Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BEIRUT93
2010-01-29 13:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
CLIMATE CHANGE NEXT STEPS: LEBANON WILL LOOK TO
how-toVZCZCXRO1480 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #0093 0291358 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 291358Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6432 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0014 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4302
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000093
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DNELSON, RKASTENBERG, KLARSEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2020
TAGS: KGHG SENV ENRG LE
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE NEXT STEPS: LEBANON WILL LOOK TO
ARAB LEAGUE COMMON POSITION
REF: STATE 3079
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000093
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DNELSON, RKASTENBERG, KLARSEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2020
TAGS: KGHG SENV ENRG LE
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE NEXT STEPS: LEBANON WILL LOOK TO
ARAB LEAGUE COMMON POSITION
REF: STATE 3079
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Environment
Minister Mohammed Rahhal on January 28. Rahhal explained
that the ministry was reviewing the language of the agreement
and collaborating with other Arab League member countries to
find a unified position. He expected that in the "coming two
days" the GOL would announce its position. The Ambassador
reiterated that GOL association with the Copenhagen Climate
Change Agreement by January 31 would be a symbolic step
forward and provided Rahhal with demarche points that
described the requisite steps for association.
2. (C) Speaking about Lebanon's participation in the
Copenhagen conference at an "Energy for the Future" event
later that same day, Rahhal did not mention GOL association
to the Copenhagen Agreement, citing only his hope that the
international community would find an agreement on climate
change by the December 2010 16th Conference of the Parties
(COP) meeting in Mexico City. Local environmental activist
IndyAct head Wael Hmaidan explained to econoff January 26
that the ministry of environment technical team had advised
Rahhal that more time was necessary to examine what
obligations Lebanon would assume by associating with the
Copenhagen Agreement. Despite international lobbying efforts
to encourage association by January 31, Hmaidan said, IndyAct
had also advised the ministry that legal experts required
more time to assess the Copenhagen text. Hmaidan reported
that Japan and China had lobbied emphatically for Lebanon to
associate with the agreement by January 31.
SISON
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DNELSON, RKASTENBERG, KLARSEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2020
TAGS: KGHG SENV ENRG LE
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE NEXT STEPS: LEBANON WILL LOOK TO
ARAB LEAGUE COMMON POSITION
REF: STATE 3079
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Environment
Minister Mohammed Rahhal on January 28. Rahhal explained
that the ministry was reviewing the language of the agreement
and collaborating with other Arab League member countries to
find a unified position. He expected that in the "coming two
days" the GOL would announce its position. The Ambassador
reiterated that GOL association with the Copenhagen Climate
Change Agreement by January 31 would be a symbolic step
forward and provided Rahhal with demarche points that
described the requisite steps for association.
2. (C) Speaking about Lebanon's participation in the
Copenhagen conference at an "Energy for the Future" event
later that same day, Rahhal did not mention GOL association
to the Copenhagen Agreement, citing only his hope that the
international community would find an agreement on climate
change by the December 2010 16th Conference of the Parties
(COP) meeting in Mexico City. Local environmental activist
IndyAct head Wael Hmaidan explained to econoff January 26
that the ministry of environment technical team had advised
Rahhal that more time was necessary to examine what
obligations Lebanon would assume by associating with the
Copenhagen Agreement. Despite international lobbying efforts
to encourage association by January 31, Hmaidan said, IndyAct
had also advised the ministry that legal experts required
more time to assess the Copenhagen text. Hmaidan reported
that Japan and China had lobbied emphatically for Lebanon to
associate with the agreement by January 31.
SISON