VIETNAM RESPONDS POSTIVIELY TO U.S. CODEX CHAIRPERSON

UNCLAS HANOI 000590 STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND EEB/TPP AGRICULTURE FOR FAS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO VM SUBJECT: VIETNAM RESPONDS POSTIVIELY TO U.S. CODEX CHAIRPERSON CANDIDATE, BUT ASEAN TIES MAY PREVAIL Ref: A) STATE 50336 ¶1. (U) On May 15, visiting U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Charles Lambert, accompanied by AgAttache, delivered reftel points on the candidacy of Dr. Karen Hulebak for Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) to Dr. Vu Ngoc Quynh, Director of Vietnam's Codex Office. Dr. Quynh, who will attend the Codex Commission meetings, was supportive of Dr. Hulebak and noted that she would be an "ideal chairperson." The final decision on who Vietnam will support, however, must come from the full Vietnam National Codex Committee, Dr. Quynh said. Post provided a hard copy of Dr. Hulebak's CV for Dr. Quynh and the National Committee's consideration under cover of a May 20 letter. Note: Vietnam's Codex Office is part of the Ministry of Science and Technology's Directorate for Standards and Quality, and is joined by representatives from the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Industry and Trade on the full National Codex Committee. Vice Minister of Science and Technology Mr. Tran Quoc Thang chairs the National Committee, and Dr. Quynh serves General Secretary. End note. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Dr. Quynh is a good contact of the Foreign Agricultural Service. Despite his support, it is likely that Vietnam will ultimately back the candidate from fellow ASEAN member Malaysia, as is common among ASEAN nations. End comment. MICHALAK