Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000494

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR IO, OES/EGC, OES/IET AND EAP/MTS
DEPT OF COMMERCE FOR NOAA/BRENNAN/DUNNIGAN
BANGKOK FOR USAID/RDMA

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EAID TPHY ECON PREL IOC

SUBJECT: Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)
Seventh Intergovernmental Session (WESTPAC VII)


SUMMARY
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1. (U) At the Seventh Intergovernmental Session of the IOC
Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-VII) in Kota
Kinabalu, Malaysia, May 26-29, 2008, delegates adopted a revised
Program Structure to bring the Sub-Commission in line with IOC
priorities and IOC and UNESCO planning and budgeting cycles,
established a new advisory group to advise the officers and member
states on scientific and technical matters, and elected new
officers. These are important steps toward revitalizing WESTPAC and
set the stage for continued -- and expanded -- U.S. involvement.
U.S. objectives for the meeting were met. WESTPAC VII was well
attended, with over 85 delegates from 11 member states.

WESTPAC REVITALIZATION
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2. (U) The Sub-Commission adopted a series of recommendations
intended to revitalize IOC WESTPAC, including:

-- New Program Structure and Strategy. The new structure
incorporates the IOC's High-Level Objectives as the framework for
setting WESTPAC priorities.

-- Science Advisory Group. WESTPAC-VII approved the creation of an
expert advisory group to provide scientific and technical advice to
the Sub-Commission through the Chair.

-- New Project Proposals. WESTPAC VII adopted six new project
proposals, using the new WESTPAC High Level Objectives.

-- Project Termination Guidelines. Until WESTPAC VII, no mechanism
existed for terminating projects that were not viable. The new
project termination guidelines set clear criteria for terminating
WESTPAC endorsement of such projects.

-- Framework for a Regional Training and Research Center Network. A
new framework to promote training and research in the region was
adopted.

-- New Sessional Meeting Schedule. WESTPAC VII agreed to adopt a
two year meeting cycle and schedule that would allow its
recommendations to feed into the IOC and UNESCO planning and
budgeting process.

These actions are important necessary -- but not sufficient -- steps
toward making WESTPAC a relevant contributor to the important ocean
and coastal science and management challenges in the region.

ELECTION OF NEW OFFICERS
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3. (U) The Sub-Commission elected Dr. Zhang Zhanhai, Director
General, Department of International Cooperation, State Oceanic
Administration of China as Chair; Dr. Yasuwo Fukuyo, Professor,
Asian Natural Environmental Science Center, University of Tokyo as
First Vice-Chair; and Dr. Nor Aieni Haji Mokhthar, Secretary of
National Oceanography Directorate, Ministry of Science, Technology,
and Innovation, Malaysia as Second Vice-Chair.

U.S. ROLE IN WESTPAC-VII
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4. (U) Appreciation for the U.S. presence at WESTPAC VII was
expressed formally in plenary and privately many times during
WESTPAC VII; the U.S. was invited to serve as Rapporteur of the
Session and as chair of the recommendations committee. Working
closely with Australia, Japan, and the Secretariat in particular,
the USDEL was able to intervene constructively and to exercise
appropriate influence over the final recommendations. The
objectives described in the U.S. position paper were met. The U.S.
delegation was led by David McKinnie, NOAA. Adam Stein, Russell
Jackson, and Jessie Huart, NOAA also participated as members of the
U.S. delegation.

ENGAGING WESTPAC IN THE FUTURE

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5. (SBU) The U.S. can play a strong supporting role in WESTPAC even
without new project investments. Phasing in U.S. engagement
benefits WESTPAC by giving it more credibility and new relationships
are likely to strengthen existing US activities. Examples of
appropriate U.S. engagement include:

-- Serve as a guiding and stabilizing force as WESTPAC matures
during the revitalization;

-- Organize relevant existing bilateral and multilateral activities
under the WESTPAC rubric to show strong support for the
Sub-Commission at little or no additional cost or effort;

-- New small-scale activities, especially training and workshops,
could be offered through WESTAC using existing funds; and,

-- Help link WESTPAC activities and projects to other appropriate
organizations or efforts.

The USDEL will prepare a separate document for technical agency
consideration that describes possible implementation approaches for
these opportunities.

COMMENT: OUTSTANDING ISSUES
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6. (SBU) Notwithstanding WESTPAC VII's accomplishments, there is
much that remains to be done and concerns that remain. The USDEL's
impression is that many WESTPAC member delegates, including the new
officers, are not familiar with the UNESCO/IOC process. The USDEL
was unable to persuade the Session of the value of adhering verbatim
to the IOC High-Level Objectives, for example, or the importance of
approving only projects that fall within the WESTPAC mandate. As a
result, some WESTPAC actions are likely to be questioned at the
Executive Council meeting in June.

SEVENTH IOC/WESTPAC SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM
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7. (U) The Seventh IOC/WESTPAC Scientific Symposium was organized
prior to the Session in Sabah, Malaysia, 21-25 May 2008. The
Symposium registered a total of 367 participants from 19 countries
out of 20 IOC member states in the region, with 113 oral
presentation, 120 posters and 20 booths of exhibition presented by
national agencies, NGOs, industries, research and education
institutions.


KEITH