AG-BIOTECH: GETTING THE VATICAN TO "YES."

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 002268

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),EB (GADSDEN),EUR/PD/PA (HILTON)
STATE PASS TO USDA FAS WASHDC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAGR EAID ETRD TBIO PHUM EAGR EAID ETRD TBIO PHUM EAGR EAID ETRD TBIO VT VTPREL VTPREL
SUBJECT: AG-BIOTECH: GETTING THE VATICAN TO "YES."


CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B),(D)
.


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: BECAUSE OF THE VATICAN'S MORAL
AUTHORITY, IT CAN INFLUENCE GOVERNMENTS' SOCIAL AND
DEVELOPMENTAL POLICIES. PERSUADING THE VATICAN TO COME OUT
MORE FORTHRIGHTLY IN FAVOR OF GMOS IN THE CONTEXT OF
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PAGE 02 VATICA 02268 01 OF 03 100539Z
AGRICULTURE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD COULD INFLUENCE DECISION
MAKERS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND WOULD UNDERCUT ANTI-GMO
EUROPEAN ACTIVISTS' ARGUMENTS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO
GMO-HOSTILE EU AND EU-MEMBER STATES' POLICIES. VATICAN
DECISION MAKERS BELIEVE BIOTECHNOLOGY IS PROMISING, BUT THEY
COUNSEL CAUTION AND PATIENCE BECAUSE OF UNKNOWN RISKS. KEY
TO MOVING THE VATICAN POSITION ON BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GMOS IS
UNDERSTANDING ITS PEOPLE AND ITS FOREIGN POLICY LEITMOTIF:
"THE TRUE GOOD OF THE HUMAN PERSON." BEFORE VATICAN DECISION
MAKERS WILL PROMOTE BIOTECH, THEY WILL WANT TO SEE
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, AND SOCIAL AND CONSUMER CONCERNS
ADDRESSED. THE VATICAN NEEDS CONVINCING THAT BIOTECHNOLOGY
AND GMOS ARE FOR TODAY, AND THAT THE BEST SCIENCE DOVETAILS
WITH ITS LEITMOTIF.


2. (SBU) WORKING WITH EMBASSY ROME BIOTECH ACTION GROUP,
EMBASSY VATICAN IS MAKING THIS ISSUE A FOCUSED PRIORITY OF
OUR ACTIVITIES DURING THE COMING MONTHS. BUILDING ON OUR
PREVIOUS EFFORTS (E.G. AMBASSADOR HOSTED DINNER FOR GMO
EXPERT C.C. PRAKASH),WE WILL FOCUS ON BRINGING IN U.S.
EXPERTS FOR CONSULTATIONS, NOMINATING A VATICAN FOREIGN
MINISTRY OFFICIAL FOR THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAM,
PROPOSING ACTIVITIES ON THE MARGINS OF THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT
IN JUNE, AND HOSTING A VISIT TO INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH STATIONS FOR VATICAN EXPERTS LATER IN 2002. WE HAVE
A GOOD WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS THE VATICAN ON THIS
WITH THE NEW CONVERGENCE BETWEEN IT AND THE USG ON THE FLIP
SIDE OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECH -- HUMAN CLONING. END SUMMARY.

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VATICAN ON BIOTECH: "YES, BUT.."
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3. (U) ARTICLES IN "LA CIVILITA CATTOLICA," A SEMI-OFFICIAL
VATICAN PUBLICATION, ARE VETTED BY THE VATICAN'S SECRETARIAT
OF STATE BEFORE PUBLISHING. THEY TEND TO REFLECT CURRENT
VATICAN POLICY AND PREOCCUPATIONS. JESUIT PRIEST AND FORMER
PROFESSOR OF HUMAN GENETICS IN THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AT
GEMELLI CLINIC, ANGELO SERRA, RECENTLY WROTE AN ASSESSMENT OF
PLANT AND ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR "LA CIVILTA CATTOLICA."
SERRA'S ARTICLE OFFERS INSIGHTS ON VATICAN THINKING ON
SEVERAL ASPECTS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATION, AND
FORMULATES "NEW OBLIGATIONS" FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND
SOCIETY.


