US embassy cable - 02ROME5470

UNCLAS ROME 005470 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/EDA WINNICK, L/UNA FOR ARBOGAST, USDA/FAS 
FOR R. HUGHES 
 
FROM FODAG 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AORC, RQ, FAO 
SUBJECT:  PUERTO RICO'S ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP WITH FAO 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION 
(FAO) HAS INFORMED FODAG THAT PUERTO RICO SEEKS TO REGAIN 
ASSOCIATE MEMBER STATUS WITH THE FAO (THIS STATUS HAVING 
LAPSED DUE TO PUERTO RICO'S INABILITY TO MEET ITS 
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.)  ACCORDING TO THE FAO STATUTES, 
ASSOCIATE MEMBER STATUS MUST BE REQUESTED BY THE MEMBER 
NATION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRITORY'S INTERNATIONAL 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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RELATIONS.  THE MEMBER NATION ALSO UNDERTAKES TO ENSURE 
THAT THE ASSOCIATE MEMBER COMPLIES WITH ITS OBLIGATIONS 
(INCLUDING FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS).  THIS CABLE PROVIDES 
BACKGROUND ON PUERTO RICO'S ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2.  THE FAO CONSTITUTION (ARTICLE II.11) ALLOWS FOR 
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP FOR TERRITORIES THAT ARE NOT 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF THEIR INTERNATIONAL 
RELATIONS.  THE MEMBER NATION HAVING AUTHORITY FOR THE 
TERRITORY'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS APPLIES ON THE 
TERRITORY'S BEHALF AND ASSUMES CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS (THE 
MOST IMPORTANT BEING ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING 
THAT THE ASSOCIATE MEMBER FULFILLS ITS FINANCIAL 
OBLIGATIONS.) 
 
3.  THE UNITED STATES (JOHN BOLTON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY 
OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS) APPLIED 
ON BEHALF OF PUERTO RICO OCTOBER 9, 1991 AND ACCEPTED THE 
OBLIGATIONS OF FAO'S CONSTITUTION ON PUERTO RICO'S 
BEHALF. IN 1993 PUERTO RICO REPORTED TO THE FAO THAT IT 
COULD NOT MEET ITS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND THAT IT 
WISHED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE FAO. 
 
4.  SINCE MEMBERS (INCLUDING ASSOCIATE MEMBERS) MUST WAIT 
FOUR YEARS AFTER JOINING TO WITHDRAW, AND SINCE THE 
WITHDRAWAL COULD ONLY BE MADE BY THE UNITED STATES (ON 
PUERTO RICO'S BEHALF), PUERTO RICO DID NOT EFFECTIVELY 
GIVE NOTICE TO WITHDRAW UNTIL DECEMBER 20, 1995.  AS THE 
FAO CONSTITUTION STIPULATES THAT WITHDRAWAL TAKES EFFECT 
ONE YEAR AFTER NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN (WITH FINANCIAL 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05470  100908Z 
OBLIGATIONS CONTINUING UP TO THAT TIME), PUERTO RICO OWED 
USD 75,424.80 IN ARREARS BY THE TIME ITS WITHDRAWAL 
BECAME EFFECTIVE. 
 
5.  CONCERNING THE U.S. OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THE 
ASSOCIATE MEMBER MEETS ITS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, THE 
1995 U.S. WITHDRAWAL NOTICE (FROM THE ACTING ASSISTANT 
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS 
 
SIPDIS 
GEORGE WARD) STATED THAT THE U.S. WAS "INFORMED" OF THE 
OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS AND THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD 
"CONVEYED THIS INFORMATION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO 
RICO WHICH HAS CONFIRMED THAT IT ACCEPTS THE OBLIGATIONS 
AND INTENDS TO MAKE PAYMENT BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 1996." 
 
6.  THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF PUERTO RICO HAS WRITTEN TO 
THE FAO REQUESTING TO BE RE-ADMITTED AS AN ASSOCIATE 
MEMBER.  THE FAO HAS RESPONDED THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE 
HANDLED BY THE MEMBER NATION (THE U.S.).  IN THIS 
CONTEXT, PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN ADVISED AGAIN OF ITS 
OUTSTANDING ARREARS WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE PAID OFF 
BEFORE BECOMING A MEMBER AGAIN. 
 
7.  1991 AND 1995 LETTER OF ACCESSION AND WITHDRAWAL AND 
OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION HAVE BEEN FAXED TO IO/EDA 
AND USDA/FAS.  FYI, THERE ARE NO OTHER ASSOCIATE MEMBERS 
AT THE FAO. 
 
8.  COMMENT:  THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR BACKGROUND 
ONLY, SINCE, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, PUERTO RICO HAS NOT 
APPROACHED THE SECRETARY OF STATE REQUESTING THAT THE 
UNITED STATES APPLY FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBER STATUS FOR 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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PUERTO RICO WITH THE FAO.  HALL 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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 2002ROME05470 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED