VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #3880/01 2611419
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181419Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0352
INFO RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3367
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0767
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 4613
RUEHDOI/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC

UNCLAS AMMAN 003880 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/RA, AND OES 
STATE PASS TO NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 
STATE ALSO PASS TO NIH/INTERNATIONAL 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
INTERIOR FOR INTERNATIONAL/SENHADJI 
COMMERCE FOR NOAA/INTERNATIONAL 
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL 
WHITE HOUSE FOR OSTP/ROLF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TSPL SENV TBIO TPHY ETRD KTIA JO
SUBJECT: Jordan: Planning the S&T Joint Commission Meeting 
 
REF:  AMMAN 2606 
 
(U)  Sensitive but unclassified.  Handle accordingly. 
 
¶1.  (U) This is an action request.  Please see para 9. 
 
¶2.  (U) Background and summary:  The U.S.-Jordan S&T Agreement 
entered into force on June 12, 2007 (reftel).  The Government of 
Jordan (GOJ) is keen to hold the first Joint Commission Meeting 
(JCM).  Dr. Walid Al-Turk, Secretary General of the Higher Council 
of Science and Technology (HCST - the de facto Science Ministry), 
will serve as the Jordanian co-chair for the JCM.  Al-Turk will 
travel to the U.S. in early November to meet the U.S. co-chair and 
other members of the scientific community to plan the JCM.  He will 
discuss GOJ research priorities related to water, energy, 
environment and biotechnology, and have suggestions for JCM-related 
working groups as well as a joint U.S.-Jordan Research Fund.  End 
background and summary. 
 
High Expectations on a No-Frills Budget 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Dr. Walid Al-Turk, Secretary General of the Higher Council 
of Science and Technology, is eager to initiate programs under the 
recently signed S&T Agreement, and has high expectations for a 
proposed November trip.  His goals include: developing a personal 
rapport with the U.S. co-chair; outlining key GOJ priorities in the 
S&T arena; developing a framework for the JCM agenda and working 
groups; agreeing on tentative dates and location for the JCM; and, 
developing a draft plan for the JCM. 
 
¶4.  (U) HCST has developed a concept paper (shared with State 
OES/STC and NEA/RA which outlines the key GOJ R&D priorities: 
water, energy, environment, and biotechnology.  HCST has suggested 
the following areas for cooperation under the S&T Agreement which 
could align with possible JCM working groups: 
-- Renewable Energy Applications 
     Solar Energy 
     Wind Energy 
     Biogas 
     Bio Fuel 
-- Water treatment and Desalination (including nanotechnology) 
-- Agriculture (low water consumption plants) 
-- Environmentally Sound Technologies (Clean Technologies) 
 
¶5. (U) Additionally, IBM Almaden Research Center recently proposed a 
joint GOJ/IBM nanotechnology hub in Jordan, with an initial focus on 
using carbon nanotubes and self-assembled polymer membranes for 
desalination.  Ten to twelve Jordanian scientists and post-doctoral 
students would spend a few years at IBM labs to further develop this 
technology before returning to Jordan to establish the hub.  The 
initial focus of the program would be water desalination, but it 
could eventually be expanded for broader nanotechnology 
research/applications.  HCST would like to advance this concept 
under the umbrella of the S&T agreement. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Al-Turk is aware that no separate USG funding is available 
to support the S&T agreement, a fact he often laments. 
Nevertheless, he is supportive of the USG approach to create 
relevant working groups and collaborative networks, through which 
priority projects of mutual interest should "rise" and attract 
possible funding.  In the HCST concept paper, he also proposes the 
creation of a Joint Research Fund (similar to the U.S.-Egypt S&T 
Fund) with matching contributions from U.S. and Jordan.  HCST is 
able to contribute monies to such a fund.  Al-Turk is likely to 
raise the concept of a Joint Research Fund with Washington 
interlocutors. 
 
Proposed Meetings 
----------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Proposed meetings for Al-Turk's trip include the U.S. 
co-chair, senior Department management (G, OES, NEA), the National 
Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, and OSTP. 
 
Al-Turk could also meet members of the interagency working group on 
nanotechnology.  He is also keen to meet Representative Brian Baird 
(D-WA), Chairman of the House Research and Science Education 
Subcommittee, to follow up on their August meeting in Amman where 
they discussed regional Red Sea cooperative projects.  (Mr. Walid Al 
Hadid at the Embassy of Jordan in Washington will be assisting 
Al-Turk in planning this trip). 
 
¶8.  (U) Optional add-ons to Al-Turk's trip could include stops in 
Colorado at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the 
National Wind Technology Center.  Another add-on could be Almaden, 
California to visit IBM nanotechnology labs (para 5). 
 
Department Assistance 
--------------------- 
 
¶9.  (U) Action Request:  Post requests Department's assistance to: 
 
-- Confirm the November 6-7 dates for Al-Turk's meetings in 
Washington. 
-- Nominate a Department control officer for coordinating and 
supporting the meetings in Washington. 
-- Identify and communicate the appointment of the U.S. co-chair for 
the JCM. 
-- Develop a notional schedule for Al-Turk's November trip to 
Washington. 
-- Develop an initial draft agenda and suggested working groups for 
the JCM. 
 
¶10.  (U) Post appreciates Department and interagency assistance in 
efforts to plan and hold the JCM. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.gov.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ 
 
HALE 
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