Cablegate: Nicaragua: Reaction to President's Food Security

VZCZCXRO4323
RR RUEHLMC
DE RUEHMU #0680 1482041
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 272041Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2668
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000680

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE PASS USTR AND USAID
STATE FOR EEB/TPP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAGR ETRD TBIO PGOV NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: REACTION TO PRESIDENT'S FOOD SECURITY
INITIATIVE

REFS: A) MANAGUA 664, B) STATE 52628, C) STATE 39410

1. Post delivered Ref B demarche on the President's food security
initiatives to senior and working level GON officials. On May 22,
Ambassador Trivelli briefed Foreign Minister Samuel Santos on the
President's $770 million response to the food crisis, and explained
our goals in the Doha Development Round. The Ambassador also
expressed our interest in seeing Nicaragua continue to avoid
implementing export restrictions and embrace biotechnology.
Minister Santos expressed general agreement with our points, but did
not elaborate.

2. On May 22, Emboffs briefed Ministry of Trade, Development, and
Industry Director General for International Trade Sonia Somarriba
and Acting President of the National Commission for GMO Risk
Analysis Javier Slaquit on Ref B points and have requested meetings
with Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock officials. USAID and
USDA, through the Special Donors Group on Food Security, are also
working with the GON to coordinate food security assistance. Post
will continue to seek opportunities to deliver Ref A points during
the next several weeks and will report any substantive responses.

TRIVELLI

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