GOP TO SUPPORT PRO-CONVERSATION VOTES AT IWC BUT

UNCLAS PANAMA 000858 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR STATE WHA/CEN TELLO FOR STATE OES/OA FIELD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD PREL SENV IWC SUBJECT: GOP TO SUPPORT PRO-CONVERSATION VOTES AT IWC BUT HESITANT ON BOWHEAD QUOTA REF: STATE 56397 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. EconOff delivered REFTEL points on May 22 and 23, 2007 to George Novey, Sub Administrator for the Aquatic Resources Authority (ARAP),and on May 23, 2007 to Deborah Siraze, International Economic Relations Division of the Ministry for Foreign Relations (MIRE). Novey and Siraze told EconOff that the GOP would vote pro-conservation on each agenda item at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting May 28-31 in Alaska. They also said the GOP would not support the USG/Russia proposal regarding subsistence aboriginal whaling of bowhead whales. The key issues for the GOP at the IWC are subsistence whaling by aboriginal communities, the protection of whale sanctuaries and safeguards on tourist-related whale watching. Novey said he supports the Revised Management Scheme in so much as scientific knowledge of whales should be obtained regardless of the decision to permit commercial whaling. Siraze said there needs to be more discussion on this issue. Both said the GOP has not made any decision regarding any changes to the IWC mandate. Novey said he was informed that the GOP had paid its IWC dues and would be eligible to vote. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) EconOff delivered REFTEL points on May 22 and 23, 2007 to Novey and on May 23, 2007 to Siraze. The GOP delegation to the IWC will be Anna Nunez from ARAP and Siraze. -------------- GOP to Vote Pro-Conservation Down the Line -------------- ¶3. (U) Novey and Siraze told EconOff that the GOP will vote pro-conservation on each agenda item at the IWC. ¶4. (U) Novey informed EconOff that for ARAP the key issues are request by countries such as the proposals by the US, Russia and Japan for quotas to allow for subsistence whaling by aboriginal communities. Novey also said sustainable commercial whaling is of concern. Novey said the GOP's policy to date is to continue the ban on whaling in all forms. ¶5. (U) Siraze told EconOff that for MIRE the key issues are the protection of whale sanctuaries and the regulation of tourist-related whale watching to ensure the protection of whales. -------------- GOP Against USG/Russia Bowhead Quota Request -------------- ¶6. (U) Novey told EconOff that the GOP would oppose the USG/Russia request for the five-year 280 bowhead whale capture quota. Novey said this decision comes from the MIRE and given that the GOP will be taking a pro-conservation stance on every item, it would be difficult to support any whaling no matter how small. ¶7. (U) Siraze confirmed to EconOff the GOP's opposition to the USG/Russia the bowhead whale quota proposal. Siraze said if the bowhead whaling quota issue was part of a packaged vote allowing other forms of subsistence aboriginal whaling, the GOP would have serious reservations about even considering supporting such a measure. Siraze said if the bowhead whaling issue was voted upon separately, the GOP would consider the issue in light of the specific facts. ¶8. (U) Siraze said that the GOP will be looking to vote with other Latin America countries as a bloc on each issue, and particularly on any subsistence aboriginal whaling issue. Siraze stressed the importance the GOP attaches to Latin America voting as a bloc on all issues before the IWC. -------------- Revised Management Scheme -------------- ¶9. (U) Novey said he believed that scientific knowledge of whale populations should be determined regardless of the decision of countries to resume commercial whaling. He believes that scientific information such as the one proposed by the scheme is not only useful for whaling purposes but provides an overall knowledge of the growth patterns and factors affecting different whale species populations. ¶10. (U) Siraze said this issue requires further discussion, particularly among Latin American countries, before any decision could be made. -------------- Conservation Committee -------------- ¶11. (U) Novey and Siraze said no decision has been made regarding any change to the IWC's mandate to include sustainable use or management issues. -------------- IWC Dues Paid -------------- ¶12. (U) Novey said Anibal Culiolis, the Maritime Authority's Finance Director told him that the GOP had paid its dues and would be eligible to vote at the IWC. EATON