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

UNCLAS  ROME 000327 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME 
 
USDA FAS FOR MCHAMBLISS, LREICH, RHUGHES; 
STATE FOR IO DAS MILLER, IO/EDA, OES/O, OES/E, E, EB; 
AID FOR EGAT, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID PREL KUNR FAO IFAD
SUBJECT: MAJOR DONORS DISCUSS FAO INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL 
EVALUATION, AND FAO AND IFAD ELECTIONS 
 
REF:  (A) 04 ROME 3570,  (B) 04 ROME 4297 
      (C) 04 ROME 4624,  (D) ROME 0239 
 
Portions are sensitive but unclassified -- please handle 
accordingly. 
 
¶1.  (U)  Summary:  Rome-based representatives of the 
"Geneva Group" (top 14 UN contributors) met on 28 January 
to plan next steps in the Independent External Evaluation 
(IEE) of FAO.  They agreed on a general approach to the 
organization and governance of the IEE Intersessional 
Working Group (ISWG), and welcomed an offer by the U.S. 
and Canada to draft a paper on this.  They called for 
solidarity in meeting the costs of the IEE (Switzerland 
and the U.S. have already contributed to the start-up 
phase of the IEE, and the UK, Sweden and Canada intend to 
announce contributions to the process shortly).  The 
Group also discussed the elections for Director General 
of FAO and for President of the International Fund for 
Agricultural Development (IFAD).  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (U)  Geneva Group representatives met at the U.S. 
Mission on 28 January, under the chairmanship of UK 
Ambassador Matthew Wyatt.  Australia, Belgium, Canada, 
Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, 
Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland participated (France was 
the only major donor unable to attend). 
 
--- 
IEE 
--- 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  During about 90 minutes of discussion, members 
generally agreed on the following points: 
 
-- There is a role for the Geneva Group as a forum for 
coordination and exchange of ideas on the IEE, but policy 
decisions should be left to the regional groups, and the 
Geneva Group should generally avoid taking public 
positions as a block, so as to avoid North-South 
polarization of IEE matters. 
 
-- The IEE Intersessional Working Group (ISWG) should aim 
to complete its work before June 2005, if possible, and 
should strive to minimize costs. 
 
-- The proposal for a 7-member ISWG Bureau, with 
representatives from each regional group, seems to be 
gaining momentum among ISWG participants.  Before such a 
structure could be accepted, the Bureau's 
responsibilities would have to be delineated clearly. 
 
-- To carry out its work, the ISWG needs an independent 
expert/adviser to manage the process.  To accelerate the 
selection of this expert/advisor, members should consult 
their capitals and transmit names of recommended experts 
with curriculum vitae to the ISWG Chairman. 
 
-- The FAO Secretariat can play a useful role in the IEE 
in two ways: (1) by providing clerical and administrative 
support, possibly on a cost-reimbursable basis, and (2) 
by offering ideas and advice to the ISWG, provided that 
these are filtered through the independent expert/adviser 
so that the Secretariat does not capture or control the 
IEE process. 
 
-- Terms of reference (TOR) for the IEE should be drawn 
up by independent experts on the basis of a clear mandate 
from the ISWG.  A seminar to help the ISWG to clarify 
this mandate could be useful. 
 
 
-- The IEE requires solidarity among members to cover the 
costs of both the preparatory phase and the evaluation 
itself.  (Switzerland has contributed $40,000 already; 
the U.S. has earmarked $250,000 in FY 2005, 10% of which 
would be available very shortly, and the UK expects to 
make a similar contribution; Sweden expects to contribute 
at least $100,000; Canada intends to contribute soon. 
Other Geneva Group members and the EC are considering 
making contributions, but several prefer to see the final 
TOR before making a commitment.) 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  It was reported that the ISWG Chair, Brazilian 
Permrep Flavio Perri, plans to hold the next meeting of 
the ISWG during the week of 21 February.  In preparation 
for this meeting, and in recognition of the next EU and 
European Regional Group coordination meetings scheduled 
for 8 February, Geneva Group members took note of the 
following next steps: 
 
-- Geneva Group members should work through their 
respective regional groups to ensure a response to 
Chairman Perri's letter of 17 January. 
 
-- Before 8 February, the North America Group will 
prepare a draft paper outlining its views on the IEE 
process (drawing on the Geneva Group discussion), and 
will discuss it with Ambassador Perri and circulate a 
revised draft prior to the 21 February ISWG. 
 
-- FAO Council Independent Chairman Mekouar is expected 
to send a letter to all FAO members, encouraging 
contributions to the IEE process. 
 
-- The US plans to present through its embassies a 
demarche to OECD, Gulf and other likely donor governments 
to urge their financial support for the IEE. 
 
------------------------ 
FAO AND IFAD CANDIDACIES 
------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Members discussed the contest for Director 
General of FAO.  It was noted that thus far the incumbent 
Jacques Diouf is the only official candidate, but that 
another government may be considering a nomination.  U.S. 
Acting Permrep said that Secretary Powell, in connection 
with the candidacy for Director General of the 
International Atomic Energy Agency, had publicly 
reaffirmed the position (described also as the position 
of the Geneva Group in Vienna) that heads of UN agencies 
should be allowed only two terms.  EU delegates indicated 
that there was still some ambiguity regarding the EU 
position of term limits at FAO.  There was some 
discussion about prospects for other candidates. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  The Geneva Group also discussed latest 
developments regarding the upcoming election of IFAD 
President, following the nomination by Indonesia of a 
challenger to the Swedish incuthe terms of the discussion and lay down guiding 
principles.  The early USG contribution to IEE start-up 
 
 
costs and our pledge to contribute a substantial sum to 
the IEE itself have sent a strong, positive signal.  The 
Geneva Group in Rome offers a useful sounding board and 
forum for exchange of ideas, and it is also a mechanism 
to begin mobilizing contributions to the IEE; but we will 
need to follow up in capitals of likely donor 
governments, including selected G-77 governments. 
 
CLEVERLEY 
 
 
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	2005ROME00327 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED