Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BUDAPEST1018
2008-10-22 14:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
BUDAPEST FY 2009 REGIONAL ESTH HUB WORK PLAN
how-toVZCZCXRO1415 PP RUEHAST RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM DE RUEHUP #1018/01 2961429 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 221429Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3493 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
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SUBJECT: BUDAPEST FY 2009 REGIONAL ESTH HUB WORK PLAN
REF: STATE 97800
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Summary
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SUBJECT: BUDAPEST FY 2009 REGIONAL ESTH HUB WORK PLAN
REF: STATE 97800
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Summary
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1. (U) In FY09, the Budapest Environment, Science,
Technology and Health (ESTH) Hub will build on its
ongoing efforts promoting and leveraging U.S.
engagement on ESTH issues to strengthen regional
cooperation in the Balkans, Central and Eastern
Europe and the Caucasus. To this end, we will seek out
opportunities in various multilateral fora to promote U.S.
positions on issues such as climate change and clean
energy, transboundary water, environmental law enforcement,
integrated coastal and marine management, eco-tourism,
environmental security, and drug resistant tuberculosis and
HIV/AIDS. We will follow-up on pledges for the uptake of
renewable energy made by governments and non-government
actors in the region at the Washington International
Renewable Energy Conference(WIREC). We will also seek to
enhance scientific cooperation through conclusion of
pending bilateral science and technology (S&T) agreements
and continue outreach activities promoting healthy
lifestyles, phasing out the use of leaded fuels in the
countries where it still is used, and breast cancer
awareness. We will build on the contacts established and
activities pursued in FY08 involving the UNECE, the OSCE, the
Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC),and
the network of Regional Environmental Centers (RECs) to
promote U.S. ESTH engagement throughout the region.
Similarly, we will offer support to the bilateral ESTH work
of posts in the Budapest Hub's 20-country area of
responsibility. As was the case last year, travel plans
laid out in this work plan are preliminary estimates and
subject to optimal scheduling for posts and the Hub alike.
2. (U) Note: An important planning issue is the expected
changeover of Hub Officers in summer 2009. The current
Hub Officer plans to depart post PCS on May 18, 2009, for
training related to her ongoing linked assignments to a PRT
in Al Hillah, Iraq, and subsequently to Vancouver. The
previous Hub Officer, who has been on a 12-month TDY at
Embassy Baghdad, will return to Budapest at approximately
the same time although the exact date remains TBD. End note.
End Summary.
--------------
(a) Goals and Objectives:
--------------
3. (U) Environment:
--------------
Climate Change and Clean Energy:
--------------
Building on the outcomes of the Major Economies process,
looking forward to December's UNFCCC's COP-14 in Poznan,
and following up on pledges made at WIREC last spring,
the Hub will support broader efforts to promote U.S.
climate change and clean energy policy broadly, and
regional initiatives more specifically. To this end we
will seek ways (and resources) to bring in U.S. expert
speakers and -- working with Commercial officers at
posts -- attract U.S. clean energy companies to the
region, building on examples such as the September 2007
U.S. alternative energy trade mission to Hungary,
Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Hub will
also seek to facilitate technical cooperation between
the U.S. and the countries of South Eastern Europe (SEE)
on climate change science, including cooperation with
the "Sub-regional Virtual Climate Change Related Center"
in Belgrade. The Hub will also work with the Department
and posts in the region to follow-up on pledges for the
uptake of renewable energy made at WIREC by governments
and stakeholders from Central and Eastern Europe.
In Hungary, the Hub will seek to cooerate with the
Regional Environmental Center (REC) for Central and
Eastern Europe (which also serves as the Regional
Secretariat for the Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)) and other players to
promote cost-effective, more efficient, technological
solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
enhance energy security in the region. We will also
continue to support the Ambassador's environmental
outreach program with its strong emphasis on promoting
U.S. positions on climate change, clean energy, and
energy security. To this end, as was the case in 2008,
the Hub will rely heavily on the expertise and extensive
contacts of our FSN Specialists to identify venues and
activities, and do much of the preparatory work for
BUDAPEST 00001018 002 OF 008
events where the Ambassador can speak publicly on
these issues.
Transboundary Water:
--------------
During FY08, the Budapest Hub continued it's efforts to
foster positive USG relations with the Sava River
Commission and the International Commission for the
Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). In that context,
the Hub has continued to facilitate U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) cooperation with the Sava commission
and ICPDR. Discussions are ongoing and funding is still
an issue, but we hope that this will bear fruit in FY09.
The Hub will continue to offer assistance and advice in
the dialogue between ICPDR, USACE and the Department on
USACE's proposal to become an ICPDR observer. Thus
enhancing opportunities and expanding avenues for U.S.
technical cooperation on issues such as flood management
and water quality.
In FY07, the Hub also became involved in efforts to
resolve the transboundary water dispute between Ukraine
and Romania stemming from Ukraine's dredging of the
Bystroe Canal within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
The previous Budapest Hub Officer visited the Bystroe
Canal in June 07 and utilized meetings in Kyiv to
reinforce the USG position that Ukraine must abide by
its international commitments under the Ramsar and Espoo
Conventions with regard to this unique and sensitive
area. The current Hub Officer followed up on this issue
during her October 08 trip to Ukraine (septel). Looking
ahead, in FY09 the Hub will continue to support USG
efforts to help resolve this issue.
Environmental Law Enforcement:
--------------
In May 2007, the Hub -- in conjunction with the Budapest
International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) -- hosted a
Very successful one-week training course focused on
combating Illegal logging. Prosecutors and foresters
from Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro,
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Hungary joined experts from USDOJ,
the U.S. Forest Service, and the World Bank to discuss
strategies and programs for combating illegal logging.
The course was an effective and cost-efficient way to
strengthen environmental enforcement capacities in the
region and enhance regional cooperation more broadly.
There has been interest expressed in replicating this
course in the region -- perhaps in the South Caucasus,
the Black Sea region more broadly, or elsewhere. USDOJ,
U.S. Forest Service, and World Bank trainers have
expressed interest in doing so -- if funding can be
identified. Unfortunately funding did not materialize
in FY08. In FY09, the Hub will seek to work with
these organizations, posts, and the Department to
identify funding sources to support such an effort.
