CAMBODIA PARTICIPATION IN WHALING COMMISSION

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 001057 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/OA--JOHN FIELD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIS SENV CB SUBJECT: CAMBODIA PARTICIPATION IN WHALING COMMISSION MEETING REF: STATE 90067 ¶1. On June 5, Nao Thuok, Director General of the Department of Fisheries within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, told Poleconoff that Por Try, Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, has been named as Cambodia's whaling commissioner. However, Nao Thuok, who is the alternate commissioner, will attend this year's Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission. ¶2. Nao Thuok indicated that the Ministry had just begun preparations for the meeting. He hoped that Cambodia's dues would be paid in time for it to vote, but was unable to confirm this. Nao Thuok indicated that Cambodia has not yet reached a decision about how to vote at the meeting, and will weigh the scientific evidence presented at the conference. However, Joe Walston, Director of Wildlife Conservation Society, told Poleconoff that Cambodia typically sides with Japan on whaling issues and that he expects Cambodia to vote with the pro-whaling faction at this meeting. STORELLA