NEPAL DISCUSSING U.S. CITES PROPOSALS

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000114 DEPT FOR OES/ENRC GAMBLE DEPT FOR OES/PCI, SCA/INSB, SCA/P AND SCA/RA SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KSCA CITES AORC UNEP XD NP SUBJECT: NEPAL DISCUSSING U.S. CITES PROPOSALS REF: STATE 6668 ¶1. Post delivered reftel talking points to the CITES Authority of Nepal, Mr. Gopal Prasad Upadyaya, Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Upadyaya said he will convey Nepal's position after discussions in the Ministry. ¶2. On corals, Upadyay said it is probably a good idea that the corals are being proposed to be listed in Appendix I, but said Nepal will carefully analyze how the proposal would affect countries that have been legally trading on corals. Similarly, on bobcats, Upadyaya said that he would convey Nepal's position only after detailed discussions with experts. Nepal has generally supported U.S. CITES proposals. Post will convey Nepal's position on U.S. submissions to Washington as soon as we receive definitive word from GON on this matter. ¶3. The following is a list of officers who have been nominated by the Government of Nepal to participate in the CITES-COP 15 in Doha. Post has learned that there is also the possibility that the Minister of Forest and Soil Conservation, Mr. Deepak Bohra might participate in the CITES - COP 15. If this happens then Minister Bohra would head Nepal's delegation. Nepal Delegation Team Members: Mr. Gopal Prasad Upadhyay (Head of Delegation) Director General Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal Phone: 977-1-4227926, 4220912 Fax: 977-1-4227675; 4227375 Email: gppadhayay@dnpwc.gov.np gopalupadhyay@hotmail.com Mr. Megh Bahadur Pandey Deputy Director General Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Mr. Dharma Raj Kuikel Legal Officer Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation Mr. Diwakar Chapagain Wildlife Enforcement Officer World Wildlife Fund/Nepal CAMP