FY-05 VOLVIS - JACOBUS CILLIERS RESULTS REPORT

UNCLAS PRETORIA 004462

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR ECA/PE/V/F/E GINSBERG/CONNOLLY
INFO AF/PD LMING

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO SF
SUBJECT: FY-05 VOLVIS - JACOBUS CILLIERS RESULTS REPORT
MPP: DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES

REF: SECSTATE 90907


1. BACKGROUND: Jacobus (Jakkie) Cilliers is the head of
one of the preeminent security think tanks in South
Africa, the Institute of Security Studies (ISS). Mr.
Cilliers attended a security conference in Canada in June
2005 and was interested in the possibility of Post
assisting in arranging meetings for him in Washington DC
and New York City. Jakkie and his colleagues at ISS are
excellent Mission contacts on a variety of security
issues. This program has allowed us the opportunity to
reinforce our commitment to the ISS and make Cilliers
aware of the programs we offer.

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RENEWING OLD CONTACTS AND MAKING NEW ONES
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2. Dr. Cilliers not only confirmed the value of the
appointments arranged for him but also reconfirmed the
value he placed on the International Visitors experience.
He realized and regretted that he did not set aside
enough time to take fuller advantage of the VolVis
experience. He found that the program was excellently
organized. Cilliers is well known amongst his
counterparts in the U.S. and several of the appointments
were useful in re-establishing contacts.


3. Dr. Cilliers found all of his Washington, DC
appointments highly useful and established groundwork for
a number of collaborative efforts with several of his
colleagues at DC think tanks. He is particularly
interested U.S. foreign policy to sub-Saharan Africa,
focusing on security issues, including the Africa Standby
Force and regional and continental early warning and
conflict prevention programs. Appointments with
Departments of State and Defense were of particular
value.


4. Dr. Cilliers was particularly impressed with the
extensive internship and fellowship programs being
implemented by U.S. think tanks and policy institutes.
Upon his return to South Africa, he has begun an
initiative to institute a fellowship/internship program
at ISS.

QUALITY OF U.S. SUPPORT:


5. Many thanks to the Voluntary Visitor office,
specifically Erica Ginsberg, for providing an excellent
program despite the limited time.

Hartley