VZCZCXRO2720
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #4379/01 3030949
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300949Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0744
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHDOI/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUFTNAB/COMUSNAVCENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 004379 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/RA (LAWSON), AND OES/PCI 
STATE PASS TO USAID 
STATE PASS TO EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL 
USDA FOR FOREST SERVICE/INTERNATIONAL 
INTERIOR FOR INTERNATIONAL/WASHBURNE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV TSPL TBIO ETRD EAID PGOV JO
SUBJECT: FY08 PRIORITIES AND WORK-ITEMS FOR AMMAN ESTH HUB 
 
REF: STATE 140185 
 
¶1.  The Amman ESTH Hub for the NEA Bureau was established in 1997. 
The current incumbent (Manu Bhalla) is the fourth Hub officer.  He 
is supported by regional environmental specialist Rana Safadi, who 
has served with the Hub for eight years. 
 
Key Priorities and Work Items 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  Hub priorities for 2008 are closely aligned with the OES 
Priorities for 2007 for NEA (reftel).  The work items for the first 
quarter of FY08 are specified in detail, while longer-term work 
items do not have specific dates.  The Hub priorities support 
economic growth, sustainable development, public diplomacy/outreach, 
the Arab-Israeli peace process, and advancing critical environmental 
issues. 
 
Priority 1:  Water Resource Management Issues 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  Access to water for municipal and agricultural use is a critical 
issue in the Middle East.  Trans-boundary water issues and 
appropriate water resource management policies are also key issues 
in the region.  Key work items include: 
 
-- Bolster and promote active Israeli/Jordanian/Palestinian 
participation in the EXACT Multilateral Working Group.  The 
short-term focus will be on the Water Resources meetings at the Sea 
of Galilee/Lake Tiberias in Israel (November 07) and in Rome 
(December 07), while also encouraging additional participation from 
Italy as a donor country. 
-- Evaluate Jordan's proposal for a nanotechnology hub with initial 
focus on water desalination (4Q, 2007). 
-- Collaborate with regional organizations such as the Middle East 
Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) to monitor new desalination 
technologies. 
-- Support NEA bureau representatives, posts and USAID on 
trans-boundary issues such as the Nile Basin Initiative, the 
Tigris-Euphrates Basin, and the Red Sea-Dead Sea conveyance 
pipeline. 
-- Report on programs to improve access to safe drinking water, 
mobilization of private capital for related infrastructure, 
integrated water resources management, and trans-boundary water 
cooperation issues in Jordan and the NEA region. 
 
Priority 2: Science Outreach in the Muslim World 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  Recent polls show that U.S. S&T is still held in high regard 
despite the frequent criticisms of U.S. foreign policy in the 
region.  S&T collaborations in the Muslim world provide the U.S. 
with a natural entree for outreach and engagement.  The Regional 
ESTH Officer will seek to advance the Department's "Science and 
Technology (S&T) Strategy for Outreach to Muslim Countries" 
(approved by Secretary Rice in July 2005) through increased 
high-level engagement with S&T communities in the region; reaching 
out to youth (universities, high-schools), women, policy-makers, and 
technology-based entrepreneurs; and increasing collaborative 
activities.  Program elements include: 
 
-- In the fourth quarter of 2007, launch a monthly outreach program 
at science/technology universities and high schools highlighting 
U.S. S&T collaborations.  This will start in Jordan and extend to 
other countries by coordinating with relevant PAOs during regional 
travels. 
-- U.S.-Jordan Joint Commission Meeting (JCM).  Ensure the November 
2007 visit by the Jordanian co-chair leads to the development of a 
robust agenda for the JCM.  Hold the first JCM in Amman in January 
¶2008. 
-- Support the visit of James Turner, Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology to Jordan in November 2007 and 
Anthony "Bud" Rock (former OES Acting A/S and long-time 
Science-coned FSO) to the region in December 2007.  Promote science 
outreach during these visits. 
-- Expand Jordanian media coverage of Embassy ESTH activities and 
USG water resource management initiatives. 
-- Encourage/support other posts in region in increasing their ESTH 
issues media coverage. 
-- Participate in discussions regarding new S&T agreements with 
Saudi Arabia and Libya.  Assess feasibility of possible new 
agreements with other Gulf countries.  Support continued 
implementation of U.S.-Egypt and U.S.-Algeria/Tunisia/Morocco S&T 
agreements. 
 
AMMAN 00004379  002 OF 003 
 
 
-- Develop a proposal for naming 2009 or 2010: Year of U.S.-Arab 
Science Partnership. 
 
Priority 3:  Environment and Trade 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  The Regional ESTH Officer will also support the implementation 
of environmental cooperation agreements with Morocco, Jordan, 
Bahrain, and Oman in support of FTA/TIFA agreements.  Promoting the 
continued implementation of the Middle East Partnership Initiative 
(MEPI) environmental capacity building will also be a key focus. 
Work items will include: 
 
-- Convening a workshop for Jordan's Environmental Rangers to define 
their vision, strategy, and work-plan.  Held by U.S. Forest Service, 
National Parks Service, and EPA. (Amman - November 12-14, 2007). 
-- Implementing MEPI regional courses on a range of environmental 
topics including Vessel Oil Pollution (December 3-5, Bahrain); the 
Role of Science and Role of Public Participation in Environmental 
Law (January 5-9, Bahrain and Oman); Organizational Strengthening 
for Environmental Ministries (dates tbd); and, Hazardous Waste 
Management (dates tbd). 
-- Supporting USAID/EPA implementation of the USAID-EPA interagency 
agreement for Jordan FTA-related activities in 2008 and 2009. 
-- Holding the next session of the U.S.-Jordan forum on 
Environmental Technical Cooperation (early 2008). 
-- Organizing a workshop for Jordan's judiciary on enforcement of 
environmental laws (delivered by EPA judges from Environmental 
Appeals Board - early 2008) and extending it to, or replicating it 
for regional participants, if relevant. 
-- Ensuring strong regional and U.S. participation in the 
Environmental Cities of the Mediterranean Forum (June 2008). 
-- Exploring the feasibility of introducing Leadership in Energy and 
Environmental Design (LEED) principles in the NEA region. 
-- Supporting posts in monitoring key regional environmental issues 
including driftnet fishing (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia may 
be practicing large-scale driftnet fishing), coral reef preservation 
in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, and oil-spill mitigation efforts in 
the Suez Canal. 
 