Integrated Coastal and Marine Management
and Eco-Tourism:
--------------
In FY07, the Hub worked closely with EUR, OES and posts
in the Black Sea region to organize the September
U.S.-supported "Environmental Protection for Economic
Growth" Symposium in Istanbul under the auspices of the
Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
The symposium was praised by BSEC member states,
observers, and the BSEC Secretariat as an excellent model
upon which to design future environmental activities in
the region. With that in mind, in FY08 the Hub continued
to engage with EUR, OES, and other relevant USG agencies
to identify follow-on environment-focused activities
involving BSEC countries. One possibility is a training
on environmental enforcement as noted directly above,
with possible foci on combating illegal logging,
promoting sustainable forest management techniques, and
preventing/mitigating wildfires. Another possible avenue
of cooperation that has found initial resonance among
Black Sea countries is promotion of eco-tourism. All BSEC
countries have identified tourism as an important element
in their overall development strategies. Some (such as
Bulgaria) are experiencing rapid growth along coastal areas.
Others (such as Albania and Azerbaijan) are impeded by
widespread pollution problems stemming from decades-old
communist-era legacies. All would benefit from U.S.
expertise in sustainable tourism planning. Unfortunately
funding did not materialize in FY08. In FY09 the Hub will
continue to seek to support a sustainable tourism activity
for the Black Sea region -- either via a regional training
workshop to take place in the region, or one that would
take environmental and tourism officials from BSEC
countries to the U.S. to visit and learn from
successful U.S. examples. As with other envisioned
BUDAPEST 00001018 003 OF 008
activities in the coming year, identification of USG
funding sources will be critical.
Environmental Security:
--------------
In FY08, the Hub participated in meetings in Vienna on
Environmental security under the ENVSEC Initiative -
a joint enterprise of the OSCE, UNDP, UNEP, the Regional
Environmental Center (REC) for Central and Eastern Europe,
and NATO's Science for Peace program. The initiative seeks
to utilize the complementary strengths of its constituent
organizations to address environmental problems that
either can be a source of political tension (either
domestically or regionally) or serve as a mechanism
for security-enhancing cooperation. The Hub sees value in
this effort, and in FY09 will continue to seek to identify
ENVSEC projects that could benefit from U.S. expertise.
Possible areas to explore include OSCE's efforts to help
Albania develop a solid waste management system for the
northern city of Shkodra and OSCE's Moldova program to
remove leaking stocks of Soviet-era pesticides that are
contaminating groundwater in various parts of the country.
The Hub's FSN Environmental Specialist has participated in
a previous Vienna ENVSEC meetings and we will look for
opportunities in the coming year for her to build on this
and stay engaged in the ENVSEC process.
Green Embassy Initiative:
--------------
The Hub was involved in setting up the Embassy's selective
waste separation program at Embassy Budapest. This project
was a joint collaboration between Embassy Budapest's DCM
and the Hub's FSN Environmental Specialist who worked
closely with all relevant Embassy sections to transform an
innovative idea into concrete results which both reduce
the environmental impacts of Embassy operations and provide
an excellent example for Embassy efforts to raise
environmental awareness in Hungary more broadly. The DCM
and Hub FSN co-founded the Embassy's Green Embassy
Committee, in which both Hub FSN and Hub Officer participate.
4. (U) Science and Technology:
--------------
Science and Technology Bilateral Agreements:
--------------
A number of countries in the Hub's region have recently
signed, or are close to signing, new bilateral S&T
Agreements with the United States. Hungarian authorities
have previously indicated that in conjunction with the
prospective signing of a new S&T bilateral agreement with
the U.S., they would be interested in hosting a regional
workshop involving other countries that - like Hungary -
used to have a "Joint Fund" mechanism with the U.S. for
science cooperation and now are adjusting to NSF's new
international approach. Although as of the end of FY08,
the bilateral S&T agreement with Hungary had not yet been
signed, the Hungarians have recently indicated to us a
willingness to move forward in the near term, and we are
optimistic that the details could be finalized as soon as
the first quarter of FY09. Assuming a new U.S.-Hungary
Bilateral Science and Technology agreement is signed, and
that the Hungarians do organize a regional workshop in
conjunction with a signing ceremony, the Hub would seek to
include representatives of relevant USG agencies (NSF, NIH,
EPA, DOE),if funding for travel can be identified. In
this and other Science issues, the Hub will rely heavily
on the expertise and contacts of our FSN Science and
Health Specialist.
5. (U) Health:
--------------
Disease Resistant Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS
--------------
Tuberculosis poses a growing health security threat in
Europe and Central Asia. In 2005, there were 445,000
new cases of TB in the region. Continued poor adherence
to accepted TB control practices has created high levels
of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant
(XDR) strains of the disease. In Azerbaijan, approximately
18.8 per cent of the total number of TB cases are MDR/XDR TB.
This is one of the highest rates of MDR/XDR TB in the world
with other countries in the Hub's region having similarly
high rates (Moldova - 18.9 per cent, Georgia - 19.5 per cent,
Ukraine - 13.6 per cent). Globally, an estimated ten percent
of TB patients are also co-infected with HIV, and TB is the
leading cause of death for AIDS patients. Faced with this
public health threat, on October 22, 2007, 53 member states
of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region
signed the Berlin Declaration on Tuberculosis. The
Declaration commits signatories, among other things, to
BUDAPEST 00001018 004 OF 008
strengthen political will, civil society involvement, and
public health systems to combat the disease. During FY09,
the Hub will look for ways to support and reinforce USG
efforts (USAID, CDC, NIH, and the Department) to build
political will among the countries of the region to combat
disease resistant tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Our FSN
Science and Health Specialist will be fully involved in
planning Hub efforts on tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Leaded Fuel Phase Out:
--------------
Since FY07, the Hub has supported efforts by the REC and
EPA, in conjunction with the Partnership for Clean Fuels
and Vehicles (PCFV),to encourage the remaining countries
of Europe (Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina) to commit to and/or implement phase out
plans for leaded fuel use in those countries. In FY09, the
Hub will continue to support these efforts to encourage and
assist these remaining European countries towards lead fuel
phase out.
