VZCZCXRO0289
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHWD #0090 0281213
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281210Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0152
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000090 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
OES FOR DREW NELSON, OES FOR RACHEL KASTENBERG, OES FOR KATE LARSEN, AF/S FOR PHAEDRA GWYN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV WA
SUBJECT: Namibia Wary, But Aligning with Copenhagen 
 
REF: REF A) 10 WINDHOEK 80; REF B) 10 STATE 3080 
 
¶1.     (U)  Following up on the demarche delivered by Ambassador to 
Prime Minsiter Nahas Angula on January 25 (REF A), Emboff met on 
January 27 with the Teofilus Nghitila, Director of Environmental 
Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Tourism. 
 
¶2.     (SBU)  Nghitila expressed disappointment with the outcome 
from Copenhagen, specifically noting the lack of binding 
commitments to reduced emission levels in developed countries. 
Despite this, he asserted that "at least it is something - and 
something is better than nothing."  Therefore, he stated, the GRN 
will "align" itself in support of the Copenhagen Accord.  Nghitila 
acknowledged that a desire to ensure access to the finance and 
technology-sharing mechanisms of the Accord was a "significant" 
part of the rationale for this decision.  He also stated that 
Namibia intends to provide a "strong voice" in the future 
negotiations, advocating for a clear and binding agreement by 2012, 
which will secure these mechanisms and impose emission reduction 
levels. 
 
¶3.     (SBU)  Nghitila asserted  his "strong feeling" that GRN 
would  register its association with the UN Framework Convention on 
Climate Change (UNFCC) Secretariat before January 31, with the 
caveat that no official word had yet been received from the Prime 
Minister's office.  Referencing a conversation from earlier in the 
day with Permanent Secretary Shangula, Nghitila stated that the 
Copenhagen Accord had been discussed at the previous day's Cabinet 
meeting and that an official announcement from the Prime Minister's 
office would be forthcoming "soon." 
MATHIEU