SCIENTIST REDIRECTION PROGRAM - EGYPT'S ROLE

S E C R E T CAIRO 001856

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ELA, EB/TRA
NSC FOR WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2017
TAGS: PARM PINR PINS PREF PREL PTER TBIO EG
SUBJECT: SCIENTIST REDIRECTION PROGRAM - EGYPT'S ROLE

REF: STATE 80326

Classified by ECON COUNSELOR CHILL-HERNDON FOR REASONS 1.4(b)
and (d)


1. (S) In support of the Iraqi Scientist Redirection Program,
Post recently secured initial visa approval for two Iraqi
scientists, Dr. Anton Al-Banna and Dr. Al-Abbasi Obaid, to do
one year fellowships at NAMRU-3, the U.S. Naval Medical
Research Unit in Cairo. Securing these visas required
extensive advocacy and follow-up with the Egyptian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and State Security. Based on our
experiences in obtaining visas for these two scientists, post
believes Egypt will not be inclined to grant additional visas
to Iraqi scientists under this program in the foreseeable
future.


2. (S) Dr. Al-Banna is a US-educated (Cornell University)
veterinary pox virus expert and professor of virology at the
College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Baghdad.
Dr. Obaid is a UK-educated professor of infectious disease
and immunology and Assistant Dean at the College of Medicine
within the University of Baghdad. During their fellowships,
both will receive training in real-time PCR and molecular
diagnostics to support NAMRU-3's research and surveillance
efforts throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest
Asia.

JONES