US embassy cable - 03ROME702

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 000702 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EB FOR LARSON 
IO/EDA: WINNICK AND KOTOK; EB/TPP KLEMM AND MALAC/TPP/ATT 
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS;REICH/HUGHES 
USAID FOR JOSETTE LEWIS 
USTR FOR RICHARD WHITE 
ATHENS FOR JMCLEVERLEY 
MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL 
NAIROBI FOR UNEP 
 
FROM FODAG 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  00702  01 OF 04  210658Z 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AORC, ETRD, EAGR, ETRD, EAGR, ETRD, EAGR, ETRD, EAGR, EAID, UN, FAO, WFP, EAID AORC, UN, FAO, WFP, EAID AORC, UN, FAO, WFP, EAID AORC, UN, FAO, WFP 
SUBJECT:  U.S. MISSION ROME AND BIOTECHNOLOGY IN 2002 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME 
PROVIDES A VERY GOOD PLATFORM FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL 
BIOTECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN 
THE DEVELOPING WORLD TO A DIVERSE AND INFLUENTIAL AUDIENCE 
FROM DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.  A LOOK BACK AT THE 
MISSION'S BIOTECH ADVOCACY IN 2002 SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS 
TO KEEP CLOSE TABS ON THIS ISSUE, PARTICULARLY IN UN BODIES 
THAT PURPORT TO BE NEUTRAL BUT THAT MAY CARRY THEIR OWN 
BIASES.  BIOTECH WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AT 
THE ROME AGENCIES IN 2003; THE U.S. MISSION ROME STANDS 
READY TO EXPLOIT FULLY THESE OPPORTUNITIES.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME PROVIDES A 
VERY GOOD PLATFORM FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 
AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN THE DEVELOPING 
WORLD TO A DIVERSE AND INFLUENTIAL AUDIENCE. OUR MAJOR 
INTERLOCUTORS ARE AMBASSADORS AND AGRICULTURAL COUNSELORS 
FROM DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES POSTED TO THEIR 
PERMANENT MISSIONS TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME.  THESE SENIOR 
OFFICIALS DEBATE LONG-TERM BIOTECH POLICY IN UN FOOD AND 
AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) POLICY-MAKING BODIES AND 
DISCUSS THE REAL-WORLD IMPLICATIONS OF BIOTECH FOOD AID AS 
MEMBERS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) EXECUTIVE BOARD. 
OUR OTHER MAJOR INTERLOCUTORS ARE SENIOR AND MID-LEVEL 
OFFICIALS AT THE FAO WHO ARE SHAPING FAO POLICY STATEMENTS 
AND MANAGING FAO PROGRAMS DEALING WITH BIOTECHNOLOGY. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  00702  01 OF 04  210658Z 
 
2.  THIS CABLE PRESENTS A SHORT CHRONOLOGY OF MANY OF THE 
ACTIVITIES (OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE), WHICH 
U.S. MISSION ROME TOOK TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 
ON BEHALF OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD. 
 
JANUARY 2002:  THE FRUIT OF LONG-TERM CONTACTS WITH FAO 
STAFF RESPONSIBLE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY, MISSION REPORTED TO 
WASHINGTON THAT THE FAO SOUGHT EXPERT GUIDANCE IN THE AREA 
OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AS IT RELATES TO 
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND WOULD WELCOME U.S. ASSISTANCE.  (02 ROME 
106) 
 
JANUARY 2002: THE ACTING PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE HOSTED A 
LUNCH FOR PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM ZIMBABWE, TANZANIA, 
SOUTH AFRICA AND KENYA TO DISCUSS AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES ON 
AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY. 
 
FEBRUARY 2002:  THE ACTING PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE HOSTED A 
LUNCH FOR PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM INDONESIA, 
THAILAND, MALAYSIA, CHINA AND INDIA TO DISCUSS ASIAN 
PERSPECTIVES ON AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY. 
 
FEBRUARY 2002: THE MISSION ORGANIZED A COFFEE SESSION WITH 
VISITING USG SPONSORED SCIENTIST AND BIOTECH ADVOCATE, DR. 
CHANNAPATNA PRAKASH, FOR SELECTED PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES 
FROM SWEDEN, THE PHILIPPINES AND LESOTHO. 
 
