ITALY AND BIOTECH: COULD BE (HAS BEEN) WORSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 002765

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER
EB FOR A/S WAYNE, PDAS DONNELLY, DAS GADSDEN
EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ
E FOR SHUB
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
OES FOR A/S TURNER, PDAS ROCK
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES, USDA/FAS/OA:SLUTSKY
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 02765 01 OF 03 080706Z
USDA/OS/HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
EPA FOR OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR
NSC FOR EDSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2007
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON ITALY'>IT PREL TBIO TSPL ETRD ECON ITALY'>IT PREL TBIO TSPL ETRD ECON ITALY'>IT PREL TBIO TSPL WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTO
SUBJECT: ITALY AND BIOTECH: COULD BE (HAS BEEN) WORSE

CLASSIFIED BY: ECMIN MARGARET DEAN; REASON 1.5 B/D.


1. (C) SUMMARY. IN THE BUILD-UP TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S MAY
27-28 VISIT TO ROME, THE GOI GOT BUSY ON BIOTECH. PRIME
MINISTER BERLUSCONI HAD MFA GIN-UP AN INTERAGENCY PROCESS TO
CONSIDER THE GOI CORN BAN, THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE'S
MISGUIDED WHITE PAPER, AND A POTENTIAL USG-GOI RESEARCH
ACCORD. THE PM TOLD THE MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE, HEALTH,
AND ENVIRONMENT TO GO INTO A CORNER AND WORK OUT THEIR
BIOTECH DIFFERENCES. BIOTECH, AS IT TURNS OUT, WAS NOT A
MAJOR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AT THE SUMMIT. IN ITS AFTERMATH,
VARIOUS GOI CONTACTS ASSURE US THAT THEY HAVE HEARD OUR
COMPLAINTS AND THAT, AT A MINIMUM, SCIENCE WILL BE A MORE
SIGNIFICANT ASPECT OF THE FORTHCOMING GOI AND PARLIAMENTARY
BIOTECH DEBATE. IN DISCUSSIONS WITH VISITING EB ASSISTANT
SECRETARY, SENIOR GOI OFFICIALS DISMISSED THE MOA WHITE PAPER

SIPDIS
AS MERELY ONE VIEWPOINT AND NOT EVEN AN OFFICIAL ONE.


2. (C) SUMMARY CONTINUED. PM BERLUSCONI SEEMS IN NO HURRY TO
CLARIFY THE STATE OF GOI BIOTECH POLICY. SPEAKING BESIDE
ALEMANNO AT A JUNE 3 PRESS CONFERENCE, THE POLITICALLY NIMBLE
PM SAID ITALY SHOULD GO FORWARD ON BIOTECH RESEARCH "WITH
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MUCH CAUTION, BUT WITHOUT CLOSING THE DOOR TO TECHNICAL
PROGRESS AND WATCHING WHAT HAPPENS IN OTHER COUNTRIES." ONE
THING IS CERTAIN -- ALEMANNO'S AGGRESSIVE COUNTDOWN TO
BIOTECH POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION IS ON HOLD. HE
HAD HOPED TO SPARK PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE THIS MONTH. NOW HE
SPEAKS BRAVELY OF HAVING A COHERENT GOI BIOTECH POLICY IN
PLACE BEFORE NEXT SPRING'S PLANTING SEASON. WE WILL KEEP THE
PRESSURE ON. END SUMMARY.


3. (SBU) LOOKING TO REMOVE A POTENTIAL TRADE IRRITANT FROM
THE AGENDA FOR PRESIDENT BUSH'S MAY 27-28 VISIT TO ROME,
PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI HASTILY ORCHESTRATED OSTENSIBLE
MOVEMENT ON BIOTECH IN THE RUN-UP TO THE SUMMIT. HE HAD THE
ITALIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NEVER MORE THAN
RELUCTANTLY ENGAGED ON THE ISSUE, CONVOKE AN INTERMINISTERIAL
PROCESS TO CONSIDER GOI BIOTECH POLICY AND, MORE
PARTICULARLY, TO REVIEW THE ITALIAN AUGUST 2000 BAN ON FOUR
BIOTECH CORN VARIETIES APPROVED BY THE EU, THE POLICY WHITE
PAPER LOOSELY AUTHORED BY THE AGRICULTURE MINISTRY, AND A
PROPOSED USG-GOI ACCORD ON BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH. CALLS
FROM SEVERAL GOI OFFICIALS JUST BEFORE THE SUMMIT ASSURED
EMBOFFS THAT A MAY 22 MEETING OF THE MFA-LED AD HOC GROUP HAD
PRODUCED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PM THAT WOULD PLEASE US --
CALLS TO REVOKE THE CORN BAN, DAMPEN THE WHITE PAPER, AND
PROCEED WITH THE BILATERAL ACCORD.


