Cablegate: South African Response to the Secretary's

VZCZCXYZ0025
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSA #3974 2651642
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221642Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5870
INFO RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN PRIORITY 3387

UNCLAS PRETORIA 003974

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON UNGA SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICAN RESPONSE TO THE SECRETARY'S
INVITATION TO FOREIGN MINISTERS AT UNGA TO PARTICIPATE IN
COALITION AGAINST WILDLIFE TRAFICKING EVENT

REF: A. A) STATE 152643

B. B) PRETORIA 3756

1. (U) The Deputy Chief of Mission spoke to Ministry of
Foreign Affairs USA Director Jan van Vollenhoven in Pretoria
on September 14 and delivered the talking points received in
Reftel A earlier that day regarding the Secretary's
invitation to Foreign Ministers at UNGA to participate in the
Coalition against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) event on
September 22. The Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs
also contacted van Vollenhoven and provided additional
written materials on the same day. Van Vollenhoven promised
to forward the information to his superiors.

2. (U) Ambassador Bost met with Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs Mrs. Sue van der Merwe in Capetown on September 20.
The Ambassador mentioned that Assistant Secretary for Oceans,
International Environment and Scientific Affairs Claudia
McMurray had discussed the CAWT with Minister for
Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus Van Schalkwyk on
the margins of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) meeting
in Capetown on August 30 and that Van Schalkwyk had expressed
interest in the CAWT (see Reftel B for additional
background). The Ambassador then delivered the talking
points provided in Reftel A, adding that the Embassy had
provided the same information to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Pretoria and that the date and time of the CAWT
event had changed. Van der Merwe said she would follow-up on
the invitation.

Bost

© Scoop Media