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