This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 003214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FOR FAS/LYNN REICH AND DICK HUGHES 
STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN AND SETH WINNICK 
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS 
PARIS FOR OECD 
 
FROM FODAG 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03214  01 OF 05  020718Z 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AORC EAID FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR
SUBJECT:  OUTCOME OF WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER 
MEETING 
 
REF:  ROME 3093 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  DESPITE POSTPONEMENT AND COMPETING EVENTS, THE 
JUNE 10-13 WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER (WFS5YL) 
MEETING WAS WELL ATTENDED AND UNMARRED BY VIOLENT PROTESTS. 
47 HEADS OF STATE ATTENDED, OF WHICH TWO WERE OECD COUNTRY 
LEADERS (SPAIN AND ITALY).  THE U.S. DELEGATION, LED BY 
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, ANN VENEMAN, INCLUDED USAID 
 
SIPDIS 
ADMINISTRATOR ANDREW NATSIOS AND UNDERSECRETARY FOR 
ECONOMIC, BUSINESS AND AGRICULTURE AFFAIRS ALAN LARSON. THE 
FAO HOSTED A MEETING OF NEPAD (NEW AFRICAN PARTNERSHIP FOR 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT) MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE TO DISCUSS AN 
FAO-DRAFTED PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE AFRICAN AGRICULTURE 
SECTOR JUST PRIOR TO THE SUMMIT.  NGO/CSO PARTICIPANTS (MOST 
WITH A COMMON "ANTI-TRADE LIBERALIZATION, ANTI-GMO" 
PLATFORM), FOUND LITTLE TO THEIR LIKING IN THE WFS5YL 
OUTCOME DECLARATION WHICH ENDORSES TRADE AS AN ENGINE OF 
GROWTH AND CALLS ON THE FAO TO ADVANCE RESEARCH IN 
BIOTECHNOLOGY. 
 
¶2.  SUMMARY CONT. THE WFS5YL PROVIDED A GOOD VENUE FOR 
INTRODUCING THE U.S. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY INITIATIVE, 
HIGHLIGHTING U.S. ACTIONS TO PREVENT FAMINE AND IMPROVE 
NUTRITION AND PRESENTING U.S. VIEWS ON IMPROVING 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGY (WITH 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  03214  01 OF 05  020718Z 
FEATURED SPEAKER U.S. NOBEL LAUREATE NORMAN BORLAUG.) 
QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS WERE PRIMARILY ON TRADE, WHICH 
PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO CRITICISMS OF THE NEW 
U.S. FARM BILL.  WARNED BY OECD MEMBER COUNTRIES NOT TO USE 
THE WFS5YL AS A PLEDGING CONFERENCE, THE FAO DIRECTOR 
GENERAL (AND MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES) WERE NONETHELESS 
DISAPPOINTED THAT IT DID NOT SUCCEED AT MOBILIZING NEW 
RESOURCES FOR AGRICULTURE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
WFS5YL:  WHO CAME 
----------------- 
 
¶3. 182 COUNTRIES ATTENDED THE JUNE 10-13 WORLD FOOD 
SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER (WFS5YL)MEETING IN ROME.  BILLED AS 
A HEADS OF STATE-LEVEL MEETING, LESS THAN A THIRD OF FAO 
MEMBER STATES (47 TOTAL) ACTUALLY SENT HEADS OF STATE OR 
GOVERNMENT (THOSE WHO DID ATTEND WERE PRIMARILY FROM 
AFRICA).  FAO MEDIA REPORTS STATED THAT 74 HEADS OF STATE 
ATTENDED, BUT THIS FIGURE INCLUDED VICE-PRIME MINISTERS, 
VICE-PREMIERS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS.  MOST FAO MEMBERS SENT 
THEIR MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE.  OECD COUNTRIES GENERALLY 
FIELDED LARGE DELEGATIONS WITH EXPERTISE IN AGRICULTURE AND 
DEVELOPMENT, WITH ONLY TWO OECD COUNTRIES, SPAIN AND ITALY, 
REPRESENTED AT HEAD OF GOVERNMENT LEVEL. U.S. SECRETARY OF 
AGRICULTURE ANN VENEMAN LED THE 34-PERSON STRONG U.S. 
DELEGATION (NOT COUNTING FODAG AND EMBASSY OFFICERS), WHICH 
INCLUDED USAID ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS AND STATE DEPARTMENT 
UNDERSECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC, BUSINESS AND AGRICULTURE 
AFFAIRS, ALAN LARSON.  IN ADDITION TO CIVIL SOCIETY AND 
PRIVATE SECTOR ADVISORS, THE DELEGATION ALSO INCLUDED 
CONGRESSMAN TONY HALL AND CONGRESSWOMAN EVA CLAYTON. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  03214  01 OF 05  020718Z 
DELEGATION MEMBER MARY CHAMBLISS (USDA/FAS) SERVED AS THE 
NORTH AMERICAN VICE-CHAIR OF THE WFS5YL AND ROSE BERSTEIN 
(IO/EDA) SERVED ON THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE. 
 
