PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES INTERIM COMMITTEE SETS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 005252 SIPDIS USDA FOR ARS:PETER BRETTING, JUNE BLALOCK, FAS:LYNNE REICH, DICK HUGHES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: DAVID HEGWOOD STATE FOR OES/ENV RICK DRISCOLL, L/OES K. YOUEL PAGE AND IO/EDA SETH WINNICK IO/S LAUREN FLEJZOR, GEORGE ABRAHAMS USTR DARCI VETTER, MARK SLOAN USAID FOR ROB BERTRAM USPTO FOR MARY CRITHARIS,LINDA LOURIE NSC JOHN CLOUD,KEN PEEL GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR NAIROBI FOR UNEP UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05252 01 OF 05 280813Z FROM FODAG SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR SENV FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SUBJECT: PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES INTERIM COMMITTEE SETS THE STAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: U.S. OBJECTIVES WERE LARGELY MET AT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION'S (FAO) COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, ACTING AS THE INTERIM COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (OCTOBER 9-11). THE INTERIM COMMITTEE (CHARGED WITH DEVELOPING THE PROPOSALS THE TREATY GOVERNING BODY WILL CONSIDER ONCE THE TREATY ENTERS INTO FORCE) WILL WORK ON A CONSENSUS BASIS. THE U.S. WILL BE ABLE TO BE SUITABLY REPRESENTED ON THE GROUP THAT WILL DEVELOP PROPOSALS ON THE TREATY'S MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT (MTA). (THIS MTA WILL LIKELY BECOME THE DE FACTO GLOBAL STANDARD FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES OF PLANT GERMPLASM.) USDEL UNDERSCORED ITS SERIOUS CONCERN WITH USING FAO REGULAR PROGRAM BUDGET FUNDING FOR INTERIM COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES, BUT MOST COUNTRIES SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THAT SOURCE. CONTACTS WITH ALLIES, THE G-77, NGOS AND THE SECRETARIAT DURING THE FIRST MEETING OF THE INTERIM COMMITTEE INDICATED THAT MANY VIEW THE UNITED STATES AS HAVING LIMITED AND WANING INFLUENCE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05252 01 OF 05 280813Z IN THE UPCOMING NEGOTIATIONS. THERE IS AN IMPRESSION THAT THE UNITED STATES IS NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME A PARTY TO THE TREATY AND SO ITS VIEWS CAN BE DISCOUNTED. END SUMMARY. THE INTERIM COMMITTEE -------------- ¶2. (U) THE FAO COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (CGRFA) ACTING AS THE INTERIM COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (THE "TREATY") HELD ITS FIRST MEETING IN ROME OCTOBER 9-11, 2002. THE U.S. DELEGATION WAS LED BY RICHARD DRISCOLL (STATE - OES/ETC). IT ALSO INCLUDED LUCY TAMLYN (FODAG),KATHRYN YOUEL PAGE (STATE - L/OES),WANDA COLLINS (USDA/ARS)),KATHERINE WHITE (USDA),AND ROBERT BERTRAM (USAID). ¶3. (U) WHEN THE TREATY ENTERS INTO FORCE (AFTER THE FORTIETH RATIFICATION),IT WILL PROVIDE A MULTILATERAL SYSTEM FOR FACILITATED ACCESS TO A DEFINED LIST OF FOOD CROPS AND FORAGES - PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (PGRFA) - FROM NATIONAL GENEBANKS AND INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTERS (IARCS). THE TRANSFERS OF PGRFA UNDER THE TREATY WILL BE PURSUANT TO A STANDARD MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT (MTA),WHICH WILL IN EFFECT BECOME THE DE FACTO GLOBAL STANDARD FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES OF PGRFA. THE FAO CONFERENCE CALLED ON THE COMMISSION TO ACT AS THE INTERIM COMMITTEE FOR THE TREATY PENDING ENTRY INTO FORCE AND, IN THAT ROLE, TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOVERNING BODY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05252 01 OF 05 280813Z OF THE TREATY ON A PROPOSED MTA, RULES OF PROCEDURE, FINANCIAL RULES, AND A COMPLIANCE REGIME. STATUS OF SIGNING AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS -------------- ¶4. (U) OF THE 116 FAO MEMBERS THAT VOTED TO ADOPT THE TREATY IN NOVEMBER 2001, NEARLY SEVENTY HAVE SIGNED OR EXPRESSED THEIR INTENT TO SIGN BY THE NOVEMBER 4, 2002 DEADLINE. EIGHT COUNTRIES HAVE RATIFIED AND SEVERAL MORE REPORTED THEY WERE COMPLETING THE RATIFICATION PROCESS (OR THE ACCESSION PROCESS FOR THOSE THAT WILL NOT HAVE SIGNED BEFORE THE DEADLINE PASSES). THE USDEL EMPHASIZED THAT PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES WERE AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT MATTER FOR THE U.S.; THAT THE SUBSTANCE OF THE TREATY IS UNDER INTENSIVE REVIEW AND THE USG INTENDED TO PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MTA, WHICH LIES AT THE HEART OF THE TREATY. ¶5. (SBU) THE INTERIM COMMITTEE SELECTED VENEZUELAN AMBASSADOR GERBASI TO BE THE CHAIRPERSON. COMMENT: GERBASI IS A CAPABLE CHAIR WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH THE UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTO8161 PAGE 01 ROME 05252 02 OF 05 280813Z ACTION OES-01 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PER-00 ACE-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 SAS-00 /005W -------------- FF11B9 280813Z /38 R 280722Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6591 INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2349 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY NAIROBI UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 05 ROME 005252 SIPDIS USDA FOR ARS:PETER BRETTING, JUNE BLALOCK, FAS:LYNNE REICH, DICK HUGHES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: DAVID HEGWOOD STATE FOR OES/ENV RICK DRISCOLL, L/OES K. YOUEL PAGE AND IO/EDA SETH WINNICK IO/S LAUREN FLEJZOR, GEORGE ABRAHAMS USTR DARCI VETTER, MARK SLOAN USAID FOR ROB BERTRAM USPTO FOR MARY CRITHARIS,LINDA LOURIE NSC JOHN CLOUD,KEN PEEL GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR NAIROBI FOR UNEP UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05252 02 OF 05 280813Z FROM FODAG SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR SENV FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SUBJECT: PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES INTERIM COMMITTEE SETS THE STAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT SUBJECT MATTER (HAVING CHAIRED THE CGRFA AS IT DEVELOPED THE TREATY.) HOWEVER, AMBASSADOR GERBASI DOES NOT ALWAYS HOLD IN CHECK HIS G-77 LEANINGS AND HIS PROCEDURAL RULINGS AND INTERVENTIONS OCCASIONALLY REFLECT THIS TENDENCY. THE BUREAU OF SIX VICE-CHAIRPERSONS FROM THE DIFFERENT REGIONS HAS AS FAVORABLE A COMPOSITION AS WE COULD HAVE HOPED, INCLUDING BRAD FRALEIGH OF CANADA FOR NORTH AMERICA, KRISTIANE HERMANN OF AUSTRALIA FOR SOUTH WEST PACIFIC, AND GERT KLEIJER FROM SWITZERLAND FOR EUROPE. END COMMENT. RULES OF PROCEDURE - CONSENSUS -------------- ¶6. (U) THE INTERIM COMMITTEE DEBATED AND ADOPTED ITS OWN RULES OF PROCEDURE. ON THE CRITICAL SUBJECT OF DECISION-MAKING, IT WAS AGREED THAT ALL DECISIONS WERE TO BE TAKEN BY CONSENSUS. THE FACT THAT THE TREATY REQUIRES CONSENSUS FOR DECISION MAKING PROVED A COMPELLING ARGUMENT. THE INTERIM COMMITTEE IN THE FUTURE WILL HAVE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05252 02 OF 05 280813Z TO DEVELOP PROPOSED RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE TREATY'S GOVERNING BODY TO CONSIDER AT ITS FIRST MEETING. AN OPEN-ENDED TECHNICAL AND LEGAL EXPERTS GROUP WILL BE SET UP TO DEVELOP THIS PROPOSAL, AS WELL AS A PROPOSAL ON FINANCIAL RULES AND ONE ON COMPLIANCE FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE GOVERNING BODY. IN RESPONSE TO AN EU PROPOSAL, THE RULES OF PROCEDURES WERE WRITTEN TO PERMIT NATIONAL, INSTEAD OF JUST INTERNATIONAL, NGOS TO BE OBSERVERS AT THE INTERIM COMMITTEE. THE USDEL BLOCKED THE PORTION OF THE EU PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE EXCLUSION OF AN OBSERVER IF ONE-THIRD OF THE MEMBERS VOTED TO DO SO. TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT GROUP -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) THE MEETING BECAME THE MOST CONTENTIOUS OVER THE PIVOTAL MATTER OF SETTING THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE GROUP THAT WILL DEVELOP THE STANDARD MTA. THE FAO CONFERENCE HAS CALLED ON THE INTERIM COMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH AN EXPERT GROUP TO HELP DEVELOP THE PROPOSED TERMS OF THE STANDARD MTA. FORTUNATELY, THE FAO SECRETARIAT DREW HEAVILY ON A U.S.