Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CARACAS218
2009-02-17 18:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
VENEZUELA WILL NOT ATTEND MEETING ON BIOSAFETY
how-toVZCZCXRO4607 PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHCV #0218 0481800 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171800Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2625 INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000218
SIPDIS
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
TREASURY FOR MMALLOY
COMMERCE FOR 4431/MAC/WH/JLAO
SECSTATE PASS AGRICULTURE ELECTRONICALLY
USDA/FAS FOR STEVE FROGGETT
OES FOR DANIELLE WOOD
EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT FOR MARCELLA SZYMANSKI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2019
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA WILL NOT ATTEND MEETING ON BIOSAFETY
REF: A. SECSTATE 11910
B. 2008 CARACAS 140
Classified By: Economic Counselor Darnall Steuart for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000218
SIPDIS
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
TREASURY FOR MMALLOY
COMMERCE FOR 4431/MAC/WH/JLAO
SECSTATE PASS AGRICULTURE ELECTRONICALLY
USDA/FAS FOR STEVE FROGGETT
OES FOR DANIELLE WOOD
EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT FOR MARCELLA SZYMANSKI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2019
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA WILL NOT ATTEND MEETING ON BIOSAFETY
REF: A. SECSTATE 11910
B. 2008 CARACAS 140
Classified By: Economic Counselor Darnall Steuart for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) As requested in reftel A, the Agriculture Attache
approached university professor and biotech expert Dr. Claret
Michelangeli de Clavio (strictly protect throughout) to
determine Venezuelan participation at the Mexico City
biosafety meeting. Michelangeli, who represented the
Venezuelan government at the last biosafety meeting,
contacted Aleidis Sandroni from the Ministry of the
Environment's Biodiversity Office who would have been the
person most likely to attend the Mexico meeting. Sandroni
reported the Venezuelan government will not be sending anyone
to the meeting as "the Co-Chairs did not notify on time."
Michelangeli speculated that the real reason no one will
attend the Mexico meeting is because the "Venezuelan
government does not trust anyone", often including government
officials, to represent its views at many international
conferences.
2. (C) COMMENT: President Chavez has a well publicized
distaste for biotechnology and the multinational firms that
sell biotech products (ref B). It seems the Venezuelan
government may be concerned that if it were to send a
scientist and expert in the field to the Mexico meeting, he
or she might reveal that Venezuela's opposition to
biotechnology is based on the President's personal views,
rather than on science-based policies. END COMMENT.
CAULFIELD
SIPDIS
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
TREASURY FOR MMALLOY
COMMERCE FOR 4431/MAC/WH/JLAO
SECSTATE PASS AGRICULTURE ELECTRONICALLY
USDA/FAS FOR STEVE FROGGETT
OES FOR DANIELLE WOOD
EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT FOR MARCELLA SZYMANSKI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2019
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA WILL NOT ATTEND MEETING ON BIOSAFETY
REF: A. SECSTATE 11910
B. 2008 CARACAS 140
Classified By: Economic Counselor Darnall Steuart for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) As requested in reftel A, the Agriculture Attache
approached university professor and biotech expert Dr. Claret
Michelangeli de Clavio (strictly protect throughout) to
determine Venezuelan participation at the Mexico City
biosafety meeting. Michelangeli, who represented the
Venezuelan government at the last biosafety meeting,
contacted Aleidis Sandroni from the Ministry of the
Environment's Biodiversity Office who would have been the
person most likely to attend the Mexico meeting. Sandroni
reported the Venezuelan government will not be sending anyone
to the meeting as "the Co-Chairs did not notify on time."
Michelangeli speculated that the real reason no one will
attend the Mexico meeting is because the "Venezuelan
government does not trust anyone", often including government
officials, to represent its views at many international
conferences.
2. (C) COMMENT: President Chavez has a well publicized
distaste for biotechnology and the multinational firms that
sell biotech products (ref B). It seems the Venezuelan
government may be concerned that if it were to send a
scientist and expert in the field to the Mexico meeting, he
or she might reveal that Venezuela's opposition to
biotechnology is based on the President's personal views,
rather than on science-based policies. END COMMENT.
CAULFIELD