Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VILNIUS323
2007-05-09 14:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vilnius
Cable title:  

CITES: LITHUANIA FOLLOWING EU LEAD, EXCEPT ON EELS

Tags:  ETRD KSCA SENV LH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0055
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVL #0323 1291435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091435Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1239
UNCLAS VILNIUS 000323

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR OES/ETC ROWENA WATSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KSCA SENV LH
SUBJECT: CITES: LITHUANIA FOLLOWING EU LEAD, EXCEPT ON EELS

REF: SECSTATE 57912

We delivered reftel points to Selemonas Paltanavicius and
Eugenijus Leonavicius, Head and Chief Desk Officer,
respectively, of the Ministry of Environment's Biological
Diversity Division, on May 9. Paltanavicius told us that, in
general, the GOL and the EU are interested in increasing the
number of species protected by CITES. Leonavicius explained
that Lithuania would follow the EU lead and most likely would
vote to keep Bobcats in Appendix II and to support adding
Sawfish to Appendix I and Pink and Red Coral to Appendix II.
He explained that, despite the USFWS study, the EU feels that
keeping the Bobcat in Appendix II helps protect the European
Lynx. Leonavicius added that the GOL's priority issue for
the June CITES conference is the European Eel, which many
Lithuanians consider a delicacy. The GOL wants to include
only the young of the species in Appendix II, even though the
EU supports including the whole species in Appendix II.
CLOUD