ARGENTINA'S VIEWS ON MERCURY AT THE UPCOMING 24TH

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000012

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR OES/ENV HODAYAH FINMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EMIN ETRD SENV PREL AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA'S VIEWS ON MERCURY AT THE UPCOMING 24TH
UNEP GOVERNING COUNCIL

REF: STATE 202028


1. Reftel asked addressee posts to seek host government
support for UNEP's voluntary mercury partnerships, and to
solicit views on various proposals to control mercury that
parties are expected to raise at the upcoming UNEP Governing
Council meeting in Nairobi. With that in mind, Emboff spoke
January 4 with MFA chemical expert Gonzalo Entenza, who
provided the following information:

-- Argentina supports UNEP's mercury partnerships program,
and Argentina's first such partnership is operational. The
NGO Healthcare Without Harm has teamed up with the Buenos
Aires City Government and UNEP to provide training for local
hospitals on best practices for going mercury-free.

-- The GoA understands that international/global action is
necessary to control mercury, but believes that the voluntary
approach has been working well. The GoA will not/not support
the European proposal to begin negotiations on a legally
binding treaty to control mercury.


2. Entenza also said that it would "not be a problem" if
parties decide to establish a global mercury reduction goal,
as long as a voluntary mechanism is employed. Argentina does
not mine mercury and is not a mercury exporter, and will
therefore not be among countries actively promoting or
fighting action toward a global phaseout of mercury mining
and exports. Neither does Argentina have established mercury
reduction goals; Entenza described Argentina as "not too
concerned about mercury domestically," since mercury
contamination has not been a public health problem here.
WAYNE