SURVEYING FRIENDLY COUNTRIES ON THEIR IRAN CIVIL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 076354 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KPAO IR SUBJECT: SURVEYING FRIENDLY COUNTRIES ON THEIR IRAN CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAMMING REF: STATE 2659 ¶1. (U) This is an action request; see paragraph 3. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. Begin Background. (U) Through its Freedom Agenda and diplomatic engagement with like-minded governments and NGOs, the Department is engaging in programs throughout Iran to promote civil society, respect for human rights, and freedom of information. Congress authorized $94.32 million in FY06 to help fund various programming initiatives in Iran, a number which the Department expects to increase in future years. (U) The State Department's Fiscal Year 2006 (FY06) budget allocation for Iran consisted of $28.22 million from the regular FY06 Foreign Operations Bill, plus an additional $66.1 million from the FY06 Supplemental Budget, for a total of $94.32 million in 2006. (U) The $28.22 million from the regular budget was allocated as follows: $17.62 million to the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) for television and radio broadcasting into Iran; $500,000 for operational and internet outreach costs for the Department's expanded Iran operations; $100,000 for renewed people-to-people exchanges with Iran (see more information below on ECA programs); and a $10 million soft earmark (minimum spending threshold) for democracy programming in Iran. On this last item, the Department's actual democracy programming obligation was $11.15 million from the regular budget - $4.15 million from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) plus $7 million from the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs' Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). (U) The $66.1 million supplemental budget was allocated as follows: $27 million to NEA/MEPI for additional Iran democracy programs; $36.1 million to the BBG for expanded broadcasting via Radio Farda and Voice of America Persian Television; $5 million to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) for cultural and educational exchanges; and $5 million to the Bureau of International Information Policy (IIP) for increased internet access and presence in Iran, including resources to expand the State Department's Persian website. (U) Paralleling but distinct from our democratization efforts, at President Bush,s direction, we have resumed people-to-people educational, cultural and professional exchanges with Iran. ECA is using the $5 million it received from the FY06 supplemental budget to re-engage the Iranian people. After a hiatus of more than a quarter century, our focus is to promote greater mutual understanding, and to provide Iranians with exposure to U.S. society, institutions and values. Exchanges began last year and included the successful visit of a group of Iranian medical professionals to the U.S. This year we have already had visits by a group of Iranian artists and a group of disaster relief specialists participate in these programs. Initially funded with supplemental monies, future educational and cultural exchanges with Iran will be supported through ECA,s annual appropriation. (U) Given the substantial Iran funding in the FY06 Supplemental Budget, the State Department will not expend FY07 budget funds on Iran until FY06 funds have been exhausted. We also expect an increase in Iran funding for democracy promotion programs in the FY08 budget, which is currently being negotiated. (U) The USG's Iran democracy programs aim to develop democratic values, support human rights, build civil society, provide the Iranian people with access to unbiased information; and promote understanding of Western culture. Projects target influential democratic actors and groups, including labor, women, and students. Key goals for these programs include: expanding the reach of Radio Farda by STATE 00076354 002 OF 002 contracting for another radio transmitter to overcome Iranian jamming; expanding Voice of America Persian Television to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; promoting competitive, independent, and professional television and radio content production; utilizing innovative technologies to communicate with the Iranian people for the development of innovative Web content (e.g. children's programming),use of SMS, and pod casting; providing communication tools for activists, including internet communication and training for journalists; helping Iranians conduct civic education campaigns that develop an understanding of rights and responsibilities under a democracy; supporting human rights defenders, rule of law, and justice programs; supporting civil society development and network building, including independent labor; and supporting efforts to document human rights abuses by the Iranian regime. (U) As is the case with our programs in other countries ruled by repressive regimes, the United States does not make public the identities of the Iranian democracy activists who elect to work with us. Our programs are open to all who are genuinely committed to a peaceful, democratic process in Iran. Grants are made on the basis of proposals (either solicited or unsolicited) to conduct projects within the areas described above. The USG supports well conceived programs, not particular groups. End Background. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Posts are requested to draw from the information on U.S. democratization efforts outlined above to explain U.S. activities in Iran and to solicit parallel information about host country democracy promotion efforts in Iran. This cable follows a similar Reftel demarche aimed at outlining EU efforts to promote democratic reform in Iran. -------------- OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Begin Objectives. -- Convey background information regarding US democratization efforts in Iran, emphasizing that our strategy is to maintain a consistent message on core democratic values while ensuring protection for the courageous Iranian men and women working to advance democratic reform in Iran. -- Request information about host country government and/or host country NGO activities in Iran, stressing that we should coordinate on specific areas of expertise to ensure that our collective efforts are complementary (not duplicative). If appropriate, identify possible areas for collaboration. -- Inquire about safety and security concerns for Iranians and/or host country nationals working on democracy programs in Iran. Has the Iranian government taken steps to impede host country activities in Iran? End Objectives. -------------- POINTS OF CONTACT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) POCs for this demarche request are NEA/IDP Dan Baldi (BaldiDP@state.sgov.gov) and NEA/IR Rob McInturff (McinturffRA@state.sgov.gov). Please note when responding that Iran-related reporting cables must use the SIPDIS caption and the IR country tag. RICE