US embassy cable - 04ROME3541

UNCLAS  ROME 003541 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
USDA/FAS FOR REICH, HUGHES AND CHAMBLISS 
USDA/APHIS FOR GREIFER 
USAID FOR AA/EGAT SIMMONS, AA/DCHA WINTER, 
STATE FOR IO/FO, IO/EDA BEHREND AND KOTOK; 
STATE ALSO FOR E, EB, OES 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, EAID, ETRD, AORC, ABUD, IPPC, FAO 
SUBJECT:  SPECIAL TRUST FUND FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT 
PROTECTION CONVENTION: CONTRIBUTIONS SOLICITED 
 
1.  Summary and Recommendation:  U.S. Mission received a 
letter dated 26 August 2004 from FAO's Assistant Director 
for Technical Cooperation, soliciting USG support for the 
newly established Special Trust Fund for the 
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).  The 
concept of a voluntary fund to assist developing 
countries in strengthening their national phytosanitary 
systems was endorsed by the Interim Commission on 
Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) in April 2003.  U.S. 
Mission notes that reinforcing the institutional and 
regulatory capacity of developing countries in this area 
would help facilitate international trade in agricultural 
products.  We recommend that Washington agencies give 
active consideration to FAO's request for support.  End 
summary and recommendation. 
 
TEXT OF FAO LETTER 
 
2.  Begin text: 
 
I have the honour to refer to the establishment of a 
multi-donor International Plant Protection Convention 
(IPPC) Special Trust Fund in support of the 
implementation of the IPPC.  The establishment of the 
aforementioned Special Trust Fund responds to FAO 
Conference Resolution 12/97, which adopted the New 
Revised Text of the IPPC and established, as an interim 
measure until the new text comes into force, the Interim 
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) and outlined 
work to be undertaken in the interim period. 
 
The ICPM, at its Fifth Session in April 2003, analysed 
the advantages and disadvantages of a multi-donor Special 
Trust Fund.  The ICPM subsequently: 
 
-- endorsed the proposal to establish a multi-donor trust 
fund entitled the Special Trust Fund for the 
International Plant Protection Convention; 
 
-- noted that the Special Trust Fund would be subject to 
FAO's Financial Rules and Regulations and that it would 
be used according to financial guidelines agreed by the 
ICPM; 
 
-- adopted draft financial guidelines for the Special 
Trust Fund of the International Plant Protection 
Convention.  (Note: as agreed by ICPM 6 in April 2004, 
the draft financial guidelines are now being reviewed for 
compliance with FAO rules before being finally approved.) 
 
The Special Trust Fund would involve only voluntary 
contributions. 
 
The objective of the Fund, as agreed by the ICPM, is to 
provide resources to benefit developing countries 
through: 
 
-- attendance at the standard setting meetings; 
 
-- participation in a training programme on information 
exchange through the internet; 
regional workshops on draft standards and implementing 
standards; 
 
-- development of guidance for countries to use in the 
evaluation of institutional and regulatory aspects of 
national phytosanitary systems; 
 
-- encouragement of individual members to utilize 
Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation and formulate national 
phytosanitary plans; 
 
-- any other project agreed by the ICPM. 
 
The ICPM also agreed that the Special Trust Fund should 
have the following three basic conditions for its 
operation: 
 
-- exclusive use for the direct benefit of developing 
countries; 
 
-- supplementary character of such funding to FAO's 
Programme of Work on IPPC; and 
 
 
-- ICPM responsibility for the selection of outputs to be 
funded from this source. 
 
In view of the recommendations of the ICPM and in order 
to support the work of the Interim Commission, it would 
be appreciated if you could inform me of your 
Government's willingness to contribute to the proposed 
multi-donor Special Trust Fund. 
 
End text. 
 
HALL 
 
 
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	2004ROME03541 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED