Cablegate: Czechs Show Mixed Reaction to Eu's Lackluster

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DE RUEHPG #1240 3240942
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200942Z NOV 07 ZDK
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INFO RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC PRIORITY

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STATE EUR/ERA FOR SHAWN GRAY, EEB/TPP/ABT/BTT FOR JACK BOBO
USTR FOR MELISSA CLARKSON
USDA/FAS FOR ELIZABETH JONES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD EUN EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS SHOW MIXED REACTION TO EU'S LACKLUSTER
PROGRESS ON BIOTECH

REF: STATE 153542

1. Post delievered reftel demarche to Ministry of Environment
Genetically-Modified Organism (GMO) Department Director
Zuzana Doubkova November 13. Doubkova said official Czech
positions on recent biotech developments in the EU have not
been determined. Unofficially, she said the Ministry of
Environment's positions are mixed, and the Ministry will vote
on these positions November 19. Doubkova noted that the
positions will be discussed with other ministries before
becoming the official position of the Czech Republic, but she
provided no definite timeframe when this would happen.

2. Unofficially, Doubkova provided the following
working-level positions of the Ministry of Environment, which
is the responsible ministry for GMO:

-- The Czech Republic generally supports the WTO ruling with
a few exceptions. Specifically, it supports the national
right of moratoriums on plantings (such as the case of
Hungary). For voting purposes, the Czechs will vote in
support of plantings but will abstain on votes for import and
processing of GMO.

-- The Czechs will support EU Environment Commissioner Dimas'
recommendation not to approve Bt11 and 1507 until a study
ordered by the EC on these varieties is published. The
publication of the study is currently scheduled for spring
2008.

-- The Minister of Environment and Minister of Agriculture
have different opinions on whether suspension of commercial
planting of pesticide biotech products violates EU rules.
Doubkova could not offer an opinion on which way the Czechs
will go in this case.

-- The Czechs will not support Italy's proposal for a
moratorium on authorizations of biotech products.

3. Post will provide updates as the Czech government develops
its official position on these biotech issues.
Graber

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