CZECH REPUBLIC: REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON US MOVE TO

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000344 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EEB/EC: DMONOSSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV EZ SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON US MOVE TO JOIN INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY REF: STATE 59971 ¶1. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche to Czech Environment Ministry International Organizations Unit Head Iveta Spaltova and Industry Ministry IRENA Desk Officer Alice Trombikova on June 16 and 18 respectively, Both expected that the Czechs would join IRENA soon. The Czechs, however, were still waiting to hear from the IRENA Administrative Committee the level of Czech membership dues. This information was needed before consultations with the Finance Ministry could begin and any final decision be taken. Spaltova agreed that IRENA has the potential to fill gaps existing in international renewable energy activities and the importance of renewable energy, Neither Spaltova nor Trombikova were willing to speculate on Czech preferences regarding the location of the headquarters or who should be the Director General, given that the Czechs were not yet in the organization. ¶2. (U) During a press conference following the June 12 EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council, Czech Industry and Trade Minister Vladimir Tosovsky noted Czech support for joining IRENA and said the Czechs had yet to discuss the headquarters siting issue internally. He noted, however, that the EU Energy ministers had stressed during the TTE Council the desirability of the headquarters being located within the EU. Thompson-Jones