Agreement Establishing The Arab Organization For Agricultural Development
Source: International Environmental Law, Multilateral Agreements B7: 970:20/1 (Gazette (Sudan) No. 1114, 19710115)
The Governments of:
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The Tunisian Republic.
The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria.
The Democratic Republic of the Sudan.
The Republic of Iraq.
The Saudi Arabian Kingdom.
The Syrian Arab Republic.
The Lybian Arab Republic.
The United Arab Republic.
The Yemen Arab Republic.
The State of Kuwait.
The Lebanese Republic.
The Kingdom of Morocco.
The People's Republic of South Yemen.
Being desirous of establishing their agricultural and economics coordination on strong foundation of technology and experience;
Being aware of the role which agriculture plays in the Arab economic development ;
Knowing that the promotion of the agricultural sector is considered a fundamental basis for securing a balanced economic development ;
Bearing in mind that the agricultural resources in the Arab States have not yet been fully exploted and that what has been utilized so far of it is not in line with ideal economic utilization ;
Considering the similar natural, social and economic conditions of the Arab Countries and also the similar agricultural problems ;
Stressing the importance of the efforts made in the agricultural sector to the economic utilization of the available resources to meet the needs of the Arab Countries in the other economic sectors;
Being aware of the importance of co-ordination of plans amongst the Arab .Countries, and facilitating the means of joint study for the purpose of finding solution to the. agricultural problems in order to achieve agricultural integration amongst their Countries ;
And in execution of what the Arab League Charter provides for in this respect ;
Have agreed on the following provisions which were adopted by the Arab League Council by its resolution No. 2635 in the sitting held on March, 11th, 1970 of its ordinary session and which the Council asked the member-states to adhere thereto:
PART I
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS -SEAT
ARTICLE 1
There shall be established within the frame-work of the Arab League an organization having a legal entity to be called "The Arab Agricultural Development Organization" which shall be referred to as "The Organization" whenever it occurs in this agreement.
ARTICLE 2
The Organization shall have its seat at Khartoum and shall have the right to establish sub-offices in the Arab member-state
PART II
MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE 3
Member-ship of the Organization shall be open for :
(a) Arab States Members of the Arab League and Palestine
(b) Other Arab States and Countries whose accession to the agreement is agreed to by the League Council.
PART III
OBJECTIVES AND DUTIES OF THE ORGANIZATION
ARTICLE 4.
The Organization shall aim at the creation and strengthening of the ties amongst the Arab States and Countries and the Co-Ordination of Co-Operation between them in the various agricultural fields and activities, specially :
1. The development of the natural and human resources available in the agricultural sector, and the improvement of the means of their utilization on scientific basis.
2. The raising of the agricultural productivity (Animal and Plant) and the attainment of the desired agricultural integration among Arab States and Countries.
3. To strive to increase the agricultural production in order to achieve self-sufficiency.
4. To facilitate the exchange of agricultural products between the Arab States and Countries.
5. To assist the establishment of agricultural, schemes and industries.
6. To raise the standards of living of those working in the agricultural sector.
ARTICLE 5.
The Organization shall undertake all necessary way sand means to fulfill its objectives specially the following :
1. To collect and publish the data and information relating to agriculture and foods.
2. To support and Co-ordinate local and national efforts in the agricultural fields particularly those relating to :
(a) The scientific and technological research and economic and social studies pertaining to agriculture, foods and rural community development.
(b) The promotion of the agricultural institutions and services specially education, extension, home economics, financing, administration and-rural community development.
(c) The preservation of natural resources and adoption of the improved methods in agricultural production.
(d) The improvement of food and -agricultural products procession, marketing and the promotion of agricultural industries.
(e) The rendering of technical assistance which the Arab States and Countries may ask for.
(f) Exchange of experience in the agricultural fields.
3. Following up the international advancements in the fields of agriculture and the protection of the Arab agricultural interests.
4. Employing all local and national means in assessment and realization of development projects and programmes, and the taking of necessary and suitable financial measures to realize the objectives of the Organization.
5. The Co-Operation with the Organizations concerned with agricultural affairs and the fields connected therewith.
6. The Co-Operation of agricultural legislations, laws and systems whenever this is possible and the. unification of agricultural terminology.
PART IV
BODIES OF THE ORGANIZATION
ARTICLE 6.
The Organization shall consist of an Organization Council and a general administration.
ARTICLE 7.
The Council
1. The Council of the Organization shall consist of representatives of each all member Arab States and Countries. The
representatives shall be at the level of Ministers or those experts whom they shall select and every member state shall have one vote.
2. The presidentship of the Council shall be by turn for each member state in accordance with the alphabetical order of the names of the members states of the Arab League and the president shall remain in office for one year.
3. The Council shall meet once every year in an ordinary session, and it may hold extra-ordinary sessions on the request of two thirds of the member states.
