VZCZCXRO9691
OO RUEHDH
DE RUEHRH #1096 2361435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241435Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1439
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN PRIORITY 0177
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 0270
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS RIYADH 001096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DOE TO POLICY INTERNATIONAL A/S DAVID SANDALOW FOR 
SECRETARY CHU FROM AMBASSADOR RICHARD ERDMAN 
STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/IEC, AND R STAFF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EPET OVIP PREL SA
SUBJECT: DOE PARTICIPATION AT THE KAUST OPENING CEREMONY 
 
 Mr. Secretary: 
 
When I met with Saudi Petroleum Minister Naimi earlier this 
month, he asked me to personally reaffirm his standing 
invitation to you to visit the Kingdom and to convey his 
hopes that you will be able to attend the September 23 
inauguration ceremony for the King Abdullah University for 
Science and Technology (KAUST).  As you may know, KAUST is a 
$9 billion project that aims to be a world-class center for 
advanced scientific research. A self-contained community with 
state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and an ample 
endowment from the King, KAUST has been able to attract top 
scholars and researchers from around the world, including 
from leading institutions like Stanford and MIT, and is 
viewed as King Abdullah,s legacy project.  With good reason, 
given its visionary scope, resources, and promise. 
 
Given important U.S. equities with Saudi Arabia and the 
King,s personal involvement and financing of this massive 
project, appropriate high-level U.S. participation in the 
event is essential.  In addition, DOE itself has several 
important equities related to the project.  Namely: 
 
--ARAMCO and the Petroleum Ministry have been given the lead 
by the King to oversee the realization of this project.  Your 
participation would thus be seen as a very positive gesture 
and would help reinforce our long-standing partnership on 
energy issues with these two premier institutions in the 
Kingdom. 
 
--Minister Naimi is strongly interested in DOE 
participation/involvement in KAUST research projects.  In 
this regard, when we met, Naimi said he has tasked KAUST with 
three specific missions -- meeting the Kingdom,s power needs 
with solar power within ten years; developing wheat strains 
that can be grown in brackish or salty water; and 
transforming algae into bio-fuel.  There may be some areas of 
mutual interest here worth exploring. 
 
--Your participation in the event would provide an 
opportunity to help cement DOE,s important cooperation with 
the Ministry of Interior (MOI).  Under the auspices of our 
Technical Cooperative Agreement, DOE has signed a 
project-specific agreement with the MOI.  Under this 
agreement, the Saudi Government is paying DOE $15.7 million 
per year to conduct a system effectiveness analysis 
assessment for the protection of critical infrastructure. 
Our cooperation in this sensitive area of Saudi national 
security has created a special relationship between DOE and 
the MOI, arguably the most powerful institution in the 
country apart from ARAMCO and the Petroleum Ministry.  The 
MOI leadership, in particular Assistant Minister (and son of 
the minister) Prince Mohammed bin Naif, has specifically told 
us he hopes you will be able to attend the event and looks 
forward to meeting with you. 
 
Mr. Secretary, I would strongly encourage you to accept 
Minister Naimi,s personal invitation to attend the KAUST 
inaugural ceremonies if you possibly can.  Doing so will 
advance our bilateral relations by showing respect for the 
King and his legacy project, provide an opportunity for 
serious discussions with key leaders in the energy and 
research sector, and cement DOE cooperation with the MOI in a 
vital area of Saudi national Security.  Should your schedule 
not permit a visit at this time, we would of course welcome 
your asking Deputy Secretary Poneman to attend on your 
behalf.  Whoever comes, be assured Embassy Riyadh and our 
Consulate General in Jeddah stand ready to provide their full 
support to ensure and successful, interesting, and worthwhile 
visit. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Ambassador Richard Erdman 
 
 
 
 
 
ERDMAN