USEU RESPONSE TO FAO BUDGET DEMARCHE CABLE

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001284 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE PASS TO USAID/AFR JHILL; USUN ROME FOR HSPANOS; E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EAGR ECON ETRD SOCI SUBJECT: USEU RESPONSE TO FAO BUDGET DEMARCHE CABLE REF: STATE 96467 Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) USEU representative delivered reftel demarche to the European Commission's Directorate General for Development (DG DEV) and Agriculture (AGRI) September 22. USEU rep spoke with lead for FAO within DG DEV's Unit for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources Luis Ritto. (Note: Prior to arriving in Brussels this summer, Ritto served as EC liaison to the FAO in Rome, Italy. End Note) DG AGRI's Leonard Mizzi shared similar concerns about FAO budget increases. ¶2. (SBU) Ritto expressed concern regarding FAO's budget growth and noted he finds the current budget increases unacceptable. That said, Ritto was not positive EU Member States would not accept some level of budget increase, pending further discussion this week. The Commission and Member States will convene again Wednesday September 23rd and, if needed, Thursday September 24th to reach final consensus on conclusions by Friday September 25th. ¶3. (SBU) Ritto noted there is no need for an extra contribution to cover the Immediate Plan of Action. He expressed frustration with Diouf specifically, including Diouf's decision to hold a Food Summit in November 2009. MURRAY .