Embassy Minsk Input for Reports to Congress on Energy

UNCLAS MINSK 000100 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG SENV APER ABUD BO SUBJECT: Embassy Minsk Input for Reports to Congress on Energy REF: State 10743 Responses keyed to paragraph four of reftel: ¶A. The front office and the Political/Economic Section handle energy matters. Front Office staffing: Ambassador Deputy Chief of Mission OMS (2) Political Specialist LES Political/Economic Section staffing: Section Chief Deputy Section Chief Political/Economic Officer Political Officer Political/Economic Assistant LES (2) ¶B. Positions working on energy matters and time devoted to energy matters: Ambassador: 3 percent Deputy Chief of Mission: 3 percent Deputy Chief of Mission OMS: 1 percent Political/Economic Section Chief: 4 percent Deputy Political/Economic Section Chief 10 percent Political/Economic Officer 5 percent Political/Economic Assistant LES 5 percent Political/Economic Assistant LES 1 percent ¶C. Narrative Descriptions: Ambassador: Meets with DOE contractors and State Department officials visiting Belarus for cooperative projects with the Sosniy Research Facility, provides policy guidance to Washington on the program. Meets with diplomatic contacts on questions of Russian energy supplies to Belarus. Deputy Chief of Mission: Meets with DOE contractors and State Department officials visiting Belarus for cooperative projects with the Sosniy Research Facility, provides policy guidance to Washington on the program. Meets with diplomatic contacts on questions of Russian energy supplies to Belarus. Deputy Chief of Mission OMS: Organizes DCM's calendar and provides office support to the Political/Economic Section. Political/Economic Section Chief: Manages Political/Economic Section in reporting on energy developments and supporting DOE projects. Deputy Political/Economic Section Chief: Chief reporting officer on energy developments within Belarus, including oil and gas purchases and transit issues. Political/Economic Officer: Primary contact for DOE teams visiting Sosniy, the Political/Economic Officer accompanies DOE teams during briefings and site visits. He handles logistical requirements and reporting on the results of visits. Political/Economic Assistant LES: Writes reports on energy matters from open source materials, serves as contact for U.S. businesses with routine requests for information on the energy sector in Belarus, arranges meetings with energy sector contacts. Political/Economic Assistant LES: Helps with logistical arrangements for visiting DOE teams and with meetings for reporting on nuclear power in Belarus. ¶D. Budget: $ 24,800 -- Pro-rated personnel costs: $ 24,600 -- Programs: $ 200 (one representational event for nuclear energy officials) Stewart