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