WHALES DEMARCHE

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001810 SIPDIS STATE FOR OES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EFIS NL IWC SUBJECT: WHALES DEMARCHE REF: STATE 114111 ¶1. DUTCH IWC COMMISSIONER VON DER ASSEN TOLD EMBASSY HE LARGELY SHARES US POSITIONS CONTAINED IN REFTEL. WITH RESPECT TO AGENDA ITEM 7 (SANCTUARIES),VON DER ASSEN SAID THE NETHERLANDS MAY CO-SPONSOR THE AUSTRALIAN/NEW ZEALAND PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A SANCTUARY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. WITH RESPECT TO AGENDA ITEM 12 (REVISED MANAGEMENT SCHEME), VON DER ASSEN IS HAPPY WITH US SUPPORT FOR THE REVISED DRAFT. ¶2. VON DER ASSEN SAID HE WANTS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE US DELEGATION DURING THE MEETING OF THE CORE GROUP OF LIKE- MINDED COUNTRIES IN AUCKLAND EARLY NEXT WEEK, AND THE IWC ANNUAL MEETING IN ADELAIDE, JULY 3-6. ¶4. PLEASE NOTE A CHANGE IN VON DER ASSEN'S PHONE NUMBER. IT NOW IS 31-70-378 4921. SCHNEIDER