ARGENTINA AND CITES COP 14

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000963 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR OES/ETC ROWENA WATSON AND OES/OMC AMANDA JOHNSON MILLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KSCA ETRD AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA AND CITES COP 14 REF: STATE 057912 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. ESTH visited Victoria Lichtschein, the Environment Secretariat's CITES point person, on May 16 to discuss U.S. SIPDIS proposals on species listings. Lichtschein also outlined the GoA's views on other COP 14 areas of interest to the U.S., such as the CITES Standing Committee's development of rules for the establishment, implementation, and monitoring of export quotas for species listed on Appendix II of the Convention. ¶2. On species listings, Lichtschein said Argentina will support the U.S. on listing all species of the sawfish family (Pristidae) in Appendix I. Our other proposals met with less enthusiasm, however. Lichtschein noted that Argentina will ask to continue the bobcat (Lynx rufus) discussion until CITES's Animals Committee weighs in. Lichtschein continued that she found it difficult to imagine that an Argentine customs official will be able to tell the difference between a bobcat and any of the many small, spotted South American cats. Summing up, Lichtschein said that while Argentina cannot now support our bobcat proposal, neither would it "lead the counter-effort." Finally, regarding the U.S. proposal on pink and red corals, Lichtschein said it was "the most problematic of the three," and would be difficult to implement. Still, Argentina is prepared to listen and will decide on its stance during the meeting. ¶3. Asked about the recommendations of the CITES Standing Committee working group regarding management of annual export quotas, Lichtschein responded that Argentina is reluctant to see any expansion of the Secretariat's powers in that regard. She mentioned as a specific cause for concern language allowing the Secretariat to seek clarification before publishing notice of quotas received from parties (COP14, Doc.36 para B.1.). Otherwise, Argentina has no problems with export quotas, according to Lichtschein. WAYNE