Cablegate: Guatemala Demarche On Cites for Cop15

VZCZCXYZ0011
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #0242 0361901
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051900Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0960
INFO RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000242

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KSCA AORC UNEP GT
SUBJECT: Guatemala Demarche on CITES for COP15

REF: A) 10 STATE 6668

1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel points to the Sub-Secretary and
Fauna Expert at the National Council for Protected Areas (CONAP).
Officials speculated, but could not confirm, that the GoG would
support the U.S. proposals on coral, the polar bear, the bobcat and
the Asian snake study. Likewise, regarding the proposition to list
six shark species as CITES Appendix II, they would consult with the
Organization for Fish and Fisheries in the Central American Isthmus
(OSPESCA), a regional organization, which has already voiced
support for the measure. In two weeks CONAP will review the list
of US proposals with technical experts from different sectors and
establish official positions on each species. Officials noted
that, CONAP's Secretary, Claudia Santizo, plans to attend COP15 as
the GoG delegate.

2. (U) Post requests guidance from OES on how to respond to a CONAP
query regarding the U.S. position on Monaco's proposal to include
the Blue Fin Tuna as a CITES Appendix I species. Guatemalan
fisheries do not contain Blue Fin Tuna, but CONAP expressed worry
that Yellow Fin Tuna, which is plentiful in Guatemala, could be
added in the future as a "look alike" species.
MCFARLAND

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