and consequential amendments to rule IV.2 and other provisions of the basic texts
The Conference
,
Considering
that the Thirteenth FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (Tunis, 1976) had recommended an amendment to
Rule XII of the General Rules of the Organization,
Noting
that the
Council
had considered that there was no valid reason for preserving the distinctions made in Rule XII GRO between "official", "working" and "working languages for limited purposes",
Endorsing
the recommendation made by the
Council
at its Seventy-First Session that Rule XII be amended and that certain consequential amendments be made to the Basic Texts,
Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish are [
shall be
] the [
official
] languages of the Organization. [
English, French and Spanish shall be the working languages, and Arabic shall be a working language for limited purposes
.]
"
2.
Rule IV-2 of the General Rules of the Organization
It shall be the duty of the Secretariat to receive, translate [
into the working languages of the Conference
] and circulate documents, reports and resolutions of the Conference and of its commissions and committees; to prepare the records of the proceedings; and to perform such other work as the Conference or any of its commissions or committees may require.
"
3.
PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES WHICH SHOULD GOVERN CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS CONCLUDED UNDER ARTICLES XIV AND XV OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES ESTABLISHED UNDER ARTICLE VI OF THE CONSTITUTION (Appendix to Section R of the Basic Texts)
"
Authentic languages
16.
Unless otherwise decided by the Conference or Council , all conventions and agreements shall be drawn up in [
the three working languages of the Organization , i.e.
] English, French and Spanish, which languages shall be equally authentic.
"
4.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES WITH RESPECT TO AGREEMENTS UNDER ARTICLE XV OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS DEALING WITH QUESTIONS RELATING TO FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (Appendix to Section T of the Basic Texts)
"
17.
Authentic LanguagesUnless otherwise decided by the Conference , the agreements should be drawn up in [
the three working languages of the Organization, i.e.
] English, French and Spanish, which languages would be equally authentic.
