Cablegate: Mauritius Hopes Climate Change Issues Go to the Un

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RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHPL #0297 2390756
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 260756Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4153
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000297

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KGHG UNGA SENV AORC MP
SUBJECT: MAURITIUS HOPES CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES GO TO THE UN
SECURITY COUNCIL

REF: SECSTATE 87757

1. On 28 August, DCM delivered ref points to Ambassador
Jagdish Koonjul, who responded that Mauritius supports
climate change issues being addressed by the UN Security
Council. Koonjul noted that the Alliance of Small Island
States should account for at least a quarter of the votes in
the UN, thus making it very possible to force the issue to be
raised to the UNSC-level. "If we don't manage to get the
issue moved into the UNSC," he said "it will be our failure."

2. Koonjul said Mauritius sees the UN Framework on Climate
Change (UNFCC) and the UNSC working together to ensure a
decision on climate change which is enforceable. The GOM
considers climate change to be a threat to peace and
security, and thus considers the UNSC the correct body to
take up the issue in parallel to the UNFCC. It is "high
time" for the UN to develop binding decisions on climate
change, he said. The GOM believes that bringing climate
change to the UNSC via a resolution will help ensure much
needed "binding decisions."

3. Embassy Comment: Climate Change issues are of great import
to this island nation. It is not surprising to hear
Ambassador Koonjul speak adamantly about the need for the UN
to focus on climate change. It is a common refrain we hear
from other Mauritian interlocutors, including the Prime
Minister. End comment.
CABRERA

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