Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10MBABANE60
2010-02-10 15:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Mbabane
Cable title:
SWAZILAND NOT FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACCORD
how-toVZCZCXRO0636 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHMB #0060 0411511 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 101511Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY MBABANE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3919 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MBABANE 000060
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S (MHARRIS); OES/EGC (DNELSON, KLARSEN);
OES/S/SECC (RKASTENBERG)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KGHG SENU ENRG WZ
SUBJECT: SWAZILAND NOT FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACCORD
Ref: A) State 3079 B) Mbabane 028
UNCLAS MBABANE 000060
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S (MHARRIS); OES/EGC (DNELSON, KLARSEN);
OES/S/SECC (RKASTENBERG)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KGHG SENU ENRG WZ
SUBJECT: SWAZILAND NOT FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACCORD
Ref: A) State 3079 B) Mbabane 028
1. On February 9, pol/econ officer met with Swaziland Environment
Authority Chairperson, Dr. Irma Allen, to review Swaziland's
position on the Copenhagen Accord, and discuss ways the embassy
could encourage Swaziland's association with the agreement. Dr.
Allen, who attended the conference in Copenhagen along with other
Swazi government representatives including Prime Minister Barnabas
Sibusiso Dlamini, indicated that momentum on the accord within the
government had faltered after the delegation's return to Swaziland
because key officials were focusing on the end of the traditional
three-month seclusion period of the king, the AU Summit, and opening
of parliament. In response to post's demarche on the issue (reftel
B),the Foreign Minister had indicated that Swaziland would not be
able to take a position before the first week of March. Dr. Allen
believes that additional U.S. engagement on the issue could pay
dividends before that decision is made.
2. Dr. Allen, an American citizen who has lived in Swaziland for
several decades, emphasized that Swaziland still needed to develop a
national strategy on climate change. She said that the Minister of
Tourism and Environment Affairs, Macford Nsibandze, recently formed
a committee on climate change. She noted that National
Meteorological Service Director Emmanuel Dlamini, also an attendee
at the Copenhagen conference, plays a key role in Swaziland on
discussions on the accord and on climate change. To date the
committee has not produced any public documents.
IRVING
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S (MHARRIS); OES/EGC (DNELSON, KLARSEN);
OES/S/SECC (RKASTENBERG)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KGHG SENU ENRG WZ
SUBJECT: SWAZILAND NOT FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACCORD
Ref: A) State 3079 B) Mbabane 028
1. On February 9, pol/econ officer met with Swaziland Environment
Authority Chairperson, Dr. Irma Allen, to review Swaziland's
position on the Copenhagen Accord, and discuss ways the embassy
could encourage Swaziland's association with the agreement. Dr.
Allen, who attended the conference in Copenhagen along with other
Swazi government representatives including Prime Minister Barnabas
Sibusiso Dlamini, indicated that momentum on the accord within the
government had faltered after the delegation's return to Swaziland
because key officials were focusing on the end of the traditional
three-month seclusion period of the king, the AU Summit, and opening
of parliament. In response to post's demarche on the issue (reftel
B),the Foreign Minister had indicated that Swaziland would not be
able to take a position before the first week of March. Dr. Allen
believes that additional U.S. engagement on the issue could pay
dividends before that decision is made.
2. Dr. Allen, an American citizen who has lived in Swaziland for
several decades, emphasized that Swaziland still needed to develop a
national strategy on climate change. She said that the Minister of
Tourism and Environment Affairs, Macford Nsibandze, recently formed
a committee on climate change. She noted that National
Meteorological Service Director Emmanuel Dlamini, also an attendee
at the Copenhagen conference, plays a key role in Swaziland on
discussions on the accord and on climate change. To date the
committee has not produced any public documents.
IRVING