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Cablegate: Namibia Wary, but Aligning with Copenhagen

VZCZCXRO0289
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHWD #0090 0281213
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281210Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0152
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000090

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, But Aligning with Copenhagen

REF: REF A) 10 WINDHOEK 80; REF B) 10 STATE 3080

1. (U) Following up on the demarche delivered by Ambassador to
Prime Minsiter Nahas Angula on January 25 (REF A), Emboff met on
January 27 with the Teofilus Nghitila, Director of Environmental
Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

2. (SBU) Nghitila expressed disappointment with the outcome
from Copenhagen, specifically noting the lack of binding
commitments to reduced emission levels in developed countries.
Despite this, he asserted that "at least it is something - and
something is better than nothing." Therefore, he stated, the GRN
will "align" itself in support of the Copenhagen Accord. Nghitila
acknowledged that a desire to ensure access to the finance and
technology-sharing mechanisms of the Accord was a "significant"
part of the rationale for this decision. He also stated that
Namibia intends to provide a "strong voice" in the future
negotiations, advocating for a clear and binding agreement by 2012,
which will secure these mechanisms and impose emission reduction
levels.

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3. (SBU) Nghitila asserted his "strong feeling" that GRN
would register its association with the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCC) Secretariat before January 31, with the
caveat that no official word had yet been received from the Prime
Minister's office. Referencing a conversation from earlier in the
day with Permanent Secretary Shangula, Nghitila stated that the
Copenhagen Accord had been discussed at the previous day's Cabinet
meeting and that an official announcement from the Prime Minister's
office would be forthcoming "soon."
MATHIEU

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