Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRASILIA52
2007-01-10 18:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Brasilia
Cable title:  

BRAZIL REQUESTS SPECIFICS ON SUSPENSION OF ISS

Tags:  TSPA SENV KSCA KTIA TBIO TPHY TRGY TSPL BR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4633
PP RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #0052 0101829
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101829Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7804
INFO RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 3670
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 8976
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 6082
UNCLAS BRASILIA 000052 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/SAT FOR BFORD
STATE FOR WHA/BSC FOR WPOPP
STATE PLEASE PASS TO NASA FOR OBRIEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA SENV KSCA KTIA TBIO TPHY TRGY TSPL BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL REQUESTS SPECIFICS ON SUSPENSION OF ISS
ARRANGEMENT

REF: 06 STATE 200697

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000052

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/SAT FOR BFORD
STATE FOR WHA/BSC FOR WPOPP
STATE PLEASE PASS TO NASA FOR OBRIEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA SENV KSCA KTIA TBIO TPHY TRGY TSPL BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL REQUESTS SPECIFICS ON SUSPENSION OF ISS
ARRANGEMENT

REF: 06 STATE 200697

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED


1. (SBU) Summary: SCI Counselor delivered reftel demarche January
9, to Counselor Maria Teresa Pessoa, Chief of the Division of
Oceans, Antarctic and Space, Brazil Foreign Ministry (Itamaraty).
Counselor Pessoa was expecting the visit and aware of the USG desire
to either suspend or terminate the bilateral International Space
Station Arrangement (ISS). GoB appears to be leaning more towards
suspension but has asked the Embassy to provide further detail on
what specific steps would be necessary. Post requests Bureau to
provide information to pass to Itamaraty. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The January 9 meeting between Counselor Pessoa, Science
Counselor Norman and Science Officer Moore was cordial and frank.
Counselor Pessoa said that Brazil was surprised to learn during the
Nov. 9, 2006, meeting between Mr. O'Brien of NASA and Dr. Mussi of
the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) of the U.S. desire to either
suspend or terminate the ISS arrangement. They had believed, based
on their communications with the technical staff in Houston, that
the relationship was functioning well.


3. (SBU) Counselor Pessoa openly speculated as to why the United
States was making this request. She stated that it might be because
of the U.S. concern about the cross-waiver of the liability clause
in the ISS, which when it resurfaced during the recently-completed
negotiations of the Large Scale Biosphere Atmosphere Amazon Research
(LBA),proved to be a very contentious issue.


4. (SBU) Pessoa stated that the reason the Brazilian commitment to
the International Space Station ran into budget problems was because
when the ISS arrangement was negotiated and signed, it immediately
came into force, circumventing the normal approval process which
should have included vetting by the Brazilian Congress. When the
funding problems became apparent to Itamaraty, it considered
renegotiating the ISS and sending it through the normal approvals
process in order to apply for budgetary funds.


5. (SBU) Counselor Pessoa stated that Itamaraty would like to
resolve the ISS issue without any public attention, noting that it
had already received queries from members of the Brazilian Congress.
She stated that cooperation with the United States on all matters
relating to science and technology, especially in the area of space,
was essential for Brazil. Counselor Norman assured Pessoa that the
United States has no intention of raising this matter publicly and
that we equally value the relationship with Brazil.


6. (SBU) Counselor Pessoa concluded by saying that since the option
of suspension was not covered in the ISS arrangement, the GoB would
need to know before making a decision, exactly what suspension would
entail. Post requests Bureau provide information to pass to
Itamaraty.

SOBEL