Tobacco Documents Online

Appendix J • 0 0 From: HGAISCH --VCH0021A Date and time 01/30/89 10:58:51 To: CVONMAER--VUS0212A Cynthia Von Maeres TO : Ms. Cynthia von Maerstetten FROM : Helmut Gaisch (S&T) SUBJECT: BOCA RATON - FOLLOW-UP Dear Cynthia, These are my ideas on the possible use of CORESTA in a general lobbying effort aimed at dissuading WHO from continuing with their broad-based health advocacy programmes. Apart from WHO as the final target organisation, we have given consideration to the following players The FAO, the ILO and politicians from individual countries, in particular from the third-world. Let us first turn to CORESTA. CORESTA is an organisat- ion of industry scientists which was founded in the 1960's. It deals with tobacco chemistry, tobacco technology, agronomy and phyto-pathology. In doing so, a high professional standard has been reached, in particular in the agricultural branches. The scientists involved in CORESTA are there- fore the grass-root level in terms of scientific and technologic expertise. The persons involved are technicians and not lobbyists. . It is nevertheless quite conceivable to add a- political programme to the present CORESTA activities. In order to do so, a broad consensus amongst CORESTA member companies would have to be reached at the executive level. It must be remembered that a major part of CORESTA membership is held by state companies or monopolies. Once such a consensus to add political lobbying to the activities of CORESTA is reached, a working group or task force has to be formed. For this persons have to be chosen who have, besides their technological background, the necessary skills for political work. A possible strategy would be to concentrate on national politicians in order to strengthen their position when defending tobacco as a cash crop. Individual countries and the FAO should be encouraged to challenge the use of international funds by the WHO on health.advocacy programmes, which are aimed at changing the behaviour of the populations rather than to improve the general health status and the economic status of the populations concerned. I would like to cite Dr. Ntaba of Malawi who commented during the meeting of the WHO's 81'st executive board meeting, held in Geneva on 11-12th January, 1988 : "...This industry (added : the tobacco industry) plays a crucial part in the economy of many countries and its disappearance will contribute to their disintegrat- CYnthia von 101acrestetten

! 0 ion, for their economy lacks totally of the flexibility which would allow them to evolve towards a situation from which the tobacco industry would be excluded. Dr. Ntaba views the campaign of WHO as a possible source of troubles..." A decision by PM to enter into a project of activating CORESTA would necessitate the following steps : 1. Basic decision : Y/N 2. Nomination of a project leader and allocation of the necessary resources, ie. direct line to the individual PM CORESTA members. 3. Worldwide information programme amongst the manage- ment of CORESTA members, in order to prepare them for a consensus on this matter. 4. Creation of a CORESTA task force and the allocation of the necessary resources. 5. Establishment of a work programme consisting largely of a visiting schedule of key people in third-world countries (ministries of finance, agriculture, commerce and/or health) and national delegates to the FAO, Rome, and WHO, Geneva. 6. Timetable : CORESTA meetings only take place once a year. In any case, without substantial lobbying amongst member companies it would be futile to bring such a matter before the CORESTA executive. This means, in practice, that even a quick decision would result in a CORESTA group only becoming operational in one to two years. I hope that this information is useful to you. I am available to discuss any aspect of this matter when you wish. I Kind regards and best wishes, Helmut Gaisch cc: MBOURLAS--VCH0021A Manuel Bourlas MHORST --VCH0021A Michael Horst BROBINSO--VCH0021A Bernie Robinson 0