Healthy Lifestyles Outreach:
--------------
In FY09, the Hub will continue to support Ambassadorial
outreach activities in Hungary underlining the importance
of healthy lifestyles and early screening in addressing
preventable/treatable health problems such as cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, obesity, alcoholism, and breast cancer.
This will include participation in such high profile events
as the annual Bridge Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness as
well as appropriate visits to hospitals, clinics, and
community centers supporting healthy lifestyle programs in
their areas. As has been the case in FY08, the Hub's two
FSN Specialists will continue to play critical roles in
supporting this ongoing and broad-based effort.
--------------
(b) Travel Plan:
--------------
6. (U) In FY09, the Hub Officer intends to visit Albania,
Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Kosovo,
Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine to focus on issues
noted earlier in the "Goals and Objectives" section of this
document. It is also expected that there will be regional
meetings scheduled by the REC, OSCE or other multilateral
bodies in which the Hub Officer and/or Hub FSNs will
participate. The Hub Officer has not yet had a chance to
negotiate dates and details of the listed visits with
posts, and the following schedule reflects her notional
idea, if posts concur and funding is available. This
travel schedule is based on the assumption that once we
have a budget, Budapest's allocation will be sufficient to
fully fund the Hub's traditional baseline travel budget of
48,000 USD. However, under the continuing resolution,
based on actual FY08 funding levels for Budapest, the Hub
has a working annual budget of 35,280 USD. We will adjust
the travel plan as necessary to correspond to the actual
FY09 allocation. Per para 5 of reftel, the Hub Officer
plans to travel to Washington in April 2009 for the
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and Fiftieth
Anniversary Ministerial, and the envisioned two- to
three-day Hub Officers meeting and associated
consultations. If schedules align, and funding permits,
the Hub would welcome participation of former Jeffersn
Fellow Dr. Puru Jena, who worked with OES on organizing
WIREC, and OES/STC staff as appropriate, in regional trips
following up on WIREC pledges (Georgia, Poland, Romania,
Slovenia). Again, given time constraints, Hub Officer has
not yet had a chance to discuss specifics with Dr. Jena or
STC.
As noted at the outset of this message, the current Hub
Officer will be departing post PCS on May 18, 2009, and
the previous Hub Officer will resume Hub duties around
that time, although the exact date for his return
remains TBD. Consequently, the proposed Hub travel
schedule for the last quarter of the fiscal year is
only an estimate at this time.
Notional Travel Plan would include:
--------------
October 6-10 2008:
--------------
Hub Officer travel to Ukraine to discuss broad range of
ESTH issues including water, energy, and health (5 days;
funded from FY08 Hub budget).
November 2008:
--------------
BUDAPEST 00001018 005 OF 008
November 5-8 BSEC Sci-Tech Committee Meeting in Borovets,
Bulgaria (by air, 4 days, estimated cost: USD 2000);
November 20-21 (not confirmed; may be later in FY09) Hub
Officer travel to Istanbul for meeting of the BSEC Working
Group on Energy (by air; 3 days; estimated cost: USD 2200);
November 27-28 Hub Officer travel to Istanbul for meeting
of the BSEC Working Group on Environmental Protection (by
air; approximately 3 days allowing for travel time;
estimated cost: USD 2200);
Hub Officer and Hub FSN travel to Vienna for initial calls
on IO and NGO contacts to discuss broad range of ESTH
issues (by train; 2 days;
estimated cost: USD 1000).
December 2008:
--------------
Hub Officer travel to Czech Republic to discuss broad range
of ESTH issues (by air; 3 days; estimated cost: USD 2300);
Hub Officer travel to Slovakia to discuss broad range of
ESTH issues and call on UNDP Regional Center (by train;
3 days; estimated cost: USD 1250);
January 2009:
--------------
Hub Officer travel to Poland to follow-up on WIREC pledge
and discuss broad range of ESTH issues (by air; 3 days;
estimated cost: USD 2000);
Hub Officer travel to Slovenia to follow-up on WIREC pledge
and discuss broad range of ESTH issues (by air; 3 days;
estimated cost: USD 2100).
February 2009:
--------------
Hub Officer visit to Romania (3 days) and Moldova (2 days)
to follow-up on WIREC pledges (Romania) and discuss a broad
range of ESTH issues including transboundary environmental
issues (Bystroe Canal, Rosa Montana and Tisza river issue,
Black Sea/BSEC) and health issues (TB, HIV/AIDS)(by air;
5 days; estimated cost: Romania USD 2200; Moldova USD
1600).
March 2009:
--------------
Hub Officer travel to Albania (3 days) and Macedonia (2
days) to discuss a broad range of ESTH issues(by air; 5
days; estimated cost: Albania USD 2000; Macedonia USD
1900).
April 2009:
--------------
Hub Officer travel to Washington, D.C., to support the
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and Fiftieth
Anniversary Ministerial (2 weeks),and associated Hub
Officers' meeting (2 days) and consultations (3 days).
Total time in D.C. - three weeks (by air; 21 days;
estimated cost: USD 8000).
May 2009:
--------------
May 18 current Hub Officer departs post PCS;
(mid-May/date TBD) previous/next Hub Officer returns from
Iraq and resumes Hub duties.
June 2009:
--------------
Possible consultations for returning Hub Officer in
Washington, D.C., in conjunction with home leave (3 days;
per diem only; estimated cost: USD 795);
Returning Hub Officer travel to Georgia to follow-up on
WIREC pledge and discuss a broad range of ESTH issues
including Transboundary environmental issues and health
issues (TB, HIV/AIDS). (by air; 3 days; estimated cost: USD
3000).
July/August 2009:
--------------
BUDAPEST 00001018 006 OF 008
Possible FSI Training (2 days) and consultations (3 days)
in Washington, D.C., for one Hub FSN (by air; 5 days;
estimated cost: USD 3800);
Returning Hub Officer travel to Vienna and Slovakia for
consultations with IO and NGO contacts and call on UNDP
Regional Center (by train; 5 days; estimated cost: USD
2000);
Returning Hub Officer travel to Serbia (3 days) and Kosovo
(2 days) to discuss a broad range of ESTH issues (by air; 5
days; estimated cost: Serbia USD 2200; Kosovo USD 1400).
September 2009:
--------------
Returning Hub Officer travel to Croatia (3 days) and
Bulgaria (2 days) to discuss a broad range of ESTH issues
(by air; 5 days; estimated cost: Croatia USD 1800; Bulgaria
USD 1500).
Subtotal for planned travel: USD 47,245
Reserve for as yet unscheduled meetings and adjustments to
travel plans when details are finalized: USD 755
Total: USD 48,000
--------------
(c) Timeline:
--------------
October 4-7, 2008: Visit of American Public Diplomacy
Envoy Fran Drescher. She participated in the Breast Cancer
Bridge Walk on October 5 and in related events.
Location: Budapest, Hungary.
October 6-10, 2008: Hub Officer in Ukraine
Location: Kyiv and Odessa, Ukraine.
November 3, 2008: Day of Hungarian Science
Location: Budapest, Hungary.
November 3, 2008: Tree planting with Ambassador, the
Hungarian Forestry Service and the local community in the
city of Dregelypalank
Location: Dregelypalank, Hungary
November 5-8, 2008: Hub Officer attends BSEC S&T Working
Group
Location: Borovets, Bulgaria
November 20-12, 2008 (to be confirmed): Hub Officer
attends meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Energy
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
November 27-28, 2008: Hub Officer attends meeting of the
BSEC Working Group on Environmental Protection
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
November 2008 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Vienna
December 2008 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Czech Republic
and Slovakia
End of December 2008 (TBD): Christmas Party of the
US-Hungary Joint Science and Technology Fund.
January 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Poland and
Slovenia
February 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Romania and
Moldova
March 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Albania and
Macedonia
March 30-April 17, 2009: Hub Officer travel to Washington,
D.C., to support the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
(ATCM) and Fiftieth Anniversary Ministerial (2 weeks),and
associated Hub Officers' meeting (2 days) and consultations
(3 days).
Location: Washington, D.C.
May 18, 2009: Departure of Hub Officer Camille Hill
Mid-May (TBD): Return of Hub Officer Sam Kotis
June 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Georgia; possible
Washington, D.C., consultations for returning Hub Officer
in conjunction with home leave.
July/August 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Vienna,
BUDAPEST 00001018 007 OF 008
Slovakia, Serbia, and Kosovo; possible Washington, D.C.,
training and consultations for Hub FSN.
September 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer Travel to Croatia and
Bulgaria
October 2009 (TBD, probably in the first week): Budapest
Breast Cancer Bridge Walk
Location: Budapest, Hungary.
November 5-7, 2009: World Science Forum
Location: Budapest, Hungary
(d) Regional Cooperation Projects:
--------------
Programs and Projects in which the Hub is involved include:
-- The Sava River Commission (transboundary water)
-- ICPDR (transboundary water)
-- BSEC (Black Sea environmental cooperation/coastal marine
management and eco-tourism)
-- ENVSEC (environmental security initiative of the OSCE,
UNEP,UNDP, UNECE, REC and NATO)
-- South East Europe Virtual Climate Change Related Center,
Belgrade (Climate Change)
-- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership
(REEEP)(Climate Change and Clean Energy)
-- Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (working to
secure and/or implement commitments by Serbia, Montenegro,
Macedonia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina to phase out leaded fuel
(Health)
(e) Foreign Assistance Process Participation:
--------------
As was the case in FY08, the Hub will encourage posts in
our region that are eligible for Foreign Assistance to
include priority ESTH issues in preparing their Mission
Strategic Plans (MSPs) and Operating Plans (OPs). When
additional guidance from the Department is available,
the Hub Officer will utilize knowledge gained in FY08
regional visits to suggest areas where targeted
bilateral assistance funds could be used to accomplish
important economic development, democracy-building,
health, and environmental objectives. For the most part,
USAID missions in the region have not emphasized ESTH
activities in recent years. Hub Officer will offer
assistance, expertise, and encouragement to address
this gap.
f) Outreach:
--------------
In FY08, the Hub continued to work with EUR, OES and
Consulate Istanbul to help highlight our engagement on
Black Sea environmental issues through the BSEC. On
Climate Change and Clean Energy, the Hub has been the
action office at Embassy Budapest for Ambassadorial
speeches on the subject. On November 3, the Ambassador and
Hub Staff also plan to participate in a tree planting that
will be conducted with the Hungarian Forestry Service and
the city of Dregelypalank. As noted previously, the Hub is
the action office for the Ambassador's Healthy Lifestyles
outreach program around Hungary, which in FY08 included
Under Secretary Hughes' participation in the October 2007
Bridge Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness. U.S. Public
Diplomacy Envoy Fran Drescher participated in the October
2008 Bridge Walk. Now that Embassy Budapest's "Green
Embassy" initiative is in place, we will seek ways to
utilize it for public diplomacy purposes. In general,
however, the Hub's ability to execute an effective outreach
effort on regional or sub-regional ESTH issues (for
instance cooperation on the Sava River, Black Sea coastal
issues, improving regional TB communication and response
coordination; and regional climate change modeling) will
be dependent on whether funding for actual U.S. support
can be identified for us to highlight.
g) Training and Capacity Building:
--------------
Both Budapest Hub FSNs have now attended the annual FSI
ESTH FSN Tradecraft course. Both Hub FSNs also attended
the EUR ESTH Officers' Conference held in Budapest
September 3-5, 2008. We are looking into the possibility
of sending one of the ESTH FSNs to FSI for one of several
2-day ESTH-related courses and a few days of consultations
in July 2008, and will also look for training and
professional development opportunities for the FSNs which
may be available in Europe.
h) Washington Hub Officers' Meeting and Consultations
BUDAPEST 00001018 008 OF 008
-------------- ---
As noted above in the Travel Plan and Timeline Sections,
Hub Officer will plan a spring visit to Washington to
participate in the Hub Officer meeting and follow-on
consultations in conjunction with the April Antarctic
Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and Fiftieth
Anniversary Ministerial.
i) Proposed DVC dates
A date from among the following possibilities would be
convenient for the Hub: December 1-5, 2008 or January 5-9,
2009. We would prefer a time in the morning Washington
time so that we can conclude the DVC before 5 pm Budapest
time and avoid FSN overtime.