¶4.  HEADS OF DELEGATION OPENED THE WFS5YL BY ENDORSING THE 
WFS5YL DECLARATION, SUBTITLED "INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE 
AGAINST HUNGER" (REFTEL) WITHOUT DISCUSSION.   THE UNITED 
STATES SUBMITTED ITS RESERVATION IN WRITING (ALONG WITH A 
REQUEST THAT THE RESERVATION BE PLACED AS A FOOTNOTE TO 
OPERATIVE PARAGRAPH 10 OF THE DECLARATION.)  THE U.S. 
RESERVATION READS: 
 
"THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES THAT THE ISSUE OF ADEQUATE FOOD 
CAN ONLY BE VIEWED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RIGHT TO A STANDARD 
OF LIVING ADEQUATE FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, AS SET FORTH 
IN THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, WHICH INCLUDES 
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSING, MEDICAL 
CARE AND NECESSARY SOCIAL SERVICES.    FURTHER, THE UNITED 
STATES BELIEVES THAT THE ATTAINMENT OF THE RIGHT TO AN 
ADEQUATE STANDARD OF LIVING IS A GOAL OR ASPIRATION TO BE 
REALIZED PROGRESSIVELY THAT DOES NOT GIVE RISE TO ANY 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ7319 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  03214  02 OF 05  020718Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00 
      COME-00  CTME-00  DODE-00  ITCE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    EXME-00 
      EUR-00   UTED-00  TEDE-00  INR-00   ITC-01   NSAE-00  OES-01 
      OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00 
      SAS-00     /006W 
                  ------------------C54461  020718Z /38 
R 020732Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4534 
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2197 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 05 ROME 003214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FOR FAS/LYNN REICH AND DICK HUGHES 
STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN AND SETH WINNICK 
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS 
PARIS FOR OECD 
 
FROM FODAG 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03214  02 OF 05  020718Z 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AORC EAID FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR
SUBJECT:  OUTCOME OF WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER 
MEETING 
 
INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATION OR ANY DOMESTIC LEGAL ENTITLEMENT, 
AND DOES NOT DIMINISH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF NATIONAL 
GOVERNMENTS TOWARDS THEIR CITIZENS.  ADDITIONALLY, THE 
UNITED STATES UNDERSTANDS THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO FOOD TO 
MEAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE FOOD, AND NOT A GUARANTEED 
ENTITLEMENT.  CONCERNING OPERATIVE PARAGRAPH 10, WE ARE 
COMMITTED TO CONCRETE ACTION TO MEET THE OBJECTIVES OF THE 
WORLD FOOD SUMMIT, AND ARE CONCERNED THAT STERILE DEBATE 
OVER "VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES" WOULD DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM 
THE REAL WORK OF REDUCING POVERTY AND HUNGER." 
 
