Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PHNOMPENH654
2007-05-10 09:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Phnom Penh
Cable title:  

CAMBODIAN RESPONSE TO CITES DEMARCHE

Tags:  SENV KSCA ETRD CB 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPF #0654 1300935
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 100935Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8409
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0157
RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0002
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0412
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0289
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3158
UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000654 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS, OES/ETC--ROWENA WATSON, AND
OES/OMC--AMANDA JOHNSON-MILLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KSCA ETRD CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIAN RESPONSE TO CITES DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 57912

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000654

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS, OES/ETC--ROWENA WATSON, AND
OES/OMC--AMANDA JOHNSON-MILLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KSCA ETRD CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIAN RESPONSE TO CITES DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 57912


1. On May 3, Poleconoff met with Mr. Suon Phalla of the
National CITES Authority to discuss reftel demarche. He
revealed that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization had
queried the Cambodian government (RGC) about all of the
marine proposals under consideration, but the MFA responded
that it had no comments--a response he interpreted as meaning
the RGC had no objection. He urged Poleconoff to speak
directly with Mr. Ing Try, Deputy Director General of the
Department of Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry, and Fisheries, to clarify the RGC position about
the proposals. Suon Phalla agreed to relay reftel points
about the bobcat proposal to Uk Sokhonn, Director of the
CITES Management Authority, who was out of the country and
unable to meet with embassy staff. Suon Phalla also asked
for US support for a Cambodian proposal to move a southeast
Asian primate, slow loris, from Appendix I to Appendix II.
On May 9, Suon Phalla informed Poleconoff that, under
pressure from Japan, the Southeast Asian Fisheries
Development Center (SEAFDEC) will lobby the ASEAN countries
to oppose the two shark proposals listed in reftel.


2. On May 10, Poleconoff delivered reftel demarche points
about marine species to Ing Try. He agreed with USG concerns
over the fate of sawfish, and noted that sawfish were once
prevalent in Cambodia but have now declined substantially.
He concurred that sawfish should be listed on Appendix I or
II, but said that his staff was still researching the issue
to determine which appendix they thought was more a
appropriate listing for the species. Ing Try stated that
Cambodia would vote in favor of the pink and red coral
proposals. Ing Try noted that his staff is still researching
the issue of the spiny dogfish and porbeagle proposals and
seemed unaware of the SEAFDEC decision.
MUSSOMELI