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Vol.1972/0240

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COMMISSION OP THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(72)1757 fin.
Brussels .29December 1972
RECOMMENDATION FOR ACOUNCIL DECISION
concluding anagreement ,constituted byanexchange
ofletters ,between theEuropean Economic Community
and the International Committee ofthe Red Cross
forthe supply of200 tons ofskimmed milk powder
for thevictims ofthe earthquake inNicaragua
(submitted bytheCommission totheCouncil )
C0M(72)1757 fin

VII]/l3(73)B-4-E
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
On26December 1972 theMission oftheRepublic ofNicaragua
wrote oninstructions from itsGovernment appealing tothe
European Communities tosend allpossible food aid to
Nicaragua following theearthquake there on23December .
The information tohand fully bears out thedisastrous nature
oftheearthquake ,which has claimed tens ofthousands oflives
andleft great numbers ofpeople homeless ,Managua ,the capital
was80$destroyed outright andtherest ofthecity sobadly
damaged that theGovernment has decided toraze itcompletely
andrebuild inasafer locality .Toform aproper idea ofthe
position itshould berecalled that Managua had apopulation of
000 ,out ofapopulation of2075 000 for the country asa
whole .Furthermore ,Nicaragua had already inthe same year
suffered anexceptional drought which seriously harmed its crops
and led tofood shortages .
This being so,itisclear that theCommunity not only ought to
send aspecial consignment offood aid toNicaragua ,but ought
todosoinsuch away astoenable the aid tobeput touse as
promptly aspossible .Given thelegal provisions inforce and
theposition astostocks ofgrain anddairy products inthe
Community ,itisfelt that anappropriate course would betofly
200 tons ofskimmed milk powder toManagua atCommunity expense ,
fordistribution bytheInternational Committee oftheRed Cross

-2- VII^L3 (73)B-^-E
This tonnage would besetagainst the6000tons ofskimmed milk
powder already furnished totheICRC under Council Regulation (EEC )
No2721/72.
This particular aidwould begiven without prejudice tosuch
other action astheCommission maypropose totheCouncil inthe
light offurther developments inthe food situation inNicaragua .

Vliyi3 (73)B-4-E
ANNEX
ESTIMATSD COST OFSHIPMENT BYAIR
Frankfurt-Managua
Lufthansa charter aircraft CL
25000kgvolume US#35500
Total cost :US¿35500x8*US# 000

Vliyi3 (73)B-^-E
■' 4 - '■■
Draft Recommendation for aCouncil Decision
concluding anAgreement ,constituted byanexchange
ofletters ,between theEuropean Economic Community
and the International Committee ofthe Red Cross for
thesupply of200 tons ofskimmed milk powder forthe
victims oftheearthquake inNicaragua
THECOUNCIL OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Economic
Community ,andinparticular Articles 113 »ll^and228thereof ;
Having regard totherecommendation from the .Commission ;
Whereas theCommunity has been asked bytheGovernment ofthe
Republic ofNicaragua inaletter of26December 1972 tosend food
aid for thevictims oftherecent earthquake inthat country ;
Whereas theCouncil hasbytheterms ofRegulation (EEC)No2721/72^"^
furnished totheInternational Committee oftheRed Cross 6000 tons
ofskimmed milk powder ;
•••/•#«
^OJNoL291,28December 1972 .

-2- VIIl/13 (73)B-if-E
Whereas itisanappropriate course ,inresponse totheNicaraguan
appeal ,tohave theInternational Committee oftheRed Cross
distribute tovictims 200 tons ofskimmed milk powder from the
aforesaid ;
Whereas inview ofthe pressing' nature oftheneed itisnecessary
that theCommunity arrange for thetonnage inquestion tobeflown
out and delivered tothe International Committee ofthe Red Cross
free Managua airport :
HASDECIDED ASFOLLOWS :
Article 1
Onbehalf oftheEuropean Economic Community anagreement ,constituted
byanexchange ofletters assetout intheAnnex tothis Decision ,
shall beconcluded between theEuropean Economic Community and the
International Committee oftheRed Cross for the supply of200 tons
ofskimmed milk powder asfood aid for thevictims oftheearthquake
inNicaragua .
Article 2
ThePresident oftheCouncil ishereby authorized toappoint the
persons empowered tosign theagreement and toinvest them with the
requisite powers tobind theCommunity .
Done atBrussels ,........
BytheCouncil
The Président

