Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 97.djvu/1671

 PROCLAMATION 5119—OCT. 17, 1983 97 STAT. 1639 The United States has a long tradition of sharing its agricultural abundance with those in need. We are strongly committed to the constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization, which calls upon member nations to "raise the levels of nutrition and standards of living of the peoples under their respective jurisdiction" and to contribute to "expanding the world economy and ensuring humanity's freedom from hunger." We have sought, and will continue to strive, to improve the economies and food production abilities of those countries where the need is greatest. To this end, the United States has provided needy nations more than $40 billion of assistance under the Food for Peace Program since 1954. This year alone our food aid activities are assisting 70 countries. We are training an average of more than 2,000 agriculturalists per year from developing countries, and we are providing technical assistance to 50 nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to help develop their food research and produc- tion capabilities. In addition, we actively encourage American businesses to invest in projects that help build the agricultural economies of developing countries. The people of the United States, as well as the people of other countries that have joined in the battle against hunger, can justifiably share a sense of accomplishment in the fact that food production per person has in- creased 21 percent in lesser developed countries since 1954. The concern of the international community with the problem of poverty-related malnutri- tion is reflected in the response to World Food Day. We particularly salute the Food and Agriculture Organization which, on World Food Day this year, celebrates 30 years of dedication to the elimination of hunger and malnutrition. In recognition of one of the key recommendations of the 1980 report of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger, that called for efforts to be taken to increase public awareness of the world hunger problem, the Con- gress of the United States, by Senate Joint Resolution 81, has designated Ante, p. 747. October 16, 1983, as "World Food Day" and has requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of that day. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 16, 1983, as World Food Day and call upon the people of the United States to observe that day with appropri- ate activities to explore ways in which our Nation can further contribute to the elimination of hunger in the world. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of Oc- tober, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth. RONALD REAGAN Editorial Note: For the President's remarks of Oct. 14, 1983, on signing Proclamation 5118, see the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (vol. 19, p. 1432). Proclamation 5119 of October 17, 1983 Wright Brothers Day, 1983 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation 1983 marks the eightieth anniversary of the Wright Brothers' historic flight aboard a self-propelled, winged aero-vehicle. That flight, lasting but 12 sec-

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