BAHRAIN: CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY

UNCLAS MANAMA 001909 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI BERNS, OES/ETC LEE, AND EB/TPP/ABT SINGH USDA FOR FAS/BIG PASSINO AMMAN FOR WHITTLESEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ETRD EAGR EAID TBIO BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY REF: STATE 259661 Post contacted Engineer Zahwa Al Kuwari, Director of the Environment Assessment and Planning Directorate, General Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment, and Wildlife, to discuss reftel. Kuwari said Bahrain is not a party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and does not plan to become a member in the coming year. Furthermore, GOB representatives will not be attending the meeting in Montreal, Canada May - June 2005. When asked what if anything Bahrain is doing in terms of biosafety, Kuwari stated the GOB is not doing anything at this time as its priority is to strengthen compliance with existing conventions. MONROE