VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #0396 1281221
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081221Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7790
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 3846
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0700

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000396 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SE AND OES/OA (JOHN FIELD) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA PRL IWC ETRD CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: WHALES - IWC MEMBERSHIP DEAMRCHE ON USG PRIORITIES 
 
REF: STATE 56397 
 
(U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Per reftel request, Post delivered on May 3 demarche on the 
59th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 
Alaska from May 28-31 to Alexandros Zenon, Acting Permanent 
Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  We also sent copies to 
 
SIPDIS 
Panicos Pouros, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, and 
George Georgiou, Director, Department of Fisheries. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Cyprus will be represented at the IWC meeting by Ms. 
Myrofora Hadjichristoforou, Senior Officer, Department of Fisheries 
and Marine Research.  On May 8, Hadjichristoforou informed us that, 
generally, Cyprus was very pro-conservation on whaling issues and, 
thus, naturally inclined to side with the United States on most 
issues.  The European Commission had recommended that all EU 
countries participating in the IWC come up with a common position on 
IWC agenda issues.  Cyprus plans to honor whatever consensus 
position emerges from Brussels.  Hadjichristoforou noted that the 
European Commission's Environment Directorate General (ENV) and 
Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Directorate General (FISH) were both 
vying for the leadership role on IWC issues.  As part of a 
compromise, representatives from both DGs will attend the meeting. 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) Regarding the GOC's position on the specific issues raised 
in our demarche, here are Hadjichristoforou's preliminary comments: 
 
-- Bowhead Whale Quota: Being the IWC's newest member, Cyprus cannot 
take a position on this without consulting with the rest of the EU 
first.  Cyprus would normally vote for absolute protection of 
whales.  However, Cyprus would be willing to go along with the five 
year, 280 bowhead whale quota, provided the scientific community and 
the rest of the EU accepted the U.S. and Russian position that such 
limited subsistence whaling poses no threat to the species. 
 
-- Revised Management Scheme (RMS): Cyprus has full confidence in 
the IWC's leadership that it will overcome the present impasse. 
Cyprus has no specific suggestions at this point. 
 
-- Conservation Committee:  Cyprus fully supports the U.S. position 
on this issue. 
 
SCHLICHER