4. (U) THE ARTICLE LAUDS COLLABORATION BETWEEN SCIENTISTS,
REGULATORS, FARMERS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS (PARTICULARLY IN
THE U.S.) AS A SOURCE OF CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN GMO'S, SERRA
DEDICATES THE GREATER PART OF HIS ARTICLE TO THE "RISKS" OF
BIOTECHNOLOGY. FIRSTLY, FOOD AND HEALTH SECURITY RISKS: THE
INCREASE IN ALLERGIES, RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AND OF MOST
CONCERN, ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE. THE U.S. IS SINGLED OUT FOR BEING
TOO BLITHE TOWARDS RISK ASSESSMENT, BUT SERRA ALSO CRITICIZES
THE SOMETIMES-IRRATIONAL OPPOSITION OF ANTI-GM ORGANIZATIONS.
SECONDLY, SERRA SOLICITS GREATER CONSIDERATION OF THE RISKS
TO BIODIVERSITY, GIVING EXAMPLES OF COUNTRIES LIKE ITALY AND
INDIA THAT PRODUCE MOST OF THEIR FOOD FROM 10 OR SO STRAINS
OF RICE, GRAIN AND CORN. SERRA CALLS FOR ATTENTIVE AND
DETAILED OBSERVATION OF AREAS WHERE GMO ORGANISMS HAVE BEEN
INTRODUCED TO AVOID THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY THAT MAY IN TURN
ADVERSELY AFFECT HUMAN BEINGS.

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5. (U) SERRA'S THIRD "RISK" DEALS WITH THE SOCIAL
REPERCUSSIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, PARTICULARLY ECONOMICS AND
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION. HE QUOTES FIGURES THAT PUT 81 PERCENT
OF THE GLOBAL AGROCHEMICAL MARKET AND 37 PERCENT OF THE
GLOBAL SEED MARKET IN THE HANDS OF TEN COMPANIES. SERRA
LAMENTS THE PRODUCTION OF STERILE PATENTED SEEDS BECAUSE IT
CONCENTRATES GREAT WEALTH IN A FEW HANDS AND THREATENS THE
SURVIVAL OF THE POOREST. HE CALLS FOR STRATEGIES THAT ENSURE
AN EQUITABLE ECONOMIC "EVENING OUT" THAT FAVOR THE POOREST.


6. (U) SERRA CONCLUDES BY DESCRIBING PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY'S
GOAL AS "THE PERFECT", THE MEANS USED BY GENETIC ENGINEERING
TO REACH THIS GOAL AS "EXTRAORDINARY," THE RESULTS AS
"PROMISING," BUT THAT ITS CONSEQUENCES NEED ACCURATE ETHICAL
REFLECTION. (NOTE: SERRA'S VIEWS TRACK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
VIEWS WE HAVE HEARD BOTH PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY FROM KEY
VATICAN INTERLOCUTORS IN THIS DISCUSSION, E.G., BISHOP
SGRECCIA AND ARCHBISHOP MARCHETTO END NOTE.)

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WHO'S WHO ON GMOS IN THE VATICAN; WHERE THEY STAND
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ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 EVG-00 ACQ-00
CIAE-00 COME-00 INL-00 DODE-00 PERC-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 E-00 VC-00 HHS-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00
MED-07 NSAE-00 OES-01 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00
EPAE-00 ECA-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 SAS-00 /011W
-------------- AC8E02 100540Z /38
O 100521Z MAY 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 VATICAN 002268

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),EB (GADSDEN),EUR/PD/PA (HILTON)
STATE PASS TO USDA FAS WASHDC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAGR EAID ETRD TBIO PHUM EAGR EAID ETRD TBIO PHUM EAGR EAID ETRD TBIO VT VTPREL VTPREL
SUBJECT: AG-BIOTECH: GETTING THE VATICAN TO "YES."


7. (C) GENERALLY POSITIVE: BISHOP ELIO SGRECCIA, VICE
PRESIDENT, PONTIFICAL ACADEMY FOR LIFE. SGRECCIA IS THE TOP
VATICAN ETHICIST SPECIALIZING IN BIOTECHNOLOGY, MEDICAL
ETHICS, HEALTH AND FAMILY ISSUES. HIS APPROACH TO
BIOTECHNOLOGY IS ONE OF CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM - THE THEORETICAL
BENEFITS NEED TO BE BALANCED BY ADEQUATE RESEARCH AND PATIENT
OBSERVATION. LIKE ALL VATICAN OFFICIALS HE LOOKS TO THE
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SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR GUIDANCE AND PERMISSION TO UNDERTAKE

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BIOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES. THE ACADEMY FOR LIFE HAS PUBLISHED
THE VATICAN'S CLEAREST POSITION TO DATE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY.
SGRECCIA WAS EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF AN EMBASSY INITIATIVE
THAT BROUGHT U.S. BIOTECHNOLOGIST, C.S. PRAKASH, AND VATICAN
SCIENTISTS TOGETHER FOR A ROUND TABLE IN 2001. AT A RECENT
LUNCH, SGRECCIA TOLD DCM THAT HE LOOKED FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH US ON THIS ISSUE.


8. (C) GENERALLY NEGATIVE: ARCHBISHOP AGOSTINO MARCHETTO,
PERMANENT OBSERVER, FAO, ROME, AND SINCE NOVEMBER 2001
SECRETARY OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF

SIPDIS
MIGRANTS AND ITINERANTS. HE ENTERED THE HOLY SEE DIPLOMATIC
SERVICE IN 1968, AND SERVED IN A NUMBER OF SUB-SAHARAN
NUNCIATURES. MARCHETTO IS THE CLASSIC EUROPEAN BIOTECHNOLOGY
SKEPTIC. HIS POSITION APPEARS BASED MORE ON POPULAR
PERCEPTIONS OF GMOS THAN ON GOOD SCIENCE. HE RELISHES PLAYING
THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE AND CONCENTRATING ON THE "WHAT IFS."
YET, LIKE THE REST OF THE HOLY SEE, HIS PRIMARY MOTIVATION IS
SERVING HUMANITY. IF HE CAN BE PERSUADED THAT GMOS PRESENT A
NET BENEFIT, HE WOULD BE A POWERFUL ADVOCATE FOR THEM.


9. (C) GENERALLY POSITIVE: ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN,
PERMANENT OBSERVER, UN OFFICES AND SPECIALIST AGENCIES,
GENEVA. MARTIN, A FORMER IV VISITOR, IS NOT A PROFESSIONALLY
TRAINED VATICAN DIPLOMAT AND THUS UNTAINTED BY THE PALL OF
"SUPER CAUTION." HE CALLS A SPADE A SPADE AND APPRECIATES
GOOD SCIENCE. HE WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT ALLY ON THE BIOTECH
INTERNATIONAL PLAYING FIELD. HIS REPUTATION IN WORLD TRADE
AND MONETARY CIRCLES IS HIGH, MAKING HIM POTENTIALLY
INFLUENTIAL WITH DEVELOPING NATIONS. MARTIN'S FOCUS ON HUMAN
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RIGHTS ISSUES IN GENEVA COULD BE AN ENTRY POINT FOR THE
PROMOTION OF BIOTECH BENEFITS.


10. (C) GENERALLY POSITIVE: MONSIGNOR CELESTINO MIGLIORE,
DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER. MIGLIORE WILL LIKELY BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR GIVING THE WORKING LEVEL "OK" TO MOST BIOTECHNOLOGY
INITIATIVES. AS IS MARTIN, MIGLIORE IS PRAGMATIC AND
STRAIGHTFORWARD. ONE OF THE EMBASSY'S MOST ACCESSIBLE
HIGH-LEVEL INTERLOCUTORS, WE CAN EXPECT HIM TO BE REASONABLE.
HE HAS FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE OF THE PROBLEMS CAUSED IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES BY MALNUTRITION AND CROP FAILURE. HE
SERVED AT THE NUNCIATURE IN WASHINGTON DURING THE 1990S AND
WOULD BE OPEN TO THE BENEFITS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, BUT HE WOULD
ALSO INSIST ON ADEQUATE PRECAUTIONS BEFORE GIVING HIS "NULLA
OSTA". (NOTE: IT IS CLASSIC VATICAN STRATEGY TO NOT MAKE A
MOVE BEFORE RECEIVING PERMISSION -- THE "NULLA OSTA" -- FROM
ONE'S SUPERIORS. THIS STIFLES INITIATIVE AND GIVES UNDUE
EMPHASIS TO THE CAUTIONARY APPROACH. THIS APPLIES TO ALL OF
THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PERSONS. END NOTE.)

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GETTING THEM TO PLAY ON OUR TEAM
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11. (SBU) THE VATICAN IS POTENTIALLY A VALUABLE ALLY IN THE
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY EFFORT TO PROMOTE BROADER ACCEPTANCE OF
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GMOS AMONG OUR KEY TRADING PARTNERS. ITS
MORAL CLOUT STILL INFLUENCES MANY NATIONS IN THE EU, AND
PARTICULARLY IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD, WHERE, IN CERTAIN
INSTANCES, INDIVIDUAL CLERGY ANTAGONISTIC TO PROFIT-MAKING
MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS HELP BEAT THE ANTI-GMO DRUMS.
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VATICAN BACKING FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GMOS AS A MEANS TO FEED
THE WORLD'S POOR WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON CHANGING
THE GENERALLY FEARFUL EUROPEAN MINDSET BY UNDERCUTTING A KEY
RATIONALE OF ANTI-BIOTECH ACTIVISTS (THAT U.S. COMPANIES WILL
DISPLACE TRADITIONAL METHODS OF AGRICULTURE ACROSS THE
WORLD). POST'S EFFORTS TO EXPOSE VATICAN PROTAGONISTS TO THE
SCIENCE HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY SUCCESSFUL. FOR EXAMPLE, IN JULY
2001 WE ORGANIZED A PANEL DISCUSSION BETWEEN VISITING GMO
EXPERT C.S. PRAKASH OF TUSKEEGEE UNIVERSITY AND MEMBERS OF
THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMY OF THE SCIENCES (PAS) AND THE
PONTIFICAL ACADEMY FOR LIFE (PAL). AMBASSADOR FOLLOWED THAT
WITH A DINNER IHO DR. PRAKASH IN FEBRUARY 2002, ATTENDED BY
VATICAN FM TAURAN AND SEVERAL SENIOR VATICAN OFFICIALS.


12. (SBU) EMBASSY VATICAN IS BUILDING ON THIS FOUNDATION
FOLLOWING OUR BIOTECHNOLOGY ACTION PLAN WORKED IN
COORDINATION WITH EMBASSY ROME AND THE US MISSION TO THE UN
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL AGENCIES. OUR PART OF THE PLAN
ENVISAGES:

-- AMBASSADOR REGULARLY REMARKING ON GMO POTENTIAL FOR
PROMOTING DEVELOPING WORLD FOOD SECURITY DURING HIS
VATICAN-RELATED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENGAGEMENTS (E.G. HIS

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CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5425

PAGE 01 VATICA 02268 03 OF 03 100540Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 EVG-00 ACQ-00
CIAE-00 COME-00 INL-00 DODE-00 PERC-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 E-00 VC-00 HHS-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00
MED-07 NSAE-00 OES-01 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00
EPAE-00 ECA-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 SAS-00 /011W
-------------- AC8E05 100540Z /38
O 100521Z MAY 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 VATICAN 002268

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),EB (GADSDEN),EUR/PD/PA (HILTON)
STATE PASS TO USDA FAS WASHDC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAGR EAID ETRD TBIO PHUM EAGR EAID ETRD TBIO PHUM EAGR EAID ETRD TBIO VT VTPREL VTPREL
SUBJECT: AG-BIOTECH: GETTING THE VATICAN TO "YES."

APRIL 5 PARTICIPATION ON A PANEL DISCUSSING GLOBALIZATION);
-- A VATICAN-RELATED DINNER OR OTHER MEETING WE WISH TO
PROPOSE FOR AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VENEMAN AND/OR U/S AL
LARSON ON THE MARGINS OF THE JUNE 10-13 WORLD FOOD SUMMIT;
-- FURTHER U.S. EXPERT VISITS (BOTH USG AND PRIVATE) TO
DISCUSS BENEFITS FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION OF BIOTECH CROPS
AND RESULTS OF MOST RECENT SCIENTIFIC STUDIES;
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PAGE 02 VATICA 02268 03 OF 03 100540Z
-- NOMINATING A VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT
SPECIALIST FOR A U.S. INTERNATIONAL VISITORS VISIT FOCUSED ON
BIOTECHNOLOGY;
-- AMBASSADOR LEADING A PARTY OF VATICAN OFFICIALS TO TWO
DIFFERENT INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATIONS: THE
IRRI IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE CYMMT IN MEXICO, IN A PROJECT
COORDINATED WITH EMBASSY ROME FAS. (NOTE: WE HAVE ALREADY
RAISED THIS IDEA AT THE MFA WORKING LEVEL, AND THEY ARE
ENTHUSIASTIC).


13. (U) THIS CABLE WAS CLEARED WITH FODAG AND EMBASSY ROME.
NICHOLSON

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2002VATICA02268 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL