| Date | 16 December 2002 |
|---|
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The Acting President
I give the floor to the representative of the Philippines to introduce draft resolution A/57/L.58/Rev.1.
Mr. Manalo (Philippines)
On behalf of the sponsors, I have the honour to introduce the draft resolution entitled "International Year of Rice, 2004", contained in document A/57/L.58/Rev.1. At this point, however, I wish to point out a typographical omission in the title of the draft resolution. In that regard, the year "2004" should be added to the title of the draft resolution after the words "international year of rice" so that the title reads "International Year of Rice, 2004".
First of all, I wish to thank all the delegations that contributed to the formulation of the draft resolution before us. The draft resolution, which is an offshoot of a draft resolution adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in November 2001, is straightforward, declaring 2004 the International Year of Rice. It also invites the FAO to facilitate the implementation of the International Year of Rice in collaboration with Governments and other relevant organizations of the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations.
By declaring 2004 the International Year of Rice, the sponsors of this draft resolution believe that impetus will be provided for promoting various activities related to the production and consumption of rice as well as recognition of the inter-relationship between rice and the alleviation of hunger, malnutrition and poverty. According to the FAO, more than 800 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Most of them live in areas that are dependent upon rice production for food, income and employment -- hence the urgent need to heighten the level of awareness of the importance of rice.
Finally, I wish to announce that, since the publication of draft resolution A/57/L.58/Rev.1, the following countries have joined the list of sponsors: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cuba, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mali, the Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nauru, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Togo, Viet Nam and Zambia. In that regard, we all seek the General Assembly's adoption of draft resolution A/57/L.58/Rev.1 by consensus.
The President
The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/57/L.58/Rev.1, as orally corrected.
May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/57/L.58/Rev.1, as orally corrected?
The President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 168?
