DEMARCHES ON GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE, FOOD

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000253 SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTA - VOLTMER, EEB/TPP/ABT - CLEMENTS WINTON AND BOBO, EEB/TPP - LURIE, AND EEB/IFD/ODF - SIEMER USDA/FAS FOR CJACKSON AND MHOUSE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON ETRD LO TBIO SUBJECT: DEMARCHES ON GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE, FOOD STAPLE EXPORT RESTRICTIONS, AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY DELIVERED REF: A. STATE 52628 ¶B. STATE 53346 ¶C. STATE 53353 ¶1. (U) Post conveyed points from reftels to Minister of Agriculture Zdenka Kramplova. In follow-up meetings at the Ministry with Jana Vargova, Director of the Plant Commodities Section, and Eva Kolesarova, Director of Foreign Relations, neither raised any significant objections to the reftel points. Both noted that GoS is also concerned about food prices and is actively studying the issue. They said they would forward the results of these studies to post when completed. They both stated that GoS is not considering any agricultural export restrictions and agreed that a Doha Development Round agreement and market-oriented solutions are key. Kolesarova stated that GoS is not opposed to agricultural biotechnology in principle, noting that Slovakia, unlike some of its European neighbors, does not have an active lobby or NGO community opposed to biotechnology. OBSITNIK