FOOD AID AND THE WTO: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 003447 SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/TPP/ABT STATE PASS USAID FOR SKORIC USTR FOR HAFEMEISTER USDA FOR FAS-MANIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EAGR ETRD DR SUBJECT: FOOD AID AND THE WTO: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REF: STATE 119974 ¶1. Embassy on July 1 delivered reftel demarche to MFA UN/OAS division chief Michelle Cohen and counselor for OAS affairs Johanna Mendelson and left para 8 points as a non-paper, in Spanish translation. Cohen undertook to inform the ministries of industry and commerce -- which is involved in WTO issues -- and of agriculture, involved in issues related to food aid. Political officer particularly thanked the interlocutors for the Dominican Republic for speaking out in the June 22 meeting in Geneva (para 6 reftel) in support of the U.S. position. He urged their country's continuing active engagement on the food aid issue in the WTO. Embassy officer has appointment with Industry and Commerce Under Secretary Marcelo Puello on July 5 and will deliver the same SIPDIS points to him. KUBISKE