PROGRESS REPORTED IN DRAFTING OF PROPOSED POLICY STATEMENT AND ACTION PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED TO WORLD FOOD SUMMIT
Press Release
FAO/3638
PROGRESS REPORTED IN DRAFTING OF PROPOSED POLICY STATEMENT AND ACTION PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED TO WORLD FOOD SUMMIT
19961011 ROME, 11 October (FAO) -- A committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported "important progress" towards completion of a Rome declaration and plan of action to be submitted for adoption by next month's World Food Summit, to be held at FAO headquarters from 13 to 17 November."Significant results have been achieved", the Chairman of the Committee on World Food Security, Pedro A. Medrano Rojas (Chile), told the FAO Council. "The atmosphere was positive, constructive, and I think we can say we have made important progress. We clarified our positions and are now in a much better position to move forward swiftly towards the solution of pending problems."
The Council agreed unanimously to a proposal by the Committee, designated as the preparatory body for the Summit, to meet again at FAO headquarters from 28 to 30 October to complete work on the documents.
The Director-General of FAO, Jacques Diouf, said the fact that the Committee had managed to reduce the number of brackets around formulations still in question from almost 800 to 176 in only nine working days was an indication of "good will, and with such good will prevailing we should be able to reach consensus agreement within the time available". He urged countries and regional groups to carry out active consultations in order to clear away remaining obstacles before they resume work.
The draft Rome declaration and plan of action is being prepared by the Committee drawing on recommendations by FAO member nations at their regular regional conferences earlier this year, regional consultations of non- governmental organizations, input from other United Nations agencies, the private sector and research and academic institutions.
Representatives of more than 200 non-governmental organizations from throughout the world attended a meeting at FAO headquarters from 19 to 21 September to review and offer final comments on the draft documents to be considered at the meeting of the Committee, which opened on 23 September.
- 2 - Press Release FAO/3638 11 October 1996
The Summit will not seek pledges of new funding or create a new body, but by adopting the Rome declaration and plan of action, world leaders will reaffirm their commitment to the goal of universal food security and agree to specific action involving international, intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations, the private sector, research and academic institutions, women's and youth groups and all other sectors of civil society.
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