WFS5YL PLENARY STATEMENTS 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5. THE U.S. PLENARY STATEMENT, DELIVERED BY SECRETARY 
VENEMAN, HIGHLIGHTED U.S. EFFORTS TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL 
PRODUCTIVITY, NUTRITION AND COMBAT FAMINE, INCLUDING THROUGH 
SCHOOL FEEDING AND  EMERGENCY FOOD AID (WITH SPECIAL 
ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA).  THE DEVASTATING 
IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS ON FOOD SECURITY WAS STRESSED.  THE 
SECRETARY ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE U.S. WOULD HOST A 
 
SIPDIS 
MINISTERIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE IN EARLY 2003 
TO FOCUS ON HOW DEVELOPING COUNTRIES' FOOD NEEDS CAN BE MET 
THROUGH NEW FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES.  PLENARY 
STATEMENTS BY OTHER HEADS OF DELEGATION CONVERGED ON THE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  03214  02 OF 05  020718Z 
FOLLOWING THEMES: 
 
-- THE NEED TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO TRADE (ALL DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES AND CAIRNS GROUP); 
-- SUPPORT FOR THE RIGHT TO FOOD (MOST COUNTRIES); 
-- THE IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS (MOSTLY AFRICAN COUNTRIES); 
-- THE IMPORTANCE OF ENABLING ENVIRONMENTS,  GOOD GOVERNANCE 
(OECD MEMBER COUNTRIES); 
-- HARMFUL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON FOOD PRODUCTION 
(ESPECIALLY SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES); 
 
¶6.  PLENARY STATEMENTS DID NOT ATTRACT A LARGE AUDIENCE, BUT 
THE STATEMENT OF ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT MUGABE -- WHO TOUTED 
HIS LAND RESETTLEMENT SCHEME AS CONTRIBUTING TO FOOD 
SECURITY -- WAS MUCH REMARKED ON IN THE CORRIDORS.  AN NGO 
SPEAKER WHOSE TURN AT THE PODIUM CAME LATE IN THE EVENING OF 
JUNE 12 CAUSED COMMENT AS WELL BY RIPPING UP THE WFS5YL 
DECLARATION AND  EATING IT TO EXPRESS HIS DISSATISFACTION 
WITH THE DOCUMENT. 
 
WFS5YL SIDE EVENTS -- REGIONAL ECONOMIC ORGANIZATIONS 
"PROJECT EXCHANGE" 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶7.  IN A LAST MINUTE EFFORT TO MOBILIZE FUNDING FOR 
PROJECTS, THE FAO ORGANIZED SOME 20 MEETINGS OF REGIONAL 
ECONOMIC ORGANIZATIONS (SUCH AS MERCOSUR, ECOWAS AND SADC) 
WITH A VIEW TO BRINGING TOGETHER DONORS AND RECIPIENTS TO 
DISCUSS SPECIFIC PROJECT PROPOSALS AT THE REGIONAL AND SUB- 
REGIONAL LEVEL.  MOST OECD DONORS WERE HARD PRESSED TO 
ATTEND ALL MEETINGS AT A SUITABLE LEVEL; NONE WENT WITH 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  03214  02 OF 05  020718Z 
CHECKBOOK IN HAND READY TO FUND PROJECTS.  THERE WERE MANY 
REPORTS (INCLUDING FROM INSIDE THE SECRETARIAT) OF PROBLEMS 
WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND THE PREPARATION.  COMMENT: ONE 
OECD MEMBER REPORTED THAT THE AFRICAN GROUP (WHICH HAD SENT 
MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE TO THE SEMINARS), WAS "FURIOUS" AT 
DIRECTOR GENERAL (DG) DIOUF BECAUSE HE HIMSELF DID NOT 
PARTICIPATE IN THE AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL SEMINARS, AND 
BECAUSE THERE WERE FEW OECD DONORS PRESENT.  CURIOUSLY, IN A 
POST-WFS5YL MEETING WITH ACTING PERM REP, THE DG SAID THAT 
HE FELT THE SEMINARS WERE ONE OF THE GREAT SUCCESSES OF THE 
SUMMIT.  END COMMENT. 
 
