Cablegate: Demarche On Ministerial Delegations to Washington

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #3119 2900657
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170657Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6998
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3263
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3402

UNCLAS SEOUL 003119

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES FOR WIREC ACTION GROUP AND SPECIAL ASST CHILL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TRGY ENRG KSCA KS
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON MINISTERIAL DELEGATIONS TO WASHINGTON
INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE (WIREC 2008)

REF: SECSTATE 138428

1. ESTH Chief met October 12 with Kim Chan-woo, Senior
Coordinator for Environmental and Scientific Affairs,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to follow up on reftel
demarche, which had been passed to him earlier.

2. Kim said that Korea usually decides on the composition of
its delegations to international events quite close to the
event, so he did not anticipate being able to provide
specific information this far in advance. He noted that the
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) will have
the lead on WIREC for Korea, and predicted that the
delegation head would be a representative of that Ministry.
Kim noted that it was unlikely that Korea would be
represented at the ministerial level due to the timing of
WIREC, coming just one week after the new Korean
administration will be inaugurated. Given the requirement
that ministerial nominees face a hearing in the Assembly, it
is unlikely that all Cabinet positions will be filled
immediately.

3. Post recommends that invitations be sent to the Minister
of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE), the Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), and the Minister of
Environment (MOE), inviting participation by the Minister or
his designee.
VERSHBOW

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