Request for Traveling Speaker on Political, Economic and

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000439 SIPDIS FOR IIP/S CBARONE INFO WHA/PDA CPETERSON, CWEST E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO NS SUBJECT: Request for Traveling Speaker on Political, Economic and Diplomatic Engagement of the United States in the Latin American and Caribbean Region REF: 2007 STATE 151480 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Post seeks a traveling speaker to present a 12-page paper on the subject of "Political, Economic and Diplomatic Engagement of the United States in the Latin American and Caribbean Region." END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Anton de Kom University is the sole university in Suriname. The University's Institute of International Relations is one of Post's close partners in public affairs outreach. The Institute has requested that Post provide a speaker to participate in its upcoming symposium, "Latin American and Caribbean Relations within an Evolving Global Context," which will be held on November 28 and 29, 2008. ¶3. (U) The Institute requests that the speaker also present a 12-page paper on the subject of "Political, Economic and Diplomatic Engagement of the USA in the Latin American and Caribbean Region." To ensure proper dissemination, the paper should be submitted to the University through the Embassy by October 30. The speaker would then present the paper in a 45-minute speech on November 28 during the two-day symposium. The reserved speech slot is the first slot after the Opening Remarks. The Institute is particularly interested in a speech that provides a general overview and discussion of United States involvement in the region from the Monroe Doctrine to the present. ¶4. (U) The U.S. Speaker's presentation will be one of several presentations over the two-day symposium. Other presentations on the draft agenda are scheduled to include "Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela in the Context of Emerging Power Relations in the Hemisphere" (speaker from Brazil); "The Economic Integration Movement of the Latin American Region" (University of Amsterdam); "Foreign Policy of Suriname in View of Political and Economic Changes in the Hemisphere" (Ministry of Foreign Affairs); "The Future of CARICOM and Latin American Relations - Challenges and Perspectives" (University of the West Indies); and "Transnational Crime as a Regional Security Threat" (Organization of American States). ¶5. (U) TIME FRAME: The symposium will be held on November 28 and November 29. Post will look into the feasibility of additional programming on either November 27 (Thanksgiving) or December 1, as airline flights permit. ¶6. (U) PROGRAM PURPOSE: The objective of the United State's segment of the Institute's program is to inform and assist Surinamese audiences in understanding the history of U.S. diplomatic, economic and political engagement in the Latin American and Caribbean Region. Surinamers have a history of looking towards Europe, due to their colonial past. In recent years, they increasingly have started to look towards their CARICOM and South American neighbors. Sharing the U.S. perspective as well as U.S. interests and goals in the region will give the audience a stronger understanding of the positive United States contributions in the hemisphere. ¶7. (U) A secondary purpose is to strengthen Post' relations with a valued partner institution, the University's Institute of International Relations. The Ambassador considers it a priority to assist the Institute with its request for a U.S. speaker. This will further strengthen Post's cooperative ties with the Institute. ¶8. (U) MSP Strategic Goal: Goal #1, Mutual US/Suriname appreciation and respect contributing to a more effective partnership. Goal #4, Evident U.S. contribution to Suriname's improved economic and social development. ¶9. (U) AUDIENCE: This symposium will be open to media representatives, undergraduate and graduate students, academics, public sector officials, political party members, and the general public. ¶10. (U) PROPOSED TOPICS AND NATURE OF EVENTS: The traveling speaker will participate in the two-day symposium on Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29. The Institute requests the speaker present a 12-page paper on "Political, Economic and Diplomatic Engagement of the USA in the Latin American and Caribbean Region." Post will explore the feasibility of additional programming on either December 1 (Monday) or November 27 (Thanksgiving),as speaker's travel schedule permits. ¶11. (U) NAME OF DESIRED SPECIALIST: Post has already conferred with Anton de Kom University over an IIP-provided list of suggested speakers. The Institute requested as its first choice Thomas Andrew O'Keefe, President of Mercosur Consulting Group. The second choice speaker is Gregory Baker Wolfe, an independent business consultant. The third choice is Anthony Bryan, from CSIS. Post concurs with the Institute's selections. Neither Post nor the University has contacted any of these suggested speakers directly. If none of the above speakers is available, Post will coordinate with IIP and the Institute to identify alternate candidates. ¶12. (U) LANGUAGE: English ¶13. (U) POST CONTACT INFORMATION: Geneve Menscher, P/E Chief, tel: (597) 472 900 extension 2205, fax: (597) 420 800, email: menscherge@state.gov. Back-up program officer: Judith Dijks, Business and Education Resource Center, tel: (597) 472 900 extension 2267, fax: (597) 425 690; email: dijksjb@state.gov. ¶14. (U) FUNDING SPECIFICS: The University, as host of the symposium, will engage in cost-sharing for this visit and will provide per diem valued at 200 USD/day for four days. (Note: The USG Per Diem Rate for Suriname, lodging and MI&E, is 187 USD/day. End Note.) All other costs should be paid out of Post FY09 I-bucks (4500 USD remaining). Post advises IIP that international travel for the speaker is best scheduled on Caribbean Airlines from Miami to Paramaribo, via Port of Spain. A waiver to the Fly American Act is available due to the excessive layover time in a foreign airport if the speaker were to take the morning American Airlines flight to Port of Spain. The transfer time for the afternoon American Airlines flight to Port of Spain is too short to make the connecting flight, due to immigration and customs requirements for transiting passengers. SCHREIBER HUGHES