WFS SIDE EVENTS CONTINUED:  ROUNDTABLES, MULTISTAKEHOLDER 
DIALOGUE -- NGO "DECLARATION" 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
¶8.  THE THREE ROUNDTABLES, WHERE HEADS OF DELEGATION DEBATED 
THE OVERARCHING WFS5YL THEME OF "WFS PLAN OF ACTION: RESULTS 
ACHIEVED, OBSTACLES MET AND MEANS OF OVERCOMING THEM" MET IN 
CLOSED SESSION.  USAID ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS REPRESENTED THE 
U.S. AT ROUNDTABLE II.  THE ROUNDTABLES GARNERED MIXED BUT 
GENERALLY POSITIVE REVIEWS. PARTICIPANTS COMMENTED THAT AT 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ7324 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  03214  03 OF 05  020719Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00 
      COME-00  CTME-00  DODE-00  ITCE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    EXME-00 
      EUR-00   UTED-00  TEDE-00  INR-00   ITC-01   NSAE-00  OES-01 
      OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00 
      SAS-00     /006W 
                  ------------------C54475  020719Z /38 
R 020732Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4535 
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2198 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 05 ROME 003214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FOR FAS/LYNN REICH AND DICK HUGHES 
STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN AND SETH WINNICK 
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS 
PARIS FOR OECD 
 
FROM FODAG 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03214  03 OF 05  020719Z 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AORC EAID FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR
SUBJECT:  OUTCOME OF WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER 
MEETING 
 
LEAST TWO OF THEM HAD A REASONABLE DIALOGUE, BUT THAT MUCH 
OF THE PARTICIPATION WAS SCRIPTED. 
 
¶9.  ALMOST ALL PARTICIPANTS WERE DISSATISFIED WITH THE 
MULTISTAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE, WHICH REPRESENTED AN EFFORT TO 
BROADEN THE DISCUSSION OF THE WFS5YL OBJECTIVES BY INCLUDING 
NGO/CSO REPRESENTATIVES.  NGO/CSO PARTICIPANTS SPENT THE 
SESSION LOBBING BROADSIDES AT THE OECD MEMBER COUNTRIES 
(PRIMARILY AGAINST TRADE LIBERALIZATION AND GMO 
"CONTAMINATION.").  MEMBER COUNTRY DELEGATIONS (WITH THE 
EXCEPTION OF THE U.S., INDIA, NORWAY, THE EC AND A FEW 
OTHERS) FOR THE MOST PART DID NOT RESPOND.  COMMENT:  THE 
OVERARCHING THEME WHICH HEADS OF DELEGATION USED AS A 
STARTING POINT FOR THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WAS, IN 
RETROSPECT, TOO BROAD TO SERVE AS A BASIS FOR MEANINGFUL 
DIALOGUE BETWEEN SOME 100 COUNTRIES AND TWICE THAT NUMBER OF 
NGO'S.  GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF NGO/CSO'S IN DELIVERY OF 
FOOD AID AND FOOD ASSISTANCE -- EVEN IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
-- MANY DELEGATES WERE FRUSTRATED THAT THE EVENT WAS LESS 
PRODUCTIVE.   THE ABSENCE OF NGO ADVOCACY ON HUMAN RIGHTS 
ISSUES (OTHER THAN THE RIGHT TO FOOD) WAS ALSO NOTABLE.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
¶10.  THE FINAL NGO/CSO DECLARATION WAS AN ALMOST COMPLETE 
REBUTTAL OF THE GOVERNMENT-NEGOTIATED "DECLARATION." IN THE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  03214  03 OF 05  020719Z 
DECLARATION (DISCUSSED REFTEL), DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, IN 
PARTICULAR, HAD ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO TRADE 
LIBERALIZATION; COUNTRIES HAD ALSO AGREED THAT AGRICULTURAL 
BIOTECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE PROMOTED. THE NGO DECLARATION ARGUED 
THAT NUMBER OF HUNGRY WAS NOT REDUCED BECAUSE "GOVERNMENTS 
CONTINUED TO PURSUE POLICIES THAT LEAD TO HUNGER AND 
POLICIES THAT SUPPORT ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION FOR THE SOUTH" 
AND "IMPOSITION OF INTENSIVE...MODELS OF PRODUCTION" WHICH 
HAD "FOCUSED ON SHORT-TERM PRODUCTIVITY GAINS USING HARMFUL 
TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS GMO'S."  THE NGO DEMONSTRATIONS THAT 
TOOK PLACE (WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY OF ROME) WERE 
PEACEFUL, BUT NOT PARTICULARLY WELL-ATTENDED.  USDEL MEMBERS 
PROVIDED WELL-RECEIVED DAILY BRIEFINGS TO U.S. NGOS/CSOS 
OUTSIDE OF THE FAO. 
 