4. (SBU) BIOTECHNOLOGY WAS BRIEFLY MENTIONED DURING THE
PRESIDENT'S 50 MINUTE BILATERAL MEETING WITH THE PRIME
MINISTER WITH THE LEADERS AGREEING TO DEFER THE SUBJECT UNTIL
THE FOLLOW-ON DINNER. OTHER BUSINESS, HOWEVER, ATE UP THE
TIME.
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5. (SBU) VISITING EB ASSISTANT SECRETARY TONY WAYNE AND
ECONOFF MET WITH MFA DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR EUROPE ROCCO
CANGELOSI AND PM DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR AND G-8 SHERPA GIOVANNI
CASTELLANETA ON MAY 30. CANGELOSI HOSTED THE MAY 22
INTERMINISTERIAL MEETING ON BIOTECH AND CASTELLANETA ACCEPTED
THE GROUP'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PRIME MINISTER.
A/S WAYNE EXPRESSED TWO USG CONCERNS REGARDING GOI BIOTECH
POLICY: THE FAILURE OF THIS GOI TO REPEAL THE UNJUSTIFIED
CORN BAN ENACTED BY ITS PREDECESSOR AND THE STATUS OF THE
MOA'S OVERTLY ANTI-BIOTECH WHITE PAPER AS THE DE FACTO CENTER
OF GOI BIOTECH DEBATE.


6. (SBU) PERHAPS REFLECTING THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE
HERETOFORE ATTACHED TO THE SUBJECT BY BERLUSCONI (WHO WEARS
BOTH THE PM AND FM HATS),CASTELLANETA AND CANGELOSI WERE
EACH WELL-VERSED ONLY ON NARROW AREAS OF THE BIOTECH DEBATE.
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE CORN BAN LACKS ANY GROUNDING IN
SCIENCE, CASTELLANETA SPOKE OF THE DOMESTIC POLITICAL
DIFFICULTY OF REPEALING IT. HE REVEALED THAT BERLUSCONI HAS
ISSUED A HURRY-UP ORDER FOR A RECOMMENDATION FROM HIS CABINET
ON NEXT STEPS. COMMENT. ASIDE FROM MANUFACTURING "NEW"

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ACTION EB-00

INFO LOG-00 MFA-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 CTME-00 DODE-00
EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 VC-00 FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
OES-01 OMB-01 OPIC-01 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00
TRSE-00 USIE-00 G-00 SAS-00 /008W
-------------- BA1EF5 080756Z /25
P 071728Z JUN 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4114
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES
HQ EPA WASHDC
NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 002765

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER
EB FOR A/S WAYNE, PDAS DONNELLY, DAS GADSDEN
EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ
E FOR SHUB
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
OES FOR A/S TURNER, PDAS ROCK
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES, USDA/FAS/OA:SLUTSKY
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 02765 02 OF 03 080756Z
USDA/OS/HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
EPA FOR OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR
NSC FOR EDSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2007
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON IT PREL TBIO TSPL ETRD ECON IT PREL TBIO TSPL ETRD ECON IT PREL TBIO TSPL WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTO
SUBJECT: ITALY AND BIOTECH: COULD BE (HAS BEEN) WORSE

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE JUSTIFYING A REPEAL OR DISCUSSING OPTIMUM
POLITICAL TIMING FOR REPEAL OF THE BAN, WE CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT
THE MINISTERS HAVE TO DEBATE. THERE NEVER HAS BEEN ANY
SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR THE BAN. END COMMENT. CASTELLANETA
SAID BERLUSCONI HAS INSTRUCTED AGRICULTURE MINISTER ALEMANNO
AND HEALTH MINISTER SIRCHIA TO ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH A VIEW
TO FINDING COMMON GROUND ON THE CORN BAN AND BIOTECH POLICY
MORE GENERALLY. LOOKING TO STRIKE A POSITIVE NOTE ON
BIOTECH, HE SAID THE PM'S BIOTECHNOLOGY COMMISSION AND THE
ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY ARE HOT TO INK A RESEARCH COOPERATION
ACCORD WITH THE USG.


