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