Cablegate: Chile: May Have Concerns with Cites Cop-15 Proposals;

VZCZCXRO7825
OO RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHSL RUEHTRO
DE RUEHSG #0160 0361655
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 051648Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0725
INFO ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000160

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KSCA AORC UNEP CI
SUBJECT: CHILE: MAY HAVE CONCERNS WITH CITES COP-15 PROPOSALS;
NATIONAL CITES COMMITTEE TO MEET IN LATE FEBRUARY

REF: STATE 6668

1. (SBU) ESTHoff delivered reftel points to Ministry of Foreign
Affairs-Environment Directorate (MFA/DIMA) CITES Coordinator Nancy
Cespedes on January 27. Cespedes informed ESTHoff that Chile may
have some concerns with the proposals, e.g., Chile trades in coral
and is concerned with identifying species that might be included
under CITES. According to Cespedes, MFA is working with their
interagency, including the Undersecretary of Fisheries, on a
response. She also said Chile expects to send a delegation and is
working on a list of names.

2. (U) On February 4, Cespedes confirmed that Chilean national
CITES committee met and received the information regarding the
U.S.-proposed amendments on January 27. She said that
representatives of both Chile's National Fisheries Service
(SERNAPESCA) and its Undersecretary for Fisheries are still
analyzing fishery and marine aspects of the U.S. proposals, as well
as those of the European Union. The national CITES committee is
scheduled to meet again on February 24. Post will provide any
information obtained from the GOC via septel.

3. (U) According to the MFA/DIMA, the Chilean delegation has not
been finalized. To date, only three GOC representatives -- all
from Chile's National Forestry Commission (CONAF), a division of
the Ministry of Agriculture -- have confirmed their participation:

-- Fernando Olave, Manager, CONAF, Office of Budget and Regulations
Management

[Note: Olave was the chief organizer of the CITES Conference of
Parties in Santiago, Chile in 2002. End note.]

-- Bernardo Martinez, CONAF, Office of Budget and Regulations
Management

-- Jorge Martinez, CONAF, Office of Budget and Regulations
Management
URBAN

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