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Cablegate: Czech Republic: Reply to Demarche On Cites Cop15

Published: Thu 28 Jan 2010 02:02 PM
VZCZCXRO0410
RR RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHSL RUEHTRO
DE RUEHPG #0048 0281402
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281402Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2098
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0281
UNCLAS PRAGUE 000048
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
OES/ENRC: LGAMBLE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSCA SENV AORC EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON CITES COP15
OUTREACH ON U.S. SPECIES PROPOSALS
REF: 6668
1. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche on January 25 to Czech
Environment Ministry Head of CITES Management Authority Jan
Kucera. Mr. Kucera told us that the EU Council will present
joint EU positions for the CITES meeting. Since the Council
has yet to present its position, Mr. Kucera offered the Czech
Republic's positions for EU negotiations.
2. (SBU) Mr. Kucera indicated that the Czech Republic
supports U.S. proposals on shark species, red and pink
corals, and the snake trade. With respect to the U.S.
proposal to transfer polar bear from CITES Appendix II to
Appendix I, the Czech Republic remains undecided. Kucera
said that the Czechs will propose to keep an open position on
this item and await comments from the World Conservation
Union, the World Wildlife Foundation, and other "qualified
bodies." Kucera also commented that Canada or Greenland's
management plans could serve as models.
3. (SBU) The Czech Republic will not support the U.S.
proposal to remove the bobcat from Appendix II. Kucera
explained that the bobcat skin is similar to that of the
European lynx, which has been rescued from near local
extinction in recent years but is still endangered. Hunting
for trophies is widespread, and the similarity between the
lynx and the bobcat (should the bobcat lose its status as a
protected species) could lead to enforcement problems for
authorities protecting the lynx population.
4. (SBU) Mr. Kucera also included a list of his delegation
members:
-Head of Delegation: Mrs. Dagmar Zikova; dagmar.zikova@mzp.cz
-Alternate Head of Delegation: Mr. Jan Kucera;
jan.kucera@mzp.cz
-Mr. Adam Kurz; adam.kurz@nature.cz
-Mr. Ondrej Kloucek; ondrej.kloucek@mzp.cz
-Ms. Helena Kostinkova; helena.kostinkova@mzp.cz
-Mrs. Pavla Rihova; rihova@cizp.cz
Thompson-Jones
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