NICARAGUAN VIEWS ON RECENT INTERNATIONAL WHALING

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000604

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

COMMERCE FOR NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV IWC EFIS NU UK
SUBJECT: NICARAGUAN VIEWS ON RECENT INTERNATIONAL WHALING
COMMISSION MEETING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

REF: MANAGUA 0045


1. (SBU) As noted in REFTEL, Miguel Marenco, Director General
of the Nicaraguan Fisheries Agency (ADPESCA) candidly
acknowledged to ECONOFF that his country maintains a quid pro
quo arrangement in which Nicaragua supports Japanese whaling
positions in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and
Japan contributes generously to the GON. Marenco recently
returned from an IWC meeting in the United Kingdom and has
expanded on his country's views on the whaling issue, the
IWC, and positions taken by various countries. He lamented
the position of nations such as Australia, New Zealand,
Argentina, the UK, and Brazil, saying that they "are against
any lethal whaling and only accept whale watching." He
referred to the Japanese position as being "flexible" and
"science based."


2. (SBU) Of the U.S., Marenco said that U.S. Commissioner
Bill Hobbarth "expressed a very mature position and looked
very interested in making strong efforts to save the
Commission and bring a consensus decision. I believe that he
will be a good candidate to be elected as IWC chair in June.
If this happens, Nicaragua will support him fully." Marenco
believes that "intractable" positions taken by several IWC
member countries threaten the very existance of the IWC. He
said, "We believe this (the U.S. consensus proposal) is the
last chance to save the IWC, if not this year then by next
year's meeting in Anchorage." Comment: Given the close
relationship between Japan and the GON (especially ADPESCA),
Marenco's views may well be a clear indication of Japanese
views on these issues as well. End Comment.
TRIVELLI