VZCZCXRO1714
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHBM #0033 0191128
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191128Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0264
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0041
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0407
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0188
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000033
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE ASCHEIBE, OES/EGC DNELSON AND KLARSEN, OES/ENV
RKASTENBERG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KGHG SENV ENRG RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA FULLY SUPPORTS ASSOCIATION WITH COPENHAGEN ACCORD
REF: STATE 003079
1. Charge d'Affaires delivered reftel demarche points to Petru
Dumitriu, Director General for Multilateral Affairs, and Cosmin
Boiangiu, Director of the UN Department, of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) on January 15. Both were members of the Romanian
delegation to the Copenhagen Conference of the Parties (COP). They
confirmed Romania's support for and intention to associate with the
Copenhagen Accord and to inscribe its mitigation actions. However,
they explained that the mechanics of the association process for
European Union (EU) member states were still being deliberated at
the EU Council level, with Environment Ministers meeting in Spain
the weekend of January 16-17 to discuss this and related issues.
The details will depend on interpretation of the terms of the Lisbon
Treaty.
2. While the MFA officials agreed that the Copenhagen agreement is
an imperfect, less-than-ideal outcome, they believe it is a good
result overall and expect a large number of countries to meet the
January 31 deadline for association. Romania remains optimistic and
is focusing on the strengths of the result and opportunities for
future progress, with Dumitriu and Boiangiu emphasizing that the
countries who agreed to the document represent 80 percent of global
greenhouse emissions. They also stressed the importance of
continuing the dialogue and are looking forward to resolving
remaining issues at the next COP in Mexico at the end of 2010. Both
underlined Romania's commitment to the EU's promised 20 percent
reduction in emissions from the 1990 base level and mentioned that
that commitment could increase to 30 percent if other countries
demonstrate comparable efforts. Romania will contribute to
financing mechanisms under the agreement and has pledged 15 million
euro for fast track financing over a two-year period. The EU is
still considering whether such donations should be made directly by
individual member states or aggregated into one EU contribution,
they said.
3. Consistent with past discussions on climate change, the
Romanians raised the issue of their substantial emissions credits
under the Kyoto Protocol, potentially worth billions of euro. They
consider it very important that these credits transfer to the next
international agreement, and they support further consultation on
carbon credits and an integrated and regulated cap-and-trade system.
Romania hopes to use the revenue from this trade to finance more
investment in green technologies.
GITENSTEIN