VIIlA3(73)B -^-
ANNEX
Brussels ,
The President ofthe International
Committee ofthe Red Cross .
7avenue delaPaix ,
GENEVA »
Sir ,
Ihave the honour toinform you that theEuropean Economic
Community proposes toprovide through theInternational Committee
oftheRed Cross food aid consisting of200 tons ofskimmed milk
powder for thevictims oftheNicaraguan earthquake ,
" The intention :isthat /this ,should bedone asfollows :
1.The 200 tons ofskimmed milk powder istobesetagainst the
6000tons ofthis product furnished totheCommittee under
Regulation (EEC )No2721/72.
2.TheEuropean Economic Community will deliver the consignment
totheCommittee free Managua airport .
3.TheEuropean Economic Community will notify theCommittee at
least 48hours inadvance oftheconsignment 'sarrival at
Managua airport .
k.TheCommittee will make allnecessary arrangements totake
delivery ofthe consignment onarrival and distribute the
contents free ofcharge toearthquake victims .

-2- VIIIA3 (73)B-^-E
5•Any costs incurred inconsequence ofdelay intaking delivery
onthe part oftheCommittee ,and all costs incurred subsequent
tothe taking ofdelivery ,will beborne bytheCommittee .
6.TheCommittee will keep theCommission oftheEuropean
Communities informed oftheprogress ofthe operation ,and upon
its completion will submit afinal report totheCommission .
7»The practical implementation ofsome orall oftheabove may
bedelegated bytheCommittee totheLeague ofRed Cross
Societies . ...
Ishall beglad ifyou will let meknow whether these arrangements
meet with your acceptance .
Please accept ,Sir ,theassurance ofmyhighest consideration .

VIIL0.3(73)B-if-E
Geneva,
Sir, •••'■,
Ihavethehonourtoacknowledge yourletterof
whichreadsasfollows:
"IhavethehonourtoinformyouthattheEuropean
EconomicCommunityproposestoprovidethroughtheInternational
CommitteeoftheRedCrossfoodaidconsistingof200tonsof
skimmedmilkpowderforthevictimsoftheNicaraguanearthquake
Theintentionisthatthisshouldbedoneasfollows:
1.The200tonsofskimmedmilkpowderistobesetagainst
the6000tonsofthisproductfurnishedtothe
CommitteeunderRegulation (EEC)No2721/72.
2.TheEuropeanEconomicCommunitywilldeliverthe
consignment totheCommitteefreeManaguaairport.
3.TheEuropeanEconomicCommunitywillnotifythe
Committeeatleast^8hoursinadvanceoftheconsign­
ment'sarrivalatManaguaairport.
k.TheCommitteewillmakeallnecessaryarrangements to
takedeliveryoftheconsignment onarrivaland
distributethecontentsfreeofchargetoearthquake
victims.
3*Anycostsincurredinconsequence ofdelayintaking
deliveryonthepartoftheCommittee,andallcosts
incurredsubsequenttothetakingofdelivery,willbe
bornebytheCommittee.

-2- VIIIA3(73)B-Jf-E
6.TheCommitteewillkeeptheCommissionoftheEuropean
Communities informedoftheprogressoftheoperation,
anduponitscompletionwillsubmitafinalreportto
theCommission.
7.Thepracticalimplementation ofsomeoralloftheabove
maybedelegatedbytheCommitteetotheLeagueof
RedCrossSocieties
"'I'shallbegladifyouwillletmeknowwhetherthese
arrangements meetwithyouracceptance."
InreplyIhavepleasureinInformingyouthattheInternational
CommitteeoftheRedCrossacceptsthetermssostated.
Pleaseaccept,Sir,theassuranceofmyhighestconsideration .