-PREPARED NON-PAPER ON SIPDIS THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AS THE BASIS FOR DISCUSSION. THE U.S. ACHIEVED GENERALLY GOOD RESULTS ON THE THREE KEY ASPECTS OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE: COMPOSITION OF THE GROUP; PARTICIPATION OF NON-FAO ENTITIES; AND, THE MANDATE FOR THE MTA GROUP. ¶8. (SBU) THE U.S. AND CANADA INITIALLY SOUGHT EQUAL REPRESENTATION (FOUR PEOPLE) FOR THE NORTH AMERICA REGION WITH THE OTHER SIX FAO REGIONS. THE G-77 BALKED AND UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05252 02 OF 05 280813Z PRESSED FOR NORTH AMERICA TO BE LIMITED TO TWO. THE U.S. TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE INTERIM COMMITTEE'S CONSENSUS RULE, WITH CANADA'S SUPPORT, AND INSISTED ON EQUAL REPRESENTATION. THE CHAIR WEIGHED IN WITH A REPRESENTATION SCHEME USED BY THE CGRFA'S TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES, WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN NORTH AMERICA TWO REPRESENTATIVES AND FIVE FOR EACH OF THE THREE LARGE G-77 REGIONS. CANADA TOLD US QUIETLY THAT THEY WOULD NOT BREAK CONSENSUS ON THIS ISSUE AND WOULD ACCEPT THE CHAIR'S PROPOSAL. THE USDEL STAYED FIRM, AND BEFORE CANADA ACQUIESCED, THE CHAIR PROPOSED A CONTACT GROUP TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT GROUP REACHED A SATISFACTORY COMPROMISE FROM THE U.S. PERSPECTIVE: WE AGREED ON TWO REPRESENTATIVES PLUS TWO ADVISERS FOR NORTH AMERICA (WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO BRING IN TO THE ROOM THE INDUSTRY AND LEGAL EXPERTISE WE WANT TO HAVE AVAILABLE); THE OTHER REGIONS WERE LIMITED TO FOUR PER REGION WITH FOUR ADVISERS; AND IT WAS AGREED THAT THE REPORT OF THE EXPERT GROUP TO THE INTERIM COMMITTEE WOULD REFLECT ALL VIEWS ON AN EQUAL BASIS (NOT PRESENT A MAJORITY VIEW WITH MINORITY VIEWS RELEGATED TO A LOWER STATUS). THE G-77 OBJECTED TO THE PROPOSAL BY UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTO8164 PAGE 01 ROME 05252 03 OF 05 280814Z ACTION OES-01 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PER-00 ACE-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 SAS-00 /005W -------------- FF11C7 280814Z /38 R 280722Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6592 INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2350 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY NAIROBI UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 05 ROME 005252 SIPDIS USDA FOR ARS:PETER BRETTING, JUNE BLALOCK, FAS:LYNNE REICH, DICK HUGHES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: DAVID HEGWOOD STATE FOR OES/ENV RICK DRISCOLL, L/OES K. YOUEL PAGE AND IO/EDA SETH WINNICK IO/S LAUREN FLEJZOR, GEORGE ABRAHAMS USTR DARCI VETTER, MARK SLOAN USAID FOR ROB BERTRAM USPTO FOR MARY CRITHARIS,LINDA LOURIE NSC JOHN CLOUD,KEN PEEL GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR NAIROBI FOR UNEP UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05252 03 OF 05 280814Z FROM FODAG SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR SENV FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SUBJECT: PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES INTERIM COMMITTEE SETS THE STAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT THE U.K. - WHICH THE U.S. AND OECD COUNTRIES SUPPORTED - FOR THE BUREAU TO SELECT THE CHAIR OF THE MTA GROUP. THEREFORE, THIS ITEM PRESUMABLY WILL BE THE