VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0454/01 1371545
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161545Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3256
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 3439
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0318
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0936
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAY LIMA 5583
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000454 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ABLD AMGT CASC CMGT CVIS PGOV PREL SCUL SENV
AR, BR, PE, CI, PA, UY 
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN CONE COM CONFERENCE SHARE BEST PRACTICES 
IN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY, CONSULAR AND ENVIRONMENTAL SPHERES 
 
------ 
Summary 
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¶1. (U) Southern Cone COM's met in Santiago April 25-26, where 
they shared information on environmental ("green building"), 
public diplomacy, and consular best practices in the region. 
They also heard from OES on its priorities, including on 
climate change and biofuels.  A DVC with Customs and Border 
Protection offered useful insights on how to facilitate 
travel and entry to the U.S.  This is the second of two 
cables.  Discussion of regional security issues, economic 
policy matters, and embassies' cooperation with SOUTHCOM 
reported septel.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Ambassador Paul Simons and Embassy Santiago hosted 
April 25-26 the fourth iteration of the Southern Cone Chiefs 
of Mission conference, an initiative begun in 2006 to 
encourage exchange of views and best practices on issues of 
common interest to missions in this region.  Ambassadors 
Simons, Tony Wayne (Argentina), Cliff Sobel (Brazil), Jim 
Cason (Paraguay), and Frank Baxter (Uruguay) were joined by 
Rear Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., J-3 Director of 
Operations, SOUTHCOM; Ambassador Reno Harnish, OES PDAS; and, 
Chris McMullen, WHA DAS for South America.  DCM Urban and 
E/Pol Counselor were also present for all working sessions. 
 
----------- 
Going Green 
----------- 
 
¶3. (U) OBO Acting Director Adam Namm and OBO staff April 25 
briefed via DVC on how OBO is integrating "green building" 
techniques into new embassies.  OBO's 2010 budget will 
include a three-fold increase in conservation measures, a 
working capital energy efficiency fund for new building, and 
requirements for energy saving performance contracts (ESPCs). 
It is developing a "Green Guide" for posts worldwide. 
Ambassador Simons suggested OBO consider public/private 
partnerships for solar (photovotaic); OBO noted it had not 
yet done so globally but agreed to explore the idea. 
Representatives from Embassy Santiago's Green Committee 
outlined their initiatives and provided copies to COMs of its 
Action Plan.  The Embassy's Green Initiative Action Plan' s 
components include (1) Solar, (2) Conservation (energy and 
water) and (3) recycling.  The Plan consists of 
easy-to-implement and low cost efficiency measures, as well 
as longer-term deliverables.  The Plan was launched in March 
and had generated sigificant employee enthusiasm.  Specific 
short term measures included: 
 
-- adjusted Embassy temp by 2 degrees 
-- turned off one elevator after hrs 
-- encourage "stair policy" for employees 
-- created awards/incentive program for employees ($50 to top 
three reducers of electricity consumption/month) 
-- Facilities offered to help weatherstip/caulk govt-owned 
residences (and to advise LES on this) 
 
Longer term initiatives included: 
 
-- installation of solar heating thermal panels at the CMR 
-- re-landscaping portion of CMR and/or Chancery to less 
water-intensive, native plants (in partnership w/ Chilean 
universities) 
-- looking into installation of drip irrigation at CMR and/or 
Chancery 
 
OBO expressed appreciation for Santiago's green initiatives 
and said it would consider employing some of the ideas 
presented, particularly energy savings proposals at USG-owned 
residences. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Ambasador Harnish provided an overview of 
administration policies on climate change, the Energy 
Independence and Security Act, the just concluded WIREC 
renewables conference, and environmental chapters/cooperation 
in FTAs, as well as U.S. and Brazilian interest in debunking 
media reports that production of biofuels is contributing to 
food scarcity. 
 
ACTION FOR OES: The Ambassadors expressed interest in 
learning more about OPIC's USD 1.5 billion energy investment 
fund and more specifically about the new Latin America Energy 
 
Initiative.  The Ambassadors also requested more public 
diplomacy materials on biofuels, specifically the timeframe 
for moving to second generation technologies.  In the context 
of U.S.-Chile judicial training for environmental law 
enforcement (under auspices of U.S.-Chile FTA) all 
Ambassadors expressed interest in increased law 
enforcement/prosecution capacity building and suggested the 
Department consider designing a new IV program on regional 
environmental law enforcement, which would both educate and 
help build regional relationships. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Best Practices:  Public Diplomacy 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Santiago PAO reviewed best practices in Public 
Diplomacy.  Ambassadors contributed information on strategies 
that have worked well at their posts, and offered suggestions 
for networking.  Among the points covered were: 
 
-- American Corners (ACs) effectiveness in establishing and 
maintaining a PD presence for the U.S. outside of the capital 
city.  One of Chile,s five ACs has a special orientation to 
science, technology, environmental, and energy issuesand 
frequently hosts USG visitors who are coming to Chile for 
other sci/tech-related purposes.  Santiago employs a 
full-time LES as AC coordinator, a key factor in making the 
program work.  Ambassador Sobel suggested a DVC to share best 
practices on ACs and other items involving PAOs. 
 
