The cables also reveal information about how the opposition to GMOs was being handled in Spain, and the US interference in Spanish internal affairs to stop positions against these crops and the agribusiness corporations.

The European Union has put obstacles on GM crops. In fact, genetically modified corn is only cultivated in six countries of the EU (Spain, Czech Republic, Portugal, Romania, Poland and Slovakia), while the so called “safeguard clause” has been implemented in another six countries -Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Luxembourg- allowing them to ban these crops for considering them “a threat to human health and the environment”.

Besides, France explained that MON 810, the corn manufactured by US agribusiness giant corporation Monsanto, has “potential long term negative toxic effects in earthworms, isopods, nematodes and monarch butterflies”. Something which the corporation considered was the result of the influence of environmental organizations on the French government, according to cables leaked to the press.

According to the cables, Monsanto believes the position is the result of “a de facto agreement between the French government, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, whereby the French government would support the free GM movement if the activists turned a blind eye on the nuclear initiatives of President Nicolas Sarkozy”.

A classified briefing of the US embassy in France shows that the US administration considered taking retaliations against the French and other European governments over their refusal to cultivate genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Democracy Now! reported that in the leaked cable, Ambassador Craig Roberts said: “Europe is moving backwards not forwards on this issue with France playing a leading role, along with Austria, Italy and even the Commission.”

The report added: “We see the cultivation ban as a first step, at least by anti-GMO advocates, who will move next to ban or further restrict imports”, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported.

After the revelation of these cables and particularly given the role played by the Spanish government in the promotion of GMOs, Friends of the Earth, Ecologistas en Acción, Greenpeace, COAG, Plataforma Rural and CECU are demanding the Spanish minister Rosa Aguilar that the GM policy “stops being controlled by transnational corporations” and demand an “immediate moratorium on its cultivation in Spain”.

A cyberaction to send a letter to the minister is available at Greenpeace’s website.

Photo: http://www.tierra.org/