U.S. SIDE EVENT ON BIOTECHNOLOGY 
------------------------------- 
¶11.  THE U.S. AND THE CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL 
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH (CGIAR) SPONSORED AN EVENT ON 
"IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY - THE CONTRIBUTION OF 
BIOTECHNOLOGY" AT THE HOTEL EXCELSIOR ON JUNE 11.  A 
STANDING ROOM ONLY CROWD HEARD OPENING REMARKS BY NOBEL 
LAUREATE NORMAN BORLAUG, THE NIGERIAN MINISTER OF 
AGRICULTURE AND SECRETARY VENEMAN.  PANEL PRESENTATIONS WERE 
MADE BY CHINESE RESEARCHER HUANG JIKUN (ON BT COTTON); BY 
KENYAN RESEARCHER ROMANO KIOME AND BY PER PINSTRUP ANDERSON 
OF THE INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (IFPRI). 
THE EVENT GENERATED CONSIDERABLE MEDIA COVERAGE (INCLUDING 
MENTION ON THE BBC MORNING NEWS, AND NPR'S EARLY EDITION). 
U.S. DELEGATES RECEIVED MANY FAVORABLE COMMENTS CONCERNING 
THE EVENT.  THOSE WITH NEGATIVE COMMENTS (INCLUDING AN FAO 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  03214  03 OF 05  020719Z 
STAFFER) COMPLAINED THAT THE EVENT WAS "BIASED" AND DIDN'T 
REFLECT THE "RISKS" AS WELL AS THE BENEFITS OF BIOTECH.  AT 
LEAST ONE CRITIC (A CLOSE MISSION CONTACT) TOLD ACTING PERM 
REP THAT THE UNITED STATES WAS "NAIVE" FOR THINKING THAT A 
U.S.-SPONSORED EVENT OF THIS KIND HAD ANY CREDIBILITY. 
COMMENT. THIS REFLECTS THE EXTENT TO WHICH MOST EUROPEAN 
AUDIENCES BELIEVE THAT THE "BENEFITS BUT RISKS" SYLLOGISM IS 
THE ONLY WAY TO DISCUSS BIOTECHNOLOGY.  SEE SEPTEL FOR 
FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE EVENT.  END COMMENT. 
 
SEMINAR ON RIGHT TO FOOD-- UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR BLASTS U.S. 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
¶12.  THE ITALIAN MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE CHAIRED A SEMINAR 
ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD ON THE LAST DAY OF THE WFS5YL. 
PARTICIPANTS WERE INVITED TO "DISCUSS WAYS IN WHICH THE 
RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD AND THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO BE 
FREEDOM FROM HUNGER CAN BE IMPLEMENTED."  THE SEMINAR 
DISCUSSED OPERATIVE PARA 10 OF THE WFS5YL DECLARATION, 
WHICH CALLS FOR THE FAO COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE SETTING UP OF 
AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL BODY TO "NEGOTIATE VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES 
ON THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF THE RIGHT TO FOOD, IN THE 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ7326 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  03214  04 OF 05  020719Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00 
      COME-00  CTME-00  DODE-00  ITCE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    EXME-00 
      EUR-00   UTED-00  TEDE-00  INR-00   ITC-01   NSAE-00  OES-01 
      OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00 
      SAS-00     /006W 
                  ------------------C5447C  020719Z /38 
R 020732Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4536 
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2199 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 05 ROME 003214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FOR FAS/LYNN REICH AND DICK HUGHES 
STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN AND SETH WINNICK 
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS 
PARIS FOR OECD 
 
FROM FODAG 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03214  04 OF 05  020719Z 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AORC EAID FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR
SUBJECT:  OUTCOME OF WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER 
MEETING 
 
CONTEXT OF NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY, AND TO REPORT TO THE 
COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY."   AS NOTED IN PARA SIX, 
THE U.S. ENTERED A RESERVATION ON OPERATIVE PARAGRAPH 10 OF 
THE DECLARATION. 
 