Foley
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TAGS: SENV TBIO KPSC AMGT XH XG ZJ ZL HU
SUBJECT: BUDAPEST FY 2009 REGIONAL ESTH HUB WORK PLAN
REF: STATE 97800
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Summary
--------------
1. (U) In FY09, the Budapest Environment, Science,
Technology and Health (ESTH) Hub will build on its
ongoing efforts promoting and leveraging U.S.
engagement on ESTH issues to strengthen regional
cooperation in the Balkans, Central and Eastern
Europe and the Caucasus. To this end, we will seek out
opportunities in various multilateral fora to promote U.S.
positions on issues such as climate change and clean
energy, transboundary water, environmental law enforcement,
integrated coastal and marine management, eco-tourism,
environmental security, and drug resistant tuberculosis and
HIV/AIDS. We will follow-up on pledges for the uptake of
renewable energy made by governments and non-government
actors in the region at the Washington International
Renewable Energy Conference(WIREC). We will also seek to
enhance scientific cooperation through conclusion of
pending bilateral science and technology (S&T) agreements
and continue outreach activities promoting healthy
lifestyles, phasing out the use of leaded fuels in the
countries where it still is used, and breast cancer
awareness. We will build on the contacts established and
activities pursued in FY08 involving the UNECE, the OSCE, the
Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC),and
the network of Regional Environmental Centers (RECs) to
promote U.S. ESTH engagement throughout the region.
Similarly, we will offer support to the bilateral ESTH work
of posts in the Budapest Hub's 20-country area of
responsibility. As was the case last year, travel plans
laid out in this work plan are preliminary estimates and
subject to optimal scheduling for posts and the Hub alike.
2. (U) Note: An important planning issue is the expected
changeover of Hub Officers in summer 2009. The current
Hub Officer plans to depart post PCS on May 18, 2009, for
training related to her ongoing linked assignments to a PRT
in Al Hillah, Iraq, and subsequently to Vancouver. The
previous Hub Officer, who has been on a 12-month TDY at
Embassy Baghdad, will return to Budapest at approximately
the same time although the exact date remains TBD. End note.
End Summary.
--------------
(a) Goals and Objectives:
--------------
3. (U) Environment:
--------------
Climate Change and Clean Energy:
--------------
Building on the outcomes of the Major Economies process,
looking forward to December's UNFCCC's COP-14 in Poznan,
and following up on pledges made at WIREC last spring,
the Hub will support broader efforts to promote U.S.
climate change and clean energy policy broadly, and
regional initiatives more specifically. To this end we
will seek ways (and resources) to bring in U.S. expert
speakers and -- working with Commercial officers at
posts -- attract U.S. clean energy companies to the
region, building on examples such as the September 2007
U.S. alternative energy trade mission to Hungary,
Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Hub will
also seek to facilitate technical cooperation between
the U.S. and the countries of South Eastern Europe (SEE)
on climate change science, including cooperation with
the "Sub-regional Virtual Climate Change Related Center"
in Belgrade. The Hub will also work with the Department
and posts in the region to follow-up on pledges for the
uptake of renewable energy made at WIREC by governments
and stakeholders from Central and Eastern Europe.
In Hungary, the Hub will seek to cooerate with the
Regional Environmental Center (REC) for Central and
Eastern Europe (which also serves as the Regional
Secretariat for the Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)) and other players to
promote cost-effective, more efficient, technological
solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
enhance energy security in the region. We will also
continue to support the Ambassador's environmental
outreach program with its strong emphasis on promoting
U.S. positions on climate change, clean energy, and
energy security. To this end, as was the case in 2008,
the Hub will rely heavily on the expertise and extensive
contacts of our FSN Specialists to identify venues and
activities, and do much of the preparatory work for
BUDAPEST 00001018 002 OF 008
events where the Ambassador can speak publicly on
these issues.
Transboundary Water:
--------------
During FY08, the Budapest Hub continued it's efforts to
foster positive USG relations with the Sava River
Commission and the International Commission for the
Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). In that context,
the Hub has continued to facilitate U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) cooperation with the Sava commission
and ICPDR. Discussions are ongoing and funding is still
an issue, but we hope that this will bear fruit in FY09.
The Hub will continue to offer assistance and advice in
the dialogue between ICPDR, USACE and the Department on
USACE's proposal to become an ICPDR observer. Thus
enhancing opportunities and expanding avenues for U.S.
technical cooperation on issues such as flood management
and water quality.
In FY07, the Hub also became involved in efforts to
resolve the transboundary water dispute between Ukraine
and Romania stemming from Ukraine's dredging of the
Bystroe Canal within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
The previous Budapest Hub Officer visited the Bystroe
Canal in June 07 and utilized meetings in Kyiv to
reinforce the USG position that Ukraine must abide by
its international commitments under the Ramsar and Espoo
Conventions with regard to this unique and sensitive
area. The current Hub Officer followed up on this issue
during her October 08 trip to Ukraine (septel). Looking
ahead, in FY09 the Hub will continue to support USG
efforts to help resolve this issue.
Environmental Law Enforcement:
--------------
In May 2007, the Hub -- in conjunction with the Budapest
International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) -- hosted a
Very successful one-week training course focused on
combating Illegal logging. Prosecutors and foresters
from Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro,
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Hungary joined experts from USDOJ,
the U.S. Forest Service, and the World Bank to discuss
strategies and programs for combating illegal logging.
The course was an effective and cost-efficient way to
strengthen environmental enforcement capacities in the
region and enhance regional cooperation more broadly.
There has been interest expressed in replicating this
course in the region -- perhaps in the South Caucasus,
the Black Sea region more broadly, or elsewhere. USDOJ,
U.S. Forest Service, and World Bank trainers have
expressed interest in doing so -- if funding can be
identified. Unfortunately funding did not materialize
in FY08. In FY09, the Hub will seek to work with
these organizations, posts, and the Department to
identify funding sources to support such an effort.
