VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPO #0439/01 2911251
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171251Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0428
INFO RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 1867

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000439 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR IIP/S CBARONE 
INFO WHA/PDA CPETERSON, CWEST 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KPAO NS
SUBJECT: Request for Traveling Speaker on Political, Economic and 
Diplomatic Engagement of the United States in the Latin American and 
Caribbean Region 
 
REF:  2007 STATE 151480 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  Post seeks a traveling speaker to present a 
12-page paper on the subject of "Political, Economic and Diplomatic 
Engagement of the United States in the Latin American and Caribbean 
Region."  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (U) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Anton de Kom University is the sole 
university in Suriname.  The University's Institute of International 
Relations is one of Post's close partners in public affairs 
outreach.  The Institute has requested that Post provide a speaker 
to participate in its upcoming symposium, "Latin American and 
Caribbean Relations within an Evolving Global Context," which will 
be held on November 28 and 29, 2008. 
 
¶3.  (U) The Institute requests that the speaker also present a 
12-page paper on the subject of "Political, Economic and Diplomatic 
Engagement of the USA in the Latin American and Caribbean Region." 
To ensure proper dissemination, the paper should be submitted to the 
University through the Embassy by October 30. The speaker would then 
present the paper in a 45-minute speech on November 28 during the 
two-day symposium.  The reserved speech slot is the first slot after 
the Opening Remarks.  The Institute is particularly interested in a 
speech that provides a general overview and discussion of United 
States involvement in the region from the Monroe Doctrine to the 
present. 
 
¶4. (U) The U.S. Speaker's presentation will be one of several 
presentations over the two-day symposium.  Other presentations on 
the draft agenda are scheduled to include "Brazil, Mexico, and 
Venezuela in the Context of Emerging Power Relations in the 
Hemisphere" (speaker from Brazil);  "The Economic Integration 
Movement of the Latin American Region" (University of Amsterdam); 
"Foreign Policy of Suriname in View of Political and Economic 
Changes in the Hemisphere" (Ministry of Foreign Affairs); "The 
Future of CARICOM and Latin American Relations - Challenges and 
Perspectives" (University of the West Indies); and "Transnational 
Crime as a Regional Security Threat" (Organization of American 
States). 
 
¶5. (U) TIME FRAME:  The symposium will be held on November 28 and 
November 29.  Post will look into the feasibility of additional 
programming on either November 27 (Thanksgiving) or December 1, as 
airline flights permit. 
 
¶6. (U) PROGRAM PURPOSE:  The objective of the United State's segment 
of the Institute's program is to inform and assist Surinamese 
audiences in understanding the history of U.S. diplomatic, economic 
and political engagement in the Latin American and Caribbean Region. 
 Surinamers have a history of looking towards Europe, due to their 
colonial past.  In recent years, they increasingly have started to 
look towards their CARICOM and South American neighbors.  Sharing 
the U.S. perspective as well as U.S. interests and goals in the 
region will give the audience a stronger understanding of the 
positive United States contributions in the hemisphere. 
 
¶7. (U) A secondary purpose is to strengthen Post' relations with a 
valued partner institution, the University's Institute of 
International Relations.  The Ambassador considers it a priority to 
assist the Institute with its request for a U.S. speaker.  This will 
further strengthen Post's cooperative ties with the Institute. 
 
¶8. (U) MSP Strategic Goal:  Goal #1, Mutual US/Suriname appreciation 
and respect contributing to a more effective partnership.  Goal #4, 
Evident U.S. contribution to Suriname's improved economic and social 
development. 
 
¶9. (U) AUDIENCE:  This symposium will be open to media 
representatives, undergraduate and graduate students, academics, 
public sector officials, political party members, and the general 
public. 
 
¶10. (U) PROPOSED TOPICS AND NATURE OF EVENTS:  The traveling speaker 
will participate in the two-day symposium on Friday, November 28 and 
Saturday, November 29.  The Institute requests the speaker present a 
12-page paper on "Political, Economic and Diplomatic Engagement of 
the USA in the Latin American and Caribbean Region."  Post will 
explore the feasibility of additional programming on either December 
1 (Monday) or November 27 (Thanksgiving), as speaker's travel 
schedule permits. 
 
¶11. (U) NAME OF DESIRED SPECIALIST:  Post has already conferred with 
Anton de Kom University over an IIP-provided list of suggested 
speakers.  The Institute requested as its first choice Thomas Andrew 
O'Keefe, President of Mercosur Consulting Group.  The second choice 
speaker is Gregory Baker Wolfe, an independent business consultant. 
The third choice is Anthony Bryan, from CSIS.  Post concurs with the 
Institute's selections.  Neither Post nor the University has 
contacted any of these suggested speakers directly.  If none of the 
above speakers is available, Post will coordinate with IIP and the 
Institute to identify alternate candidates. 
 
¶12. (U) LANGUAGE: English 
 
¶13. (U) POST CONTACT INFORMATION: Geneve Menscher, P/E Chief, tel: 
(597) 472 900 extension 2205, fax: (597) 420 800, email: 
menscherge@state.gov.  Back-up program officer: Judith Dijks, 
Business and Education Resource Center, tel: (597) 472 900 extension 
2267, fax: (597) 425 690; email: dijksjb@state.gov. 
 
¶14. (U) FUNDING SPECIFICS:  The University, as host of the 
symposium, will engage in cost-sharing for this visit and will 
provide per diem valued at 200 USD/day for four days.  (Note:  The 
USG Per Diem Rate for Suriname, lodging and MI&E, is 187 USD/day. 
End Note.)  All other costs should be paid out of Post FY09 I-bucks 
(4500 USD remaining).  Post advises IIP that international travel 
for the speaker is best scheduled on Caribbean Airlines from Miami 
to Paramaribo, via Port of Spain.  A waiver to the Fly American Act 
is available due to the excessive layover time in a foreign airport 
if the speaker were to take the morning American Airlines flight to 
Port of Spain.  The transfer time for the afternoon American 
Airlines flight to Port of Spain is too short to make the connecting 
flight, due to immigration and customs requirements for transiting 
passengers. 
 
SCHREIBER HUGHES