BRAZIL SUPPORTIVE OF ATCM MEASURE ESTABLISHING THE ANTARCTIC TREATY SECRETARIAT - NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL

UNCLASSIFIED,FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY UNCLAS BRASILIA 001113 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/OA - ROB HUGHES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC, KSCA, KTIA, SENV, TPHY, BR SUBJECT: BRAZIL SUPPORTIVE OF ATCM MEASURE ESTABLISHING THE ANTARCTIC TREATY SECRETARIAT - NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL REF: STATE 74080 1. (U) THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AND NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 2. (SBU) Environment, Science and Technology Counselor met on August 14 with the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations (MRE) Director of the Department for the Environment and Special Themes, Min. Luis Alberto Figueiredo Machado, and per reftel urged Brazil to approve Measure 1 (2003) of the Antarctic Treaty System. Figueiredo Machado responded that the Brazilian government was supportive of the Measure. Since the Measure had financial implications for the government, he explained, it would need congressional approval. He could not give an estimate of when he expected to obtain that approval. He did understand the significance of obtaining the approval of the four outstanding members before the April 2009 meeting in Baltimore. SOBEL