VISAS FOR WIREC 2008 DELEGATES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 002033

SIPDIS

SIPDIS, SECSTATE PASS TO DINT
FOR CONSULAR AND ESTH SECTIONS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS ENRG SENV TRGY EPET EAID SOCI KSCA KGHG
KPAL, OPDC
SUBJECT: VISAS FOR WIREC 2008 DELEGATES

REF: A) STATE 563 NOTAL B) STATE 559 NOTAL C) STATE 521 NOTAL
D) 07 STATE 138428 E) 07 STATE 80334


1. This is an action request. Please see paragraphs six
and seven.

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SUMMARY
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2. Summary: The Washington International Renewable
Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) will be held in
Washington DC March 4 - 6. (See reftels D and E for background
on WIREC 2008). The participation of all relevant
stakeholders, including government officials, civil
society delegates, and private sector representatives in
WIREC 2008 is essential to furthering USG objectives (i.e.
promoting the uptake of renewable energy as part of the
President's climate change initiative.) Post ESTH
Officers are asked to encourage delegates to apply for
visas as early as possible. Post ESTH Officers should
consider providing visa referrals for participants where
appropriate and to inform adjudicating consular officers
through the referral process of US goals for strong st
akeholder participation. End summary.

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BACKGROUND
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3. Background: The State Department will host the
Washington International Renewable Energy Conference
(WIREC 2008) March 4 - 6, 2008 in Washington, DC. WIREC
is being implemented in partnership with the American
Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE),the United States
Energy Association (USEA),multiple USG agencies
(USDA, DOI, EPA,DOC, etc.)and the
White House (CEQ, NSC). WIREC 2008 is the
third global ministerial-level event on renewable energy
(Bonn 2004, Beijing 2005). WIREC 2008 is an opportunity
to advance the Administration's priority of responding to
the challenges of sustainable economic growth and climate
change through renewable energy. WIREC also serves as a
global platform for ministers and senior level leaders
from the private sector, sub-national governments and
civil society to advance the integration of renewable
energy in their countries. A successful WIREC 2008
requires the active participation of all relevant
stakeholders, including government officials, civil
society delegates, and private sector representatives.
Non-government participants bring to WIREC 2008 technical
expertise, cultural insights and practical experience that
are critical for realizing these goals. They, even more
than government officials, will be instrumental in
implementing actions on the ground.


4. We expect approximately 2,000 delegates to participate
in the Government meetings at the Washington Convention
Center. Anticipated breakdown of those 2,000 is:

- 750 international government attendees consisting of
Ministerial-level delegations of up to 10 per country

- 250 USG attendees, including federal, state, and local
officials

- 500 international private sector delegates

- 500 U.S. private sector delegates


5. Refs A, B, and C contain formal invitations to
official delegations from the European Commission and the
following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, the Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Cameroon, Cape
Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, the Comoros, Costa
Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Denmark, the Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Madagascar,

STATE 00002033 002 OF 002


Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, the
Netherlands, New Guinea, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria,
Norway, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, the
Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Solomon
Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St.
Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda,
the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and the Vatican.
(If these invitations do not produce 750 foreign
government delegates, additional official delegations may
be considered at a later date.)

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ACTION REQUESTS
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6. The State Department, either directly (refs A and B)
or via our contractor United States Energy Association
(USEA),will be inviting to the WIREC 2008 Ministerial
representatives from developing nations who will require
visas for travel to the U.S., including official
government delegations as well as members of civil society
and private sector organizations. To facilitate the visa
application process for those persons who are clearly
qualified to serve as delegates for their respective
organizations, we ask that ESTH officers consider writing
referrals, either A or B, when requested and appropriate,
as early as possible to assure that all requisite
processes can be completed in time for travel. Type A
referrals are only appropriate when you personally know
the contacts. If your contacts are not personally known
to you, then you should use type B referral forms. The
referral is an official communication between ESTH
officers and the adjudicating consular officer, which will
be linked to the respective visa application. NB: It
should not be given to the applicant under any
circumstances. The referral should indicate to the
adjudicating consular officer that WIREC 2008 is a
legitimate meeting, including specific details about the
meeting such as date, length of time, location, etc., as
well as information about any special expertise that the
applicant may have to share at WIREC

2008.


7. If you are aware that any of your non-governmental
contacts will be attending WIREC 2008, encourage them to
discuss the visa application process with you prior to
making an appointment with the Consular Section. Because
WIREC 2008 centers on energy issues, many delegates who
have scientific or technical backgrounds will require
additional clearances. Prospective delegates should be
encouraged to apply as early as possible to allow time for
processing these clearances. Referring officers and
applicants should keep in mind that a visa referral does
not waive or expedite the required processes. Delegates
who receive referrals should be advised to bring both a
copy of the email inviting them to attend the WIREC 2008
Ministerial and a letter from their organization to the
visa interview along with all other required
documentation. Emphasize to the applicant that the
referring officer has no role in the visa process. Most
civil society and private sector delegates will be funded
by their respective organizations, but some will be funded
by the USG or foreign governments. OES will provide Post
ESTH Officers with a list of delegates in their consular
districts receiving USG or foreign government funding as
soon as it is available.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON WIREC 2008
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8. For additional information about WIREC 2008, please
consult the official WIREC website at
www.wirec2008.gov.


9. Minimize considered.
RICE