Cablegate: Timor-Leste Planning to Associate with the Copenhagen

VZCZCXRO6444
RR RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB RUEHPOD
RUEHSL RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDT #0038 0490553
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180553Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4711
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0001
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 4281

UNCLAS DILI 000038

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KINR TT
SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE PLANNING TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE COPENHAGEN
ACCORD

REF: STATE 11182

1. (SBU) National Director for Bilateral and Multilateral
Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Isilio Coelho
responded favorably to the reftel demarche points conveyed by
the DCM on February 9. According to Coelho, the GOTL is
inclined towards associating with the Copenhagen Accord. A
final decision, however, is pending further consultations with
the responsible line Ministry, namely the Ministry for the
Economy and Development. Nevertheless, Coelho anticipated that
Timor-Leste would support the agreement, especially given that
as a small island nation Timor-Leste is likely to be among the
first countries to feel the adverse effects of climate change.

Comment

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2. (SBU) The positive indications given by the MFA are
consistent with our understanding of the GOTL's position on
climate change. President Ramos-Horta has made climate change a
national priority and is personally engaged in diplomatic
efforts to encourage other Asia-Pacific countries to group
together and take a leadership role in the global negotiations.
To that end, he made an official visit to the Maldives this week
(accompanied by the Minister for the Economy and Development)
where the agenda is expected to include discussions about
climate change. We will follow up with both the Minister and
the President in the coming weeks.

KLEMM

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