Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS1398
2006-03-29 10:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:  

EXPORT LICENSE APPROVAL FOR ICARDA IS IN USG INTEREST

Tags:  ECON ETRD ETTC SY 
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VZCZCXYZ0034
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #1398 0881022
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY PARA NUMBERS CORRECTED ADAEFDDA AMG5624)
P 291022Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7984
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 001398 

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA/ELA
NSC - EABRAMS/MSINGH
TREASURY FOR GLASER/LEBENSON
EB/ESC/TFS FOR SALOOM
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - PARA NUMBERS CORRECTED

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ETTC SY
SUBJECT: EXPORT LICENSE APPROVAL FOR ICARDA IS IN USG INTEREST


NOT FOR INTERNET OR WEBGRAM DISTRIBUTION

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 001398

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA/ELA
NSC - EABRAMS/MSINGH
TREASURY FOR GLASER/LEBENSON
EB/ESC/TFS FOR SALOOM
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - PARA NUMBERS CORRECTED

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ETTC SY
SUBJECT: EXPORT LICENSE APPROVAL FOR ICARDA IS IN USG INTEREST


NOT FOR INTERNET OR WEBGRAM DISTRIBUTION


1. (SBU) Summary: The International Center for Agricultural
Research of Dry Areas (ICARDA),a not-for profit-organization
headquartered outside Aleppo, has been unsuccessful in its most
recent attempts to obtain a U.S. export license. Under the
provisions of the Syria Accountability Act, a waiver for an
export license for ICARDA could be approved if the commodity were
interpreted to be "in support of activities, diplomatic or
otherwise, of the USG." Post believes that substantial, long-
standing USG financial support for ICARDA - via World Bank,
USAID, and USDA funding - provides a firm basis for the waiver
needed for the U.S. export licenses and urges positive
consideration of the request. End Summary.

2. (U) Established in 1977, ICARDA is one of 15 centers located
throughout the world and supported by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA is a not-for-
profit, non-governmental center that conducts agricultural
research and training aimed at alleviating poverty in developing
countries. The USG has played a critical role in establishing
ICARDA, by initially providing funding for ICARDA's precursor.
Since ICARDA's establishment, the USG has contributed over $103
million USD of direct funding through USAID and USDA, as well as
substantial indirect funding through the World Bank. Moreover,
ICARDA's location in Syria is solely due to the country's climate
and topography, which are conducive to ICARDA's technical needs
and research into dryland agriculture. It is not/not an agency
of the Syrian government.


3. (SBU) Under the provisions of the SAA, there are several
specific categories of items for which license applications can
be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, one of which is for items
"in support of activities, diplomatic or otherwise, of the USG."
Since the SAA was implemented, ICARDA has been approved for two
export licenses, one of which was argued to be "in support of USG
activities" by USDOC/BIS.


4. (SBU) Post believes that ICARDA's mission to optimize
sustainable agricultural production and contribute to the
alleviation of poverty in dry areas not only supports USG
policies and initiatives, but addresses a vital element -
"creating global prosperity" - of the President's National
Security Strategy. ICARDA has carried out its mission in several
politically-charged locations central to U.S. national interests.
For example, it has partnered with USAID to rebuild agricultural
infrastructure and market supply chains in Afghanistan, provided
"below the radar assistance" in the reconstruction of Iraq
through the USAID Higher Education for Agricultural Development
Program, and implemented a number of USDA projects under PL-480
(Food for Peace Program) to enhance food security and decrease
environmental degradation.


5. (SBU) ICARDA's most recent export license request, for ArcInfo
GIS software, was returned without action. In response, ICARDA
has pointed to projects in which an approved export license for

such software could be beneficial to USG interests. For example,
it cites GIS land suitability studies in Iraq, a project called
for by the Iraqi government, that will help support crop
diversification, as well as a study requested by the World Food
Program will identify food insecurity and vulnerability in the
country.


6. (SBU) Comment: To our knowledge, no formal interpretation of
"in support of USG activities, diplomatic or otherwise" exists,
although it seems to us that under any reasonable definition,
ICARDA's research would qualify. Since its establishment, ICARDA
has enjoyed substantial levels of USG support, through World
Bank, USAID, and USDA funding. We cannot imagine such funding
over a prolonged period of time to an organization whose goals
failed to converge with our own. Indeed, ICARDA's track record
in nations central to the U.S. global war on terrorism such as
Afghanistan and Iraq strongly support the contention that its
research fully supports diplomatic and other activities of the
USG. To penalize such an organization because of a geographic
accident, i.e., its location in northern Syria chosen because
soil and climate conditions are conducive to its important work,
causes no discomfort to the Syrian regime, and invites criticism
of our sanctions policy as indiscriminate. Post therefore
requests the Department's assistance in providing ICARDA an
export license exemption for items "in support of USG
activities" that will set a precedent on which to base future
license decisions, as well as support for more expeditious
issuance of U.S. export licenses for ICARDA.

SECHE