Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NICOSIA661
2009-10-16 13:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS: OCTOBER 19 EU BIOTECH MEETINGS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0038 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHNC #0661 2891343 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 161343Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0220 INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEADWD/DA WASHDC
UNCLAS NICOSIA 000661
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT, EUR/ERA, AND EUR/SE
DEPT PASS TO USTR
USDA FOR FAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO ECON ETRD EUN CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: OCTOBER 19 EU BIOTECH MEETINGS
REF: STATE 106819
(U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
UNCLAS NICOSIA 000661
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT, EUR/ERA, AND EUR/SE
DEPT PASS TO USTR
USDA FOR FAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO ECON ETRD EUN CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: OCTOBER 19 EU BIOTECH MEETINGS
REF: STATE 106819
(U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
1. (SBU) Per reftel request, Post has conveyed USG positions to
senior GOC officials at the MFA and the Ministry of Agriculture. On
October 15, Ms. Irini Constantinou
Senior Environment Officer, at the Environment Service (under the
Ministry of Agriculture) informed us that Cyprus would be
represented at the October 19 EU Agriculture Council meeting by the
resident GOC Agricultural Attache in Brussels. Furthermore, Mr.
Christodoulos Photiou, Director, Department of Agriculture will
represent Cyprus at the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal
Health meeting on the same date (October 19).
2. (SBU) Constantinou commented that it was "highly unlikely" the
GOC would change its (traditionally hostile) policy towards
approvals of new biotech varieties for the October 19 meetings. She
added, "At least, the GOC Department of Agriculture does not insist
on procuring non-GMO feeds for animals, since something like that
would be prohibitively expensive (if, even feasible). The fact that
this Department concurs to using EU-approved biotech crops as animal
feeds is about the extent of "concessions" the GOC is expected to
make." Constantinou said that approving additional varieties of
biotech crops is not something the GOC is currently prepared to do,
"at least not at this juncture."
URBANCIC
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT, EUR/ERA, AND EUR/SE
DEPT PASS TO USTR
USDA FOR FAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO ECON ETRD EUN CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: OCTOBER 19 EU BIOTECH MEETINGS
REF: STATE 106819
(U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
1. (SBU) Per reftel request, Post has conveyed USG positions to
senior GOC officials at the MFA and the Ministry of Agriculture. On
October 15, Ms. Irini Constantinou
Senior Environment Officer, at the Environment Service (under the
Ministry of Agriculture) informed us that Cyprus would be
represented at the October 19 EU Agriculture Council meeting by the
resident GOC Agricultural Attache in Brussels. Furthermore, Mr.
Christodoulos Photiou, Director, Department of Agriculture will
represent Cyprus at the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal
Health meeting on the same date (October 19).
2. (SBU) Constantinou commented that it was "highly unlikely" the
GOC would change its (traditionally hostile) policy towards
approvals of new biotech varieties for the October 19 meetings. She
added, "At least, the GOC Department of Agriculture does not insist
on procuring non-GMO feeds for animals, since something like that
would be prohibitively expensive (if, even feasible). The fact that
this Department concurs to using EU-approved biotech crops as animal
feeds is about the extent of "concessions" the GOC is expected to
make." Constantinou said that approving additional varieties of
biotech crops is not something the GOC is currently prepared to do,
"at least not at this juncture."
URBANCIC