FIRST MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE MTA GROUP WHEN IT MEETS. ¶9. (SBU) COMMENT. IT HAD BEEN CLEAR FROM THE START THAT THE G-77 INTENDED THE MTA GROUP TO BE A POLITICAL NEGOTIATING BODY AND NOT A GATHERING OF TECHNICAL AND LEGAL EXPERTS. NONETHELESS, THROUGH THE USE OF ADVISERS WE - AS WELL AS AUSTRALIA AND EUROPE - WILL HAVE INDUSTRY EXPERTISE IN THE NEGOTIATING ROOM. WE BELIEVE THAT HAVING THESE TRUE EXPERTS ON MTAS IN THE ROOM COULD HAVE A PROFOUND, POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE NEGOTIATIONS. THE UPSIDE OF HAVING A POLITICAL NEGOTIATING GROUP IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF ANY CONSENSUS RESULTS THAT ARE PRESENTED TO THE INTERIM COMMITTEE. END COMMENT. ¶10. (U) THE USDEL ALSO ACHIEVED THE OBJECTIVE OF INCLUDING A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE IARCS WITH THE ABILITY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05252 03 OF 05 280814Z TO PARTICIPATE. THE G-77, IN PARTICULAR SOUTH AFRICA, OPPOSED THE CGIAR PARTICIPATING, SAYING THAT THE IARCS ARE "TAINTED" PRESUMABLY BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIANCE ON FUNDING FROM AND THEIR GOOD WORKING TIES WITH OECD COUNTRIES. THE U.S. AND OTHER OECD COUNTRIES HELD FIRM, FORCING THE G-77 EVENTUALLY TO CONCEDE THE POINT. THE U.S. AND OTHER OECD COUNTRIES ALSO BLOCKED THE G-77'S PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD). THE EU WAS ABLE TO ADD TO THE MTA GROUP A REPRESENTATIVE FROM WIPO AND ONE FROM UPOV, WHO WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF CALLED UPON. ¶11. (U) ON THE TASKS FOR THE MTA GROUP, THE G-77 (ESPECIALLY IRAN, BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, SOUTH AFRICA, CAMEROON AND ANGOLA) SUCCEEDED IN A NUMBER OF CASES IN SUPPLANTING SPECIFIC, LIMITED TASKS WITH BROADER, MORE OPEN-ENDED ONES. G-77 EFFORTS WERE PARTICULARLY DIRECTED AT BROADENING THE "BENEFIT-SHARING" PROVISIONS OF THE MTA AND SEEKING WAYS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE. THIS MEANS THE DEBATE IN THE MTA GROUP WILL LIKELY BE BROAD RANGING, RATHER THAN LIMITED TO CLARIFYING A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL POINTS. THE USDEL, WORKING WITH CANADA, DID ACHIEVE INCLUSION OF THE TASK OF ENSURING THE MTA WILL BECOME BINDING UPON THE RECIPIENT'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE PGRFA. (COMMENT: WHILE THE USDEL WOULD HAVE PREFERRED UPON THE "RECEIPT" OF THE PGRFA, IT ACCEPTED CANADA'S SUGGESTION OF UPON "ACCEPTANCE" OF THE PGRFA. END COMMENT). THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TECHNICAL POINT THAT WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED FOR THE MTA TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05252 03 OF 05 280814Z FINANCIAL RULES AND BUDGET -------------- ¶12. (U) THE INTERIM COMMITTEE AT THIS MEETING AGREED ON A PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING PROPOSED FINANCIAL RULES TO THE GOVERNING BODY TO CONSIDER AT ITS FIRST MEETING. THE TECHNICAL AND LEGAL EXPERT GROUP MENTIONED ABOVE FOR CONSIDERING THE GOVERNING BODY'S RULES OF PROCEDURE WILL ALSO PREPARE RECOMMENDATIONS ON FINANCIAL RULES. THE USDEL AND JAPAN AGREED WITH THE PROCESS, AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY MADE CLEAR THAT THEY OPPOSED THE CONCEPT OF USING "INDICATIVE ASSESSMENTS" WITH VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. ¶13. (U) BUDGET MATTERS AROSE THROUGHOUT THE MEETING. THE SECRETARIAT CITING FAO RULES EFFECTIVELY PUT DOWN CALLS SIPDIS FOR THE FAO CORE BUDGET BE USED TO FUND THE TRAVEL OF G- 77 REPRESENTATIVES. ONLY VOLUNTARY, EXTRA-BUDGETARY FUNDS COULD BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE SECRETARIAT PREPARED AN REVISED INDICATIVE BUDGET AND WORK PROGRAM FOR THE INTERIM COMMITTEE, WHICH LOWERED THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATES OF THE WORK PROGRAM. THE REVISED BUDGET