Colombo Plan: Action Request regarding Drug

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000042

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, INL/C/CJ, IO/T

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01-09-14
TAGS: PREL SNAR CE
SUBJECT: Colombo Plan: Action Request regarding Drug
Advisory Program director position

Refs: (A) Colombo-INL 01-09-04 fax

- (B) INL-Colombo 01-08-04 unclass email
- (B) 03 Colombo 2171, and previous (All Notal)

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (U) This is an Action Request -- Please see Para 4.


2. (U) REQUEST FOR CANDIDATES: Throughout the
Asia/Pacific region, the Colombo Plan's Drug Advisory
Program (DAP) plays a major role in demand reduction and
drug awareness efforts. The tenure of the DAP's current
director, Tay Bian How, is scheduled to expire in June

2004. Given this, the Colombo Plan Secretariat is
soliciting nominations from its members states for
candidates for the next DAP director. The nomination
for candidate request, including the position
description and recommended candidate qualifications,
has been sent to the Department in Ref (A).


3. (C) POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF INCUMBENT: In the event
that the Colombo Plan Secretariat does not receive
applications for qualified candidates for the DAP
director position, the organization has indicated to the
U.S. that it may extend the appointment of current DAP
director How (see Ref B). An extension is a likely
possibility, given a current lack of suitable
candidates. (Note: Due to the diversity of the member
states (Afghanistan to Australia) and the importance of
community-based programs and contacts at the grassroots
level, the DAP director must possess significant related
experience and an extensive skill set.)


4. (C) During a January 9 conversation, Yasmin Raheem,
the executive assistant to the Secretary-General, told
poloff of another reason for the lack of nominations for
the DAP director position. Raheem stated that the
Secretary-General is seeking to change the tenure of the

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DAP director position, from four years to two years.
She added that the Secretary-General plans to address
the issue regarding the length of the appointment at the
upcoming Colombo Plan Council meeting on January 20. As
such, Raheem suggested that member states are possibly
waiting to propose candidates until the tenure of the
appointment is finalized. Regarding an extension for
the current DAP director, Raheem felt that an official
request from the U.S., who is a major funder of DAP
activities, would show to the Secretary-General and
other member states a strong indication of support for
such an extension.


5. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Mission requests guidance on
the following three issues:

-- Mission inquires whether the Department plan to
nominate any individual for the DAP director position.
Nominations are due to the Colombo Plan Secretariat, in
Colombo, by February 27, 2004.

-- As the Department seems to support an extension of
the current director's appointment (see ref B),Mission
inquires whether the Department would consider sending a
letter, through Mission, to the Secretary-General
officially supporting such an extension. Ideally, such
a letter would be communicated to the Secretary-General
prior to the January 20 Colombo Plan Council meeting.

-- Pending discussion at the January 20 meeting of the
Secretary-General's intent to change the tenure of the

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DAP director position from four years to two years,
Mission inquires if the Department has any initial
feedback regarding the length of the position that
Mission could convey during the meeting.

END ACTION REQUEST.


6. (U) Minimize considered.

LUNSTEAD