Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MANILA1981
2008-08-20 07:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Manila
Cable title:
PHILIPPINES CONCURS WITH U.S. VIEWS REGARDING UN
how-toVZCZCXRO4464 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHML #1981 2330741 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 200741Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY MANILA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1655 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0277 RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS MANILA 001981
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, IO/EDA (WEBBER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA SENV AORC KGHG UNGA RP EUN
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES CONCURS WITH U.S. VIEWS REGARDING UN
CLIMATE CHANGE DICUSSIONS
REF: SECSTATE 87757
UNCLAS MANILA 001981
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, IO/EDA (WEBBER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA SENV AORC KGHG UNGA RP EUN
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES CONCURS WITH U.S. VIEWS REGARDING UN
CLIMATE CHANGE DICUSSIONS
REF: SECSTATE 87757
1. (SBU) Officials at the Philippine Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) Office of United Nations and Other
International Organizations (UNIO) welcomed our thoughts on
the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) proposed
resolution on Climate Change that would call for a UN
Security Council resolution on the subject (reftel). Post
underscored U.S. support for climate change initiatives and
expressed our concern about the appropriateness of the PSIDS
plan to require UN Security Council involvement at a time
when a plethora of pressing matters threaten peace and
security. UNIO Assistant Director G. Marie Concha for the
Environment, Science and Technology said on August 20 that
the DFA had not reached a final position but "was moving in
the direction" of the U.S. position. Concha generally agreed
with the demarche points (reftel),and while she could not
yet speak for the DFA, she noted that officials from other
offices and the Philippine Mission in New York shared our
concerns over the PSIDS proposal. Concha said her colleagues
had specifically questioned whether the UN Security Council
was the proper forum, and whether the PSIDS-proposed
resolution would sideline other climate-change efforts and
forums already underway.
2. (SBU) If the PSIDS proposal calling for UN Security
Council action does manage to make headway, it would fall
into the bailiwick of UNIO Political, Security and Legal
Affairs Director Leah Ruiz. Ruiz welcomed our input on
August 19 and said that she had not previously given full
attention to the PSIDS plans. Ruiz voiced concern that
climate change can "wreak havoc on security issues" but, from
a technical standpoint, she said her immediate reaction was
to agree that the Second Committee of the next General
Assembly (UNGA 63) would be a better venue for such
deliberations than this year's UN General Assembly (UNGA 62).
Both directors remarked separately that they would keep our
views in mind as they studied the issue.
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/
KENNEY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, IO/EDA (WEBBER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA SENV AORC KGHG UNGA RP EUN
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES CONCURS WITH U.S. VIEWS REGARDING UN
CLIMATE CHANGE DICUSSIONS
REF: SECSTATE 87757
1. (SBU) Officials at the Philippine Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) Office of United Nations and Other
International Organizations (UNIO) welcomed our thoughts on
the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) proposed
resolution on Climate Change that would call for a UN
Security Council resolution on the subject (reftel). Post
underscored U.S. support for climate change initiatives and
expressed our concern about the appropriateness of the PSIDS
plan to require UN Security Council involvement at a time
when a plethora of pressing matters threaten peace and
security. UNIO Assistant Director G. Marie Concha for the
Environment, Science and Technology said on August 20 that
the DFA had not reached a final position but "was moving in
the direction" of the U.S. position. Concha generally agreed
with the demarche points (reftel),and while she could not
yet speak for the DFA, she noted that officials from other
offices and the Philippine Mission in New York shared our
concerns over the PSIDS proposal. Concha said her colleagues
had specifically questioned whether the UN Security Council
was the proper forum, and whether the PSIDS-proposed
resolution would sideline other climate-change efforts and
forums already underway.
2. (SBU) If the PSIDS proposal calling for UN Security
Council action does manage to make headway, it would fall
into the bailiwick of UNIO Political, Security and Legal
Affairs Director Leah Ruiz. Ruiz welcomed our input on
August 19 and said that she had not previously given full
attention to the PSIDS plans. Ruiz voiced concern that
climate change can "wreak havoc on security issues" but, from
a technical standpoint, she said her immediate reaction was
to agree that the Second Committee of the next General
Assembly (UNGA 63) would be a better venue for such
deliberations than this year's UN General Assembly (UNGA 62).
Both directors remarked separately that they would keep our
views in mind as they studied the issue.
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/
KENNEY