NEEDS UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTO8166 PAGE 01 ROME 05252 04 OF 05 280814Z ACTION OES-01 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PER-00 ACE-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 SAS-00 /005W -------------- FF11CE 280814Z /38 R 280722Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6593 INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2351 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY NAIROBI UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 05 ROME 005252 SIPDIS USDA FOR ARS:PETER BRETTING, JUNE BLALOCK, FAS:LYNNE REICH, DICK HUGHES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: DAVID HEGWOOD STATE FOR OES/ENV RICK DRISCOLL, L/OES K. YOUEL PAGE AND IO/EDA SETH WINNICK IO/S LAUREN FLEJZOR, GEORGE ABRAHAMS USTR DARCI VETTER, MARK SLOAN USAID FOR ROB BERTRAM USPTO FOR MARY CRITHARIS,LINDA LOURIE NSC JOHN CLOUD,KEN PEEL GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR NAIROBI FOR UNEP UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05252 04 OF 05 280814Z FROM FODAG SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR SENV FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SUBJECT: PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES INTERIM COMMITTEE SETS THE STAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT ARE USD 1 MILLION FOR 2003 AND USD 0.8 MILLION FOR 2004 IN VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. ¶14. (U) FOR THE FUTURE, NORWAY, JAPAN, THE EU AND THE G- 77 VOICED THEIR SUPPORT FOR HAVING THE FAO REGULAR BUDGET PROVIDE A MAJOR PORTION OF THE FUNDS NEEDED FOR THE TREATY TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE USDEL OPPOSED THIS POSITION, NOTING THAT THE FAO IS OPERATING UNDER BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS AND WOULD HAVE TO WEIGH ALL ITS PRIORITIES IN DECIDING HOW MUCH, IF ANY, TO SUPPORT THE OPERATING COSTS OF THE TREATY FROM CORE FAO FUNDS. THE U.S., CANAD AND JAPAN URGED THE SECRETARIAT TO LOOK FOR COSTEFFICIENCIES. THE USDEL SUGGESTED THAT THE CGRFA REORDER ITS ACTIVITIES WITHIN ITS BUDGET ENVELOPESO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE WORKOF THE INTERIM COMMITTEE. COMPLIANCE REGIME -------------- UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05252 04 OF 05 280814Z ¶15. (U) THE EU PROPOSED AND TH U.S. AND OTHERS AGREED TO HAVE THE TECHNICAL AND LEGAL EXPERT GROUP HANDLING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNING BODY FOR RULES OF PROCEDURE AND FOR FINANCIAL RULES ALSO CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION ON A COMPLIANCE REGIME. THE U.S. INTERVENED TO UNDERSCORE THE GROUP SHOULD ESTABLISH ITS OWN COMPLIANCE REGIME SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF THIS TREATY, RATHER THAN SIMPLY ADOPTING THE ELEMENTS DEVELOPED UNDER THE BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL. THERE APPEARED TO BE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON THIS POINT. THE SECRETARIAT WILL SEND OUT A REQUEST FOR VIEWS ON COMPLIANCE AND, BEFORE THE FIRST MEETING OF THE EXPERT GROUP, WILL COMPILE A SYNTHESIS FOR THE GROUP TO CONSIDER. NORWAY AND THE G-77, ESPECIALLY COLOMBIA AND BRAZIL, CALLED FOR A STRONG COMPLIANCE REGIME INCLUDING POSSIBLE USE OF SANCTIONS. THE U.S. AND THE EU SPOKE OF A COMPLIANCE EGIME THAT ENCOURAGED CAPACITY BUILDING RATHER THA A PUNITIVE REGIME FOR NON-COMPLIANCE. OTHER SSUES -------------- ¶16. (U) THE INTERIM COMMITTE POSTPONED CONSIDERATION OF THE FUTURE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE IARCS AND THE GOVERNING BODY ONCE THE TREATY COMES INTO FORCE AND THE ISSUE OF THE FUNDING STRATEGY CALLED FOR IN THE TREATY. NONETHELESS, THE G-77 CIRCULATED A PROPOSAL FOR CONCERNING THE FUTURE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNING BODY AND THE IARCS. THE INTERIM COMMITTEE DID NOT TAKE UP THIS MATTER. COMMENT: OUR PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THE G77 LANGUAGE FOR THE FUTURE IARC AGREEMENT WITH THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05252 04 OF 05 280814Z GOVERNING BODY, WHICH WAS INSPIRED BY COLOMBIA IN PARTICULAR, SUGGESTS THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK CBD- TYPE OBJECTIVES WITH RESPECT TO NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY IN WAYS THAT, IF SUCCESSFUL, WOULD CONTINUE TO ERODE THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC GOOD CHARACTER OF THE IARC COLLECTIONS, HAMPERING THE ABILITY OF THE IARCS TO OPERATE AS ENVISIONED IN THE TREATY. END COMMENT. NEXT STEPS -------------- ¶17. (U) REGIONS AND COUNTRIES WILL HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TO NOMINATE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE MTA GROUP. IF SUFFICIENT VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS ARE RECEIVED, THE MTA GROUP WOULD MEET IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2003. THE TECHNICAL AND LEGAL EXPERT GROUP ON RULES OF PROCEDURE, FINANCIAL RULES AND COMPLIANCE WOULD MEET LATER IN 2003, ASSUMING THE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS ARE FOUND. COMMENT -------------- UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8720 PAGE 01 ROME 05252 05 OF 05 280814Z ACTION OES-01 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PER-00 ACE-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 SAS-00 /005W -------------- FF11DA 280814Z /38 R 280722Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6594 INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2352 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY NAIROBI UNCLAS SECTION 05 OF 05 ROME 005252 SIPDIS USDA FOR ARS:PETER BRETTING, JUNE BLALOCK, FAS:LYNNE REICH, DICK HUGHES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: DAVID HEGWOOD STATE FOR OES/ENV RICK DRISCOLL, L/OES K. YOUEL PAGE AND IO/EDA SETH WINNICK IO/S LAUREN FLEJZOR, GEORGE ABRAHAMS USTR DARCI VETTER, MARK SLOAN USAID FOR ROB BERTRAM USPTO FOR MARY CRITHARIS,LINDA LOURIE NSC JOHN CLOUD,KEN PEEL GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR NAIROBI FOR UNEP UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05252 05 OF 05 280814Z FROM FODAG SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR SENV FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SUBJECT: PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES INTERIM COMMITTEE SETS THE STAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT ¶18. (SBU) AS EXPECTED, THERE WERE MOMENTS DURING THE COMMISSION WHEN IT APPEARED THAT G-77 DELEGATES WERE ATTEMPTING TO WALK BACK SEVEN YEARS OF NEGOTIATION. NONETHELESS, THE U.S. ACCOMPLISHED ITS MAJOR OBJECTIVES CONCERNING THE DECISION MAKING RULE, NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATION AT THE MTA GROUP, IARC PARTICIPATION IN THE MTA GROUP, AND THE BUDGET. HOWEVER, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL BECOME MORE DIFFICULT AS THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED. FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ALLIES, ESPECIALLY AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND JAPAN, WHO GENERALLY SUPPORT OUR ISSUES (AND THE G-77 IS NOT ALWAYS MONOLITHIC ON THE ISSUES.) ¶21. (SBU) COMMENT, CONT. THE USDEL CAME AWAY FROM THE MEETING WITH THE SENSE THAT OUR ALLIES, THE G-77, THE NGOS AND THE SECRETARIAT VIEW THE UNITED STATES AS HAVING LIMITED AND WANING INFLUENCE IN THE UPCOMING NEGOTIATIONS. THERE IS AN IMPRESSION THAT THE U.S. IS NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME A PARTY TO THE TREATY AND SO ITS VIEWS CAN BE DISCOUNTED. CONSEQUENTLY, ALLIES ARE LIKELY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05252 05 OF 05 280814Z TO COMPROMISE EARLIER AND OPPONENTS WILL BECOME MORE OBDURATE. HALL UNCLASSIFIED > 2002ROME05252 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED