Cablegate: Latvia Not Willing to Push On Geographical Indications

VZCZCXRO9972
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHRA #0524 2991129
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261129Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6105
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS RIGA 000524

SIPDIS

USTR FOR TANUJA GARDE AND DAWN SHACKLEFORD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EUN LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA NOT WILLING TO PUSH ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS

SENSITIVE

REF: STATE 104985

(SBU) Latvia has no Geographical Indications (GIs) to defend, but is
not willing to push against the European consensus proposals.
Econoff delivered reftel points to Juris Stalmeisters, Director of
the MFA Economic Relations Department on October 23. Stalmeisters
noted that he was already familiar with the U.S. position on the GI
register, GI extension, and TRIPS and the CBD. He indicated that
while Latvia is always ready to listen to the U.S. arguments, the EC
stance is also well known and Latvia is not in a position to ask for
changes in those views. He never expressed direct support for the
EC/Swiss positions, but made it clear that Latvia would not push
against countries with a larger stake in the GI debate. COMMENT:
In the current severe national economic crisis, Latvia has become
even more dependent on European Commission loans and other forms of
financial support. This dependence will make Latvia even less
likely to break ranks.

GARBER

© Scoop Media