Cablegate: Latvia Likely to Support Ec October 10 Vote On Biotech Corn

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TAGS: TBIO ETRD EUN ECON LG

SUBJECT: LATVIA LIKELY TO SUPPORT EC OCTOBER 10 VOTE ON BIOTECH CORN
AND POTATO

REF: STATE 140452

1. (SBU) PolEconOff delivered reftel points on October 5 to Inese
Aleksejeva, Head of the Ministry of Agriculture's Biotech and Novel
Food Division, and Inese Birgele, Head of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs International Trade and Investment Division. PolEconOff
urged the GOL to support the European Commission's proposal to
approve for both food and feed purposes three biotech corn varieties
and one biotech potato variety. Birgele did not have any substantive
comments and said the decision falls under the purview of the
Minister of Agriculture. Aleksejeva responded that the GOL is
expected to vote in favor of all draft decisions of the Commission.

BAILEY

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