Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE27760
2009-03-23 19:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:
FAO DG DIOUF FIRM ON HIS PLAN FOR A NOVEMBER
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 027760
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL FAO UN
SUBJECT: FAO DG DIOUF FIRM ON HIS PLAN FOR A NOVEMBER
SUMMIT
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 027760
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL FAO UN
SUBJECT: FAO DG DIOUF FIRM ON HIS PLAN FOR A NOVEMBER
SUMMIT
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. In his meeting with IO DAS Anderson, FAO
Director-General Diouf made clear that he intends to go
forward with his plans for a head-of-state level food summit
as part of the November 14-21 FAO Conference, despite
concerns raised by the U.S. and other countries with the
summit proposal. Diouf rejected arguments that a summit in
November is premature and that it would interfere with
ongoing efforts to reform the FAO. Diouf did say, however,
if President Obama were to host a food security summit in the
U.S. anywhere outside of New York, he would reconsider his
plans. END Summary.
--------------
Diouf Proceeding with a Summit:
--------------
2. (SBU) Diouf at length explained his arguments for
calling for a summit in Rome in November 2009. He indicated
that food prices in developing countries are still
substantially higher than in 2006, but production in most
developing countries did not respond to the price increase
and agricultural productivity remains low. Prices for inputs
like seeds and fertilizer in developing countries are still
very high and the financial crisis is lowering incomes and
making more people food-insecure. Diouf continues to see a
need to raise the level of attention to the issue on the
international agenda. He acknowledged some success in
boosting interest in the U.S. Congress and private
foundations in promoting agricultural development to increase
production. He insisted on the need to address food
security, agricultural investment, and rural infrastructure
in a single forum. When asked what would be different about
the outcome of a new summit than the meeting held in June
2008, Diouf said he aims to announce a new international
goal to eradicate hunger worldwide by 2025.
3. (SBU) Diouf dismissed U.S. concerns (which have been
raised by other countries such as Canada) over the drawbacks
of a November summit at FAO headquarters. Diouf said he
cannot call off his plans because he alleged that he has wide
international support including from the Arab Group, the
African Union, Caribbean states, Chile and Brazil, including
substantial commitments of financial support from wealthy
Gulf states. He also claimed that the regional groups in
Rome support his plan. Diouf dismissed suggestions that the
UN General Assembly head-of-state meetings in September may
be a better venue for addressing his concerns, saying that
attention to food security would be "diluted" there.
(COMMENT: Diouf appeared to be against addressing food
security at all in New York. END COMMENT.) He also said
that food security would also not have the prominence it
should have if it were to be addressed in the context of an
overall discussion on the Millennium Development Goals,
including at the proposed MDG summit in 2010. He said
Italy's planned G8 discussion involving Diouf is intended to
focus on Africa rather than food security. Noting several
times that he had written repeatedly to President Obama
regarding his proposal, Diouf said that he would definitely
reconsider his summit plan if the President accepted his
invitation to host a food security conference in the United
States - anywhere outside of New York, he added. DAS
Anderson reiterated the U.S. view that a summit in Rome in
November would not be helpful to the broader effort to build
a global partnership encompassing all UN system and other
major actors.
-------------- --------------
Diouf says Cooperation with UN High-Level Task Force is
Good:
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Diouf said that he, WFP Executive Director Josette
Sheeran, IFAD President Bage, and Coordinator of the UN
High-Level Task Force David Nabarro are "working as a team."
In this vein, he claimed that the FAO's Committee on Food
Security (CFS) has been "entrusted with moving the Global
Partnership on Food and Agriculture Security (GPAFS)
forward." DAS Anderson pressed that the CFS is in need of
reform, which we hope to see in process by the November
STATE 00027760 002 OF 002
Conference. A reformed CFS, he added, would be in a better
position to work in support of the GPAFS. DAS Anderson added
that the U.S. prefers a single international group of experts
to support the Global Partnership, rather than multiple
groupings.
--------------
Discussion with Dr. Fedoroff
--------------
5. (SBU) Diouf subsequently met with Dr. Nina Fedoroff,
Science Adviser to the Secretary. The discussion focused on
actions the FAO is taking to promote crop adaptation to
climate change and the need for infrastructure and leadership
in Africa to combat food insecurity. Dr. Fedoroff
specifically noted that the FAO could help bridge the gap
between international and private sector research work, and
could be an important promoter of biotechnology to address
climate adaptation. DAS Anderson added that a reformed CFS,
if recognized as a credible forum for serious discussion of
food security issues, could provide a forum for airing of
these issues. Diouf invited Dr. Fedoroff to visit FAO when
she is in Rome for the May 5-7 Vatican conference on GMOs.
CLINTON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL FAO UN
SUBJECT: FAO DG DIOUF FIRM ON HIS PLAN FOR A NOVEMBER
SUMMIT
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. In his meeting with IO DAS Anderson, FAO
Director-General Diouf made clear that he intends to go
forward with his plans for a head-of-state level food summit
as part of the November 14-21 FAO Conference, despite
concerns raised by the U.S. and other countries with the
summit proposal. Diouf rejected arguments that a summit in
November is premature and that it would interfere with
ongoing efforts to reform the FAO. Diouf did say, however,
if President Obama were to host a food security summit in the
U.S. anywhere outside of New York, he would reconsider his
plans. END Summary.
--------------
Diouf Proceeding with a Summit:
--------------
2. (SBU) Diouf at length explained his arguments for
calling for a summit in Rome in November 2009. He indicated
that food prices in developing countries are still
substantially higher than in 2006, but production in most
developing countries did not respond to the price increase
and agricultural productivity remains low. Prices for inputs
like seeds and fertilizer in developing countries are still
very high and the financial crisis is lowering incomes and
making more people food-insecure. Diouf continues to see a
need to raise the level of attention to the issue on the
international agenda. He acknowledged some success in
boosting interest in the U.S. Congress and private
foundations in promoting agricultural development to increase
production. He insisted on the need to address food
security, agricultural investment, and rural infrastructure
in a single forum. When asked what would be different about
the outcome of a new summit than the meeting held in June
2008, Diouf said he aims to announce a new international
goal to eradicate hunger worldwide by 2025.
3. (SBU) Diouf dismissed U.S. concerns (which have been
raised by other countries such as Canada) over the drawbacks
of a November summit at FAO headquarters. Diouf said he
cannot call off his plans because he alleged that he has wide
international support including from the Arab Group, the
African Union, Caribbean states, Chile and Brazil, including
substantial commitments of financial support from wealthy
Gulf states. He also claimed that the regional groups in
Rome support his plan. Diouf dismissed suggestions that the
UN General Assembly head-of-state meetings in September may
be a better venue for addressing his concerns, saying that
attention to food security would be "diluted" there.
(COMMENT: Diouf appeared to be against addressing food
security at all in New York. END COMMENT.) He also said
that food security would also not have the prominence it
should have if it were to be addressed in the context of an
overall discussion on the Millennium Development Goals,
including at the proposed MDG summit in 2010. He said
Italy's planned G8 discussion involving Diouf is intended to
focus on Africa rather than food security. Noting several
times that he had written repeatedly to President Obama
regarding his proposal, Diouf said that he would definitely
reconsider his summit plan if the President accepted his
invitation to host a food security conference in the United
States - anywhere outside of New York, he added. DAS
Anderson reiterated the U.S. view that a summit in Rome in
November would not be helpful to the broader effort to build
a global partnership encompassing all UN system and other
major actors.
-------------- --------------
Diouf says Cooperation with UN High-Level Task Force is
Good:
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Diouf said that he, WFP Executive Director Josette
Sheeran, IFAD President Bage, and Coordinator of the UN
High-Level Task Force David Nabarro are "working as a team."
In this vein, he claimed that the FAO's Committee on Food
Security (CFS) has been "entrusted with moving the Global
Partnership on Food and Agriculture Security (GPAFS)
forward." DAS Anderson pressed that the CFS is in need of
reform, which we hope to see in process by the November
STATE 00027760 002 OF 002
Conference. A reformed CFS, he added, would be in a better
position to work in support of the GPAFS. DAS Anderson added
that the U.S. prefers a single international group of experts
to support the Global Partnership, rather than multiple
groupings.
--------------
Discussion with Dr. Fedoroff
--------------
5. (SBU) Diouf subsequently met with Dr. Nina Fedoroff,
Science Adviser to the Secretary. The discussion focused on
actions the FAO is taking to promote crop adaptation to
climate change and the need for infrastructure and leadership
in Africa to combat food insecurity. Dr. Fedoroff
specifically noted that the FAO could help bridge the gap
between international and private sector research work, and
could be an important promoter of biotechnology to address
climate adaptation. DAS Anderson added that a reformed CFS,
if recognized as a credible forum for serious discussion of
food security issues, could provide a forum for airing of
these issues. Diouf invited Dr. Fedoroff to visit FAO when
she is in Rome for the May 5-7 Vatican conference on GMOs.
CLINTON