Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
05TELAVIV2506 | 2005-04-21 08:45:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Tel Aviv |
1. (C) Summary: Minister of Environment Shalom Simhon and Finnish Embassy Counselor Matti Tulonen expressed their support for Israeli-Palestinian cooperation on environmental issues in meetings with NEA Senior S&T Advisor Charles Lawson. The GOI Ministry of Environment is proposing that the Israeli-Palestinian Environmental Experts Committee (EEC) meet every six months, with regular working groups on Gaza and the West Bank meeting monthly and ad hoc groups meeting on special projects and issues as needed. The Finnish diplomat said that his government is willing to support environmental projects agreed to within the EEC. End summary. 2. (C) NEA Senior S&T Advisor met with GOI Minister of Environment Shalom Simhon April 5 to discuss Israeli-Palestinian Environmental Cooperation and other topics. (Septels report on the Minister's comments on renewed Japanese interest in Multilateral Peace Process environmental activities and Israeli garbage dump on the West Bank). Simhon was accompanied by Senior Deputy Director General for Policy and Planning Valerie Brachya and International Relations Division Director Ori Livne. Lawson was accompanied by ESTH Officer and an interpreter. (Note: Simhon does not speak English. End note). 3. (C) Noting his familiarity with water issues as a former agriculture minister, Simhon expressed his hopes for future progress on water negotiations between Israel and its neighbors and support from the international community on projects to relieve water shortages in the region. He voiced concern about the lack of sewage treatment facilities in Palestinian areas and the effect on Israeli efforts towards rehabilitation of rivers and streams and control of mosquitoes. Lawson briefed Simhon on progress on the USAID-sponsored Hebron Waste Water Treatment Plant. 4. (C) Simhon expressed the willingness of his ministry to work with Palestinian counterparts, whether directly or through other parties, to strengthen environmental cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. He said Israel was ready to support the PA in its efforts to strengthen environment regulation. Simhon noted his personal support towards the meeting of the Environmental Experts Committee (EEC) meeting scheduled for May 2, and expressed his hope that the U.S. would continue to work on sewage treatment projects in the Palestinian territories and that other donors would support specific projects. 5. (C) Outside of the meeting with Minister Simhon, Livne told Lawson that she was communicating with Ahmed Abu Thaher, Director General for Projects and International Relations of the PA's Environmental Quality Authority, regarding preparations for the May 2 EEC meeting. Without elaborating, Livne commented that the Ministry of Environment was having trouble within the GOI as it prepared for the EEC meeting. She said she was proposing to Abu Thaher that the EEC meet every six months, with regular committees on West Bank and Gaza issues meeting monthly and ad hoc groups on special projects and issues meeting as necessary. 6. (C) Lawson and ESTH Officer spoke briefly with MOE Director General Miki Haran briefly following the meeting with the minister. Haran said she hoped that Simhon would be able to make a visit to the U.S. in the near future for targeted discussions and site visits to observe American experience and expertise relevant to some of Israel's key environmental challenges, including hazardous waste and asbestos cleanups, rivers and streams rehabilitation, and thermal treatment of wastes. 7. (C) Lawson met with Embassy of Finland Counselor Matti Tulonen April 8. Tulonen had helped arrange the Israeli-Palestinian meeting in Helsinki (reftel) that led to the revival of the EEC. It was striking to him that such meetings had to be "secret." Lawson explained that meetings on environmental issues had taken place openly in the region before the Intifada and some multilateral activities were already returning to the region. Tulonen said that worldwide Finland was concentrating its development assistance on 12 countries or areas, including the Palestinian Authority, and had already provided 25 million Euros for Palestinian projects. 8. (C) Tulonen said that Finland was ready to support environmental projects agreed to by the EEC. He welcomed communication and coordination with U.S. counterparts. Noting that the development experts working under the supervision of his embassy were stationed in Ramallah, he suggested that he arrange a meeting in May to include himself, those officials, ESTH Officer, USAID, and officers of the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem. He offered to arrange such a meeting in either Ramallah or Jerusalem. ESTH Officer said he would pass on Tulonen's offer to USAID and ConGen colleagues. 9. (C) Comment: The Finnish offer to provide tangible assistance in support of EEC projects is particularly welcome as preparations for the May 2 EEC meeting move forward. We will be in touch with Tulonen following the May 2 meeting to coordinate our efforts. End comment. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** CRETZ |