ISRAELI RESPONSE TO IRENA DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001293 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/ESC DANIELLE MONOSSON, OES/EGC GRIFF THOMPSON AND IO/EDA REBECCA WEBBER. E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2014 TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV IS SUBJECT: ISRAELI RESPONSE TO IRENA DEMARCHE REF: STATE 59971 Classified By: Economic Counselor David R. Burnett, Reasons 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Post conveyed the points regarding possible USG membership in IRENA (reftel) to GOI Ministry of National Infrastructure, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environmental Protection on June 11. Upon receiving the demarche, Infrastructure Ministry (which is responsible for energy matters) Director of Resource Management was pleased to hear that the US might join the organization. Regarding the possible overlap between IRENA and existing energy focused organizations, the MNI Director agreed it had to be spelled out, but believed there was ample work to be done that would avoid overlap. ¶2. (C) MNI confirmed also that the GOI MFA official position is to support Abu Dhabi as the HQ for IRENA. Israel would support the UAE offer, subject to the very clear commitment of the hosting country to grant access to all member country missions and their representatives. Comment: Israeli thinking clearly sees in this situation an opportunity to open contact and move towards normalization of relations with Gulf states. End Comment. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv ********************************************* ******************** CUNNINGHAM