INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000228

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

STATE FOR OES/OA (JEAN-PIERRE PLE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS SENV LO IWC
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION

REF: SECSTATE 26564


1. (SBU) POLOFF DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE TO HENRIETA
BALOGHOVA OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURE AND LANDSCAPE
PROTECTION AT THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT (MOE).
BALOGHOVA RECENTLY ASSUMED HER PORTFOLIO AND COULD NOT
IMMEDIATELY COMMENT ON SLOVAKIA'S POSSIBLE MEMBERSHIP
IN THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION (IWC). LATER,
SHE REMARKED THAT DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MEMBERSHIP
WOULD SOON BE IN THE INTER-MINISTERIAL REVIEW PROCESS,
BUT SHE FEARED THE HIGH ANNUAL FEES WOULD FINALLY
DISSUADE GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL. THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC
EXPRESSED INTEREST IN JOINING THE IWC IN THE PAST,
HOWEVER THERE HAD BEEN NO NEW MOMENTUM TO MOVE THE
APPROVAL PROCESS FORWARD SINCE LAST YEAR. DUE TO THIS
DELAY, IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY SLOVAKIA WILL JOIN PRIOR
TO THIS YEAR'S MEETING IN SORRENTO.


2. (SBU) AN OFFICIAL FROM THE MFA'S DEPARTMENT OF UN
SPECIALIZED AGENCIES, WHICH ALSO INFLUENCES
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, STATED GREENPEACE
WILL MEET WITH MINISTRY OFFICIALS THE SECOND WEEK OF
MARCH. GREENPEACE'S REGIONAL OUTREACH EFFORT IN CENTRAL
EUROPE LAST YEAR WAS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND MEMBERS OFTEN
MET WITH THE MINISTRIES. HOWEVER, THEIR ACTIVITIES
ATTRACTED THE ATTENTION OF MEMBERS OF THE IWC, WHO VOTE
FOR THE RETURN OF COMMERCIAL WHALING. MFA OFFICIALS
NOTED THAT JAPANESE EMBASSY OFFICIALS WERE ACTIVE
LOBBYISTS LAST YEAR AGAINST SLOVAKIA JOINING THE IWC.

THAYER

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