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Africa's top biosafety expert shut out of negotiations in Montreal
Demand that the Canadian government grant Dr. Tewolde a visa to attend the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal
The Canadian government has blocked entry of Africa's chief negotiator for the Biosafety Protocol who was scheduled to attend meetings beginning next week in Montreal. The Protocol is the United Nations treaty that governs the international movement of genetically engineered (GE) organisms.
Dr. Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher is the Ethiopian government’s chief scientist and its representative to the Montreal-based UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
In denying an entry visa to Dr. Tewolde , the Canadian government is ensuring that one of it's most effective opponents on the issue of regulation of GE organisms will not be at important negotiations in Montreal starting next week. Dr. Tewolde has been to Canada many times, and is well known for his support for mandatory labelling of GE foods and seeds.
"I had planned to participate in these negotiations and continue with trying to help finalize the unfinished business of protecting biodiversity and human beings, " said Dr. Tewolde in a statement to his supporters. “Now that I have been prevented from coming to Montreal, who knows which ones of you will be prevented next time?” he wrote.
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