Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ROME200
2008-02-14 13:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALIANS TO VOTE "NO" AT FEB 12 VOTE ON BIOTECH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRO #0200 0451336 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 141336Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9845 INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 4603 RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 4621 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ROME 000200
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR
DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR FAS - ELIZABETH JONES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR EUN TBIO IT
SUBJECT: ITALIANS TO VOTE "NO" AT FEB 12 VOTE ON BIOTECH
CORN, SOYBEANS, AND COTTON
REF: STATE 13142
UNCLAS ROME 000200
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR
DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR FAS - ELIZABETH JONES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR EUN TBIO IT
SUBJECT: ITALIANS TO VOTE "NO" AT FEB 12 VOTE ON BIOTECH
CORN, SOYBEANS, AND COTTON
REF: STATE 13142
1. (U) On February 11, EMBASSY Rome's Minister-Counselor for
Agricultural Affairs delivered reftel points on EU approval
of biotech corn, cotton, and soybean varieties to contacts at
the ministries of Health and Agriculture. Director General
Romano Marabelli of the Ministry of Health and Diplomatic
Advisor Georgio Starace in the Ministry of Agriculture said
the GOI will vote against the approval of the biotech crops
being considered, and noted that these votes are consistent
with previous Italian votes on biotech approvals. In
explaining the GOI vote, both officials noted that since the
late-January collapse of the Prodi government, Italy is being
administered by a caretaker government, and that the
caretaker government is not in a position to change GOI
policy on this issue.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR
DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR FAS - ELIZABETH JONES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGR EUN TBIO IT
SUBJECT: ITALIANS TO VOTE "NO" AT FEB 12 VOTE ON BIOTECH
CORN, SOYBEANS, AND COTTON
REF: STATE 13142
1. (U) On February 11, EMBASSY Rome's Minister-Counselor for
Agricultural Affairs delivered reftel points on EU approval
of biotech corn, cotton, and soybean varieties to contacts at
the ministries of Health and Agriculture. Director General
Romano Marabelli of the Ministry of Health and Diplomatic
Advisor Georgio Starace in the Ministry of Agriculture said
the GOI will vote against the approval of the biotech crops
being considered, and noted that these votes are consistent
with previous Italian votes on biotech approvals. In
explaining the GOI vote, both officials noted that since the
late-January collapse of the Prodi government, Italy is being
administered by a caretaker government, and that the
caretaker government is not in a position to change GOI
policy on this issue.
SPOGLI