US embassy cable - 02ROME3357

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 003357 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
PARIS FOR UNESCO 
STATE FOR IO/EDA SURA JOHNSON 
USDA/FAS LYNN REICH, DICK HUGHES 
 
FROM FODAG 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AORC, KUNR, FAO, KUNR AORC, FAO 
SUBJECT:  EU TAKES ON TERM LIMITS FOR FAO 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03357  01 OF 02  110811Z 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST.  THE EU PRESIDENCY HAS 
BEEN GIVEN A MANDATE IN ROME TO SEEK SUPPORT AMONG ALL 
REGIONAL GROUPS FOR A PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE FAO BASIC TEXTS 
TO REINSTITUTE DIRECTOR GENERAL TERM LIMITS. THE EU 
INITIATIVE STRENGTHENS THE EXISTING GENEVA GROUP DECISION TO 
TAKE UP THE ISSUE THIS YEAR.  DEPARTMENT VIEWS ON THE LENGTH 
OF TERM (FOUR OR SIX YEARS) REQUESTED.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (SBU) MISOFF ATTENDED A MEETING JULY 5 HOSTED BY THE 
CURRENT EU PRESIDENT, DENMARK, TO DISCUSS A STRATEGY FOR 
REINSTATING DIRECTOR GENERAL (DG) TERM LIMITS AT THE UN FOOD 
AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO).  SPAIN, FRANCE, PORTUGAL 
(CURRENT CHAIR OF THE FAO EUROPEAN REGIONAL GROUP), CANADA, 
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND (REPRESENTING THE FAO'S SOUTHWEST 
PACIFIC GROUP) AND JAPAN ALSO ATTENDED.  DANISH MINISTER 
COUNSELLOR JORGEN PEDERSON REPORTED THAT TERM LIMITS HAS 
BEEN AGREED EU POLICY SINCE 1998, BUT THAT DENMARK WAS GIVEN 
A MANDATE LAST DECEMBER TO TAKE IT UP IN ROME AFTER THE 
WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER MEETING (WFS5YL). 
 
PROPOSED EU STRATEGY 
--------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU) JORGEN OUTLINED THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED STRATEGY: 
 
-- THE EU PRESIDENCY WILL HOLD MEETINGS WITH ALL REGIONAL 
GROUPS BEFORE AUGUST, CIRCULATING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETINGS 
A "SPEAKING NOTE" (FAXED TO IO/EDA SURA JOHNSON 7/8/02) 
WHICH EXPLAINS THE RATIONALE FOR SEEKING TERM LIMITS. 
 
-- (END OF SEPTEMBER) AN EU-DRAFTED REQUEST TO THE FAO TO 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  03357  01 OF 02  110811Z 
ADD THE AGENDA ITEM TO THE OCTOBER COUNCIL SESSION GOES 
FORWARD.  IDEALLY THE REQUEST WOULD BE SIGNED BY CHAIRS OF 
ALL REGIONAL GROUPS; ABSENT THIS, THE REQUEST SHOULD HAVE A 
LARGE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES FROM MANY REGIONS. 
 
-- (OCTOBER 2002) THE FAO COUNCIL (OCTOBER 28-NOV 2) AGREES 
TO ADOPT THE AGENDA WITH THE ADDITIONAL ITEM (MAJORITY VOTE, 
IF A VOTE IS TAKEN).  (NOTE:  THIS IS WHERE THE TERM LIMITS 
MOVEMENT CAME TO AN INGLORIOUS END IN 1999 WHEN THE COUNCIL 
VOTED DOWN THE PROPOSAL TO ADD THE ITEM TO THE AGENDA). 
 
-- THE COUNCIL DEBATES THE SUBJECT (PROBABLY WITHOUT 
CONCLUSION) AND AGREES TO SEND IT FORWARD TO THE JUNE 23-28, 
2003 COUNCIL SESSION. 
 
-- (JUNE 2003) THE 124TH COUNCIL SESSION AGREES ON CHANGES 
TO THE FAO BASIC TEXTS TO REINSTATE TERM LIMITS AND SENDS 
THE PROPOSAL TO THE FAO CONFERENCE (NOVEMBER 26-28, 2003) 
FOR ADOPTION. 
 
-- (NOVEMBER 2003) THE CONFERENCE ADOPTS THE PROPOSALS. 
(ALL PROPOSALS TO CHANGE BASIC TEXTS MUST BE ADOPTED BY 2/3 
VOTE). 
 
WHAT KIND OF "TERM LIMITS" 
-------------------------- 
 
4. (SUB) UNGA RESOLUTION 51/241 (ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY) 
AFFIRMS THAT "UNIFORM TERMS OF FOUR YEARS, RENEWABLE ONCE" 
SHOULD BE INTRODUCED FOR UN PROGRAMS FUNDS AND OTHER ECOSOC 
BODIES.  THE SPECIALIZED AGENCIES ARE ALSO "ENCOURAGED" TO 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  03357  01 OF 02  110811Z 
CONSIDER UNIFORM TERMS AND TERM LIMITS. 
 
5.  (SBU) ON THIS BASIS, PEDERSON ARGUED THAT - IDEALLY - 
THE TERM LIMITS CAMPAIGN WOULD SEEK TO AMEND THE FAO BASIC 
TEXTS TO ALLOW FOR TWO FOUR-YEAR TERMS. (THE CURRENT TERM 
LENGTH IS SIX YEARS).  NONETHELESS, BEARING IN MIND THAT THE 
MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE WAS TO LIMIT THE TERMS (WHATEVER 
LENGTH), THE EU WAS WILLING TO DISCUSS 4 OR 6 YEAR TERMS 
(FIVE YEARS IS PROBABLY NOT AN OPTION AS THE FAO CONFERENCE 
CYCLE -- WHERE ELECTIONS ARE HELD -- IS EVERY TWO YEARS). 
OTHER MEETING PARTICIPANTS DID NOT HAVE SPECIFIC 
INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LENGTH OF TERM AND AGREED THAT THE VIEWS 
OF OTHER REGIONAL GROUPS SHOULD BE HEARD ON THE SUBJECT. 
 
6.  (SBU) THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF "GRANDFATHERING" THE 
CURRENT DG (I.E. TO EXEMPT HIM FROM TERM LIMITS ALL 
TOGETHER).  IT WAS NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT IF A FOUR-YEAR TERM 
WERE TO BE APPROVED, THE DG WOULD MOST LIKELY BE ENTITLED TO 
STAY UNTIL THE END OF HIS SIX-YEAR TERM IN 2005. 
 
VIEWS OF REGIONAL GROUPS 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ1770 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  03357  02 OF 02  110813Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AGRE-00  AID-00   EUR-00   UTED-00  FDRE-01  TEDE-00 
      OIC-02   TEST-00  SAS-00     /003W 
                  ------------------C99589  110813Z /75 
R 091156Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4705 
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2212 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
USEU BRUSSELS 2730 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 003357 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
PARIS FOR UNESCO 
STATE FOR IO/EDA SURA JOHNSON 
USDA/FAS LYNN REICH, DICK HUGHES 
 
FROM FODAG 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS:  AORC, FAO, KUNR 
SUBJECT:  EU TAKES ON TERM LIMITS FOR FAO 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03357  02 OF 02  110813Z 
------------------------ 
 
5.  (SBU) FODAG MISOFF, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 
ALL STATED THAT SEEKING A TWO TERM-LIMIT WAS ALREADY AN 
AGREED GENEVA GROUP POSITION AND THAT THE ISSUE MUST BE 
PURSUED NOW IN ORDER TO BE APPROVED AT THE 2003 CONFERENCE. 
(LEAVING THE ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED AT THE 2005 CONFERENCE 
WOULD PUT THE REFORM EFFORT IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH A 
(POSSIBLE) RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN BY THE CURRENT DIRECTOR 
GENERAL).  AS STATED IN PARA FOUR, MEETING PARTICIPANTS DID 
NOT HAVE A POSITION ON TERM LENGTH, BUT AGREED TO SEEK 
INSTRUCTIONS.  NEW ZEALAND RECALLED THAT A SIMILAR EFFORT AT 
UNESCO HAD TAKEN 18 MONTHS AND EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF 
STICKING TO THE COURSE ONCE THE DECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN TO 
MOVE FORWARD ON TERM LIMITS. 
 
