US embassy cable - 05BRATISLAVA138

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000138 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, ETRD, LO, WTRO 
SUBJECT: WOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS U.S. 
 
REF: STATE 20468 
 
On February 7, Econoff delivered talking points, per reftel, 
to Jan Galoci, Senior Trade Counselor, and Michal Vrabel, 
Trade Counselor, of the Ministry of Economy.  While 
supportive of the U.S. position, neither man knew which 
office was responsible for this subject.  Repeated calls to 
them yielded no new information.  Finally, on February 17, 
Vrabel responded that the GOS had decided to reverse its 
earlier position, and would now support U.S. efforts for a 
one-year extension in the implementation date of a 
requirement to use de-barked wood for packaging materials 
shipped to the EU.  Vrabel also said that "several" other EU 
members would also reverse their earlier positions and would 
now support U.S. efforts.  He would not identify these 
countries, but added that they should be sufficient to allow 
the one-year extension to be approved. 
THAYER 
 
 
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