Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS245
2009-02-26 06:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
EU BIOTECH CORN VOTE: GREECE NOT READY TO TALK
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTH #0245 0570617 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 260617Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3275 INFO RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS ATHENS 000245
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/ABT, EUR/ERA, EUR/WE
STATE PASS USTR, USDA FOR FAS EJONES, MHENNEY, DYOUNG,
BMACKE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR TBIO GR
SUBJECT: EU BIOTECH CORN VOTE: GREECE NOT READY TO TALK
REF: SECSTATE 14566
(SBU) We passed reftel points on the upcoming biotech corn
vote to several contacts in both the Ministry of Agriculture
and Ministry of Environment. Our Agriculture Ministry
contacts indicated no objection to the use of EU approved
biotech varieties in Greece, but said that decisions on
biotech are taken in other ministries, with the Ministry of
Environment responsible for GOG positions in the
DG-Environment Regulatory Committee. Giannis Kostovalis,
Advisor to Ministry of Environment Secretary General
Evaggelos Baltas, informed us today that such decisions are
taken at the political level, by Deputy Environment Minister
Kaloyiannis. (Comment: this could explain why the GOG,
despite openness to biotech at technical levels in the
Ministry of Agriculture and in universities, remains firmly
in the "Gang of Five" in its opposition to any biotech
cultivation -- in this it has broad, if not fully informed,
public support. End comment.) Post will continue to press
the GOG and key stakeholders on biotech issues.
MCCARTHY