Cablegate: Vietnam Responds Postiviely to U.S. Codex Chairperson

VZCZCXRO8435
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0590 1410829
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200829Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7855
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4743
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS HANOI 000590

STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND EEB/TPP
AGRICULTURE FOR FAS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM RESPONDS POSTIVIELY TO U.S. CODEX CHAIRPERSON
CANDIDATE, BUT ASEAN TIES MAY PREVAIL

Ref: A) STATE 50336

1. (U) On May 15, visiting U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy
Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Charles
Lambert, accompanied by AgAttache, delivered reftel points on the
candidacy of Dr. Karen Hulebak for Chairperson of the Codex
Alimentarius Commission (Codex) to Dr. Vu Ngoc Quynh, Director of
Vietnam's Codex Office. Dr. Quynh, who will attend the Codex
Commission meetings, was supportive of Dr. Hulebak and noted that
she would be an "ideal chairperson." The final decision on who
Vietnam will support, however, must come from the full Vietnam
National Codex Committee, Dr. Quynh said. Post provided a hard copy
of Dr. Hulebak's CV for Dr. Quynh and the National Committee's
consideration under cover of a May 20 letter. Note: Vietnam's Codex
Office is part of the Ministry of Science and Technology's
Directorate for Standards and Quality, and is joined by
representatives from the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Rural
Development, and Industry and Trade on the full National Codex
Committee. Vice Minister of Science and Technology Mr. Tran Quoc
Thang chairs the National Committee, and Dr. Quynh serves General
Secretary. End note.

2. (SBU) Comment: Dr. Quynh is a good contact of the Foreign
Agricultural Service. Despite his support, it is likely that
Vietnam will ultimately back the candidate from fellow ASEAN member
Malaysia, as is common among ASEAN nations. End comment.

MICHALAK

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