Namibia Wary of Copenhagen

UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000080 SENSITIVE SIPDIS OES FOR DREW NELSON, OES FOR RACHEL KASTENBERG, OES FOR KATE LARSEN, AF/S FOR PHAEDRA GWYN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV WA SUBJECT: Namibia Wary of Copenhagen ¶1. (SBU) On January 25, Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Prime Minister Nahas Angula, urging the Government of Namibia to associate with the Copenhagen Accord without delay. Angula indicated his government was disappointed with the outcome of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Namibia wanted a binding agreement that specified emissions levels. He added that his government was unclear on the relationship between the Kyoto Protocol and the agreement fashioned in Copenhagen, but believed there was a significant disconnect between the two. "For us, Kyoto was important, and we don't want to start from scratch," Angula noted. In addition, he said that Namibia is unclear on the legal status of the new agreement and on details regarding enforcement mechanisms. Angula explained that the cabinet would take up discussion on whether Namibia should associate with the Copenhagen Accord, but noted this topic was not on the agenda of the forthcoming cabinet meeting. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador replied that the USG was also disappointed that the accord was not binding, but emphasized the agreement's strengths in detail. She clarified that Copenhagen would not undermine the Kyoto Protocol, and she presented Angula with the instructions included in reftel on how Namibia could associate with the agreement. MATHIEU