US embassy cable - 05ROME3638

UNCLAS ROME 003638 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR IO DAS MILLER, IO/EDA - BEHREND, KOTOK 
USDA FOR FAS/ICD - WBRANT, LREICH, RHUGHES 
 
FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC, EAGR, EAID, KUNR, XA, FAO 
SUBJECT:  AFRICA GROUP SEEKS STRONG MANDATE FOR RE- 
ELECTION OF FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL JACQUES DIOUF 
 
REF:  04 ROME 2873 
 
Sensitive but unclassified - please handle accordingly. 
 
1.  (SBU)  On October 31, Egyptian Ambassador Helmy 
Bedeir (current chair of the Africa Regional Group in 
Rome) and Senegalese Ambassador Papa Cheikh Saadibou Fall 
(representing the nominating country) called on 
Ambassador Hall in order to seek USG support for the re- 
election of Dr. Jacques Diouf to a third term as Director 
General (DG) of FAO.  The two African permanent 
representatives said it was important for the DG to have 
a strong mandate, so as to allow him to be effective in 
meeting the challenges the organization faces, including 
pressing reform and budget questions. 
 
2.  (SBU)  Ambassador Hall responded that he enjoyed a 
good personal working relationship with Diouf, but 
restated the longstanding USG position on the value and 
importance of term limits for heads of UN agencies, no 
matter how qualified or talented the incumbent.  The 
Ambassador acknowledged that Diouf, as the sole 
candidate, would in all likelihood be re-elected.  The 
USG wished him well and looked forward to continuing to 
work with him, but the USG was not yet ready to make a 
decision on the upcoming vote.  He stressed the USG's 
interest in reforming and strengthening FAO, and noted 
the DG's cooperation with the member-led initiative for 
an Independent External Evaluation.  The appointment of a 
strong senior management team will be crucial; there are 
excellent candidates available, including several 
Americans.  FAO must focus on its essential mandate in 
food and agriculture, and should not be allowed to become 
a platform for political rhetoric, as had happened when 
Zimbabwe's President Mugabe spoke at the World Food Day 
event on October 17.  As the major contributor to FAO, 
the USG wants to ensure that the organization is as 
effective and efficient as possible. 
 
3.  (SBU)  The Egyptian and Senegalese permreps expressed 
appreciation for Ambassador Hall's forthright comments. 
Bedeir admitted that many members had been very 
disappointed with what had happened on World Food Day, 
but added that it was not possible to tell visiting heads 
of state what to say.  The two African diplomats stressed 
that they were working on behalf of the organization and 
its members, and not for Diouf personally; but they added 
that they had taken note of USG concerns, and would pass 
them on.  The meeting ended with all three ambassadors 
expressing a shared commitment to strengthening and 
enhancing the effectiveness of FAO. 
 
HALL