Cablegate: Romanian Response On U.S. Priorities for Iwc Meeting

VZCZCXRO0926
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBM #0481 1690447
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170447Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8397
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000481

DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, OES/OA: JFIELD

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA PREL IWC ETRD RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN RESPONSE ON U.S. PRIORITIES FOR IWC MEETING

REF: STATE 057319

Sensitive but Unclassified; not for Internet Distribution.

1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel points in writing and followed up
by phone with Mihai MANOIU, the Biodiversity Division Director at
the Ministry of Environment, on June 13, 2008. Manoiu admitted that
the Government of Romania (GOR) has not given too much attention to
whaling, having just joined the International Whaling Commission
(IWC) this April. He said Romania's main IWC priority is
identifying how it will pay the IWC fee by the June 23 start of the
IWC annual meeting. Manoiu pledged that the GOR will begin to
formulate its official position in the coming days, and is open in
general to U.S. priorities. He said Romania will likely follow the
lead of others in the EU. Regarding representation at the IWC
Meeting in Chile, Manoiu said that while the GOR had intended for a
senior maritime researcher to attend, he will not be available. In
his stead, a representative from the Romanian Embassy in Chile will
attend.

2. (SBU) Comment: It was clear that, as a very new member of the
IWC, Romania has not devoted much attention or resources to whaling
issues. Sending a local embassy representative to the Santiago IWC
Meeting may likely be a cost-saving move. As with other topics
where the GOR does not perceive a direct national interest, whaling
is an issue about which Romania will be receptive to U.S. positions
but will ultimately follow the lead of larger EU member states. End
comment.
TAUBMAN

© Scoop Media