GRANTS ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC

UNCLAS ANKARA 002059 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR R/PPR, INFO EUR/PPD, EUR/EX E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP AMGT KICA KPAO TU SUBJECT: GRANTS ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY PROGRAMS REF: STATE 105588 ¶1. Reftel raised important issues concerning coordination between post Public Affairs Section (PAS) and Management/ICASS sections in support of public diplomacy programs and activities. PAS Turkey does receive adequate ICASS support -- when questions or issues arise, they are worked out in a collegial manner through direct communications between PAS and the relevant MGT section. Problems that periodically arise due to general resource limitations (budget, personnel, vehicles) affect all sections, including PAS. Given inevitable staff turnover on both sides, it might be useful to update and reissue the "matrix" of who pays for what as an annual cable (perhaps each September),along with clear instructions as to how PAS personnel are to be treated/charged for equipment (eg., cell phones) that is provided to all State employees. ¶2. The major challenge in PD administration at our post comes from the lack of a PAS executive officer or senior LES to handle the various administrative support duties and coordinate with GSM, FMO, IRM, and HR. As a result, the PAOs in Ankara and Istanbul need to spend more time directly working with MGT/ICASS colleagues on various financial, personnel and administrative questions. Some of these do require the direct attention of the PAO, but many of them could be properly handled by a well-trained LES or EFM colleague. We therefore support any efforts Washington might pursue to develop (and fund) such positions. ¶3. Grants continue to be a critically important tool for us. The vast majority of our grants are for public diplomacy programs and activities, but we are currently working with non-PD colleagues on a grant to fund a Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) seminar with a mixture of post PD funds and non-PD funding from EUR. We are fortunate to have an experienced LES employee in PAS Turkey for handling grants, since the Public Affairs Section is expected to provide the expertise and proper procedures for grant implementation and reporting. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY