Cablegate: Latvia: No Position yet On Soy Issue but Against Biotech

VZCZCXRO3574
PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHRA #0451 2401437
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281437Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6025
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS RIGA 000451

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT, AND EUR/ERA
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS USTR USDA/FAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EUN TBIO LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA: NO POSITION YET ON SOY ISSUE BUT AGAINST BIOTECH
ANIMAL FEED

REF: SECSTATE 86566

1. (SBU) Latvia is aware of the suspension of U.S. soy product
imports, but has not developed a formal position on the issue.
Pol/Econ Off delivered reftel demarche to Inese Birgele, head of the
MFA's International Trade and Investment Division, and to Janis
Briedis, deputy director of the MOA's International Affairs and
Strategy Analysis Department. Mr. Briedis said the GOL is very
unlikely to raise the issue during the September 7 Agricultural
Council meeting.

2. (SBU) Regarding the GOL's general position on biotechnology
products, Mr. Briedis said that Latvian law completely bans their
use or cultiviation. Also, the Parliament's European Affairs
Committee decided that Latvia will vote 'no' in the European Union
on licensing new biotech products for cultivation and on providing
market access to biotech products, including livestock feed.

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