7. (C) A/S WAYNE THANKED CANGELOSI FOR THE MFA'S RECENT
EFFORT TO CONVOKE AN INTERMINISTERIAL PROCESS TO FOSTER A
BALANCED BIOTECH DISCUSSION. NOTE. THE GOI HAVING NO
INSTITUTIONALIZED INTERMINISTERIAL STRUCTURE, EFFORTS TO
BRING MINISTRIES TOGETHER ARE NECESSARILY AD HOC AND
LABOR-INTENSIVE. END NOTE. CANGELOSI SUMMARILY DISMISSED
THE WHITE PAPER AS AN UNSIGNED POSITION PAPER SUCCESSFULLY
DESIGNED TO STIMULATE DEBATE. HE SAID THE PAPER HAS NOT BEEN
FORMALLY INTRODUCED INTO PARLIAMENT AND DID NOT SEE ITS
INFORMAL CIRCULATION AS UNDULY INFLUENCING INTERMINISTERIAL
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DELIBERATIONS, WHICH HE SAID WOULD CONTINUE. CANGELOSI'S
DEPUTY, RITA MANNELLA, TOLD ECONOFF ON JUNE 6 THAT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ORGANIZING ANY FURTHER INTERMINISTERIAL
MEETINGS ON BIOTECH HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO THE PM'S OFFICE AND
THAT NO FOLLOW-UP MEETING HAD BEEN SCHEDULED. COMMENT.
ALTHOUGH WE WELCOME MFA'S ENTRY INTO THE BIOTECH FRAY,
MANNELLA'S COMMENTS CONFIRM THAT THE MINISTRY SEES ITSELF IN
A CAMEO ROLE. PRIOR TO THE SUMMIT, SHE MADE CLEAR THAT MFA'S
MANDATE FROM THE PM WAS TO DEFUSE THE BIOTECH ISSUE IN AN
EFFORT TO GET IT OFF THE VISIT AGENDA. ABSENT FURTHER
INSTRUCTIONS FROM BERLUSCONI, MFA WILL BE LOOKING TO FADE
AWAY AGAIN RATHER THAN TO DEVELOP THE IN-HOUSE EXPERTISE
NECESSARY TO SHEPHERD AN ONGOING GOI BIOTECH DEBATE. END
COMMENT.


8. (SBU) SINCE THE BIOTECH HICCUP BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT, THE AGRICULTURE MINISTRY HAS REASSERTED
ITSELF AS THE PRIMARY GOI ACTOR ON THE FILE, ALBEIT WITH
IMPORTANT CHANGES. AGRICULTURE MINISTER ALEMANNO HAD LONG
TARGETED A JUNE 4 MEETING OF THE "TAVOLO AGROALIMENTARE" (A
LOOSELY KNIT FORUM OF AGRICULTURE STAKEHOLDERS) FOR BRINGING
HIS WHITE PAPER ON BIOTECH POLICY OUT OF THE CLOSET.
(CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS REPORTED SEPTEL.) INSTEAD, IN A JUNE
3 PRESS CONFERENCE HE REFERRED TO THE WHITE PAPER AS A WORK
IN PROGRESS, EXPRESSLY ALLOWING THAT "WE WILL INCLUDE
PROPOSALS, IDEAS, AND EVERYTHING THAT CAN HELP CHECK GMO'S
OUT SCIENTIFICALLY IN THE WHITE PAPER." AT THE SAME PRESS
CONFERENCE, ALEMANNO CALLED FOR A "MORATORIUM ON GMO'S" BUT
EXPRESSLY QUALIFIED HIS OPPOSITION TO BIOTECH PRODUCTS AS
BASED "PRIMARILY ON ECONOMIC GROUNDS" (COMMENT. I.E., NOT ON
SCIENCE. END COMMENT. ) AND INFLUENCED HEAVILY BY POLLS
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SHOWING THAT "70 PERCENT OF (ITALIAN) CONSUMERS ARE AGAINST
THEIR USE." ALEMANNO SAID HE HOPES TO HAVE A POLICY PAPER TO
SUBMIT TO PARLIAMENT BY THE END OF THE SUMMER WITH A VIEW TO
ENACTMENT OF ITALIAN LEGISLATION BEFORE NEXT GROWING SEASON.


