UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1257
OF 12113OZ JUNE 89
HKCISI/I
91
PA
003374
MDHOAN 3043
FOLLOWING IS REPORT ON DISCUSSION ON AFRICAN ELEPHANT AT THE EC ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL, LUXEMBOURG 8-9 JUNE\
BEGINS:
1
LORD CAITHNESS (UK) URGED THE COUNCIL TO AGREE THAT THIS
SHOULD BE ADOPTED AS A FULL AGENDA ITEM TO ENABLE A DECISION TO
BE TAKEN. THE THREAT TO THE ELEPHANT POPULATION WAS ACUTE AND URGENT ACTION BY THE COMMUNITY REQUIRED. CADET (FRANCE), NIJPELS (NETHERLANDS), AND RIPA (COMMISSION) STRONGLY SUPPORTED LORD CAITHNESS. HYBKJAER (DENMARK) REGRETTED THAT, FOR PROCEDURAL REASONS, SHE COULD NOT AGREE TO SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION OF A SUBJECT WHICH HAD NOT PASSED PARLIAMENTARY SCRUTINY IN DENMARK. TOEPFER (GERMANY) URGED FLEXIBILITY, BUT IN VAIN. SAENZ (PRESIDENCY) SAID HE WOULD SEEK A PROCEDURAL WAY OUT OF THE
DIFFICULTY, MAINTAINING THE SUBJECT AS AOB.
2.
IN RESUMED DISCUSSION, SAENZ INTRODUCED A PRESIDENCY TEXT CALLING ON THE COMMISSION TO BRING FORWARD URGENTLY PROPOSALS FOR
A BAN ON IVORY IMPORTS INTO THE COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
FOR LISTING THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT ON APPENDIX I OF CITES, AND INVITING MEMBER STATES TO INTRODUCE NATIONAL IMPORT BANS IN THE INTERIM. LORD CAITHNESS, WITH STRONG SUPPORT FROM LALONDE, NIJPELS AND RIPA PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE UNANIMOUS
AGREEMENT OF MINISTERS ON THESE POINTS. THE TEXT AS AMENDED WAS AGREED.
ENDS
HOWE
YYYY
PAGE
1
UNCLASSIFIED