TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY NOT EAGER TO SUPPORT

UNCLAS ANKARA 006775 SIPDIS NAIROBI PLEASE PASS PERMREP KAREN LEVINE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IO SENV EU TU SUBJECT: TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY NOT EAGER TO SUPPORT FRENCH PROPOSAL FOR UNEO REF: STATE 295120 ¶1. Regional Environment Officer discussed U.S. position on French-proposed UNEO (reftel) with MFA Environment Office Head Asli Oral. Oral said that the government had been approached by the French Embassy and appreciated hearing the U.S. position. She said the Foreign Ministry was not eager to support the French proposal, but they were awaiting responses from the Legal Department and from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry before taking a formal position. Oral thought that Turkey would have a reply in about 3 weeks. She asked for any information about a coordinated G-77 or EU response. ¶2. Oral said that she was especially concerned about a parallel French NGO proposal, which enjoyed considerable support from French President Chirac, to create a World Environment Organization. She was very critical of this proposal, especially provisions to give the UN authority to impose sanctions and the establishment of a "World Environment Court." She feared that environmental sanctions would allow French interests to impose trade restrictions against the goods of less developed countries. EDELMAN