Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES2580
2006-11-17 21:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

SECRETARY'S S&T ADVISER VISITS ARGENTINA

Tags:  TSPL SCUL OEXC OSCI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2580/01 3212100
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 172100Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6510
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 5588
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1898
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 5348
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 2059
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 3033
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD FAS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF EDUCATION WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEANAT/NASA WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002580 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR STAS DR. GEORGE ATKINSON; WHA/BSC; AND ECA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL SCUL OEXC OSCI
SUBJECT: SECRETARY'S S&T ADVISER VISITS ARGENTINA

REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 02537

B. BUENOS AIRES 00707

C. BUENOS AIRES 01888

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002580

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR STAS DR. GEORGE ATKINSON; WHA/BSC; AND ECA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL SCUL OEXC OSCI
SUBJECT: SECRETARY'S S&T ADVISER VISITS ARGENTINA

REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 02537

B. BUENOS AIRES 00707

C. BUENOS AIRES 01888


1. (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified, and not for
Internet distribution.

--------------
Summary
--------------

2. (SBU) Science and Technology Adviser (STAS) to the
Secretary Dr. George Atkinson led a delegation of U.S.

SIPDIS
scientists and engineers on a visit to Argentina November
7-9. The delegation's aim was to conduct an informal and
limited survey of Argentina's level of S&T attainment with an
eye to determining Argentina's capabilities and priorities in
S&T research and education, and potential as a participant in
STAS' vision for a new collaborative relationship between
universities, E.g. "Global Science Partnerships for the 21st.
Century (GSP21)." Dr. Atkinson left impressed with
Argentina's capabilities in many fields and the GOA
enthusiasm for the GSP21 concept. His visit garnered
goodwill with the GOA and Argentine S&T community and
positive media coverage. He and post believe Argentina could
be a solid GSP21 partner.


3. (U) The following individuals comprised Dr. Atkinson's
delegation: Mr. Andrew Reynolds, Deputy S&T Adviser to the
Secretary of State; Dr. Kim Boyer, WHA Jefferson Science

SIPDIS
Fellow; Dr. Lee Schwartz, the State Department Geographer;
Dr. Ed Samulski, former Jefferson Science Fellow, University
of North Carolina; Dr. Christina McCain, AAAS Fellow; Mr.
Cung Vu, Technology Warning Division, Department of Defense;
and Mr. Nathan Singh, University of Pennsylvania.

--------------
Why Argentina?
--------------


4. (U) Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary (STAS)
Dr. George Atkinson led a delegation of U.S. scientists on a
visit to Argentina November 7-9. Argentina was the third
stop on a four-country trip (the others were Peru, Chile, and
Brazil) undertaken before and after the fifth in a series of
STAS' Global Dialogues on Science and Technology, in this
case on the topic of Bioinformatics hosted by Brazil on
November 12-15. The delegation's aim was to conduct an
informal and limited survey of Argentina's level of S&T
attainment, in order to better appreciate Argentine S&T

priorities in the future and related commitment to education
and basic and applied research. The visit also afforded an
opportunity to discuss STAS' concept of a potential "Global
Science Partnerships for the 21st. Century (GSP21)," to
foster more extensive exchanges of students and possibly
faculty between US and Argentine universities.


5. (U) To that end, Atkinson and delegation members met with
GOA Minister of Education, Science and Technology Daniel
Filmus; Secretary of Science and Technology Tulio Del Bono;
MFA Undersecretary for Foreign Policy Ambassador Luis
Cappagli, the foreign ministry's third-ranking official; and
with numerous other officials and practicing scientists in
both the public and private sectors.

--------------
The State of Argentine S&T
--------------


6. (SBU) The Argentine state research organization (CONICET)
provided Dr. Atkinson and the STAS delegation a series of
presentations designed to give the visitors a broad view of
the type of research now being conducted in Argentina. The
presentations highlighted the work of Argentine scientists
and engineers in such fields as nanotechnology and laser
development, and facilitated a good deal of
scientist-to-scientist interaction. The Embassy arranged the
CONICET meetings because CONICET exercises some manner of
control over virtually all Argentine scientific research.
The organization boasts over 4,500 fulltime researchers,
5,000 doctoral or post-doctoral fellows, and pays a portion
of the salaries of all university-based researchers. CONICET
is also directly responsible for much of the available public
funding for scientific research.


7. (SBU) The delegation also met with representatives of
high-tech and engineering firm INVAP (Reftel B). INVAP is a
leader in Argentine nuclear research and power production and
space exploration. The firm recently completed construction
of a research reactor in Australia and is continuing work on
the USD 270 million Aquarius/SAC-D satellite (a joint
Argentine space agency (CONAE)-NASA project). Director of
the MFA,s Bureau for International Security and Nuclear and
Space Affairs Elsa Kelly sat in on the meeting. In a
wide-ranging discussion regarding Argentina,s relative world
position in nuclear power and space exploration, Kelly and
INVAP President Dr. Hector Otheguy praised the Kirchner
administration for its dedication to high-tech projects.
Kelly said the late 1980s and 1990s, &were a nightmare for
research and development and many of our brightest people
lost interest.8


8. (SBU) Otheguy expressed strong interest in becoming a NASA
sub-contractor, though he recognized the significant legal
and regulatory obstacles. He told the delegation that
INVAP,s priority in both nuclear and space technology is the
development of international partnerships which demonstrate
the reliability and economy of Argentine high-technology. He
said INVAP sees itself as both a competitor and potential
sub-contractor to US nuclear and space firms.