MARCH 2002:  A SEMINAR ON "BIOTECH FOOD AID" HOSTED BY THE 
BELGIAN DELEGATION TO THE FAO PROVIDED INVITED U.S. MISSION 
STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO ARGUE IN FAVOR OF FAO TAKING A PRO- 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  00702  01 OF 04  210658Z 
BIOTECH APPROACH AND SUPPORT THE SAFETY OF U.S. DONATED 
BIOTECH FOOD AID BEFORE 20 PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM 
DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. 
 
APRIL 2002: MISSION NOTIFIED FAO THAT THE CONVENTION ON 
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY HAD POSTED AN FAO PAPER ON GENETIC END 
USE RESTRICTION TECHNOLOGY (GURTS) THAT HAD NOT BEEN 
APPROVED BY ANY FAO BODY.  (THE PAPER WAS BIASED AND NOT 
SUPPORTED BY SOUND SCIENCE.) FAO CALLED IT TO THE ATTENTION 
OF THE CBD SECRETARIAT.  (4/3/02 HEILEMAN/FRESCO LETTER) 
 
MAY 2002: MISSION SUCCESSFULLY REQUESTED FUNDING FOR FIVE 
MID-LEVEL DIPLOMATS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERNATIONAL 
VISITORS PROGRAM VISIT TO THE U.S. BIOTECHNOLOGY WAS ONE OF 
THE TOPICS ADDRESSED IN THE VISIT.  (03 ROME 503) 
 
JULY 2002: WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER: U.S. 
DELEGATION SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED INCLUSION OF STRONG 
BIOTECH LANGUAGE IN THE DECLARATION OF THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ3126 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  00702  02 OF 04  210658Z 
ACTION SSO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   ANHR-00  EB-00    E-00     UTED-00  TEDE-00 
      IO-00    OIC-02   SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  SAS-00     /002W 
                  ------------------3924CA  210659Z /38 
R 210609Z FEB 03 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8361 
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2557 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
USEU BRUSSELS 3131 
AMEMBASSY MEXICO 
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 000702 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EB FOR LARSON 
IO/EDA: WINNICK AND KOTOK; EB/TPP KLEMM AND MALAC/TPP/ATT 
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS;REICH/HUGHES 
USAID FOR JOSETTE LEWIS 
USTR FOR RICHARD WHITE 
ATHENS FOR JMCLEVERLEY 
MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL 
NAIROBI FOR UNEP 
 
FROM FODAG 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  00702  02 OF 04  210658Z 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS:  AORC, UN, FAO, WFP, ETRD, EAGR, EAID 
SUBJECT:  U.S. MISSION ROME AND BIOTECHNOLOGY IN 2002 
 
FIVE YEARS LATER.  MISSION AND WASHINGTON AGENCIES ORGANIZED 
A U.S./IFPRI SPONSORED SYMPOSIUM ON BIOTECHNOLOGY, FEATURING 
NORMAN BORLAUG AND OPENED BY THE NIGERIAN MINISTER OF 
AGRICULTURE.  A STANDING ROOM AUDIENCE OF WORLD FOOD SUMMIT 
DELEGATES AND ITALIAN OFFICIALS HEARD POWERFUL PRESENTATIONS 
IN FAVOR OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR THE DEVELOPING 
WORLD. (BBC MORNING NEWS PICKED UP THE EVENT.)  ACTING PERM 
REP HOSTED A DINNER FOR BORLAUG AND OTHER SYMPOSIUM 
PARTICIPANTS WITH SENIOR FAO OFFICIALS AND OTHER WORLD FOOD 
SUMMIT HEADS OF DELEGATION. (02 ROME 3214) 
 
JULY AND AUGUST 2002: MISSION STAFF MET WITH FAO DEPUTY 
DIRECTOR GENERAL TO INFORM HIM THAT FAO WAS BEING CITED AS A 
SOURCE OF INCORRECT INFORMATION ON THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL, 
WITH DISASTROUS IMPLICATIONS FOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN ACCEPTANCE 
OF BIOTECH FOOD AID.  THE FAO AGREED TO CORRECT THE DOCUMENT 
IN QUESTION (A LETTER TO UN UNDERSECRETARY OSHIMA) AND 
ADVISE ITS REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES. (02 ROME 3508) 
 
AUGUST 2002:  ACTING CHIEF OF MISSION AND AGRICULTURAL 
COUNSELOR MET WITH FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL AND FAO SENIOR STAFF 
TO ENSURE THAT FAO WAS FOLLOWING UP ON ITS AGREEMENT TO 
CORRECT THE MISINFORMATION.  (02 3508, 3676, 3899, 4048) 
 
AUGUST 2002:  MISSION MAINTAINED DAILY COMMUNICATION WITH 
SENIOR FAO OFFICIALS ON THE NEED FOR THE FAO TO SEND A 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  00702  02 OF 04  210658Z 
POSITIVE PUBLIC MESSAGE ON THE SAFETY OF BIOTECH FOOD AID. 
THE FAO/WHO STATEMENT ON BIOTECH ENGINEERED FOOD ISSUED AT 
THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REFLECTED THIS 
UNREMITTING MISSION (BACKED UP BY OTHER USG) PRESSURE. 
 
JULY 2002: MISSION SUCCESSFULLY MOBILIZED USG FUNDING FOR 
TWO DEVELOPING COUNTRY PARTICIPANTS AND ONE USG PARTICIPANT 
TO PARTICIPATE IN AN FAO EXPERT WORKSHOP ON "THE IMPACT OF 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ON BIOTECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES."  (02 ROME 3648). 
 
AUGUST 2002:  MISSION STAFF EXPRESSED CONCERNS WITH PROPOSED 
SCOPE OF WORK OF WORLD BANK (WB) INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENT ON 
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO FAO'S ASSISTANT 
DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR AGRICULTURE. FAO WILL BE CLOSELY 
INVOLVED IN THE WB EFFORT. 
 
OCTOBER 2002: MISSION WORKED CLOSELY WITH WFP STAFF ON 
PREPARATION OF THE BACKGROUND DOCUMENT ON BIOTECH FOOD 
PRESENTED TO THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM EXECUTIVE BOARD SESSION. 
AMBASSADOR HALL'S STATEMENT TO THE BOARD ARGUED STRONGLY IN 
FAVOR OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN NATIONS ACCEPTING BIOTECH 
ENGINEERED FOOD AID TO PREVENT A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN 
THE REGION. USDEL WORKED CLOSELY WITH BOARD RAPPORTEUR TO 
ENSURE THAT THE BOARD'S CONCLUSION FAITHFULLY REFLECTED U.S. 
VIEWS.  (02 ROME 5226) 
 
OCTOBER 2002: MISSION WROTE TO FAO NOTING NUMEROUS ERRORS IN 
AN FAO PUBLICATION, "THE BIOTECHNOLOGY GLOSSARY." TAKEN 
TOGETHER THE ERRORS SHOWED A FAILURE TO SUBJECT THE GLOSSARY 
TO A BALANCED AND SCIENTIFIC REVIEW AND REVEALED AN ANTI- 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  00702  02 OF 04  210658Z 
BIOTECH BIAS.  THE FAO WELCOMED THE COMMENTS AND PROMISED TO 
TAKE THEM INTO CONSIDERATION IN FUTURE EDITIONS.  AN FAO 
SENIOR STAFFER ASKED FOR U.S. COLLABORATION ON FUTURE 
EDITIONS.  (HEILEMAN/FRESCO LETTER) 
 
OCTOBER 2002: FAO COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES.  U.S. 
WORKED WITH LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES TO ENSURE THAT THE (ANTI- 
BIOTECH) FAO CODE OF CONDUCT ON BIOTECHNOLOGY REMAINS 
MORIBUND.  USDEL SUCCESSFULLY ARGUED FOR U.S. COMMENTS ON 
GENETIC END USE TECHNOLOGY (GURTS) TO BE APPENDED TO A GURTS 
REPORT TO BE SENT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. 
THE U.S. STATEMENT CALLED ON FAO TO PROVIDE ACCURATE 
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON BIOTECHNOLOGY, PARTICULARLY 
BEARING IN MIND THE CURRENT FOOD CRISIS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
(02 ROME 5323) 
 
NOVEMBER 2002: MISOFF CALLED FAO'S ATTENTION TO A MISLEADING 
AND BIASED STATEMENT ON THE OUTCOME OF THE COMMISSION ON 
GENETIC RESOURCES AS REGARDS BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE FAO'S 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ3127 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  00702  03 OF 04  210659Z 
ACTION SSO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   ANHR-00  EB-00    E-00     UTED-00  TEDE-00 
      IO-00    OIC-02   SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  SAS-00     /002W 
                  ------------------3924D6  210659Z /38 
R 210609Z FEB 03 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8362 
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2558 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
USEU BRUSSELS 3132 
AMEMBASSY MEXICO 
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 000702 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EB FOR LARSON 
IO/EDA: WINNICK AND KOTOK; EB/TPP KLEMM AND MALAC/TPP/ATT 
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS;REICH/HUGHES 
USAID FOR JOSETTE LEWIS 
USTR FOR RICHARD WHITE 
ATHENS FOR JMCLEVERLEY 
MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL 
NAIROBI FOR UNEP 
 
FROM FODAG 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  00702  03 OF 04  210659Z 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS:  AORC, UN, FAO, WFP, ETRD, EAGR, EAID 
SUBJECT:  U.S. MISSION ROME AND BIOTECHNOLOGY IN 2002 
 
ELECTRONIC BIOTECH NEWS.  FAO CALLED IT "A CUT AND PASTE 
ERROR" AND CORRECTED THE STATEMENT. 
 
NOVEMBER 2002:  MISSION STAFF ORGANIZED MEETINGS WITH SENIOR 
FAO STAFF FOR VISITING OES DAS BURNAM TO DISCUSS, INTER 
ALIA, BIOTECH ENGINEERING AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. 
 
NOVEMBER 2002: MISSION STAFF BRIEFED A VISITING GOVERNMENT 
ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO) TEAM LOOKING AT THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN 
FOOD EMERGENCY, INCLUDING THE QUESTION OF BIOTECH FOOD AID. 
MISSION STAFF ORGANIZED MEETINGS FOR THE GAO INVESTIGATORS 
TO DISCUSS THIS QUESTION WITH FAO AND WFP STAFF. 
 
DECEMBER 2002:  AMBASSADOR HALL PRESENTED U.S. VIEWS ON THE 
GROWING HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA TO 
SELECTED ROME-BASED PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE UN FOOD 
AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) AND ASKED THE ASSEMBLED 
REPRESENTATIVES (FROM OECD DONOR COUNTRIES AND RECIPIENT 
COUNTRIES IN AFRICA) TO SPEAK OUT ON THE SAFETY OF U.S. 
BIOTECH ENGINEERED FOOD AID.  AMEMBASSY VATICAN FOLLOWED UP 
WITH A SIMILAR MEETING WITH AMBASSADORS ACCREDITED TO THE 
HOLY SEE.  (02 ROME 5831) 
 
3.  AMBASSADOR'S PRESS RELEASES AND ARTICLES COVERING 
BIOTECH ISSUES  - SEPTEMBER 26- DECEMBER 19, 2002 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  00702  03 OF 04  210659Z 
10/10     PRESS CONFERENCE - TOGETHER WITH AMB. SULLIVAN IN 
HARARE, AMB. HALL DETAILED THE CRITICAL SITUATION IN 
ZIMBABWE, FOLLOWING A NUMBER OF FIELD VISITS AND MEETINGS 
WITH NGOS AND GOZ OFFICIALS.  THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS WELL 
ATTENDED AND GENERATED COVERAGE FROM THE UK'S THE GUARDIAN, 
THE AP, THE GOZ DAILY HERALD AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS. 
 
10/14  RADIO INTERVIEW - UPON THE RETURN FROM HIS TRIP, HE 
CONDUCTED AN INTERVIEW WITH SW RADIO AFRICA, ZIMBABWE'S ONLY 
INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION, FUNDED IN PART BY THE US.  HE 
SPOKE ABOUT THE TRIP AND HIS CONCERNS WITH GOZ POLICIES. 
 
10/22 INTERVIEW - REUTERS ARTICLE ON CRISIS IN SOUTHERN 
AFRICA. 
 
10/23 QUOTE - THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE FEATURED A 
QUOTE FROM THE REUTERS STORY REGARDING ZIMBABWE THAT WAS 
PUBLISHED DURING THE WFP EXECUTIVE BOARD (EB) MEETING. 
 
10/23 PRESS RELEASE - AMB. HALL'S STATEMENT TO THE WFP EB 
MEETING REGARDING HIS TRIP TO SOUTHERN AFRICA AND THE NEED 
FOR BIOTECH FOOD WAS PRESENTED TO THE ENTIRE BOARD AND 
COPIES WERE PROVIDED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL DELEGATION. 
 
11/13 OP-ED -  "AN ARGUMENT THAT KEEPS AFRICA HUNGRY" ON 
BIOTECH FOOD AID WAS PUBLISHED IN BOTH THE EUROPEAN AND US 
VERSIONS OF THE FINANCIAL TIMES. 
 
11/28 INTERVIEW - THANKSGIVING ARTICLE IN AMB. HALL'S 
HOMETOWN PAPER, THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS, ABOUT HIS NEW 
POSITION, THE SITUATION IN AFRICA AND BIOTECH FOOD. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  00702  03 OF 04  210659Z 
 
11/30 ARTICLES - THE AP STORY FILED FROM HIS INTERVIEW WITH 
THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS RESULTED IN COVERAGE IN BOTH THE 
WASHINGTON POST AND THE NEW YORK TIMES 
 
12/5 PRESS CONFERENCE - DURING A TRIP TO BRUSSELS TO SPEAK 
WITH MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COMMISSION, 
US/EU ORGANIZED A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT RESULTED IN A 
REUTERS STORY AND A STORY ON THE SPANISH WIRE, EFE. 
 
12/7 STORY - CORRIERE DELLA SERRA, THE MOST INFLUENTIAL 
ITALIAN DAILY, CARRIED A STORY ON AFRICA AND BIOTECH FOOD, 
BASED ON AMB. HALL'S COMMENTS IN BRUSSELS. 
 
12/9 FOLLOW-UP STORY - REUTERS CARRIED ANOTHER PIECE QUOTING 
AMB. HALL REGARDING THE ZAMBIAN DECISION TO REJECT BIOTECH 
FOOD. 
 
4.  COMMENT:  A LOOK BACK AT THE MISSION'S BIOTECH ADVOCACY 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ3128 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  00702  04 OF 04  210659Z 
ACTION SSO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   ANHR-00  EB-00    E-00     UTED-00  TEDE-00 
      IO-00    OIC-02   SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  SAS-00     /002W 
                  ------------------3924DB  210659Z /38 
R 210609Z FEB 03 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8363 
INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2559 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
USEU BRUSSELS 3133 
AMEMBASSY MEXICO 
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 000702 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EB FOR LARSON 
IO/EDA: WINNICK AND KOTOK; EB/TPP KLEMM AND MALAC/TPP/ATT 
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS;REICH/HUGHES 
USAID FOR JOSETTE LEWIS 
USTR FOR RICHARD WHITE 
ATHENS FOR JMCLEVERLEY 
MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL 
NAIROBI FOR UNEP 
 
FROM FODAG 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  00702  04 OF 04  210659Z 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS:  AORC, UN, FAO, WFP, ETRD, EAGR, EAID 
SUBJECT:  U.S. MISSION ROME AND BIOTECHNOLOGY IN 2002 
 
IN 2002 SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KEEP CLOSE TABS ON THIS 
ISSUE, PARTICULARLY IN UN BODIES THAT PURPORT TO BE NEUTRAL 
BUT THAT MAY CARRY THEIR OWN BIASES.  AT THE FAO, SENIOR 
STAFF ARE POLITICALLY ATTUNED TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL'S 
DESIRE TO STAY OUT OF THE U.S./EU CROSSFIRE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY 
AND HESITATE TO TAKE A STRONG POSITION.  U.S. ADVOCACY HELPS 
MID-LEVEL PRO-BIOTECH FAO OFFICIALS MAKE A SOUND, SCIENCE- 
BASED CASE TO FAO SENIOR OFFICIALS.  HEILEMAN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 2003ROME00702 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED