Cablegate: Mirex Recommends to Environment Minister That Angola

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RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0083 0581951
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271951Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0014
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS LUANDA 000083

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR DREW NELSON AND RACHEL KASTENBERG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV ENRG KGHG AO
SUBJECT: MIREX RECOMMENDS TO ENVIRONMENT MINISTER THAT ANGOLA
ASSOCIATE WITH THE COPENHAGEN AGREEMENT

REF: 10 SECSTATE 11182

1. (U) During February 25 call, Ambassador Mozena delivered
reftel demarche to MIREX Director for the Americas Balbina da
Silva, urging that Angola associate itself with the Copenhagen
Accord. Da Silva queried about the other countries that have
already associated with the Accord, and was impressed that the
listing included major developing countries like Brazil, India,
China, Russia and South Africa. Da Silva told the Ambassador that
she had already sent a letter to the Minister of the Environment
Maria de Fatima Monteiro Jardim recommending that Angola associate
with the Copenhagen Accord. Da Silva readily agreed that climate
change affects all countries, and commented on the unusual weather
patterns in the U.S. and Europe as reflections of the widespread
impact of climate change.

2. (SBU) COMMENT: Da Silva's initiative in writing the
Environment Minister is a meaningful and welcomed development.
Post is encouraged that the issue is on the Angolan radar scope,
though prospects for timely action from the Environment Ministry
are not good as that Ministry is best known for inertia. The
Environment Minister's initial public comments on the Accord in the
wake of the Copenhagen meeting were not positive. Yet to be seen
is whether the supportive action by the Africa Union and the
endorsement by MIREX will sway and energize the Minister to action.
Post will attempt to engage the Environment Ministry to urge its
timely action.
MOZENA

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