4. The quorum needed for the meetings of the Council shall not be less than two thirds of its members. The decisions shall be taken by majority of votes of the Organization members present and voting.
ARTICLE 8.
Functions of the Council
The Council of the Organization shall be the supreme authority of the Organization. It shall lay down the general policy to be followed by the Organization. It shall draw and follow-up programmes and activities of the Organization and supervise its technical, financial and administrative work. The Council shall have within this agreement the right to take whatever decision it deems necessary for the realization of the objectives of the Organization, particularly :
1. Laying down the necessary bye-laws, financial and administrative regulations and the basis for appointment of experts and officials.
2. The appointment of a Secretary General for the Organization and conditions of his service and the termination of his services.
3. Approving the development plans of the Organization
4. Formation of study and ad-hoc committees and consideration of their recommendations.
5. Establishment of branch offices for the Organization in the Arab member States and Countries.
6. Approving the annual work programmes and considering the report of the Secretary General.
7. Auditing and approving the final accounts of the Organization.
8. Approving the annual budget of the Organization.
9. Organizing the Co-operation between the Organization and the other states and international institutions.
10. Accepting donations and gifts.
ARTICLE 9
THE GENERAL ADMMISTRATIOIN
1. The general administration shall be composed of a Director General for the Organization assisted by a number of technical and administrative officials.
2. The officials to be appointed shall be from the citizens of the member states and countries and the distribution of the offices shall be made on a geographical basis.
ARTICLE 10
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL
1. The general administration shall be headed by a Director General to be appointed by the Council of the Organization.
2. The appointment of the Director General shall be for a term of four years renewable for one more similar term only. The Director General shall be responsible to the Council of the Organization for the general administration.
ARTICLE 11
FUNCTIONS OF .TEE DIRECTOR GENERAL
1. The Director General shall be responsible to the Council of the Organization for the general administration of the Organization.
2. The Director General shall direct the work of the Organization, implement its decisions, represent it in the conferences and the different. Organizations; and states, contract in its name and perform whatever duties entrusted to him by the Council of the Organization, specially :
(a) The appointment of officials and .experts, the conditions of their appointment and the termination of their services in accordance with the rules laid down by the Council.
(b) The submission to the Council of an annual report on the work of the General Administration. He may also submit to the Council whatever reports he deems necessary.
(c) The preparation and submission to the Council of an annual draft programme for the Organization.
(d) The preparation of the development plans of the Organization and the supervision of their execution.
(e) The preparation of a draft annual budget and the submission of a report on the final account.
(f) The preparation of the researches and reports which the Council of the Organization asks for.
PART V
BUDGET OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS SOURCES
ARTICLE 12
The Organization shall have an independent budget.
ARTICLE 13
The sources of the budget of the Organization shall be :
1. The contributions of the member states and Countries according to the basis set out by the Council of the Organization.
2. The aids, donations and revenue which the Council agrees to accept.
PART VI
THE RELATION OF THE ORGANIZATION WITH THE OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ARTICLE 14
1. A special agreement shall be concluded between the Organization and the Arab League specifying the fields of Co-Operation between them.
2. The Organization shall submit a report annually on its activities to the Council of the Arab League.
ARTICLE 15
The Organization shall Co-operate with the international Organizations concerned with the agricultural affairs and in particular with the Foods and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The right of every member to Co-Operate individually with such Organization is reserved.
PART VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 16
The States in which the headquarter of the Organization or One of its sub-offices is to be situated shall provide the necessary :piece of land and buildings free for the use of the Organization.
ARTICLE 17
The Organization shall enjoy (in relation to its seat, funds, properties, records, archives correspondence, representatives of the member states in its bodies, its officials and experts) all privileges and immunities provided for by the Arab League Immunities and Privileges Agreement.
ARTICLE 18
This agreement may be amended either by the suggestion of the Director General or by a written request by at least three members and with the approval of a minimum of 4 of the number of the Organization members. Such amendment shall not come into force except after being ratified by the Council of the Arab League.
ARTICLE 19
This agreement shall come into force a month after the deposit of the seventh instrument of ratification in the Arab League Secretariat by the member states to the Arab League. It shall
be effective with regard to the other states and countries a month after the deposit of their instruments of ratification or their accession thereto. The Secretary General of the League shall call for the first meeting of the Council of the Organization within one month from the date of the coming into force of this agreement.
ARTICLE 20
Any member state may withdraw from the agreement after a year from the date of its notification of that withdrawal. Such notification shall be made by a written notice to the Director General of the Organization who shall take the necessary steps to bring it to the notice of the member states and the Secretary General.
In witness thereof the duly authorized representatives, whose names appear hereunder, have signed this agreement on behalf of their Governments.
Made in Arabic in Cairo from one copy reserved in the Arab League Secretariat and a duplicate thereof is sent to every contracting party.
