Montreal's status as UN's biodiversity headquarters is jeopardized.
18 May 2005

Ottawa - In a breathtaking display of political interference, the Canadian government has blocked entry of Africa's chief negotiator for the Cartegena (Biosafety) Protocol to meetings happening next week in Montreal. The Protocol is the 2004 United Nations treaty that governs the international movement of genetically modified crops.

Dr. Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher, the Ethiopian government's chief scientist and its representative to the Montreal-based UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) had his passport returned without the requested Canadian visa yesterday - without explanation.

The renowned scientist submitted his passport to the Canadian embassy on May 5th and had planned to fly to Oslo Norway for inter-regional negotiations prior to attending to Montreal meetings that begin next Wednesday, May 25th. Because his passport was only returned May 17, Dr. Tewolde missed his flight to Oslo.

Labeled dangerous?
Officials at Foreign Affairs and Citizenship and Immigration have been unable to offer an explanation for rejecting the negotiator's visa. Dr. Tewolde has been to Canada often over the past decade participating in intergovernmental negotiations on biodiversity and biosafety. Since the Rio Earth Summit of 1992, Dr. Tewolde has been the undisputed leader among African diplomats addressing environmental issues. However, his positions have not been popular with the Canadian government.

During the negotiations on a UN treaty on crop genetic resources adopted in Rome last year, Dr. Tewolde spoke on behalf of all developing countries in demanding the right of farmers to save and exchange seeds and in opposing "life patenting" (intellectual property over living organisms). In the negotiations that led up to the Cartegena Protocol, the Ethiopian clashed with his Canadian counterparts, demanding higher standards to prevent GM contamination. At UN meetings in Montreal and around the world, Dr. Tewolde has spoken out passionately against Terminator technology (genetically-modified seed that 'dies' at harvest time forcing farmers to buy new seeds each growing season). In February, the Canadian government attempted to block scientific debate over a de facto moratorium on Terminator commercialization in a UN biodiversity meeting in Bangkok. Canada was deeply embarrassed when it's position became known.

The Ethiopian scientist had made it known that he would be coming to Montreal next week to demand the labeling of genetically-modified seeds and food products and to demand that companies and governments accept liability when their seeds lead to GM contamination. Canada has thus far failed to ratify the UN protocol and is known to be opposed to GM both compulsory labeling and liability.

"I had planned to participate in these negotiations and continue with trying to help finalize the unfinished business of protecting biodiversity and human beings," wrote Dr. Tewolde in a letter sent today to Canadian colleagues.

Montreal's UN future in doubt
In 1995, the Canadian, Québec, and Montreal governments persuaded the United Nations to locate the Secretariat for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal. One of the critical requirements for hosting a major UN agency is easy access for foreign diplomats to
attend intergovernmental discussions.

"In barring Dr. Tewolde from participating in the Montreal meetings, Canada is jeopardizing Montreal's future as a United Nations city," said Pat Mooney of ETC Group in Ottawa, ?If Ottawa is doing this for its own political purposes, it is making a grave mistake and tarnishing Canada's reputation in the process." ETC Group is a Canadian-based international civil society organization with observer status in the United Nations. Mooney talked with Dr Tewolde by telephone today.

"This is unacceptable interference," said Anna Paskal of Inter Pares, a Canadian NGO with 30 years experience in partnership with civil society in the South, "The Secretariat of the CBD should be moved out of Canada if the government cannot guarantee foreign diplomats access to international negotiations."

Tewolde himself is concerned about Canada's actions signaling a pattern of obstruction, "Now that I have been prevented from coming to Montreal, who knows which ones of you will be prevented next time?" wrote Tewolde.

A representative of USC Canada who is currently in Ethiopia will visit the Canadian embassy there, on behalf of the Working Group on Canada's Policy With Regards to Agricultural Biotechnology and Developing Countries to demand an explanation and to urge that the government provide a visa immediately. The Working Group is a network of Canadian groups working concerned about the impacts of Canada's support for biotechnology on small farmers and food security in developing countries. The group includes Canadian Organic Growers, ETC Group, Inter Pares, National Farmers Union, United Church of Canada, and USC Canada

Dr. Tewolde is the recipient of a number of awards and honors for his work in defending biodiversity and the environment. In particular, he received the Right Livelihood Award (also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize) from the King of Sweden.
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For information: Pat Mooney, Executive Director, ETC Group; Anna Paskal, Inter Pares; Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Ban Terminator Campaign

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