OPENING CEREMONY; DELEGATES.




Initials PBS/V/CR/SGM



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Background: THE UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION (FAO) OPENED ITS POLICY MAKING BIENNIAL CONFERENCE IN ROME TODAY (SATURDAY) WITH STRONG CRITICISM OF ALLEGED BUREAUCRACY AND EXTRAVAGANCE A TOP TALKING POINT.

MEMBERS FROM ALL 114 MEMBER NATIONS ATTENDED TODAY'S FORMAL OPENING, CONDUCTED BY THE INDIAN DIRECTOR-GENERAL DOCTOR BINAY RANJAN SEN. THREE WEEKS OF WORKING SESSIONS WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, AMID CONTROVERSY OVER STREAMLINING THE ENTIRE ORGANISATION AND ITS ROME HEADQUARTERS.

DELEGATES WILL DEBATE A HIGHLY CRITICAL REPORT OF THE FAO, IN WHICH IT IS DESCRIBED AS BUREAUCRATIC, EXTRAVAGANT AND TOP-HEAVY. THE REPORT HAS BEEN PREPARED BY A TEAM OF EFFICIENT EXPERTS, COMMISSIONED BY THE FAO ITSELF.

THIS YEAR TOO, THE ORGANISATION IS TO ELECT A NEW DIRECTOR-GENERAL, AT A SALARY OF 38-THOUSAND US DOLLARS A YEAR (13,500 STERLING). DOCTOR SEN IS SEEKING RE-ELECTION, AND IS BEING CHALLENGE- BY DR. HENDRIK BOERMA, OF HOLLAND, DOCTOR HERNAN SANTA CRUS, OF CHILE, AND GABRIEL D'ARBOUSSIER, A UNITED NATIONS UNDER SECRETARY FROM SENEGAL.

AMONG THE FACTS DISCLOSED IN THE REPORT ON THE FAO ARE THAT IN ELEVEN YEARS THE ORGANISATION HAS INCREASES ITS PROGRAMMES BY 450 PER CENT, ITS STAFF BY 300 PER CENT, AND ITS FIELD OFFICERS BY FOUR HUNDRED PER CENT.

THE FAO'S BUDGET, TO BE CONSIDERED CALLS FOR EXPENDITURE NEARLY 60-MILLION US DOLLARS (GBP21-MILLION STERLING), 10-MILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN ITS PREVIOUS BUDGET.