PARAGUAY SUPPORTS EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF UN FAO

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000552 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/EDA USDA FOR FAS/ICD REICH AND HUGHES USUN FOR ROME E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR KUNR AORC PA FAO SUBJECT: PARAGUAY SUPPORTS EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF UN FAO BUT WILL NOT DONATE REF: STATE 02599 Econoff delivered reftel demarche on April 21 to Julio Cesar Peralta, MFAs Director of International Organizations. Peralta noted the importance of FAO programs in Paraguay. While supportive of efforts to improve the FAO, he said that Paraguay is currently attempting to pay down its arrears in several international fora. Peralta told Econoff that resource constraints make contributions to FAOs external evaluation unlikely, but that Paraguay will play as active a role as possible in reaching consensus on FAO and broader UN reforms. KEANE E