SUBJECT: FORMAL INVITATIONS TO ATTEND THE

UNCLAS STATE 015502 SIPDIS SIPDIS COLOMBO FOR THE MALDIVES ACCRA FOR REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER GEOFFREY HUNT KATHMANDU FOR REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER JOHN ADAMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ENRG EPET KGHG KPAO KSCA OPDC SENV SOCI TRGY MR MV SUBJECT: SUBJECT: FORMAL INVITATIONS TO ATTEND THE WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY (WIREC) MARCH 4-6, 2008 REF: A) STATE 138428 B) STATE 80334 -------------- ACTION REQUESTS -------------- ¶1. Action Requests: OES apologizes for this short- fuse request. We have only just learned that the Maldives and Mauritania are interested in attending WIREC and given that the conference is now only two weeks away, and the delegates will need to make their travel arrangements urgently, we are asking posts to move very quickly to deliver the requested invitations. Ambassadors or appropriate senior post officials are requested to deliver the text in paragraph 5 as a letter over post Official's signature to either the host government's Foreign Minister or, if known, the host government's designated Minister-level head of official delegation to WIREC 2008. Post at its discretion may cc other ministers who have indicated an interest in attending WIREC. Post is asked to confirm delivery of the letter via return cable. Please include name and contact information for post's WIREC POC in the response cable. ¶2. Posts are requested to inform their host governments that Official Individual Country Ministerial-level delegations may consist of a maximum of 10 individuals per country, composed of up to three Ministers, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy, Agriculture, or Environment (or the equivalent Ministers covering those portfolios) and three subnational government representatives. We defer to each country's Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to determine their country's precise makeup of the 'Official WIREC Ministerial Delegation,' as well as to inform us of their 'Head of Delegation,' assuming more than one Minister-level delegate is part of that country's official delegation. However, we appreciate Embassy engagement with the MFA to ensure that the delegation is comprised of appropriate Ministers and subnational government representatives. ¶3. Posts are requested to inform their host governments that each member of the delegation must submit an individual registration form to confirm attendance at WIREC 2008. Official delegates may register for the conference via the internet at http:// www.usea.org/WIREC/official party registration pub 0001.pdf. ¶4. For the Maldives: The Ambassador of the Maldives to the UN approached E's Senior Advisor on International Energy Affairs on Feb 13 to request an invitation, indicating his government wants to attend. We have no further information as to which Ministries are interested. ¶5. For Mauritania: An official from the Mauritanian Ministry of Hydraulics, Water and Information and Communications Technology has contacted OES directly to request an invitation for Mauritania. Please ensure that this Minister receives a copy of the invitation. -------------- TEXT OF LETTER -------------- ¶6. Begin text of the letter: Dear Mr./Madam Minister: (or other appropriate salutation) The U.S. State Department will host the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) in Washington on March 4-6, 2008. WIREC 2008 is the third global ministerial-level event on renewable energy after Bonn in 2004 and Beijing in 2005. WIREC will serve as a global platform for ministers and senior leaders from the private sector, sub-national governments, and civil society to discuss and share information about the benefits of renewable energy, identify best practices and barriers, and consider policy options and measures needed to encourage the rapid development of renewable energy in their countries. I am pleased to invite (insert name of country) to send an official delegation to WIREC 2008. Approximately 2,000 delegates will participate in the three-day conference at the Washington Convention Center, and we envision participation by U.S. Cabinet secretaries and senior White House officials. In the spirit of the International Action Program that was agreed to at the Bonn Conference, I am inviting your government to consider making a voluntary national pledge at WIREC to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in your country. The consolidation of national governments' pledges, as well as pledges from other major stakeholders (sub-national governments, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and multi-stakeholder partnerships) will be one of the major outcomes of WIREC. I look forward to your official delegation's active Participation in WIREC 2008. Sincerely, (insert name of Ambassador or appropriate senior embassy official) End text. -------------- DEADLINE -------------- ¶7. Post is asked to deliver the formal invitation letter to the minister who has been designated to head the official delegation, if known, or, if a head of delegation has not been decided, to the foreign minister, no later than OOB Monday, February 18. Response cables should be slugged for OES for WIREC Action Group Leader Stan Specht and OES Special Assistant Camille Hill. -------------- POC FOR QUESTIONS -------------- ¶8. Questions about registration or credentialing should be directed to OES' contractor, the U.S. Energy Association (USEA),who is handling this processes. POC at USEA is Rob Donovan direct line 202-312-1238 or email rdonovan@usea.gov. For additional information about WIREC 2008, contact OES' WIREC Action Group Leader Stan Specht (OES/PCI) at SpechtSH@state.gov and consult the official WIREC website at www.wirec2008.gov. RICE