Cablegate: Russia Still Weighing Options On Mercury

VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #1816 1771148
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251148Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8759

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001816

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR OES/ENV/HODAYA FINMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV AORC EAGR ETRD RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA STILL WEIGHING OPTIONS ON MERCURY

REF: STATE 63943

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.

1. (SBU) On June 24, we discussed the October 2008 UNEP-hosted
Mercury Working Group Meeting with Oleg Shamanov, Head of the Global
Environment and Health Section of the MFA's International
Organizations Department. Shamanov said that the GOR had not yet
formulated a definitive position on the best way to address mercury,
including whether a binding agreement or a voluntary partnership
would be the most appropriate international vehicle. He said the
MFA would need to discuss the issue further with the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Ecology. He hoped the GOR would be in a
position to discuss the issue more substantively within two weeks.
We will continue to follow up with the MFA as the GOR works to
develop a position on mercury.

RUSSELL

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