Cablegate: Drc Response to Cites Cop15 Outreach On U.S. Species

VZCZCXRO8944
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0158 0391317
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081316Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0142
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE
SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000158

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/ENRC (LLOYD GAMBLE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KSCA AORC UNEP CG
SUBJECT: DRC RESPONSE TO CITES COP15 OUTREACH ON U.S. SPECIES
PROPOSALS

REF: 10 STATE 6668; 09 STATE 125262

1. (U) In response to ref A, Econoff delivered demarche talking
points to DRC Minister of Environment, Conservation of Nature and
Tourism Jose Endundo on February 1.

2. (U) Endundo applauded the USG's commitment to save endangered
species, and for its commitment to conservation of nature in
general. He said that the GDRC thanked the USG and was generally
supportive of the U.S. proposals regarding sharks, corals, polar
bears, bobcats and particularly snakes. He indicated that 300,000
snakes are killed each year in the DRC. He said that snakes are
killed for either food or to prevent venomous attacks against
people.

3. (U) Endundo stated that the GDRC would welcome additional
information from other competent institutions regarding the
aforementioned species, since this would be indispensable for the
GDRC delegation to understand the stakes involved and the role they
should play at the upcoming 15th meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (CoP15) for the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which will take
place March 13-25 in Doha, Qatar.

4. (U) He said that the DRC delegation to CoP15 would be led by
Mr. Augustin Mawala Nzola Meso from the CITES management office at
the Ministry of Environment (Contact information: Tel. number:
+243-997-592-965, e-mail: augumawalala@yahoo.fr). He will be
accompanied by two other members of the Scientific Authority.
GARVELINK

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