VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLJ #0074/01 0461335
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY AD5D91B7 LOP8323) 431
P 151335Z FEB 08 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6458
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0162

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000074 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
C O R R E C T E D   C O P Y   (ADDED SENSITIVE CAPTION) 
 
NSC FOR PRICE/CONNAUGHTON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV ENRG TSPL KSCA KGHG EUN SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA PROPOSES SEMINAR TO BRING DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES INTO CLIMATE CHANGE DEBATE 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) On February 15, Emboff met with Andrej Kranjc, 
Undersecretary for International Relations at the Slovenian 
Ministry of the Environment to discuss Slovenia's 
preparations for the 18-19 February climate change meeting in 
Brussels between CEQ and France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, 
the UK, and the European Commission in the framework of the 
Major Economies Meetings (MEM).  (Note: Kranjc led the EU 
presidency/Slovenia delegation at the MEM meeting in Honolulu 
in late January and will attend the MEM climate change 
meeting in Brussels on behalf of the EU presidency. End 
note.)  Kranjc discussed the European reaction to the Major 
Economies process that he observed in Honolulu and at the 
UNGA thematic debate on climate change in early February. 
Although Kranjc said that there is still a great deal of 
skepticism within the EU on the intentions of the United 
States with regard to the Major Economies process, he noted 
that all participants he spoke to at MEM in Honolulu found 
the meeting worthwhile.  Kranjc said that he agreed with the 
United States on the need to bring developing countries into 
the climate change debate, but he added that developing 
nations should not be held to the same standard as developed 
countries.  Kranjc said that Slovenia, in its role as 
president of the Council of the European Union, would like to 
host a seminar to bring developing countries and EU member 
states together to discuss climate change issues.  End 
Summary. 
 
Europeans Still on the Fence about the MEM Process 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Kranjc characterized the late-January MEM meeting in 
Honolulu as highly constructive but noted that many EU member 
states--and other third party countries--still hold serious 
reservations about the process.  The primary concern, which 
Kranjc commented by this point should be of no surprise to 
the US, is that the MEM process would interfere with existing 
climate change processes, particularly the United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  Another 
concern held by the Europeans, according to Kranjc, is that 
the MEM process does not have a concrete end goal.  Kranjc 
thought that there should be more discussion on what exactly 
can be achieved within the MEM framework.  He believes that 
the Unites States has done a good job outlining the long-term 
goals for MEM, but he says the US must indentify mid-term 
targets and goals for the period leading up to 2020.  Kranjc, 
who just returned from the UNGA thematic discussion on 
climate change, said that there was little discussion of MEM 
there. 
 
Slovenia Seeking to Bring Developing Countries into the 
Climate Change Debate 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) Kranjc said that Slovenia agrees with the Untied 
States on the need to draw developing nations--particuarly 
India and China--into the climate change debate and added 
that Slovenia would like to promote this effort during its EU 
presidency.  (Note: Slovenia has identified the discussion of 
climate change issues as a top priority for its EU 
presidency. End Note.)  Kranjc said that Slovenia is laying 
the groundwork for a seminar that would bring developing 
countries and the EU together to discuss climate change 
issues.  He envisions that the seminar would be held in 
Ljubljana and ideally take place before the UNFCCC meeting in 
Bangkok scheduled for March 31-April 4.  He acknoweledged, 
however, that it would more likely take place sometime in the 
month of April.  Kranjc has been in contact with EU officials 
on the matter and reached out to several representatives from 
developing countries at the UNGA thematic debate to gauge 
their interest in the idea.  He emphasized that the seminar 
would be for European Union member states and developing 
countries; as such, the United States would not be invited as 
a delegate.  Kranjc acknowledged that the lack of invitation 
might discomfort the United States.  He explained that even 
though the US would not be able to participate in the 
symposium, he looks forward to discussing the issue of third 
party involvement with US interlocuters at the MEM climate 
change meeting in Brussels on 19 February. 
 
Kranjc Worried about Calls for Environmental Minister's 
Resignation 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) Emboff brought up recent press reporting on the 
Slovenian Court of Audit's efforts to dismiss Environmental 
Minister Janez Podobnik.  Kranjc gave an exasperated sigh and 
said that he could not comment on the matter, but that he 
hoped it would not distract the Environmental Ministry from 
its presidency obligations. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Slovenia is in full agreement with us on the need to 
bring developing countries into the climate change debate, 
which presents an opportunity for us to work cooperatively 
with Slovenia toward promoting this objective during the 
latter's EU presidency.  Despite the fact that Slovenia is a 
small country with limited resources, it can establish 
priorities in its role as EU president and set the time 
schedule for their discussion.  Slovenia's efforts to raise 
awareness within the EU on the need to incorporate developing 
counties into the climate change debate might be a step in 
the right direction. 
COLEMAN