ETHIOPIA - INSCRIBER AND ASSOCIATER, ENCOURAGES

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 000203 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E-JWYSHAM, OES/PCI LSPERLING, MGERDIN, OES/EGC AVOCKERODT E.O. 12958: NA TAGS: KSCA SENV PGOV ET KGHG ENRG SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA - INSCRIBER AND ASSOCIATER, ENCOURAGES OTHERS STATE 00003079 ¶1. (U) Pol/econ efforts to secure a meeting with high level MFA contacts to deliver the referenced demarche in advance of the January 31, 2010 deadline were complicated by the onset of the African Union (AU) Summit. Not only were officials unavailable because of their AU Summit- related duties, contacts in the GoE were largely unwilling to discuss climate change issues in advance of Ethiopia Prime Minister (PM) Meles Zenawi's report on the negotiation and the outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Conference to the AU Summit on Monday, February 1, 2010. ¶2. (U) The 14th AU Summit Convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia January 31-February 2, 2010. Given his role of Head of the African Delegation in Copenhagen, PM Meles presented a report on climate change and Copenhagen. According to reports, African leaders expressed their appreciation to Meles for his "outstanding contribution to safeguard and maximize the benefits and interests of Africa," acknowledging that he had faced many challenges negotiating with many stakeholders. Meles was re-elected to represent Africa as chief negotiator in the next climate change conference in Mexico this year and South Africa in 2012. ¶3. (U) The Summit also endorsed the Copenhagen Accord and it was stated that each member state should report its consent individually for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). According to post-Summit reports, Ethiopia is both an inscriber and associate of the Accord. ¶4. (U) During the AU Summit, Meles proposed the establishment of a high level panel to deal with the implementation of the Copenhagen climate summit recommendations where the international community pledged to give billions of dollars to mitigate the impact of climate change. While holding discussions with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, reports indicate that Meles explained the panel will help mobilize funds and technical support to Africa that many countries promised to extend to Africa to tackle the impact of climate change on Africa. ¶5. (U) REO will continue to follow up and report on climate change developments in Ethiopia, with a pending appointment arranged with the Ethiopia Environment Protection Agency Director, Advisor to Meles on climate change, tentatively for the week of February 8-13. #YATES 6