ALBANIA: DEMARCHE ON COPENHAGEN ACCORD DELIVERED

UNCLAS TIRANA 000056 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV PGOV KGHG ENRG AL SUBJECT: ALBANIA: DEMARCHE ON COPENHAGEN ACCORD DELIVERED REF: STATE 3079 ¶1. The Government of Albania (GoA) expressed no reservations in regards to associating Albania with the Copenhagen Accord via the UNFCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Secretariat. On January 25th, Ambassador delivered reftel points to Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Ilir Meta and was told that Albania would associate this week via e-mail. The Deputy Prime Minister's Chief of Staff reiterated on January 26th that Albania is in full support of Copenhagen's goals and priorities and will associate soon. ¶2. Comment: The GoA and the Prime Minister specifically have been supportive of Copenhagen's goals because they see it as an opportunity to promote Albania as a green energy capital, owing to its extensive potential for hydropower and to a lesser extent wind. This is part of a much-publicized strategy to attract investment in order to turn Albania into a net energy exporter, a long-term goal. The Prime Minister's recent remarks emphasized that Albania produces five times less greenhouse gases than more industrialized countries but still is concerned about global warming because it will impact Albania's extensive coastline, which is seen as the key to future development. Albania faces numerous environmental challenges but the Prime Minister has publicly stated his support of Copenhagen's goals. End Comment. WITHERS