US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB2109

UNCLAS ZAGREB 002109 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV, ECON, PGOV, HR 
SUBJECT: CROATIA REQUESTS US SUPPORT FOR LENIENCY ON KYOTO 
TARGETS 
 
 
1. On December 7, the Croatian MFA submitted a request by 
diplomatic note for U.S. support for a GoC application for 
leniency in carbon dioxide emissions ahead of the UN 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference 
currently ongoing in Buenos Aires. The GoC believes 
fulfilling its Kyoto Protocol obligation to reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions by 5% from 1990 levels would have negative 
economic effects and has applied under UNFCCC Article 4.6 for 
an increase of emissions over 1990 levels by 4.46 Mt. Eq-Co2. 
 
2. The diplomatic note reads as follows. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia 
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States 
of America in Zagreb and has the honor to inform the latter 
that, in the light of the expected entering into force of the 
Kyoto Protocol in February next year, Croatia is intensifying 
the activities toward its ratification.  In order to reach 
this objective, we still have an open question to be resolved. 
 
The Republic of Croatia became a party to the United Nations 
Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1996, and 
by undertaking the commitments outlined in Annex I, Croatia 
took an active part in the world,s efforts for the 
mitigation of climate change. 
 
It was in good faith that Croatia signed the Kyoto Protocol 
in 1999.  Having finished the first detailed national 
inventory, we realized that a reduction of 5% of GHG 
emissions in relation to the very low base year 1990 emission 
level (4.8 t CO2 per capita) would seriously jeopardize and 
make impossible any economic growth. 
 
Having such as outcome in mind, Croatia had to request 
flexibility under Article 4.6 of the UNFCCC to be applied in 
our case and asked for an increase of level emission of the 
base year by 4.46 Mt eq-CO2 in order to meet its Kyoto target 
by domestic measures.  In 2001, the Republic of Croatia 
officially submitted the request for application of Article 
4.6.  In the process of its consideration, we met all the 
conditions put before us by the UNFCCC bodies and interested 
parties of the Convention. 
 
The Convention bodies find Croatia eligible for application 
of Article 4.6  The final decision on our request is to be 
adopted on 10th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC in Buenos 
Aires, December 2004. 
 
In order to commence the ratification process in Croatia in 
2005, we kindly ask for the support of your country,s 
delegation to enable the adoption of a positive decision 
regarding the Croatian request. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affaires of the Republic of Croatia 
avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of 
the Untied States of America in Zagreb the assurances of its 
highest consideration. 
FRANK 
 
 
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