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