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