Support Funding Environmental Economist at Jordan

UNCLAS AMMAN 003794

SIPDIS

State for OES - PDAS Rock, DAS McMurray

EPA for Assistant Administrator Ayres

From the Charge d'Affaires

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV JO
SUBJECT: Support Funding Environmental Economist at Jordan
Environment Ministry

Ref: A) 2004 Amman 8087, B) Amman 3358


1. Embassy Amman supports the proposal for an EPA
environmental economist to work at the Jordanian Ministry of
Environment with funding from the OES Initiative (OESI)
grant program. This project was agreed to at the September
2004 Joint Environment Forum (Ref A),and post understands
that there is an opportunity under the OESI to move forward
on implementing our agreement.


2. The environmental economist was a top priority for the
Jordanian Ministry of Environment under three consecutive
ministers (Ref B). Meeting this priority will demonstrate
our commitment to a partnership with Jordan on the
environment and to the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) and its Joint Statement on Environmental Technical
Cooperation, with ripple effects that will support other
FTAs.


3. Approval of the OESI is the critical next step. With
that in place, post will finalize housing and other support
arrangements through discussion with EPA and State/OES.

HALE