LATVIA: NO POSITION ON IRENA HEADQUARTERS, BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000340


STATE FOR EEB/ESC (MONOSSON),OES/EGC (THOMPSON),AND
IO/EDA (WEBBER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2019
TAGS: ENRG SENV KGHG LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA: NO POSITION ON IRENA HEADQUARTERS, BUT
SUPPORT FOR UAE LIKELY

REF: STATE 61286

Classified By: CDA Bruce Rogers for reason 1.4(b)

(C) Latvia has not officially established a position on the
headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency
(IRENA),but working-level contacts expressed support for the
UAE candidacy. PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Inese
Birgele, Head of the MFA International Trade and Economics
division, and Andris Kuznieks, head of the Ministry of
Economy Energy Division. Both contacts reported that the
Cabinet of Ministers had delayed deciding on an official
position on both the headquarters location and Director
General candidates. Kuznieks, however, indicated that
working level staff had submitted their recommendation, and
they found the UAE proposal "very strong." He also echoed
several of the reftel points on the advantages of the UAE
bid. Both contacts expressed agreement with USG goals for
IRENA. Neither had any information on when Latvia might
ratify the Statute.

ROGERS