Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ZAGREB251
2009-05-08 12:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
TFFLU01: CROATIA TO LIFT TRADE BAN ON PORK
how-toVZCZCXRO9697 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHVB #0251 1281229 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 081229Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9198 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000251
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR JANE DOHERTY, USDA FOR OSTA CLAY
HAMILTON AND CASEY BEAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD HR KFLU
SUBJECT: TFFLU01: CROATIA TO LIFT TRADE BAN ON PORK
REF: STATE 44254
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000251
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR JANE DOHERTY, USDA FOR OSTA CLAY
HAMILTON AND CASEY BEAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD HR KFLU
SUBJECT: TFFLU01: CROATIA TO LIFT TRADE BAN ON PORK
REF: STATE 44254
1. In response to reftel, Econ officer discussed points with
the MFA Department for Bilateral Economic Affairs, the MFA
Department Head for North America, as well as the Ministry of
Agriculture's Department of Veterinary Inspection. All were
sympathetic to our position and the MFA informed us on 7 May
that the decision had been made to remove the ban, pending
administrative procedures and publishing in the official
gazette. The Ministry of Agriculture told us the decision
should be official on May 8, or at the latest early next
week. Given the imminent removal of the ban, Embassy Zagreb
requests that USDA not publicly announce Croatia as one of
the countries banning U.S. pork imports.
2. COMMENT: The Canadian Embassy in Zagreb also made a strong
push on this issue, even though Canada exports no pork
products to Croatia whatsoever. Interestingly, the import
ban will temporarily stay in place for Mexico, although
Croatia does not import pork from Mexico either. It's
unclear whether this is because Croatia is still taking undue
precautions, or because there is no Mexican representation in
Croatia that expressed concern. The Ministry of Agriculture
told us the decision to ban pork imports from North America
was taken in the early days of the outbreak when details on
the illness and its means of transmission were hazy.
Especially in the pre-election environment here, the
government did not want to be accused of not taking every
precaution. But the reaction to the U.S. and Canadian
expressions of concern was swift and positive.
BRADTKE
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR JANE DOHERTY, USDA FOR OSTA CLAY
HAMILTON AND CASEY BEAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD HR KFLU
SUBJECT: TFFLU01: CROATIA TO LIFT TRADE BAN ON PORK
REF: STATE 44254
1. In response to reftel, Econ officer discussed points with
the MFA Department for Bilateral Economic Affairs, the MFA
Department Head for North America, as well as the Ministry of
Agriculture's Department of Veterinary Inspection. All were
sympathetic to our position and the MFA informed us on 7 May
that the decision had been made to remove the ban, pending
administrative procedures and publishing in the official
gazette. The Ministry of Agriculture told us the decision
should be official on May 8, or at the latest early next
week. Given the imminent removal of the ban, Embassy Zagreb
requests that USDA not publicly announce Croatia as one of
the countries banning U.S. pork imports.
2. COMMENT: The Canadian Embassy in Zagreb also made a strong
push on this issue, even though Canada exports no pork
products to Croatia whatsoever. Interestingly, the import
ban will temporarily stay in place for Mexico, although
Croatia does not import pork from Mexico either. It's
unclear whether this is because Croatia is still taking undue
precautions, or because there is no Mexican representation in
Croatia that expressed concern. The Ministry of Agriculture
told us the decision to ban pork imports from North America
was taken in the early days of the outbreak when details on
the illness and its means of transmission were hazy.
Especially in the pre-election environment here, the
government did not want to be accused of not taking every
precaution. But the reaction to the U.S. and Canadian
expressions of concern was swift and positive.
BRADTKE