Integrated Coastal and Marine Management
and Eco-Tourism:
--------------
In FY07, the Hub worked closely with EUR, OES and posts
in the Black Sea region to organize the September
U.S.-supported "Environmental Protection for Economic
Growth" Symposium in Istanbul under the auspices of the
Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
The symposium was praised by BSEC member states,
observers, and the BSEC Secretariat as an excellent model
upon which to design future environmental activities in
the region. With that in mind, in FY08 the Hub continued
to engage with EUR, OES, and other relevant USG agencies
to identify follow-on environment-focused activities
involving BSEC countries. One possibility is a training
on environmental enforcement as noted directly above,
with possible foci on combating illegal logging,
promoting sustainable forest management techniques, and
preventing/mitigating wildfires. Another possible avenue
of cooperation that has found initial resonance among
Black Sea countries is promotion of eco-tourism. All BSEC
countries have identified tourism as an important element
in their overall development strategies. Some (such as
Bulgaria) are experiencing rapid growth along coastal areas.
Others (such as Albania and Azerbaijan) are impeded by
widespread pollution problems stemming from decades-old
communist-era legacies. All would benefit from U.S.
expertise in sustainable tourism planning. Unfortunately
funding did not materialize in FY08. In FY09 the Hub will
continue to seek to support a sustainable tourism activity
for the Black Sea region -- either via a regional training
workshop to take place in the region, or one that would
take environmental and tourism officials from BSEC
countries to the U.S. to visit and learn from
successful U.S. examples. As with other envisioned
BUDAPEST 00001018 003 OF 008
activities in the coming year, identification of USG
funding sources will be critical.
Environmental Security:
--------------
In FY08, the Hub participated in meetings in Vienna on
Environmental security under the ENVSEC Initiative -
a joint enterprise of the OSCE, UNDP, UNEP, the Regional
Environmental Center (REC) for Central and Eastern Europe,
and NATO's Science for Peace program. The initiative seeks
to utilize the complementary strengths of its constituent
organizations to address environmental problems that
either can be a source of political tension (either
domestically or regionally) or serve as a mechanism
for security-enhancing cooperation. The Hub sees value in
this effort, and in FY09 will continue to seek to identify
ENVSEC projects that could benefit from U.S. expertise.
Possible areas to explore include OSCE's efforts to help
Albania develop a solid waste management system for the
northern city of Shkodra and OSCE's Moldova program to
remove leaking stocks of Soviet-era pesticides that are
contaminating groundwater in various parts of the country.
The Hub's FSN Environmental Specialist has participated in
a previous Vienna ENVSEC meetings and we will look for
opportunities in the coming year for her to build on this
and stay engaged in the ENVSEC process.
Green Embassy Initiative:
--------------
The Hub was involved in setting up the Embassy's selective
waste separation program at Embassy Budapest. This project
was a joint collaboration between Embassy Budapest's DCM
and the Hub's FSN Environmental Specialist who worked
closely with all relevant Embassy sections to transform an
innovative idea into concrete results which both reduce
the environmental impacts of Embassy operations and provide
an excellent example for Embassy efforts to raise
environmental awareness in Hungary more broadly. The DCM
and Hub FSN co-founded the Embassy's Green Embassy
Committee, in which both Hub FSN and Hub Officer participate.
4. (U) Science and Technology:
--------------
Science and Technology Bilateral Agreements:
--------------
A number of countries in the Hub's region have recently
signed, or are close to signing, new bilateral S&T
Agreements with the United States. Hungarian authorities
have previously indicated that in conjunction with the
prospective signing of a new S&T bilateral agreement with
the U.S., they would be interested in hosting a regional
workshop involving other countries that - like Hungary -
used to have a "Joint Fund" mechanism with the U.S. for
science cooperation and now are adjusting to NSF's new
international approach. Although as of the end of FY08,
the bilateral S&T agreement with Hungary had not yet been
signed, the Hungarians have recently indicated to us a
willingness to move forward in the near term, and we are
optimistic that the details could be finalized as soon as
the first quarter of FY09. Assuming a new U.S.-Hungary
Bilateral Science and Technology agreement is signed, and
that the Hungarians do organize a regional workshop in
conjunction with a signing ceremony, the Hub would seek to
include representatives of relevant USG agencies (NSF, NIH,
EPA, DOE),if funding for travel can be identified. In
this and other Science issues, the Hub will rely heavily
on the expertise and contacts of our FSN Science and
Health Specialist.
5. (U) Health:
--------------
Disease Resistant Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS
--------------
Tuberculosis poses a growing health security threat in
Europe and Central Asia. In 2005, there were 445,000
new cases of TB in the region. Continued poor adherence
to accepted TB control practices has created high levels
of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant
(XDR) strains of the disease. In Azerbaijan, approximately
18.8 per cent of the total number of TB cases are MDR/XDR TB.
This is one of the highest rates of MDR/XDR TB in the world
with other countries in the Hub's region having similarly
high rates (Moldova - 18.9 per cent, Georgia - 19.5 per cent,
Ukraine - 13.6 per cent). Globally, an estimated ten percent
of TB patients are also co-infected with HIV, and TB is the
leading cause of death for AIDS patients. Faced with this
public health threat, on October 22, 2007, 53 member states
of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region
signed the Berlin Declaration on Tuberculosis. The
Declaration commits signatories, among other things, to
BUDAPEST 00001018 004 OF 008
strengthen political will, civil society involvement, and
public health systems to combat the disease. During FY09,
the Hub will look for ways to support and reinforce USG
efforts (USAID, CDC, NIH, and the Department) to build
political will among the countries of the region to combat
disease resistant tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Our FSN
Science and Health Specialist will be fully involved in
planning Hub efforts on tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Leaded Fuel Phase Out:
--------------
Since FY07, the Hub has supported efforts by the REC and
EPA, in conjunction with the Partnership for Clean Fuels
and Vehicles (PCFV),to encourage the remaining countries
of Europe (Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina) to commit to and/or implement phase out
plans for leaded fuel use in those countries. In FY09, the
Hub will continue to support these efforts to encourage and
assist these remaining European countries towards lead fuel
phase out.
Healthy Lifestyles Outreach:
--------------
In FY09, the Hub will continue to support Ambassadorial
outreach activities in Hungary underlining the importance
of healthy lifestyles and early screening in addressing
preventable/treatable health problems such as cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, obesity, alcoholism, and breast cancer.
