NICARAGUA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000579 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/OPA LPHELPS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIS KSCA PREL SENV IWC NU SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION (IWC) REF: SECSTATE 57020 ¶1. (U) On June 9, Econoff delivered reftel demarche to Steadman Fagoth, Nicaragua's International Whaling Commission (IWC) Commissioner and Executive President of the National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INPESCA). Fagoth has not decided if he will attend the IWC's 2009 annual meeting (IWC61),June 22-26 in Madeira, Portugal. Sandinista (FSLN) National Assembly Deputy Edwin Castro is Nicaragua's Alternate Commissioner. ¶2. (SBU) Fagoth was unprepared to discuss IWC business and was unaware of the dates of IWC61. He did not have answers to reftel questions and stated that he planned to meet with Alternate Commissioner Edwin Castro within one week to discuss Nicaragua's positions. At this time, Nicaragua does not have a suggestion as to who the next IWC Chair and Vice-Chair should be. ¶3. (U) Fagoth said that Nicaragua opposes whaling, except for aboriginal subsistence. At last year's IWC in Chile, Nicaragua did not support the Japanese pro-whaling position as it had in the past. As a result, Fagoth added, Japan cut its aid to Nicaragua's fisheries sector. When asked specifically about his voting plans for IWC61, he admitted that Nicaragua's position remained undecided and that it could change if political considerations dictated. ¶4. (U) Fagoth added that Nicaragua is interested in promoting tourism and is seeking guidance from the IWC regarding whale-watching. CALLAHAN