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Belevics from Latvia publishes newspaper criticizing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

BC, Riga, 03.06.2014.Print version
Businessman and politician Guntis Belevics (Latvian Green Party) has published two issues (May and June) of "Dr. Belevics' Newspaper" with articles in Latvian and Russian explaining the problems that Latvia could face due to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). He also urges parents to give their children only natural, healthy and organic food, informs LETA.

When asked if the newspapers are some kind of a pre-election campaign, Belevics said that none of the articles urges readers to vote or not to vote for a particular candidate. He said he wished to distribute the newspaper before the European Parliament (EP) elections, but decided not to as the Corruption Prevention Bureau (CPB) said that it would consider it a form of pre-election campaign, regardless of the fact that Belevics did not run in the EP elections.

 

The politician neither denies, nor confirms his participation in the upcoming Saeima elections this fall. Belevics said he could run for Saeima if the Union of Greens and Farmers' election program focuses on providing children with organic food.

 

"Dr. Belevics' Newspaper" claims that organic farmers in Europe and Latvia oppose the TTIP. Furthermore, the United States' requirements on food labeling are more flexible, as its market is more aggressive and focused only on profit. For example, industrial livestock production is a common form of farming in the United States, and the animals are "pumped" with antibiotics and growth hormones, which is prohibited in Europe. Belevics indicates that the TTIP will only bring unhealthy food for children damaging their health.






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