6.  (SBU) IT WAS NOTED THAT MOST MEMBERS OF THE FAO'S LATIN 
AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GROUP (GRULAC)SUPPORTED TERM LIMITS. 
(COMMENT: WHILE THERE IS NO FORMAL SYSTEM OF ROTATION AT THE 
FAO, THE GRULAC HAS NEVER HAD A DIRECTOR GENERAL AND 
BELIEVES THAT IT IS THEIR TURN.  END COMMENT.) INDIVIDUAL 
MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN AND ASIAN GROUPS HAD BEEN HEARD TO 
EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE CONCEPT OF TERM LIMITS BUT THE 
STRENGTH OF THIS POSITION THROUGHOUT THE GROUP NEEDS TO BE 
DISCUSSED AND EXPLORED. 
 
NEXT STEPS 
--------- 
 
7.  (SBU) IT WAS AGREED THAT DENMARK WOULD REPORT BACK ON 
ITS MEETINGS WITH THE OTHER REGIONAL GROUPS. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  03357  02 OF 02  110813Z 
 
8.  (SBU) MEETING PARTICIPANTS ALSO DISCUSSED WAYS TO 
INVOLVE  AMBASSADOR MEKOUR (MOROCCO), THE FAO INDEPENDENT 
CHAIR OF COUNCIL, NOTING THAT HAVING MEKOUR ON BOARD WAS 
IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE REFORM EFFORT. (COMMENT: 
SINCE MEKOUR IS NOW STATIONED IN WASHINGTON, THIS POSES 
LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS.  WHETHER MEKOUR WILL SUPPORT THE REFORM 
EFFORT IS ALSO NOT KNOWN.  END COMMENT).  AS A (LESS 
SATISFACTORY) FALLBACK, MEETING PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED 
EMBARKING ON INFORMAL, INTER-REGIONAL LUNCHES TO DISCUSS THE 
MATTER WITH OTHER ROME COLLEAGUES. 
 
9.  (SBU) MISOFF PROPOSED, AND OTHER MEMBERS AGREED THAT A 
DEMARCHE IN CAPITALS (POSSIBLY A JOINT DEMARCHE) TO COUNCIL 
MEMBERS ON THE QUESTION OF PUTTING THE ITEM ON THE FAO 
COUNCIL AGENDA WOULD BE STRONGLY ADVISED.  THIS SHOULD BE 
TAKEN UP IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AFTER THE MEETINGS WITH THE 
REGIONAL GROUPS. 
 
WHO WILL BELL THE CAT? 
--------------------- 
 
10.  (SBU) PEDERSON REPORTED THAT THE MATTER HAD NOT YET 
BEEN RAISED WITH DIOUF (AS THEY DID NOT WANT HIM TO USE THE 
WFS5YL TO LOBBY AGAINST THE IDEA).  IT WAS NOTED THAT, WHEN 
THE ISSUE HAD BEEN RAISED IN THE PAST, DIOUF'S RESPONSE WAS 
INEVITABLY "IT'S UP TO MEMBERSHIP" -- DESPITE THE FACT THAT 
HE VERY MUCH MADE IT HIS BUSINESS TO DEFEAT THE 1999 EFFORT 
TO ADD TERM LIMITS TO THE FAO COUNCIL AGENDA. 
 
COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  03357  02 OF 02  110813Z 
-------------------------- 
11. (SBU) THE EU INITIATIVE BROADENS AND STRENGTHENS AN 
EXISTING GENEVA GROUP DECISION THAT THE TERM LIMITS SHOULD 
BE SOUGHT, AND THAT THE PROCESS NEEDED TO START IN 2002 IN 
ORDER TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH THE NEXT ELECTION (IN 2005). 
 
12. (SBU) AMONG OTHER "REFORM-MINDED" DELEGATES, FOUR YEARS 
IS THE STARTING OUT POSITION, BUT THERE IS PROBABLY SOME 
NEGOTIATING FLEXIBILITY ON THE ISSUE. DEPARTMENT VIEWS ON 
THE LENGTH OF TERM REQUESTED.  HEILEMAN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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 2002ROME03357 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED