INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF THE UN FOOD AND

UNCLAS BEIJING 007125 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/EDA - SHARON KOTOK; USDA FOR FAS - WENDELL DENNIS AND GEORGE DOUVELIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR AORC FAO UN CH SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) REF: STATE 151767 ¶1. POLOFF on November 8 conveyed to the MFA reftel points urging China to support the conclusions of the Independent External Evaluation (IEE) of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and to support a leaner budget for the FAO. MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department Economics Division Deputy Director Guo Xuejun offered no substantive reply but said that China would seriously consider U.S. views. ¶2. FAS Beijing on November 9 conveyed the points to Ministry of Agriculture Department of International Cooperation Director Luo Ming. Luo said China supports the reform of the FAO, but he was non-committal on China's support for the IEE in its entirety and for the lean FAO budget. Given the expected controversy surrounding these two issues, China is still considering its position and consulting with other countries. China does not expect to make a final decision until the FAO Conference begins, Luo said. PICCUTA