This will include participation in such high profile events
as the annual Bridge Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness as
well as appropriate visits to hospitals, clinics, and
community centers supporting healthy lifestyle programs in
their areas. As has been the case in FY08, the Hub's two
FSN Specialists will continue to play critical roles in
supporting this ongoing and broad-based effort.
--------------
(b) Travel Plan:
--------------
6. (U) In FY09, the Hub Officer intends to visit Albania,
Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Kosovo,
Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine to focus on issues
noted earlier in the "Goals and Objectives" section of this
document. It is also expected that there will be regional
meetings scheduled by the REC, OSCE or other multilateral
bodies in which the Hub Officer and/or Hub FSNs will
participate. The Hub Officer has not yet had a chance to
negotiate dates and details of the listed visits with
posts, and the following schedule reflects her notional
idea, if posts concur and funding is available. This
travel schedule is based on the assumption that once we
have a budget, Budapest's allocation will be sufficient to
fully fund the Hub's traditional baseline travel budget of
48,000 USD. However, under the continuing resolution,
based on actual FY08 funding levels for Budapest, the Hub
has a working annual budget of 35,280 USD. We will adjust
the travel plan as necessary to correspond to the actual
FY09 allocation. Per para 5 of reftel, the Hub Officer
plans to travel to Washington in April 2009 for the
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and Fiftieth
Anniversary Ministerial, and the envisioned two- to
three-day Hub Officers meeting and associated
consultations. If schedules align, and funding permits,
the Hub would welcome participation of former Jeffersn
Fellow Dr. Puru Jena, who worked with OES on organizing
WIREC, and OES/STC staff as appropriate, in regional trips
following up on WIREC pledges (Georgia, Poland, Romania,
Slovenia). Again, given time constraints, Hub Officer has
not yet had a chance to discuss specifics with Dr. Jena or
STC.
As noted at the outset of this message, the current Hub
Officer will be departing post PCS on May 18, 2009, and
the previous Hub Officer will resume Hub duties around
that time, although the exact date for his return
remains TBD. Consequently, the proposed Hub travel
schedule for the last quarter of the fiscal year is
only an estimate at this time.
Notional Travel Plan would include:
--------------
October 6-10 2008:
--------------
Hub Officer travel to Ukraine to discuss broad range of
ESTH issues including water, energy, and health (5 days;
funded from FY08 Hub budget).
November 2008:
--------------
BUDAPEST 00001018 005 OF 008
November 5-8 BSEC Sci-Tech Committee Meeting in Borovets,
Bulgaria (by air, 4 days, estimated cost: USD 2000);
November 20-21 (not confirmed; may be later in FY09) Hub
Officer travel to Istanbul for meeting of the BSEC Working
Group on Energy (by air; 3 days; estimated cost: USD 2200);
November 27-28 Hub Officer travel to Istanbul for meeting
of the BSEC Working Group on Environmental Protection (by
air; approximately 3 days allowing for travel time;
estimated cost: USD 2200);
Hub Officer and Hub FSN travel to Vienna for initial calls
on IO and NGO contacts to discuss broad range of ESTH
issues (by train; 2 days;
estimated cost: USD 1000).
December 2008:
--------------
Hub Officer travel to Czech Republic to discuss broad range
of ESTH issues (by air; 3 days; estimated cost: USD 2300);
Hub Officer travel to Slovakia to discuss broad range of
ESTH issues and call on UNDP Regional Center (by train;
3 days; estimated cost: USD 1250);
January 2009:
--------------
Hub Officer travel to Poland to follow-up on WIREC pledge
and discuss broad range of ESTH issues (by air; 3 days;
estimated cost: USD 2000);
Hub Officer travel to Slovenia to follow-up on WIREC pledge
and discuss broad range of ESTH issues (by air; 3 days;
estimated cost: USD 2100).
February 2009:
--------------
Hub Officer visit to Romania (3 days) and Moldova (2 days)
to follow-up on WIREC pledges (Romania) and discuss a broad
range of ESTH issues including transboundary environmental
issues (Bystroe Canal, Rosa Montana and Tisza river issue,
Black Sea/BSEC) and health issues (TB, HIV/AIDS)(by air;
5 days; estimated cost: Romania USD 2200; Moldova USD
1600).
March 2009:
--------------
Hub Officer travel to Albania (3 days) and Macedonia (2
days) to discuss a broad range of ESTH issues(by air; 5
days; estimated cost: Albania USD 2000; Macedonia USD
1900).
April 2009:
--------------
Hub Officer travel to Washington, D.C., to support the
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and Fiftieth
Anniversary Ministerial (2 weeks),and associated Hub
Officers' meeting (2 days) and consultations (3 days).
Total time in D.C. - three weeks (by air; 21 days;
estimated cost: USD 8000).
May 2009:
--------------
May 18 current Hub Officer departs post PCS;
(mid-May/date TBD) previous/next Hub Officer returns from
Iraq and resumes Hub duties.
June 2009:
--------------
Possible consultations for returning Hub Officer in
Washington, D.C., in conjunction with home leave (3 days;
per diem only; estimated cost: USD 795);
Returning Hub Officer travel to Georgia to follow-up on
WIREC pledge and discuss a broad range of ESTH issues
including Transboundary environmental issues and health
issues (TB, HIV/AIDS). (by air; 3 days; estimated cost: USD
3000).
July/August 2009:
--------------
BUDAPEST 00001018 006 OF 008
Possible FSI Training (2 days) and consultations (3 days)
in Washington, D.C., for one Hub FSN (by air; 5 days;
estimated cost: USD 3800);
Returning Hub Officer travel to Vienna and Slovakia for
consultations with IO and NGO contacts and call on UNDP
Regional Center (by train; 5 days; estimated cost: USD
2000);
Returning Hub Officer travel to Serbia (3 days) and Kosovo
(2 days) to discuss a broad range of ESTH issues (by air; 5
days; estimated cost: Serbia USD 2200; Kosovo USD 1400).
