UNCLAS PRETORIA 001018

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO INT/USGS/RESTON/WLRIPPLE, DPOOLE, MFOOSE
DEPT FOR L, AF/PD, AF/S/KGAITHER, JDIFFILY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TPHY SENV KPAO SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: AMBASSADOR SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING ON BEHALF OF USGS

REF: SECSTATE 31978


1. (U) Summary. On behalf of the United States Geological
Survey (USGS), Ambassador Jendayi Frazer signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) with Chief Executive Officer of the
South African Water Research Commission (WRC) Dr. Rivka Kfir
on March 7, 2005. The MOU covers scientific and technical
cooperation in the earth sciences, and represents an
important step toward potential research collaboration
between the USGS and the WRC. Both print and broadcast media
covered the event.A scanned copy of the MOU has been sent via
e-mail to Washington; one signed original will be pouched to
Delia Ann Poole at USGS. End Summary.


2. (U) On March 7 2005, Ambassador Frazer signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of the USGS and the WRC
(reftel). The ceremony took place in front of approximately
200 delegates attending the opening event of the Biennial
Ground Water Conference in Pretoria. Most delegates came
from South Africa, but a number came from surrounding
countries. Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Buyelwa
Sonjica, who opened the conference, and keynote speaker
Andrew Stone, Director of the American Groundwater Trust,
looked on as the MOU was signed. Both Sonjica and Stone
highlighted the importance of scientific understanding to
both local and national policy makers and stakeholders.
Sonjica emphasized the urgency in South Africa to provide
potable water to 5 million South Africans and sanitation to
14 million. The conference seemed to be an ideal venue to
launch the MOU, since conference delegates are the most
likely ones to explore ways of putting it into action.


3. (U) In her brief remarks following the signing, Dr. Rivka
spoke about the WRC's mission to provide research funding to
solve water-related problems in South Africa. To accomplish
this mission, the WRC has a staff of about 50 persons to
manage an annual budget of R100 million (app. $15 million).
Dr. Rivka said she looked forward to collaborating with USGS.


4. (U) Ambassador Frazer then spoke on the importance of
scientific collaboration between our two countries, and about
USGS activities in the hydrological sciences and its
pioneering contributions to the geosciences. SABC-Radio (18
million listeners) covered the event, as did SABC-TV (serving
17 million viewers), which featured her remarks on the
television news. Also there was the South African Press
Association, which acts as a regional news service; virtually
every media outlet in South Africa is a subscriber.


5. (U) Covering scientific and technical cooperation in the
earth sciences, the MOU is subject to the 1995 U.S.-South
African Agreement Relating to Scientific and Technological
Cooperation. It represents an important step in potential
research collaboration between the USGS and the WRC.


6. (U) One signed original of the MOU along with information
from the Biennial Ground Water Conference was pouched on
March 9 to International Program Specialist Delia Ann Poole
of the United States Geological Survey.
FRAZER