RUSSIA STILL WEIGHING OPTIONS ON MERCURY

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001816 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR OES/ENV/HODAYA FINMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV AORC EAGR ETRD RS SUBJECT: RUSSIA STILL WEIGHING OPTIONS ON MERCURY REF: STATE 63943 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) On June 24, we discussed the October 2008 UNEP-hosted Mercury Working Group Meeting with Oleg Shamanov, Head of the Global Environment and Health Section of the MFA's International Organizations Department. Shamanov said that the GOR had not yet formulated a definitive position on the best way to address mercury, including whether a binding agreement or a voluntary partnership would be the most appropriate international vehicle. He said the MFA would need to discuss the issue further with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology. He hoped the GOR would be in a position to discuss the issue more substantively within two weeks. We will continue to follow up with the MFA as the GOR works to develop a position on mercury. RUSSELL