September 2009:
--------------
Returning Hub Officer travel to Croatia (3 days) and
Bulgaria (2 days) to discuss a broad range of ESTH issues
(by air; 5 days; estimated cost: Croatia USD 1800; Bulgaria
USD 1500).
Subtotal for planned travel: USD 47,245
Reserve for as yet unscheduled meetings and adjustments to
travel plans when details are finalized: USD 755
Total: USD 48,000
--------------
(c) Timeline:
--------------
October 4-7, 2008: Visit of American Public Diplomacy
Envoy Fran Drescher. She participated in the Breast Cancer
Bridge Walk on October 5 and in related events.
Location: Budapest, Hungary.
October 6-10, 2008: Hub Officer in Ukraine
Location: Kyiv and Odessa, Ukraine.
November 3, 2008: Day of Hungarian Science
Location: Budapest, Hungary.
November 3, 2008: Tree planting with Ambassador, the
Hungarian Forestry Service and the local community in the
city of Dregelypalank
Location: Dregelypalank, Hungary
November 5-8, 2008: Hub Officer attends BSEC S&T Working
Group
Location: Borovets, Bulgaria
November 20-12, 2008 (to be confirmed): Hub Officer
attends meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Energy
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
November 27-28, 2008: Hub Officer attends meeting of the
BSEC Working Group on Environmental Protection
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
November 2008 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Vienna
December 2008 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Czech Republic
and Slovakia
End of December 2008 (TBD): Christmas Party of the
US-Hungary Joint Science and Technology Fund.
January 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Poland and
Slovenia
February 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Romania and
Moldova
March 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Albania and
Macedonia
March 30-April 17, 2009: Hub Officer travel to Washington,
D.C., to support the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
(ATCM) and Fiftieth Anniversary Ministerial (2 weeks),and
associated Hub Officers' meeting (2 days) and consultations
(3 days).
Location: Washington, D.C.
May 18, 2009: Departure of Hub Officer Camille Hill
Mid-May (TBD): Return of Hub Officer Sam Kotis
June 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Georgia; possible
Washington, D.C., consultations for returning Hub Officer
in conjunction with home leave.
July/August 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer travel to Vienna,
BUDAPEST 00001018 007 OF 008
Slovakia, Serbia, and Kosovo; possible Washington, D.C.,
training and consultations for Hub FSN.
September 2009 (TBD): Hub Officer Travel to Croatia and
Bulgaria
October 2009 (TBD, probably in the first week): Budapest
Breast Cancer Bridge Walk
Location: Budapest, Hungary.
November 5-7, 2009: World Science Forum
Location: Budapest, Hungary
(d) Regional Cooperation Projects:
--------------
Programs and Projects in which the Hub is involved include:
-- The Sava River Commission (transboundary water)
-- ICPDR (transboundary water)
-- BSEC (Black Sea environmental cooperation/coastal marine
management and eco-tourism)
-- ENVSEC (environmental security initiative of the OSCE,
UNEP,UNDP, UNECE, REC and NATO)
-- South East Europe Virtual Climate Change Related Center,
Belgrade (Climate Change)
-- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership
(REEEP)(Climate Change and Clean Energy)
-- Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (working to
secure and/or implement commitments by Serbia, Montenegro,
Macedonia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina to phase out leaded fuel
(Health)
(e) Foreign Assistance Process Participation:
--------------
As was the case in FY08, the Hub will encourage posts in
our region that are eligible for Foreign Assistance to
include priority ESTH issues in preparing their Mission
Strategic Plans (MSPs) and Operating Plans (OPs). When
additional guidance from the Department is available,
the Hub Officer will utilize knowledge gained in FY08
regional visits to suggest areas where targeted
bilateral assistance funds could be used to accomplish
important economic development, democracy-building,
health, and environmental objectives. For the most part,
USAID missions in the region have not emphasized ESTH
activities in recent years. Hub Officer will offer
assistance, expertise, and encouragement to address
this gap.
f) Outreach:
--------------
In FY08, the Hub continued to work with EUR, OES and
Consulate Istanbul to help highlight our engagement on
Black Sea environmental issues through the BSEC. On
Climate Change and Clean Energy, the Hub has been the
action office at Embassy Budapest for Ambassadorial
speeches on the subject. On November 3, the Ambassador and
Hub Staff also plan to participate in a tree planting that
will be conducted with the Hungarian Forestry Service and
the city of Dregelypalank. As noted previously, the Hub is
the action office for the Ambassador's Healthy Lifestyles
outreach program around Hungary, which in FY08 included
Under Secretary Hughes' participation in the October 2007
Bridge Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness. U.S. Public
Diplomacy Envoy Fran Drescher participated in the October
2008 Bridge Walk. Now that Embassy Budapest's "Green
Embassy" initiative is in place, we will seek ways to
utilize it for public diplomacy purposes. In general,
however, the Hub's ability to execute an effective outreach
effort on regional or sub-regional ESTH issues (for
instance cooperation on the Sava River, Black Sea coastal
issues, improving regional TB communication and response
coordination; and regional climate change modeling) will
be dependent on whether funding for actual U.S. support
can be identified for us to highlight.
g) Training and Capacity Building:
--------------
Both Budapest Hub FSNs have now attended the annual FSI
ESTH FSN Tradecraft course. Both Hub FSNs also attended
the EUR ESTH Officers' Conference held in Budapest
September 3-5, 2008. We are looking into the possibility
of sending one of the ESTH FSNs to FSI for one of several
2-day ESTH-related courses and a few days of consultations
in July 2008, and will also look for training and
professional development opportunities for the FSNs which
may be available in Europe.
h) Washington Hub Officers' Meeting and Consultations
BUDAPEST 00001018 008 OF 008
-------------- ---
As noted above in the Travel Plan and Timeline Sections,
Hub Officer will plan a spring visit to Washington to
participate in the Hub Officer meeting and follow-on
consultations in conjunction with the April Antarctic
Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and Fiftieth
Anniversary Ministerial.
i) Proposed DVC dates
A date from among the following possibilities would be
convenient for the Hub: December 1-5, 2008 or January 5-9,
2009. We would prefer a time in the morning Washington
time so that we can conclude the DVC before 5 pm Budapest
time and avoid FSN overtime.
Foley