-- Strategies for outreach.  Ambassador Wayne noted his PA 
Section has all Embassy employees fill out a "skills bank" 
form, noting areas of interest and expertise, so they can be 
programmed at appropriate speaking venues.  Ambassador Cason 
said a standard "stump speech" has been developed about 
U.S.-Paraguay relations and the work of the Embassy for all 
officers to use at outreach talks.  Ambassador Sobel shared 
information about USA Fairs, traveling exhibits with 
comprehensive information about the U.S., drawing on multiple 
offices and agencies.  Ambassador Wayne described the recent 
NGO Fair held in Buenos Aires and recommended reading Buenos 
Aires 533, which details the excellent outreach achived.  An 
English course for working journalists in Santiago involoves 
15 journalists who have intermediate levels of English 
fluency; other embassies had also found this a useful program. 
 
-- Websites, and the duties of webmasters.  All agreed that 
film and video streaming, press conferences, messages from 
the Ambassador, and other uses of technology on the website 
are effective in reaching audiences, especially the young. 
Ambassador Wayne suggested a DVC among webmasters in the 
region to share their best practices and innovations. 
Ambassador Cason noted his staff also scours popular websites 
and blogs for evidence of disinformation about the U.S., 
which the Embassy can then quickly counter. 
 
¶6. (U) The COMs discussed various strategies for supporting 
academic exchanges and English language training.  In 
Paraguay, the business sector offers microscholarships, and 
the BNC provides significant discounts.  Ambassador Sobel 
pointed to the value of the BSC Youth Ambassadors (YA) 
program, which receives more than 3,000 applications for its 
35 annual slots.  The Ambassador sought and gained approval 
from L to send letters to the presidents of U.S. universities 
in support of YAs, which has paid off with scholarships.  He 
suggested a region-wide DVC on the YA program and others. 
Ambassador Wayne cited the success of the Texas International 
Education Consortium (TIEC) program, which hosts English 
teachers in San Antonio. Ambassador Cason described his foray 
into performaing with well-known Paraguayan artists on a CD 
to raise money for English language instruction at the BNC in 
MOntevideo. 
 
------------------------- 
Best Practices:  Consular 
------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) Santigao's Consul General opened a discussion on 
consular work, briefing on current issues facing Consular 
Affairs.  He noted worldwide statistics for visas, passports 
and adoptions and CA efforts to meet rising demand for 
services.  He also touched on several overarching issues 
including consular leadership, victim's assistance and 
children's issues.  The Embassy's Deputy CG then presented 
 
two of Santiago's current initiatives.  The first is a 
systematic approach to matching resources with visa 
application demand called "wait times and tripwires" and the 
second is a developmental program called "Locally Engaged 
Staff of the Month".  This innovative practice increases 
efficiency and encourages cross training.  Lively discussion 
followed on a variety of topics including eligible family 
members regaining authority to adjudicate visas and the 
public diplomacy challenges of long visa wait times. 
Ambassador Wayne commended work done with customer 
satisfaction surveys by Embassy BA's consular teams, which 
led to new efficiencies and boosted customer satisfaction 
ratings to 95 percent positive. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Digital Video Conference: CBP Miami 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) The conference concluded with a DVC with Customs 
Border Protection's (CBP) Miami office.  Participants from 
Miami were Harold Woodward, Director of Operations, Miami 
Region and Diane Loftus, Assistant Port Director, Miami 
Airport Passenger Processing.  CBP reviewed referral 
procedure by which posts may request courtesies of the port 
be extended to very high-level travelers and noted the 
importance of at least 24 hours advance notification.  In 
response to a question about silent paroles, CBP stated such 
arrangements should be made through the DHS/ Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Legal Attaches at post.  CBP 
described the system of hard and soft secondary referrals and 
how that workload is managed.  CBP invited DVC participants 
to visit the facility if they are passing through. 
 
¶9. (U) COMs suggested creating opportunities for South 
American media to visit and do stories about the facility and 
suggested having Mr. Woodward or the port director record a 
video that could provide information about the admission 
process, to be shown in consular waiting rooms.  CBP 
explained that there was a way to enter a " primary outlook 
override" when a traveler is identified as not being the 
subject of a match in the database but people with common 
names may still face additional scrutiny and referral to 
secondary.  In closing, Mr. Woodward emphasized the 
importance of transparency and advance notification with 
special cases. 
 
URBAN