¶13. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE U.S. PARTICIPANT, SEMINAR 
PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE 
RIGHT TO FOOD, NGO/CSO REPRESENTATIVES AND GOVERNMENT 
REPRESENTATIVES) ALL ENDORSED THE RIGHT TO FOOD.  SOME 
REGRETTED THAT THE DECLARATION DID NOT CONTAIN THE "CODE OF 
CONDUCT," BUT THEY APPLAUDED THE STEP TAKEN IN THE 
DECLARATION AS MOVING TOWARD THE REALIZATION OF THE RIGHT TO 
FOOD.  THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR, JEAN ZIEGLER, WAS 
PARTICULARLY CRITICAL OF THE UNITED STATES, THE WTO AND THE 
BRETTON WOODS INSTITUTIONS FOR "CONTINUED ABUSE OF ECONOMICS 
AND SOCIAL RIGHTS."  ZIEGLER STATED THAT THE WTO MUST 
ENDORSE THE RIGHT TO FOOD SO THAT A COUNTRY SHOULD NOT BE 
"FORCED TO LIBERALIZE THEIR ECONOMIES IF THEIR FOOD 
SOVEREIGNTY IS NOT GUARANTEED." U.S. DEL RESPONDED THAT  THE 
U.S. WAS, IN FACT, A STRONG SUPPORTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THAT 
IT WAS WELL KNOWN THAT COUNTRIES WITH FOOD SECURITY WERE 
ONES WHERE CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED, AND 
THAT THE NEGOTIATION OF THE VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES WOULD 
CERTAINLY GUARANTEE THE RIGHT TO FOOD FOR INTERNATIONAL 
DIPLOMATS IN ROME, BUT WOULD DO LITTLE FOR THE HUNGRY PEOPLE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  03214  04 OF 05  020719Z 
IN THE WORLD. 
 
WFS5YL - SPECIAL FOCUS ON AFRICA - NEPAD 
----------------------------------------- 
¶13.  THE WFS5YL HAD A SPECIAL FOCUS ON AFRICA, WHICH IS THE 
REGION THAT HAS SEEN FOOD SECURITY DETERIORATE THE MOST 
(ALTHOUGH THE LARGEST NUMBERS OF UNDERNOURISHED ARE STILL IN 
ASIA). THE FAO HAS BEEN DESIGNATED THE SECRETARIAT FOR THE 
AGRICULTURAL PORTION OF THE NEW ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP FOR 
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD), CONSISTENT WITH NEPAD LEADERS' 
DECISION TO USE EXISTING MECHANISMS (RATHER THAN CREATE NEW 
STRUCTURES).  THE FAO DRAFTED THE FAO/NEPAD JOINT 
COMPREHENSIVE AFRICA AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CAADP) 
REPORT, WHICH CALLS FOR INVESTMENT OF USD 240 BILLION IN THE 
AGRICULTURE SECTOR BETWEEN NOW AND 2015 AND IS INTENDED TO 
BE DISCUSSED AT THE G8 SUMMIT IN CANADA.   AFRICAN MINISTERS 
MET IN ROME THE SUNDAY BEFORE THE START OF THE WFS5YL TO 
DISCUSS THE DRAFT CAADP.  COMMENT:  THE FAO/NEPAD PROGRAM 
FOR AFRICA IS PRIMARILY FOCUSSED ON GENERATING EXTERNAL 
RESOURCES AND PUTS SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CHANNELING RESOURCES 
THROUGH THE FAO'S SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR FOOD SECURITY (SPFS). 
THE SPFS WAS CREATED IN THE WAKE OF THE  1996 WORLD FOOD 
SUMMIT TO PROMOTE SMALL-SCALE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS 
(MANY STAFFED WITH TECHNICIANS FROM OTHER DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES) WORKING ON INCREASING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY. 
A 2002 EVALUATION OF SPFS HAD LITTLE POSITIVE TO SAY ABOUT 
SPFS PROJECT DESIGN OR SUSTAINABILITY.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶14.  IN A RELATED EVENT, ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS AND CIVIL 
SOCIETY DELEGATE M. PETER MCPHERSON HOSTED A BREAKFAST FOR 
AFRICAN LEADERS ON JUNE 11 ON THE U.S. PARTNERSHIP TO CUT 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  03214  04 OF 05  020719Z 
POVERTY AND HUNGER FOR AFRICA.  AFRICAN PRESIDENTS CHISSANO 
(MOZAMBIQUE), MUSEVENI (UGANDA) AND KUFUOR (GHANA) 
PARTICIPATED IN ADDITION TO AGRICULTURE MINISTERS FROM THOSE 
COUNTRIES. 
 
