SOUTHERN CONE COM CONFERENCE: OES REPSONSES TO

UNCLAS STATE 054504 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR AMBASSADORS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KPAO BR CI PA PE UY SUBJECT: SOUTHERN CONE COM CONFERENCE: OES REPSONSES TO AMBASSADORS' REQUESTS REF: SANTIAGO 454 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: This cable contains OES' responses to Southern Cone Ambassadors' requests in reftel for more information on OPIC's energy investment fund and the Latin America Energy Initiative; for more public diplomacy materials on biofuels, specifically on the time frame for second generation biofuels; and for a new IV program on regional environmental law enforcement. The Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science (OES) thanks the Southern Cone Ambassadors for their interest and attention to our issues. The Ambassadors identified a number of vitally important issues at the Southern Cone Chiefs of Mission conference, and we will incorporate their ideas into our strategic thinking and work with the interagency to develop approaches to these important regional and global issues. In the meantime, we are able to provide some preliminary information and resources in the paragraphs that follow. End summary -------------- OPIC ENERGY INVESTMENT FUND AND LATIN AMERICA ENERGY INITIATIVE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) OES concurs that the new OPIC Energy funding is an exciting new opportunity to promote our interests globally and in the Latin America region. We are eager to see the initiative move forward. Unfortunately, at this time OES does not have additional information to provide as OPIC is still working out the details. We understand that OPIC is planning a meeting in June with Private Sector partners to discuss this subject and we will report on further developments with regards to the funds when more information becomes available. Should Ambassadors wish to follow up directly with OPIC, our POC is Executive Vice President John Simon at email: John.Simon@opic.gov and phone: 202-336-8407. -------------- PUBLIC DIPLOMACY MATERIALS ON BIOFUELS -------------- ¶3. (U) OES agrees that more public diplomacy materials on the key topic of biofuels would be helpful in the near term, and we understand from IIP that more such materials are in the works. We have consulted with IIP and identified a current article containing relevant information which can be found on the America.gov website at: http:// www.america.gov/st/ env-english/ 2008/February/ 20080225140244lcnirellep0.837154.html IIP is planning more stories on biofuels which will be posted on the America.gov website as they become available. -------------- -------------- INSTRUCTIONS FOR REQUESTING A NEW IV PROGRAM FROM ECA -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) OES agrees that your proposal for a new Southern Cone regional IV program on environmental law enforcement is a good idea, and we have consulted our public affairs staff on the mechanics of developing new IV programs. Our public affairs staff advises us that proposals for new International Visitors Leadership Projects must be proposed to ECA program offices directly from post PAOs or CAOs. To suggest a new regional Southern Cone project on the theme of environmental law enforcement, posts should coordinate a draft proposal summary highlighting the compelling need and justification for the proposed project and submit it directly to ECA/PE/V/G/N Branch Chief Chris McShane. RICE