Thirdly, in the area of technology, there is need for freer access, on a favourable basis, to basic technologies, and particularly environmentally safe technologies.
Finally, with regard to the environment, we would like to express the hope that the developed countries will not shy away from their responsibilities, particularly in view of the comments contained in paragraph 132, which we hold to be self-evident.
Duane ACKER (United States of America): The United States delegation is pleased to offer several observations regarding long-term strategy. The United States agrees with paragraph 3 of the FAO document, and with the expression by the delegation from the United Kingdom that the primary responsibility for formulating and implementing development policies lies with the developing countries themselves. At the same time we agree with the delegate from Colombia that policies and practices of the developed countries must complement effectively these developing country policies. During the next two weeks all of us in the developed countries will have an opportunity to demonstrate our acceptance of that responsibility by successfully negotiating significant reductions in trade-distorting and inhibiting subsidies, policies and practices.
Paragraph 6 of the FAO document correctly points out that inappropriate government policies, both domestic and international policies of governments, have been at the root of the failure of many countries to make economic and social progress.
The United States agrees with the emphasis of paragraph 7. Development must be geared toward producing improvement in human condition, including health, nutrition, level of education-especially among women-human rights and popular participation in dating in Chula Vista the political process through democratic institutions.
We therefore strongly endorse the statement in paragraph 16 that development strategies must reflect that appropriate governmental policies and programmes that match resources are necessary for effective development
In connection with improving the human condition and the routes to achieve that, I would offer a goal statement that is expressed by our United States Agency for International Development as goals of its agricultural programme.
The observation in paragraph 24 on the need for an enhanced role for the private sector is essential to agricultural development. We believe, however, that insufficient attention is paid elsewhere in the document to the role of the private sector in agricultural development. The ongoing economic reform activities in Africa, Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union to enhance the role of the private enterprise in agriculture are examples and we believe are not dealt with in the document.
It says that the goal is to increase the income of the poor majority and expand the availability and consumption of food whilst maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base
Paragraph 31 refers to progress in meeting the agreed official development assistance target of 0.7 percent of developed countries gross national product for developing countries and 0.15 percent for least developed countries. We are obliged to point out that the United States has not agreed to, nor accepted, those targets. We do not believe that the official development assistance as a percentage of GNP is a valid measure of the appropriate level of financial flows to the developing countries. Such arbitrary targets may bear no relation to the needs of, or the abilities to achieve development. In those cases that lack of commitment to broad-based sustainable economic growth on the part of the donor and developing countries, even an ex-financial increase in development assistance would not lead to long-term stable economic growth.
We strongly endorse the statements regarding the potential benefits of a successful Uruguay Round for the developing nations, as we have indicated before earlier in the Council meeting on that issue.