WFS5YL RESULTS -- THE VIEW FROM THE FAO 
--------------------------------------- 
¶15. THE FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL SAW THE WFS5YL AS AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW POLITICAL COMMITMENT TO THE GOALS OF 
THE 1996 WORLD FOOD SUMMIT AND MOBILIZE RESOURCES ON BEHALF 
OF THE WORLD'S HUNGRY.  WHILE OECD DONORS HAD LONG WARNED 
HIM THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE A "PLEDGING CONFERENCE," THE DG'S 
"PROJECT EXCHANGE" AS WELL AS THE ROLL-OUT OF THE FAO'S USD 
24 BILLION "ANTI-HUNGER INITIATIVE" WERE CLEARLY EFFORTS TO 
MOBILIZE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR AGRICULTURE -- ESPECIALLY 
FOR FAO PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR FOOD 
SECURITY (SPFS). 
 
¶16. DIOUF EXPRESSED HIS OWN DISAPPOINTMENT TO ACTING PERM 
REP AFTER THE MEETING THAT THE WFS5YL HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO 
REACH AGREEMENT ON SPECIFIC FINANCIAL TARGETS FOR ASSISTANCE 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ7328 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  03214  05 OF 05  020719Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00 
      COME-00  CTME-00  DODE-00  ITCE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    EXME-00 
      EUR-00   UTED-00  TEDE-00  INR-00   ITC-01   NSAE-00  OES-01 
      OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00 
      SAS-00     /006W 
                  ------------------C54482  020719Z /38 
R 020732Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4537 
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2200 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 05 OF 05 ROME 003214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FOR FAS/LYNN REICH AND DICK HUGHES 
STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN AND SETH WINNICK 
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS 
PARIS FOR OECD 
 
FROM FODAG 
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PAGE 02        ROME  03214  05 OF 05  020719Z 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AORC EAID FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR EAID AORC FAO AGR
SUBJECT:  OUTCOME OF WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER 
MEETING 
 
TO AGRICULTURE.  THE DG SEES HIS NEXT STEPS AS MOBILIZING 
EFFORTS TO REALIZE THE SUMMIT-BLESSED "INTERNATIONAL 
ALLIANCE AGAINST HUNGER" -- INTENDED TO JOIN CIVIL SOCIETY, 
PRIVATE SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT EFFORTS -- AND TO PROMOTE THE 
SPFS.  TO THIS END, HE HAS ALREADY EMBARKED ON BILATERAL 
MEETINGS WITH DONOR COUNTRIES REPRESENTATIVES IN ROME (AND 
ABROAD) TO PURSUE THIS AGENDA AND CONTINUE TO SEEK TO 
MOBILIZE NEW RESOURCES. 
 
...AND THE VIEW FROM THE FAO STAFFERS 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶17.  THE EVENT -- MEASURED IN EXPENSE AND DISRUPTION OF 
STAFF WORK -- WAS NOT PARTICULARLY FRUITFUL FOR MOST FAO 
STAFFERS.  THEY ARE RELIEVED IT IS OVER, BUT DISAPPOINTED 
WITH THE RESULTS (PARTICULARLY THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE 
"WORLD-STARVES-WHILE-DELEGATES-EAT" GENRE).  FAO STAFFERS 
PREPARING FOR THE WFS5YL ALSO BORE THE BRUNT OF THE DG'S 
HIGHLY CENTRALIZED AND LAST-MINUTE DECISION MAKING STYLE. 
 
