CENTRAL AMERICANS MAY SEEK "CONCAUSA III" WITH U.S. AMID

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000147

STATE FOR SPECIAL ENVOY STERN
STATE FOR WHA/EPSC - ROONEY AND COLON, WHA/CEN, WHA/CAR
STATE FOR OES DAS REIFSNYDER, OES/EGC, OES/PCI, OES/ENV

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG KSUM CS
SUBJECT: CENTRAL AMERICANS MAY SEEK "CONCAUSA III" WITH U.S. AMID
HIGH HOPES FOR CLIMATE COOPERATION


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Enthused by the Obama Administration's early
signals on climate change, Central American environment ministers
have agreed to pitch the USG on the idea of launching a "CONCAUSA
III" process, perhaps with a focus on climate change and with the
inclusion of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). As President Pro
Tem of the Central American Commission for Environment and
Development (CCAD),Nicaragua is drafting a letter to Secretary
Clinton to propose the launch of CONCAUSA III at the April 17-19
Summit of the Americas (SOA). An advance draft of the letter is
provided below. END SUMMARY.

Centrals to Pitch "CONCAUSA" Revival at Summit
-------------- -


2. (SBU) Jorge Cabrera, a former Executive Secretary of the Central
American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD),called
on Regional Environmental Officer (REO) Feb. 26 to advise that the
region's environmental leaders hope to strengthen cooperation with
the U.S. on environmental issues, particularly climate change.
Cabrera said that Central American environment ministers are
enthused by the Obama Administration's early signals on climate
change, typified by one minister who said, "Thank God the U.S. will
finally assume a serious role on climate change."


3. (U) Central American environment ministers decided at a February
9 CCAD meeting in Managua to seek either the revival of "CONCAUSA
II" or the start of a "CONCAUSA III" process with the U.S. Cabrera
said that CCAD's President Pro Tem, Nicaraguan Environment Minister
Juana Argenal, has drafted a letter for the Nicaraguan Foreign
Minister to send to Secretary Clinton (see para 6 below),with a
view to a meeting with the USG at the April SOA in Trinidad &
Tobago. Cabrera, a Guatemalan engineer recently named by CCAD as an
advisor to Argenal, said that the Central Americans see the U.S. as
their "first partner of choice" and a "natural ally" on sustainable
development. They also hope to enlist their Caribbean counterparts
into a more broadly-based partnership with the U.S., perhaps with
greater focus on climate change.


4. (SBU) REO cautioned Cabrera against expecting a quick response,
given the relatively short fuse before the SOA and given that their
proposal had not been raised earlier during the SOA's preparatory
process. REO also noted that USG consideration of such a proposal
would likely be seen through the prism of CAFTA-DR and other ongoing
USG engagement in the region. He encouraged Cabrera to frame such a
proposal in terms of practical ways the region might work with the
U.S. to boost opportunities for public-private partnerships and to
foster private-sector led clean production and "green" jobs
creation.

COMMENT: An Opening for Regional Climate Engagement?
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) Whether it's through a "CONCAUSA" revival, the Pathways to
Prosperity initiative, the SOA, or some other venue, Central
Americans are anxious to see stronger U.S engagement in the region
on climate issues. Various EU members have already stepped up their
regional climate change diplomacy (septel) and clearly aim to shape
Latin American and Caribbean outlooks heading into the December 2009
climate change negotiations in Copenhagen. END COMMENT.


6. (U) Below is an unofficial translation of CCAD's advance draft
letter intended for Secretary Clinton. REO will transmit the final
letter immediately upon receipt.

BEGIN TEXT OF DRAFT LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON

Madame Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State
Government of the United States Government

Madame Secretary:

I want to inform you about the interest of the Central American
countries in renewing the cooperation coalition between the USA and
the Central American countries and the Dominican Republic subscribed
in CONCAUSA. During the Bush Administration, a CONCAUSA II was
signed. In that opportunity, economic and commercial issues were
added.

Making use of the interest of President Obama, particularly on
Climate Change issues, our interest as a region is to renew this
cooperation mechanism in a possible CONCAUSA III, which would
include the USA and our region's priorities.

If our proposal is feasible, please indicate the right contact
person designated by your office who will be in charge of this
proposal, with a petition to please include this initiative in the
Summit of the Americas agenda. We recognize that CARICOM countries
should be included in the CONCAUSA III proposal.

Minister of Foreign Relations of Nicaragua
Attached
CONCAUSA I y CONCAUSA II

END TEXT OF DRAFT LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON

CIANCHETTE