9. (SBU) APPEARING AT THE SAME PRESS CONFERENCE, PM
BERLUSCONI OFFERED WOBBLY GUIDANCE, SAYING "WE MUST UNDERTAKE
TO GO FORWARD WITH (GMO) RESEARCH, WITH MUCH PRUDENCE, BUT
WITHOUT CLOSING THE DOORS TO TECHNICAL PROGRESS AND WATCHING
WHAT HAPPENS IN OTHER COUNTRIES." COMMENT. WE KNOW OF NO
PRIVATE BERLUSCONI WORDS THAT CLARIFY HIS TERSE PUBLIC
COMMENT. OUR GOI CONTACTS ARE TRYING TO PARSE THE ABOVE
SENTENCE FOR HIDDEN MEANING JUST AS WE ARE.


10. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED. ALEMANNO'S FAILURE TO LAUNCH HIS
TWICE RE-WRITTEN WHITE PAPER AS SCHEDULED IS WELCOME NEWS AND
A VALIDATION OF USG EFFORTS TO PRESSURE THE GOI TO CONDUCT A
SCIENCE-BASED DEBATE THAT WOULD INFORM PUBLIC OPINION RATHER
THAN MERELY REACT TO IT. THE MINISTER CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS
THAT HIS EFFORT TO END-RUN ITALIAN SCIENTISTS AND THE GOI
STRAIGHT TO PARLIAMENT HAS FAILED. WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN

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CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4359

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ACTION EB-00

INFO LOG-00 MFA-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 CTME-00 DODE-00
EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 VC-00 FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
OES-01 OMB-01 OPIC-01 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00
TRSE-00 USIE-00 G-00 SAS-00 /008W
-------------- BA1F1B 080800Z /25
P 071728Z JUN 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4115
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES
HQ EPA WASHDC
NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 002765

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER
EB FOR A/S WAYNE, PDAS DONNELLY, DAS GADSDEN
EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ
E FOR SHUB
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
OES FOR A/S TURNER, PDAS ROCK
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES, USDA/FAS/OA:SLUTSKY
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 02765 03 OF 03 080800Z
USDA/OS/HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
EPA FOR OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR
NSC FOR EDSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2007
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON IT PREL TBIO TSPL ETRD ECON IT PREL TBIO TSPL ETRD ECON IT PREL TBIO TSPL WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTO
SUBJECT: ITALY AND BIOTECH: COULD BE (HAS BEEN) WORSE

IS THE MAKE-UP OF THE GOI SCIENCE TEAM FIELDED AND WHETHER
THE GROUP WILL BE FREE TO REASSESS SOME OF THE PSEUDO-SCIENCE
CONCLUSIONS OF THE WHITE PAPER -- E.G., THAT BIOTECH VARIETY
CROPPING WOULD INEVITABLY "CONTAMINATE" CONVENTIONAL
VARIETIES.


11. COMMENT CONTINUED. ALEMANNO'S COUCHING OF HIS BIOTECH
OBJECTIONS IN ECONOMIC TERMS GREATLY RESTRICTS THE ARGUMENTS
AVAILABLE TO HIM. HE HAS NEVER GIVEN INDICATION THAT HIS
GRASP OF ECONOMICS IS ANY BETTER THAN HIS GRASP OF SCIENCE.
WE KNOW OF NO STUDY, FOR EXAMPLE, SUPPORTING HIS VIEW THAT
OPENING THE ITALIAN MARKET TO BIOTECH PRODUCTS WOULD TAINT
THE IMAGE OF ITALIAN QUALITY PRODUCTS WITH RESULTANT ECONOMIC
HARM. AT A MINIMUM, ALEMANNO HAS BEEN COMPELLED TO ALLOW THE
LEVEL OF DEBATE TO RISE FAR ABOVE THE SOPHISTRY OF THE
OUTSTANDING WHITE PAPER. WE REALIZE THAT THE MINISTER IS NOT
ABOUT TO ABANDON HIS PURITY-OF-THE-MOTHERLAND AND TRADITIONAL
PRODUCTS RHETORIC IN FAVOR OF SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE, BUT HE IS
AT LEAST BEING FORCED TO LET OTHERS STAKEHOLDERS TALK. WE
ANTICIPATE, GIVEN THAT ALEMANNO IS A PARTICULARLY ASTUTE
POLITICIAN, THAT WITH EVERY STEP FORWARD PRO-BIOTECH FORCES
ACHIEVE, THE MORE DEMAGOGIC AND RADICALIZED ALEMANNO'S
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RHETORIC AND RESPONSE WILL BE. WE INTEND TO BE ACTIVELY
ENGAGED.
POPE

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2002ROME02765 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL