VZCZCXYZ0043
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBP #0469 1431610
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221610Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9160

UNCLAS BAMAKO 000469 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EEB/TPP/MTA FOR CHEVER VOLTMER 
EEB/TPP/ABT GARY A CLEMENTS 
EEB/TPP MIKAEL LURIE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EAGR EAID ECON TBIO ML
SUBJECT: MALI'S RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL FOOD 
SECURITY INITIATIVE 
 
REF: STATE 052628 
 
In response to reftel, Embassy officials met with Sekouba 
Cisse, Director of Political Affairs at the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, on May 20.  Cisse welcomed the President's 
global food security initiative and praised continued 
cooperation between the U.S. and Mali.  He also welcomed the 
U.S. offer to reduce agricultural subsidies in order to 
ensure the success of the Doha development round.  Cisse did 
not directly address the issue of food export restrictions 
beyond noting that every country must make its own policy 
decisions.  Concerning agriculture biotechnology, Cisse said 
the Malian government was still discussing the pros and cons 
of biotechnology and said the need to purchase new seeds each 
year would pose a significant obstacle for Malian farmers. 
Cisse's Deputy, Amadou Toure, added that anti-globalization 
actives in Mali were currently guiding the national debate 
over biotechnology due to their ability to "yell louder" than 
biotech proponents. 
MCCULLEY