GOA STRONGLY SUPPORTS FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000836 SIPDIS E.O. 12958, as amended: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EAGR UNGA AS SUBJECT: GOA STRONGLY SUPPORTS FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE REF: SECSTATE 93894 ¶1. (SBU) Post delivered reftel demarche on September 11, 2009 to Bruce Soar, Trade and Economic Policy Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Soar told Deputy Econcouns that Australia welcomed Secretary Clinton's initiative on Food Security and was also in full agreement with the draft statement of principles. Even though Foreign Minister Stephen Smith still has to approve attending the meeting, Soar is very confident that Smith will, revealing that his staff have already set aside time for the meeting on Smith's UNGA schedule. ¶2. (SBU) Referring to Secretary Clinton's letter and the mention that, "Leaders, including those who endorsed a Joint Statement on Global Food Security at the L'Aquila G-8 Summit in July and pledged to commit $20 billion to the effort over the next three years, will speak to these principles and invite others to support them," Soar requested that, if appropriate, Minister Smith would appreciate the opportunity to be one of the leaders to make a statement of support. Post requests Department guidance on whether Smith may expect a speaking role as well as an idea of how brief.