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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
02ROME1942	2002-04-18 14:11	2011-08-30 01:44	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY	Embassy Rome

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 001942 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL, EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ 
E FOR SHUB 
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI 
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS/SMCAMMON, 
USDA/FAS/BLUM 
STATE/FAS/ITP/MACKE, USDA/FAS/OA/SLUTSKY 
STATE PASS FDS FOR EFLAMM 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  01942  01 OF 04  181506Z 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ETRD IT ETRD IT ETRD IT ETRD IT WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTO
SUBJECT: MISSION-ITALY BIOTECH ACTION PLAN 
 
REF: ROME (A) 1697 (B) ROME 1457 (C) ROME 
 
1726 
 
¶1. MISSION ITALY'S BIOTECH WORKING GROUP 
(BWG) HAS MAPPED OUT ITS ACTION PLAN FOR THE 
NEXT SIX MONTHS. 
 
                              UNCLASSIFIED 
IT REFLECTS THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF AGR, 
ECON, SCI, PA, FCS, LABOR, CG-MILAN, CG- 
NAPLES, AND CG-FLORENCE. 
 
BECAUSE MISSION ITALY SHARES MANY COMMON 
OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES REGARDING U.S. 
BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY WITH OUR COLLEAGUES FROM 
FODAG AND EMBASSY VATICAN, THE PLAN ALSO 
REFLECTS THEIR INPUT AND WORK PRIORITIES FOR 
THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. 
 
¶2.  THE ACTION PLAN IS DIVIDED INTO TWO 
PARTS.  PART I COVERS EMBASSY ITALY'S 
BILATERAL AGENDA; AND PART II COVERS THE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  01942  01 OF 04  181506Z 
COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN EMBASSY ROME, 
EMBASSY VATICAN AND FODAG. 
 
¶3.  THE PRINCIPAL GOALS OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY 
WORKING GROUP ARE TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN U.S. APPROVED BIOTECH 
PRODUCTS AND TO PROMOTE BIOTECHNOLOGY AS AN 
IMPORTANT PART OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN 
DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.  OUR 
STRATEGY IN ITALY IS TO HELP THE GROWING 
NETWORK OF GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIC, INDUSTRIA, 
AND NGO OPINION LEADERS WHO SUPPORT 
BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE ACTION 
PLAN TO COUNTER WELL-ORGANIZED BIOTECH 
OPPONENTS. 
 
BY SUPPORTING THIS POSITIVE NETWORK WITH U.S. 
POLICY MESSAGES, SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGES, AND 
GRASSROOTS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FARMER-TO- 
FARMER CONTACTS, AND DIALOGUE WITH OBJECTIVE 
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER GROUPS, WE WILL 
STRESS THE BENEFITS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY TO 
GROWERS AND CONSUMERS.  WE WILL PROVIDE 
ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION TO 
OPINION LEADERS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RISK, AND 
ABOUT THE INCREASING SOPHISTICATION OF 
BIOTECHNOLOGY. 
 
                              UNCLASSIFIED 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  01942  01 OF 04  181506Z 
WE WILL BREAK DOWN THE FALSE PERCEPTIONS THAT 
HIGH-QUALITY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND 
BIOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE 
BY DEMONSTRATING THAT BIOTECHNOLOGY CAN 
REDUCE THE VULNERABILITY OF MANY QUALITY 
PRODUCTS TO PESTS AND DISEASE WHILE 
PRESERVING THEIR TRADITIONAL QUALITIES. 
 
AT THE EU AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS (E.G. WTO 
AND UN AGENCIES), WE WILL SUPPORT EFFORTS TO 
RESTART THE APPROVALS PROCESS AND REOPEN 
TRADE, AND SUPPORT U.S. POLICY ON PRACTICAL 
APPROACHES TO LABELING AND TRACEABILITY WHICH 
ARE NON-DISCRIMINATORY.  WE ALSO WILL SUPPORT 
THE BIOSAFETY CLEARING HOUSE AND OTHER 
EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE INFORMATION AND 
DECISION MAKING CAPACITY OF DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES WITH REGARD TO BIOTECHNOLOGY. 
 
¶4.  MISSION ITALY'S BIOTECH ACTION PLAN - 
 
OBJECTIVE 1: TEST THE OFT-REPEATED HYPOTHESIS 
THAT 90 PERCENT OF ITALIANS OPPOSE 
AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY.  ACTION: 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ8078 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  01942  02 OF 04  181507Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   AIT-03   CEA-01   CIAE-00  CTME-00  DODE-00 
      ITCE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    EXME-00  E-00     UTED-00  VC-00 
      FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00 
      AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-01   OMB-01   OPIC-01  ACE-00 
      SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      FMP-00   R-00     EPAE-00  ECA-00   DRL-02   G-00     SAS-00 
        /012W 
                  ------------------882DDB  181507Z /38 
P 181411Z APR 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3333 
INFO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE 
AMCONSUL FLORENCE 
AMCONSUL MILAN 
AMCONSUL NAPLES 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2096 
USDOC WASHDC 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 001942 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL, EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ 
E FOR SHUB 
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI 
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS/SMCAMMON, 
USDA/FAS/BLUM 
STATE/FAS/ITP/MACKE, USDA/FAS/OA/SLUTSKY 
STATE PASS FDS FOR EFLAMM 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  01942  02 OF 04  181507Z 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ETRD IT ETRD IT ETRD IT ETRD IT WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTO
SUBJECT: MISSION-ITALY BIOTECH ACTION PLAN 
 
-  ANALYZE THE 2000 POLLING DATA BY REGION, 
DEMOGRAPHICS, INCOME, AND EDUCATION. (PAO, 
EARLY SPRING) 
-  ASSESS WHETHER THESE DATA ACCURATELY 
CAPTURE THE BREADTH OF ITALIAN PUBLIC 
OPINION.    (MISSION ITALY, LATE SPRING) 
 
OBJEC 
TIVE 2:  CREATE DEMAND FOR BIOTECH IN 
ITALY 
ACTION: 
-  BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND 
FARMERS (SPG/SUMMER 2002, CG-MILAN, SCI, FAS) 
-  FARMER-TO-FARMER DIALOGUE TO INTRODUCE 
ITALIAN FARMERS TO U.S. AND EUROPEAN FARMERS 
WITH FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE GROWING BIOTECH 
CROPS. (SUMMER/FALL 2002, FAS) 
 
                              UNCLASSIFIED 
-  SUPPORT ITALIAN BIOTECH INDUSTRY EFFORTS 
TO CREATE GREATER ACCEPTANCE FOR BIOTECH 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  01942  02 OF 04  181507Z 
 
OBJECTIVE 3: CONTINUE CONSUMER 
OUTREACH/EDUCATION  ACTION: 
-  EXPAND DIALOGUE WITH OPEN-MINDED CONSUMER 
AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS (SCI/LABOR/CGS) 
-  DEVELOP LIBRARY OF KEY DOCUMENTS 
TRANSLATED INTO ITALIAN (MISSION) 
-  FUTURE GUEST SPEAKER PROGRAMS: NORMAN 
BORLAUG; ALLISON SNOW; AND ALOYSIUS JUMA 
(MISSION) 
 
OBJECTIVE 4:  USE ITALIAN INTEREST IN 
BILATERAL COOPERATION TO REFOCUS BIOTECH 
DEBATE ON SCIENTIFIC MERITS AND BENEFITS OF 
THE TECHNOLOGY  ACTION: 
-  CONTINUE WORK WITH SANTI COMMISSION TO 
DEVELOP A COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AGREEMENT. 
(FALL, SCI) 
-  ENCOURAGE ITALY TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR 
BIOTECH RESEARCH AND TO BEGIN FIELD-TESTING 
BIOTECH CROPS.  (ONGOING, AGR/SCI/ ECON/CGS) 
 
OBJECTIVE 5: ADVANCE OUR EU TRADE AGENDA 
ACTION: 
-  COORDINATE WITH USEU BRUSSELS AND OTHER EU 
POSTS, AS FOR EXAMPLE DURING THE APRIL ECMIN 
CONFERENCE IN ROME, TO ENSURE THAT GOI 
GENERAL SUPPORT FOR BIOTECH TRANSLATES TO 
ITALIAN PROACTIVITY WITHIN THE EU.  (ECON) 
-  PREPARE PERIODIC BIOTECH STRATEGY 
PROPOSALS FOR WASHINGTON AGENCIES (ECON) 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  01942  02 OF 04  181507Z 
-  CARRY OUT DEMARCHES AS INSTRUCTED AND 
REPORT RESULTS AS APPROPRIATE. (ECON) 
-  IDENTIFY MARKET ACCESS PROBLEMS AS THEY 
ARISE AND REPORT TO WASHINGTON WITH 
APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REMEDIAL 
ACTION (ECON/AGR) 
 
                            UNCLASSIFIED 
¶5.  COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN EMBASSY 
ROME, EMBASSY VATICAN AND FODAG - THE CENTRAL 
FOCUS OF OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IS TO RAISE 
AWARENESS OF THE ADVANTAGES OF BIOTECH FOR 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.  THIS STRATEGY HAS 
RESONANCE FOR FODAG AND VATICAN AS WELL AS 
WITH ITALIAN INSTITUTIONS, OPINION LEADERS, 
JOURNALISTS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.  THE 
BWG TAKES ITS CUE FROM RECENT STATEMENTS BY 
UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE AL LARSON IN WHICH 
HE EFFECTIVELY EXPLAINS THE INTER- 
DEPENDENCIES BETWEEN GOOD GOVERNANCE, 
DEVELOPMENT, TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, 
AGRICULTURE, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ8081 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  01942  03 OF 04  181507Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   AIT-03   CEA-01   CIAE-00  CTME-00  DODE-00 
      ITCE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    EXME-00  E-00     UTED-00  VC-00 
      FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00 
      AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-01   OMB-01   OPIC-01  ACE-00 
      SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      FMP-00   R-00     EPAE-00  ECA-00   DRL-02   G-00     SAS-00 
        /012W 
                  ------------------882DE6  181507Z /38 
P 181411Z APR 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3334 
INFO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE 
AMCONSUL FLORENCE 
AMCONSUL MILAN 
AMCONSUL NAPLES 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2097 
USDOC WASHDC 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 001942 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL, EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ 
E FOR SHUB 
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI 
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS/SMCAMMON, 
USDA/FAS/BLUM 
STATE/FAS/ITP/MACKE, USDA/FAS/OA/SLUTSKY 
STATE PASS FDS FOR EFLAMM 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  01942  03 OF 04  181507Z 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ETRD IT ETRD IT ETRD IT ETRD IT WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTO
SUBJECT: MISSION-ITALY BIOTECH ACTION PLAN 
 
"WE NEED TO USE ALL THE TOOLS AT OUR 
DISPOSAL: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRADE AND NEW 
TECHNOLOGIES.  IN SHORT, BIOTECHNOLOGY IS NOT 
THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT; RATHER, 
SCIENTIFICALLY-ASSESSED BIOTECH CROP 
VARIETIES ARE A TOOL FOR ACHIEVING 
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT." 
 
OBJECTIVE 1:  ENCOURAGE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
TO BECOME MORE EXPRESSIVE PROPONENTS OF THE 
TECHNOLOGY.  ACTION: 
-  USE THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT TO BUILD 
CONSENSUS IN FAVOR OF THE TECHNOLOGY. 
PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR US AND DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES TO JOINTLY ENDORSE THE BENEFITS OF 
BIOTECH AS A KEY TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 
(JUNE 10-12, FODAG) 
(NOTE: SECRETARY VENEMAN HAS CONFIRMED HER 
PARTICIPATION AT THE WFS.  U/S LARSON IS 
EXPECTED TO ATTEND.) 
-  BUILD ON THE EINAUDI FOUNDATION SPONSORED 
VISIT OF PROFESSOR CHARLES ARNTZEN, ARIZONA 
STATE UNIVERSITY ALOYSIUS JUMA TO DISCUSS THE 
NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  01942  03 OF 04  181507Z 
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD. 
(MAY 29-31, SCI, FODAG, VATICAN) 
 
                            UNCLASSIFIED 
-  VISIT BY A DELEGATION OF AFRICAN 
BIOTECHNOLOGISTS FROM AFRICABIO, THE AFRICAN 
BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, AND PROF. 
JUMA, HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
 -  STRENGTHEN TIES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL 
CENTER FOR GENETIC ENGINEERING AND BIOLOGY, 
TRIESTE; AND THE OVERSEAS AGRICULTURAL 
INSTITUTE, FLORENCE.  (SPRING/SUMMER, SCI) 
 
OBJECTIVE 2:  SUPPORT EMBASSY VATICAN 
INITIATIVE TO TAKE SENIOR VATICAN DELEGATION 
TO SEE FIELD RESEARCH TO LEARN ABOUT THE 
POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. 
ACTION: 
-  IDENTI 
FY APPROPRIATE VATICAN OFFICIALS TO 
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. (SPRING/SUMMER; 
VATICAN) 
-  IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE COUNTRY(IES) FOR THE 
DELEGATION TO VISIT.  (SPRING/SUMMER; 
VATICAN, FAS) 
-  SECURE NECESSARY FUNDING.  (SUMMER; 
VATICAN, FAS, PAO) 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  01942  03 OF 04  181507Z 
OBJECTIVE 3:  SUPPORT FODAG EFFORT TO SECURE 
U.S. EXPERT TO ASSIST FAO IN DEVELOPING ITS 
OWN POSITION ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS 
AND BIOTECH.  ACTION: 
-  (MAR/APR; FODAG) 
 
OBJECTIVE 4:  CONTINUE MEETINGS BETWEEN FAO'S 
WORKING GROUP ON BIOTECH AND OUR OWN BIOTECH 
WORKING GROUP  ACTION: 
-  SCHEDULE LUNCH.  (MAY; FODAG, SCI, FAS) 
 
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS 
 
APRIL 19  EU ECMIN MTG IN ROME TO DISCUSS 
BIOTECH STRATEGY 
 
                            UNCLASSIFIED 
MAY 29-31  VISIT BY PROFESSOR CHARLES 
ARNTZEN, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.  SPONSORED 
BY THE EINAUDI FOUNDATION. 
 
JUNE 10-12  WORLD FOOD SUMMIT, ROME 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ8082 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  01942  04 OF 04  181507Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   AIT-03   CEA-01   CIAE-00  CTME-00  DODE-00 
      ITCE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    EXME-00  E-00     UTED-00  VC-00 
      FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00 
      AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OES-01   OMB-01   OPIC-01  ACE-00 
      SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      FMP-00   R-00     EPAE-00  ECA-00   DRL-02   G-00     SAS-00 
        /012W 
                  ------------------882DE9  181507Z /38 
P 181411Z APR 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3335 
INFO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE 
AMCONSUL FLORENCE 
AMCONSUL MILAN 
AMCONSUL NAPLES 
USDA FAS WASHDC 2098 
USDOC WASHDC 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 001942 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL, EB/TPP/ATT FOR PEREZ 
E FOR SHUB 
STATE PASS USTR FOR STROJE, NOVELLI 
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS/SMCAMMON, 
USDA/FAS/BLUM 
STATE/FAS/ITP/MACKE, USDA/FAS/OA/SLUTSKY 
STATE PASS FDS FOR EFLAMM 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  01942  04 OF 04  181507Z 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ETRD IT ETRD IT ETRD IT ETRD IT WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTO
SUBJECT: MISSION-ITALY BIOTECH ACTION PLAN 
 
JULY 10-12  RAVELLO BIOTECH CONFERENCE, 
SPONSORED BY TOR VERGATA UNIVERSITY AND THE 
INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF AGRICULTURAL 
BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH 
 
LATE SEPTEMBER  AFRICABIO VISIT WITH PROF. 
JUMA, HARVARD UNIVERSITY.    SEMBLER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 2002ROME01942 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

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Viewing cable 02ROME1942, MISSION-ITALY BIOTECH ACTION PLAN