Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME5697
2002-11-25 09:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
REENGAGING PM BERLUSCONI ON BIOTECH
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005697
SIPDIS
FOR U/S LARSON AND USTR ZOELLICK FROM AMBASSADOR MEL SEMBLER
STATE PASS USDA
STATE PASS USTR
DEPT ALSO FOR EB-CEKUTA
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2007
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 05697 251038Z
TAGS: EAGR ETRD IT PGOV TBIO EUN
SUBJECT: REENGAGING PM BERLUSCONI ON BIOTECH
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR MEL SEMBLER, FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005697
SIPDIS
FOR U/S LARSON AND USTR ZOELLICK FROM AMBASSADOR MEL SEMBLER
STATE PASS USDA
STATE PASS USTR
DEPT ALSO FOR EB-CEKUTA
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2007
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 05697 251038Z
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ITALY'>IT PGOV TBIO EUN
SUBJECT: REENGAGING PM BERLUSCONI ON BIOTECH
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR MEL SEMBLER, FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) JOINED BY AMBASSADORS HALL AND NICHOLSON I HAD DINNER
NOVEMBER 12 WITH PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI, HIS PRINCIPAL
ADVISOR GIANNI LETTA, AND SEVERAL OTHERS. WE USED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO IMPRESS UPON THE PM THE NEGATIVE EFFECT EU
POLICY WAS HAVING ON THE WILLINGNESS OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO
DISTRIBUTE BIOTECH FOOD TO THEIR STARVING POPULATIONS AND THE
MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF THESE ACTIONS. BERLUSCONI AGREED THAT
ITALY NEEDED TO HAVE A SCIENCE-BASED POLICY, AND SAID HE
WOULD HELP US WHERE HE COULD WITHIN EU COUNCILS. I TOLD
BERLUSCONI PRIVATELY ONCE AGAIN THAT HIS AG MINISTER
CONTINUED TO DRIVE A BIOTECH POLICY BASED MORE ON EMOTION
THAN REASON, AND THAT HE AS PM NEEDED TO GET MORE INVOLVED
PERSONALLY IF HE WANTED TO COUNTER THAT TREND. HE TOOK THE
POINT.
2. (C) BERLUSCONI APPEARED SURPRISED AND CONCERNED WHEN I
TOLD HIM THAT A WTO CASE WAS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY IF NO
SOLUTION TO EUROPEAN INTRANSIGENCE WAS FOUND SOON. HE
CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING ITALIAN
EU PRESIDENCY, AND ASKED TO BE KEPT INFORMED.
3. (C) GETTING THE PM'S ATTENTION ON BIOTECH AGAIN IS
IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO KEEP HIM ENGAGED, AND ONE WAY TO DO
THIS IS TO LET HIM KNOW DIRECTLY OUR CONCERNS AS WE MOVE
TOWARD DECISIONS ABOUT A WTO CASE AND OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR
BIOTECH POLICY. IN THE NEXT WEEK, THIS EMBASSY, EMBASSY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 05697 251038Z
VATICAN AND FODAG WILL PRESENT BY CABLE, OUR UPDATED AND
COORDINATED TRI-MISSION PLAN TO ADVANCE USG INTENTS ON
BIOTECH. THE PLAN WILL IDENTIFY RESOURCES TO UNDERPIN OUR
ACTIVITIES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REACTIONS, GUIDANCE, AND
SUPPORT.
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002ROME05697 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
FOR U/S LARSON AND USTR ZOELLICK FROM AMBASSADOR MEL SEMBLER
STATE PASS USDA
STATE PASS USTR
DEPT ALSO FOR EB-CEKUTA
USDA FOR FAS/OA/TERPSTRA
ITP/SHEIKH AND MACKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2007
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 05697 251038Z
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ITALY'>IT PGOV TBIO EUN
SUBJECT: REENGAGING PM BERLUSCONI ON BIOTECH
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR MEL SEMBLER, FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) JOINED BY AMBASSADORS HALL AND NICHOLSON I HAD DINNER
NOVEMBER 12 WITH PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI, HIS PRINCIPAL
ADVISOR GIANNI LETTA, AND SEVERAL OTHERS. WE USED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO IMPRESS UPON THE PM THE NEGATIVE EFFECT EU
POLICY WAS HAVING ON THE WILLINGNESS OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO
DISTRIBUTE BIOTECH FOOD TO THEIR STARVING POPULATIONS AND THE
MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF THESE ACTIONS. BERLUSCONI AGREED THAT
ITALY NEEDED TO HAVE A SCIENCE-BASED POLICY, AND SAID HE
WOULD HELP US WHERE HE COULD WITHIN EU COUNCILS. I TOLD
BERLUSCONI PRIVATELY ONCE AGAIN THAT HIS AG MINISTER
CONTINUED TO DRIVE A BIOTECH POLICY BASED MORE ON EMOTION
THAN REASON, AND THAT HE AS PM NEEDED TO GET MORE INVOLVED
PERSONALLY IF HE WANTED TO COUNTER THAT TREND. HE TOOK THE
POINT.
2. (C) BERLUSCONI APPEARED SURPRISED AND CONCERNED WHEN I
TOLD HIM THAT A WTO CASE WAS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY IF NO
SOLUTION TO EUROPEAN INTRANSIGENCE WAS FOUND SOON. HE
CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING ITALIAN
EU PRESIDENCY, AND ASKED TO BE KEPT INFORMED.
3. (C) GETTING THE PM'S ATTENTION ON BIOTECH AGAIN IS
IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO KEEP HIM ENGAGED, AND ONE WAY TO DO
THIS IS TO LET HIM KNOW DIRECTLY OUR CONCERNS AS WE MOVE
TOWARD DECISIONS ABOUT A WTO CASE AND OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR
BIOTECH POLICY. IN THE NEXT WEEK, THIS EMBASSY, EMBASSY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 05697 251038Z
VATICAN AND FODAG WILL PRESENT BY CABLE, OUR UPDATED AND
COORDINATED TRI-MISSION PLAN TO ADVANCE USG INTENTS ON
BIOTECH. THE PLAN WILL IDENTIFY RESOURCES TO UNDERPIN OUR
ACTIVITIES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REACTIONS, GUIDANCE, AND
SUPPORT.
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002ROME05697 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL