GREEK RESPONSE: UPDATE AND ACTION REQUEST ON

UNCLAS ATHENS 001595 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE/EEB - MIKAEL LURIE STATE/EEB - JANET SPECK USAID - BILL HAMMINK USDA - KIRK MILLER C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING CAPTION) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR TBIO EAID PGOV GR SUBJECT: GREEK RESPONSE: UPDATE AND ACTION REQUEST ON PROPOSED GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD (GPAF) REF: SECSTATE 123480 ¶1. (SBU) A/DepEconCouns delivered reftel points on November 21 to Antonias Zambelas and Pavlos Pezaros, Ministry of Rural Development and Food; Mr. Elias Karanikas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate for Internal Market, Agriculture and Other Policies; and Dr. Nike-Catherine Koutrakou, Hellenic Aid, Director of Emergency Humanitarian and Food Aid Programs. On November 25, Dr. Koutrakou advised A/DepEconCouns that the Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food (GPAF) sounds like an intriguing idea, but that the GoG would need further information before they can take a position on whether or not to support its creation. She believes that the upcoming Food Aid Committee meeting in early December in London would be an ideal setting in which to address the merits of creating this mechanism aimed at advancing food security issues. Koutrakou indicated that the GoG will discuss the GPAF further internally, but it is not likely they will come to any conclusion in the next few days. She promised to reach out to A/DepEconCouns when and if the GoG takes a position. Post will continue to engage with the GoG, and Hellenic Aid in particular, on the GPAF and other food security issues. SPECKHARD