9. (SBU) In response to a question from Atkinson on
Argentina,s intentions regarding the development of space
launch capabilities (currently Argentine space-craft are
launched from the U.S.),both Kelly and Otheguy were careful
to say that Argentina is &fully committed to
non-proliferation.8 On several occasions Kelly stated that
any decision to develop space launch technology &would be
made on a business model.8 She noted that there is a desire
to develop such technology only insofar as a sound profit
argument could be made. Returning to nuclear power
production, Otheguy stated that INVAP will help Argentine
achieve its goal of 20% nuclear electrical power production,
by bringing a third plant online by 2010 and a fourth by 2018
(Reftel C).

--------------
A Frank Exchange
--------------


10. (SBU) CONAE Executive and Technical Director Conrado
Varotto used a meeting with Dr. Atkinson to passionately
express his concern over the ITAR processes and its potential
implications on further CONAE-NASA cooperation. Returning
again and again to the subject, Barotto said, &This is not
the way to have a partnership,8 asking Atkinson in his role
as STAS to, &use your imagination and come up with something
new.8 After Dr. Atkinson asked him to be patient as the
ITAR regime is in the process of being improved and
streamlined, Varotto immediately jumped to the USG,s recent
abstention in the Inter American Development Bank on a vote
to extend Argentina a loan to expand Argentina,s remote
Earth sensing capabilities.

--------------
GOA Wants to Move on the GSP21 Program
--------------


11. (SBU) The visit's defining moments occurred at a lunch
hosted by Ambassador Wayne, at which Minister of Education,
Science and Technology Daniel Filmus indicated he would
support Argentina's participation in a GSP21 initiative, if
one is forthcoming. Filmus' affirmation came on the heels of
a pledge by the GOA's Science and Technology Secretary, Tulio
Del Bono, to financially support GSP21 if Argentina could be
a partner nation. Both men stressed Argentina's commitment
to producing more scientists and engineers to make up for
what they described as "disastrous" Argentine research and
education policies of the past few decades. The GOA has
already moved to improve incentives to study science, Filmus
said, explaining that money has been budgeted to fund 500 new
CONICET research positions. Del Bono said the GOA plans to
eventually double the number of such positions, assuring Dr.
Atkinson that any Argentine scientists who would study in the
U.S. under a GSP21 program would have jobs to come home to.
Del Bono guessed that Argentina would send between 100-200
students per year to the U.S. under GSP21, a significant
percentage of the total of the approximately 500 PhDs in
science Argentines earn each year.


12. (SBU) In other meetings, several heads of research
institutions pursuing subjects ranging from costal marine
ecology to astrophysics expressed a desire to see the USG use
a program like GSP21 to provide a simplified route to
studying in the U.S. Numerous researchers noted that the
complexity of the U.S. process often means their colleagues
choose to go to Europe. Martn Ramrez of the Museum of
Natural Sciences noted that the British, French, and Germans
all had a single office (in Buenos Aires) where prospective
students and researchers could apply to schools, complete
required testing (language, requisite subject exams, etc.),
resolve financial support matters, and receive qualified
instruction on visas and immigration law. He commented that
the difficulty of U.S. immigration law forced many
researchers to look for opportunities outside the U.S.


13. (SBU) Some officials registered their concerns over the
possible ramifications of such a program, however, especially
its potential to accelerate brain drain. For example,
CONICET Deputy Director Jorge Tezon noted that Argentines who
study science and engineering in the US do not often return
home to continue their work. He also stated that in his
experience, &doctoral candidates who go abroad for more than
three years almost never come home.8 On the other hand, Dr.
Atkinson also enjoyed a session with a number of Argentine
Fulbright Scholars with scientific academic specialties who
had returned to live and work in Argentina.

--------------
Good Press
--------------


14. (U) Journalists from five national newspapers, one
broadcast television network, a radio station, and a weekly
magazine covered a press conference organized by the
Embassy's Public Affairs Section on November 8. Dr. Atkinson
related his impressions of Argentina and the GOA officials
and scientists and engineers with whom he had met, while the
journalists focused their questions on possible areas of S&T
cooperation between the U.S. and Argentina. The resulting
placements were positive, and included pieces in national
dailies La Nacion, Clarin, and La Prensa, as well as a story
in the largest provincial newspaper in the country, the
Cordoba-based La Voz del Interior. In addition, Sunday
newspaper Perfil interviewed Dr. Samulski as part of a story
on nanotechnology. The GSP21 concept was not discussed with
the press.

--------------
Comment
--------------


15. (SBU) Dr. Atkinson was impressed by the Argentina's
capabilities in many areas of science and engineering and by
the enthusiasm GOA officials displayed for the GSP21 concept.
He remarked that Argentina could be an excellent partner,
particularly as the GOA is already taking concrete steps to
improve prospects for employing Argentine scientists and
engineers in the future. Reftel A detailed the Embassy's
recommendation for timely consideration of Argentine possible
participation in a program like GSP21. The U.S. has long
enjoyed excellent science and technology cooperation with
Argentina, and it seems prudent to do what we can to ensure a
similarly positive future. Further discussion with Argentina
on a GSP21 initiative would go a long way toward that goal.


6. Deputy STAS Reynolds cleared on this cable.
WAYNE