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077156 MDHIAN 0827
ANY TRADE.
THE UK'S DECISION TO ABSTAIN,
LEAKED BEFOREHAND FROM AN EC COORDINATING MEETING, DREW PREDICTABLE AND HOSTILE REACTION FROM NGOS AND THE UK PRESS, WHICH WAS REPRESENTED IN FORCE IN LAUSANNE.
13.
THE ELEPHANT DEBATE DOMINATED THE CITES CONFERENCE, BUT A GOOD DEAL OF WORK WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ON OTHER ANIMALS AND ON PLANTS PROPOSALS. THE UK CAN BE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS, ON WHICH DOE ARE REPORTING SEPARATELY. ONE ISSUE WHICH WILL RUN IS THE POSITION OF THE SECRETARIAT AND THE SECRETARY GENERAL, ACCUSED OF CLUMSY LOBBYING ON BEHALF OF THE IVORY TRADE AND WIDELY CONDEMNED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE SALE OF CONFISCATED PRODUCTS FROM APPENDIX I SPECIES, SOME OF THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO CITES ACCOUNTS. THE NGOS AND CERTAIN NATIONAL DELEGATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE US, HAVE BEEN STRONGLY CRITICAL OF THE METHODS OF THE SECRETARIAT. AT THE CLOSING PLENARY SESSION THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF UNEP DEFENDED THE SECRETARIAT AGAINST CHARGES OF IMPROPER BEHAVIOUR, WHILST ACCEPTING THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ERRORS OF JUDGEMENT. THE ISSUE IS HOWEVER UNLIKELY TO GO AWAY.
LONG
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
63
LIMITED
MAED
SAFD
HKD
CAFD
EAD
NEWS D
PS
ADDITIONAL
3
MR GREEN, DRA/DOE
MR BUNCE, DOE, BRISTOL NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
66
PS/MR WALDEGRAVE PS/PUS
MR BAYNE
MR TOMKYS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR FAIRWEATHER
MR MCLAREN
EAFD/ODA
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