Priority 4:  Pandemic Flu Preparedness and Public Health 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  The threat of pandemic flu continues to be one of the highest 
priority public health issues in Egypt and its possible spread to 
nearby NEA posts also requires vigilance.  Key work items in the "H" 
part of the ESTH will include: 
 
-- Pandemic flu preparedness and avian influenza mitigation in Egypt 
and surrounding countries; 
-- Support for the Middle East Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening 
partnership (MEPI program), and its expansion from Jordan, the UAE, 
and Saudi Arabia to Egypt, Morocco, and the Palestinian 
territories. 
 
Priority 5:  Support Middle East Peace Efforts 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  The ESTH Officer will support USG efforts related to the Middle 
East peace process through enhanced Israeli, Palestinian, and 
Jordanian cooperation on ESTH issues. 
 
-- Monitor and report on success of Middle East Regional Cooperation 
(MERC) projects on fostering Israel-Arab collaboration.  Support 
visiting MERC project manager in November 2007 visits to 
Jordan/Israel.  Review MERC pre-proposals and proposals.  Attend the 
MERC committee meetings in Washington to allocate project grants. 
-- Ensure a successful Trilateral Research and Industrial 
Development (TRIDE) Governing Board meeting in Amman in December to 
foster Israel-Jordan-U.S. collaboration. 
-- Assist U.S. Department of Agriculture in developing regional 
environmental conferences to support the peace process, starting 
with a conference on underground tank erosion and pollution in 
Tiberias, with Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian participants. 
-- Encourage expanded Israeli-Arab nominations and participation on 
ESTH issues through the International Visitor program. 
-- Support EXACT Multilateral Water working group meetings (covered 
in Priority 1). 
 
Priority 6:  Hub operations and communications 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  The Regional ESTH Officer will bolster the Hub operations and 
communications with posts, the inter-agency, and other Hubs. 
 
AMMAN 00004379  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
-- Hold a mini-ESTH conference for all NEA FSN/LES staff involved in 
ESTH work in April/May 2008; 
-- Continue sending bi-weekly updates on ongoing ESTH 
issues/activities in the region - sent to Washington inter-agency 
and regional posts; 
-- Encourage ESTH officers at NEA posts to send regular updates on 
ESTH issues; 
-- Glean and share Hub best practices from Hub officers meetings; 
-- Meet regularly with diplomatic corps to track other ESTH 
activities in the region; 
-- Develop a rotation program for non-ESTH officers and FSNs to 
rotate through Amman Hub for 1-4 week durations.  The rotations 
would be offered to Embassy Amman and other NEA posts (subject to 
practical constraints); 
-- Develop and maintain a matrix (snap-shot) highlighting all ESTH 
related activities for each NEA post. 
 
PROJECTED TRAVEL AND CALENDAR OF EVENTS 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. The following is the rough calendar of events and projected 
travel.  Currently, Hub funding is expected to cover all the 
projected FY 08 travel.  However, a fifteen percent increase in FY09 
Hub funding is requested to cover the rapid increases in regional 
travel costs. 
 
Nov 3-6: Qatar orientation trip 
Nov 6-8:  Israel: EXACT training work-plan meeting 
(Israel-Jordan-Palestinian) 
Nov 12-14: Jordan: Workshop for Environmental Rangers 
Nov 18-21: UAE orientation trip 
Nov 28: Visit to Aqaba with MERC Project manager 
Dec 3-5: Bahrain orientation trip + MEPI workshop on vessel oil 
pollution 
Dec 10-13: Rome: XXV EXACT Water Working Group meeting of Core 
Parties 
Jan 8-10: Oman orientation trip + MEPI Workshop on Environmental 
Law 
Jan (tbd): Kuwait and Saudi Arabia orientation trips 
Jan 28-29: Amman: U.S.-Jordan Joint Commission Meeting 
Feb (tbd): Morocco and Tunisia orientation trips 
Feb (tbd):  MERC Committee meeting (Washington) - tentative. 
Feb (tbd): Joint NEA/SCA ESTH officers conference (in SCA location) 
March 3-15:  WIREC, Hub Officers meeting, Washington consultations 
March (tbd):  Libya, Algeria, and Lebanon orientation trips 
April (tbd):  MERC Committee meeting (Washington) 
April (tbd): Egypt: U.S.-Egypt S&T Committee Board meeting 
May (tbd):  FSN mini-ESTH conference (location TBD) 
June (tbd):  Jordan: Environmental Cities of Mediterranean Forum 
 
PROPOSED TRAINING: 
------------------ 
 
¶10.  The following training-related activities will be undertaken by 
the Hub.  The regional environmental specialist would lead the 
organization of the mini-ESTH conference for FSNs.  She would also 
attend relevant training at FSI in conjunction with any visits to 
the U.S. 
 
-- Environment Science and Technology Officers conference (spring 
2008).  Joint SCA/NEA region conference; 
-- Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - during next visit to 
Washington; 
-- Amman Hub - to host mini-FSN ESTH conference in April/May 2008. 
Location tbd. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman 
 
HALE