FINLAND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT U.S. IWC POSITION

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000329

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA PREL IWC ETRD FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT U.S. IWC POSITION

REF: SECSTATE 56397


1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche on the
International Whaling Commission (IWC) to Mr. Esko Jaakkola,
Finland,s IWC representative in the Ministry of the
Environment. Jaakkola said Finland will continue to support
the consensus and position of like-minded nations during the
IWC meeting. Specifically, Jaakkola expressed support for
the U.S. position on the bowhead whale quota and the need for
the Conservation Committee to limit the scope of its
activities to areas outlined in its mandate, rather than
further dilute its limited resources.


2. (SBU) While Jaakkola said U.S. intentions to move the
Revised Management Scheme (RMS) forward were positive, he was
pessimistic that real progress could be made due to the
strong opposing viewpoints. Nevertheless, Finland intends to
support reasonable measures to further the work of the RMS.
Jaakkola said the U.S. was the only nation strong enough to
offer the necessary leadership to break the current impasse.


3. (SBU) Finland resolved its financial obligation to the IWC
on April 4, making it a member in good standing with full
voting rights.


4. (SBU) According to Jaakkola, last October the EU sent a
letter to member states claiming it should have the
&community exclusive competence8 for whaling matters and
that the common EU position should be voiced by the EU
Presidency country. EU member states disagreed with the
Commission,s position; however, the member states did agree
to coordinate closely on future IWC issues. For its part,
Finland is nervous that a common EU position may water down
the strength of the like-minded nations and it risks further
alienating other like-minded nations such as those in Latin
America. In additional to ad hoc coordination meetings, the
EU will coordinate further its position during EU meetings
one hour prior to the start of the general IWC sessions.


5. (SBU) Jaakkola is hopeful that Japan will soften its
position during the upcoming IWC meeting on issues such as
scientific whaling, potentially leading to real progress on
RMS issues. Jaakkola understands that Nicaragua, Guatemala,
Costa Rica and Belize might be modifying their position to
closer align with the like-minded nations. In addition, new
IWC countries such as Slovenia, Croatia and Cyprus will
likely support the like-minded nations which should lead to a
simple majority.
HYATT