VZCZCXRO2181
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHHE #0855 3371345
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031345Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3931
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS HELSINKI 000855
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND HOPEFUL GOING INTO BALI CLIMATE CONFERENCE
REF: SECSTATE 159374
1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche on the U.S.
position on climate change going into the UN Climate
Conference in Bali to Ms. Outi Berghall and Ms. Sirkka Haunia
from the Finnish Environment Ministry. As Finland's chief
climate negotiator, Berghall will lead the Finnish delegation
prior to the Ministerial portion of the Conference. Berghall
said she was 'hopeful' that a concrete roadmap forward would
come out of Bali, with the prospects of a final agreement
being reached in Copenhagen. Berghall continued by stressing
positive U.S. movement on climate change - including the
Major Economies effort - is having a significant impact on
developing countries choosing to participate more fully in
the UNFCCC process.
2. (SBU) Berghall shared that Finnish Prime Minister Matti
Vanhanen will insist that climate change be on the agenda of
all bilateral high level meetings the Finnish government
participates in for the foreseeable future. Berghall will
retire soon, leaving her likely incumbent to be Sirkka
Haunia, also from the Environment Ministry.
Comment:
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3. (SBU) There is an air of confident optimism in Finland
heading into the Bali conference. Despite the potential for
disagreement, Finland recognizes significant momentum on the
part of the U.S. on climate change. For the Finns, success
in Bali hinges on formulating a strong roadmap that will
ultimately lead to binding commitments. Berghall indicated
her concern over potential leakage in any agreement, even if
such agreements were legally binding. End Comment.
WARE