. Agenda Item 17, Convening of the Second Global Forum
of Food Safety Regulators
-------------- --------------

In addition to Council consideration, FAO and WHO will
hold a Preparatory Meeting at FAO Headquarters on July 8,
2003 of representatives of the G-8, the EC and other
donor countries as well as selected countries from each
FAO and WHO region to discuss the proposed second Global
Forum for Food Safety Regulators.


9. Agenda Item 18, Application for New Membership
-------------- --------------

Tuvalu has applied for membership with FAO.


10. Japanese request on composition of Finance and
Program Committees
-------------- --------------
Japan has circulated two proposals to amend FAO's Basic
Texts concerning membership of the Program and Finance
Committees. (Proposals faxed to IO/EDA Sharon Kotok
6/9/03). Both of the proposals are designed to increase
Asian representation on the Committees. Neither proposal,
as drafted, would affect North American membership on the
Finance and Program Committees, but would affect other
regions. Japan's intention is to improve their chances
(and that of the other Asian OECD member, Republic of
Korea) of a seat on the two Committees.

Comment
--------------

11. We expect that other regions will object to the
Japanese proposals as they reduces their presence on the
Committees. Any debate on the question is sure to arrive
at the question of why the North American region (with
only two countries and guaranteed seats on FAO's policy
making bodies) is so favored. Clearly, this debate is
not in the U.S. (or Canada's interest). End Comment.
Hall
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2003ROME02546 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED