Cablegate: German Reactions to U.S. Proposals On "Global
VZCZCXRO1315
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHRL #1175 2651303
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221303Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5270
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD FAS WASHINGTON DC 0184
UNCLAS BERLIN 001175
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ETRD PREL UNGA GM
SUBJECT: German Reactions to U.S. Proposals on "Global
Partnering for Food Security"
REF: STATE 093894, BERLIN 001134
1. (U) Summary: While supporting the results of the G-8
meeting in Washington during the week of September 14,
Germany prefers to maintain the G-8 response to a global
partnership on food security in line with agreements reach
by the Agricultural Ministers in l'Aquilla in April.
However, Germany will stand in the way of consensus. End
Summary.
2. (U) In follow-up to the G8 meeting in Washington DC on
September 14-15 regarding world food security, Deputy
Director for International Affairs in the German Federal
Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Hans-Christoph Eiden (who was
also present in WDC) provided some additional detail to the
German position. Eiden said that Germany would support the
summary paper prepared during the WDC meeting. He pointed
out that Germany is in favor of the idea of a Global
Partnership as agreed in l'Aquilla. However, Germany is
less interested in a 'Global Partnering for Food Security'
as proposed by the United States. Eiden expressed sympathy
for the position of developing countries who want to be
treated as equals in the process instead of implementing a
system of leaders and followers.
3. (U) Eiden said that Germany is of the opinion that the
existing structures at the United Nations and at the World
Bank should be utilized for food security programs since
this is also in the interest of developing countries.
Germany is not interested in a new special fund for food
security. Eiden said that there is already enough money
available to perform the needed programs. He believes that
it is better to make use of existing structures regardless
of their deficiencies rather than implementing new systems.
4. (U) However, Eiden also made clear that Germany is open
to compromise for the sake of progress. Germany would not
be interested in blocking any progress and insisting on the
use of certain structures to secure and improve world food
supplies. Eiden was not prepared to further elaborate about
the German position in the next meetings in New York during
the UN General Assembly.
Murphy