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Brooke F Adams  09/07/2006 03:55:53 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Brooke F Adams

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C O N F I D E N T I A L        TRIPOLI 00472

SIPDIS
CXCAIRO:
    ACTION: POL
    INFO:   AID AMB DEA ECON IPS LEGAT CONS DAO DCM ORA PA
            OMC RSO

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

VZCZCCRO696
RR RUEHEG
DE RUEHTRO #0472/01 2491753
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 061753Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1174
INFO RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0405
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0004
RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 1328

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000472 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/RA, VCI, PM, G, OES 
CAIRO FOR DR. MARIE RICCIARDIONE 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  8/31/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ENRG ETTC PARM KNNP LY
SUBJECT: LIBYAN SCIENTISTS DETAIL PRIORITIES FOR COOPERATIVE EFFORTS 
 
REF: A)  TRIPOLI  459   B)  TRIPOLI 454   C) TRIPOLI 201 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Elizabeth Fritschle, Pol/Econ Chief, U.S. Liaison 
Office, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
¶1.  (C)     Scientists working at the National Bureau for 
Research and Development, linked to the General People's 
Committee for Manpower, Training and Employment (GPCMET) headed 
by Matouq Matouq have used a number of recent meetings to detail 
the types of projects that they hoped would result from Libya's 
decision to give up its WMD program.   They are focused on 
developing peaceful uses of nuclear energy and preparing Libya 
for the challenges it faces from an expanding population and 
dwindling water supply.  During the recent visit of Ambassador 
Schulte, reported reftel (a), Matouq and his team asked for 
specific projects in the nuclear field as well as a cooperative 
agreement to provide an overarching framework.   Qadhafi told 
Senator Specter during a meeting August 23, reported reftel (b), 
that he believed the U.S. had offered to build him nuclear 
powered facilities and help with technology transfer to "make 
Libya the Japan of North Africa."   During a NASA cooperative 
effort on solar physics in March, Libyan scientists also 
conveyed their wish list of cooperative efforts, reported reftel 
(c).  A recent meeting of the TSCC Nuclear Subcommittee also 
focused on the scope of scientific cooperation desired by 
Matouq's team (reported septel). 
 
WHAT LIBYANS WOULD CONSIDER THE "REWARD" FOR GIVING UP WMD? 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C)  Matouq Matouq and his science advisors, Dr. Ali Gashut, 
Director of the National Bureau for Research and Development 
(NBRD) and Dr. Mohammed Enami of the NBRD , regularly harangue 
U.S. delegations that "the Libyan case is not a good model for 
the rest of the world because it received no benefits from its 
decision to give up WMD programs."   If pressed, many 
interlocutors will acknowledge that Libya reaped significant 
benefits as sanctions were lifted: trade and investment 
opportunities flowed to Libya, Libya was offered WTO accession, 
and world leaders began to consult with Libya on matters of 
mutual interest.  However, other interlocutors, including 
Qadhafi and officials at the General People's Committee for 
Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation fixate on the 
"rewards" to open almost any conversation about bilateral 
relations.   It seems that the Libyan leadership has determined 
they need some "deliverables" to show the Libyan people, 
especially to counter criticism of the Jamahiriya regime by 
Libyan opposition groups, other Arab countries and Iran.  While 
the Libyan priorities are still primarily technology transfer 
and training, they hoped for some specific, large projects that 
they could show the Libyan public as the "reward." 
 
¶3.  (C)  During the last few months, the Libyans have 
highlighted the following activities that they would consider 
"reward" for giving up WMD.  In their view, if they had these 
tangible projects to show the rest of the world, they could then 
argue for a "Libya Model" that might apply to other countries. 
During a recent meeting with Senator Specter reported septel, 
Qadhafi said that he had been told the U.S. and other countries 
would build nuclear power plants in Libya and that his country 
would become the, "Japan of North Africa." 
 
¶4.  (C)  The Libyans would like to see the following projects 
supported by the U.S.  At times, different Libyan interlocutors 
have insisted that the U.S.G. should fund the activities as 
compensation of the value of the WMD equipment that we took back 
to U.S.  In the August 29 meeting between Matouq and Ambassador 
Schulte reported reftel (a), Matouq said that Libya had the 
funding needed for any of the projects, but it sought technical 
assistance and training. 
 
THE LIST OF REWARDS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (C).  As a first step, Matouq would like to see feasiblity 
studies conducted by U.S. firms for nuclear power generation in 
Libya.   The list of project priorities also includes the 
following: 
 
*  nuclear power generation for Libya - possibly for exporting 
power to other countries 
 
*  nuclear powered water desalination plants 
 
*  a nuclear medicine center at the Tripoli Medical Center with 
the ability to develop radioactive isotopes. 
 
*  solar energy technology for power generation 
 
*  solar energy technology for water processing - both 
desalination and waste water management 
 
*  microsatellites for the Libyan Remote Sensing Center to use 
in urban planning and environmental monitoring.  They also 
request licensing for high-resolution images received by U.S. 
satellites to further work in desertification studies and water 
resource  management. 
 
*  technical and scientific training related to desertification 
prevention, sandstorm research, desert geology, disaster 
monitoring and meterorite studies 
 
*  water management projects 
 
* an international project or bilateral project to build a new 
telescope in the Libyan desert. 
 
¶6.  (C)   Matouq and his team are generally pleased with the 
ongoing scientific cooperation projects that are currently 
underway on biological life sciences, mechanical engineering, 
water management and nuclear medicine, but they are looking for 
"big-ticket" items that they can use to expand scientific 
research, generate employment, and counter criticism.  Training 
activities and visitor programs to exchange information may be 
what the Libyans need, but it doesn't help them with their 
public perception problems.  Although the U.S. is expending 
significant time and energy assisting with Libya's chemical 
weapons destruction program, Libyans do not consider that 
assistance as a "reward".  On their balance sheet, the U.S. does 
not get credit for activities that we intitiate or fund - - 
paying for the removal of their dangerous materials, or helping 
convert their Tajoura facility from HEU to LEU, or offering a 
million dollar grant for Avian flu prevention, or any of our 
many other bilateral programs. 
 
¶7.  (C)  The Libyan scientists are reaching out to the G8 
countries, especially France, Japan, and Russia, to request 
assistance with the same list of projects.  Both the French and 
Japanese have signed cooperative agreements that are 
non-specific but pledge future collaboration in these areas. 
When the Japanese Ambassador to Libya was describing his 
strategy, he acknowledged that some of the Libyan objectives are 
unrealistic.  He said," we know that a radioactive isotope 
facility may not be cost effective for the Libyans or a good 
business model, but if they want it and are willing to pay for 
it, we will help them move forward.  The cooperative effort 
between our two countries is more important than the final 
outcome; we will gain significant benefits from the process of 
working together even if the results are not a guaranteed 
success." 
 
¶8. (C) While post looks to the TSCC nuclear subcommittee 
(proceedings reported septel) to determine the appropriate scope 
of nuclear cooperation, as export license restrictions are being 
revised, hopefully some of the Libyan priorities will be able to 
move forward in the short term, particularly on solar energy 
applications.  We appreciate NEA/RA and ISN efforts to continue 
the scientific engagement activities already underway.   If OES 
organizes a delegation to visit Libya, U.S. officials should be 
prepared to address the Libyan priorities, along with clear 
guidance on whether or not an activity is feasible, and if so, 
what timelines are possible.   If delegation members can provide 
ballpark cost estimates, Matouq and others in the Libyan 
leadership can begin working through their convoluted system to 
set aside funds for the activities.    Post is also following up 
on the cooperation efforts explored with the General Peoples 
Committees during the Dobriansky delegation visit.  Given the 
lack of coordination in the Libyan Jamahiriya (translate: state 
of the masses) government, we will attempt to ascertain the 
additional priority opportunities in health, agriculture and 
environment fields that are not reflected in the list presented 
by Matouq's group of scientists. 
GOLDRICH