WFS5YL RESULTS -- ITALY AND THE FAO 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶18.  WHILE ITALY ROYALLY BANKROLLED THE WFS5YL (FINAL 
FIGURES ARE NOT YET KNOWN), NO ONE WAS MORE SURPRISED THAN 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  03214  05 OF 05  020719Z 
FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL DIOUF WHEN ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER 
BERLUSCONI, IN HIS CONCLUDING REMARKS, STATED THAT THE FAO 
NEEDED TO GO ON A DIET AND TRIM 30 PERCENT -- JUST LIKE HIS 
COMPANIES.  A VISIBLY DISTRESSED DIOUF PASSED A NOTE TO THE 
PRIME MINISTER, WHO, AFTER READING IT, TOLD THE AUDIENCE 
THAT HE HAD JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT THE FAO HAD, IN FACT, 
BEEN REDUCING.  A WEEK LATER THE ITALIAN SUPPLEMENT TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE PUBLISHED AN OP-ED BY ITALIAN 
PARLIAMENTARIAN DARIO RIVOLTA COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FAO'S 
WASTE AND INEFFICIENCY AND THE "FAILURE OF FAO'S CURRENT 
MANAGEMENT" WHICH, "WITH A BILLION PEOPLE WITHOUT ANY 
SECURITY FOR THEIR FUTURE, [IS] NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE." 
 
NEXT STOP JOHANNESBURG -- VIEWS OF ROME GENEVA GROUP 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
¶19.  IN A TOUR-DE-TABLE OF GENEVA GROUP (MAJOR DONORS) 
MEMBERS AFTER THE WFS5YL, THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT 
THE WORLD BANK PRESENTATION ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT WAS THE 
BEST CONCEIVED AND MOST SUBSTANTIVE PRESENTATION OF THE 
WFS5YL.  WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING LOW EXPECTATIONS FROM THE 
OUTSET, A NUMBER OF GENEVA GROUP MEMBERS ALSO EXPRESSED 
SATISFACTION WITH THE PRESS COVERAGE OF THE EVENT AND 
GENERAL AWARENESS RAISING OF THE PROBLEMS OF HUNGER.  EU 
GENEVA GROUP MEMBERS ALSO OPINED THAT WORLD SUMMIT ON 
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (WSSD) SHOULD MAKE A MORE 
SUBSTANTIVE CONTRIBUTION IN THE AREA OF AGRICULTURE 
(ALTHOUGH THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THE CURRENT WSSD AGRICULTURE 
SECTION IS WEAK). (COMMENT: THE CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE IN THE 
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT, RATHER THAN THE DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT. 
END COMMENT.) 
 
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PAGE 04        ROME  03214  05 OF 05  020719Z 
GENERAL COMMENT 
--------------- 
¶20. COMPARED TO OTHER OECD MEMBER COUNTRIES, OUR IMPRESSION 
OF THE SUMMIT APPEARS SLIGHTLY MORE POSITIVE, POSSIBLY 
REFLECTING THE FACT THAT THE U.S. CAME TO THE WFS5YL WITH 
NEW INITIATIVES AND A RENEWED FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE.  WE WERE 
THUS ABLE TO STAGE SUCCESSFUL SIDE-EVENTS AND ENGAGE IN 
PRODUCTIVE BILATERAL MEETINGS.  THE PRESS FOCUS ON TRADE 
ISSUES FREQUENTLY UPSTAGED THE DEVELOPMENT MESSAGE, BUT ALSO 
PROVIDED U.S. PRINCIPALS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO 
CRITICISMS OF THE U.S. FARM BILL.  AS FOR DIRECTOR GENERAL 
DIOUF, HIS INABILITY TO MUSTER NEW RESOURCES DIRECTLY FOR 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES MAY UNDERCUT HIS SUPPORT AMONG THOSE 
COUNTRIES, AND MAY IMPACT PROSPECTS FOR A RUN AT A THIRD SIX- 
YEAR TERM.  END COMMENT.  HEILEMAN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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 2002ROME03214 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED