STOCKHOLM: REGIONAL SCIENCE PROJECT - OPENING SESAME STILL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STOCKHOLM 000436 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SE AND IO/UNESCO (RCOROTIS) PARIS FOR US MISSION TO UNESCO OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY (JMARBURGER, SHAYES) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR (RORBACH, PDEHMER, PMONTANO) REF:DCM ENGELKEN E-MAIL, APRIL 30, 2008 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON TSPL OSCI TNGD TPHY UNESCO SW SUBJECT: STOCKHOLM: REGIONAL SCIENCE PROJECT - OPENING SESAME STILL REQUIRES MORE RESOURCES. (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please treat accordingly. ¶1. (U) Summary: On June 9 and 10, 2008, Sweden hosted the Twelfth Meeting of the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) project. The main expected benefits are closer cooperation in the Middle East, advances in science geared toward regional issues and the economic and educational advantages of having a synchrotron research center in the area. Though the project's momentum is building, its success depends on whether new member states, individual investors or the current member states get serious about raising the substantial funds necessary to keep the project rolling. End Summary. SESAME Background -------------- ¶2. (U) Synchrotron radiation, emitted from particle accelerators, is used in a variety of scientific experiments. Essentially, scientists use synchrotron radiation, in conjunction with high-powered optics, to better understand the nature and structure of materials. Physical science, biological and medical sciences, environmental sciences, industrial applications and archaeology are some of the main intended foci of SESAME. ¶3. (U) SESAME came into existence as an intergovernmental organization on April 15, 2004 under the auspices of UNESCO, but was initially developed in 1998. Current members are Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority and Turkey. Observer countries are France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kuwait, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sweden, U.K. and the United States. This meeting commemorated the original organizational talks that took place in Sweden 10 years ago. ¶4. (U) The mission of SESAME is to provide the Middle East with a world-class laboratory for basic research with numerous applications. There are now more than 50 operating synchrotron sources around the world, but this will be the first in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. ¶5. (U) SESAME is installing a used injection system, donated by Germany (BESSY I 800 MeV injection system),in a new facility in Allaan, Jordan. The EU provided USD 1.25 million to facilitate the purchase of equipment and installation, and Jordan's royal family have given USD 3 million to the project. Other labs have donated five different beamlines, valued in excess of 10 million , which project off the storage ring and utilize the synchrotron light for the scientists' experiments. Tests on the MICROTRON subsystems, which involve the injection of electrons into the storage ring, have indicated good functionality of each subsystem. The modulator has reached its maximum value of 9 kV. This means the MICROTRON will be sufficient for the next five years, at which time it will likely be replaced by a linear accelerator ("linac"). Stockholm Meeting -------------- ¶6. (U) The main message that came out of the Stockholm meeting was STOCKHOLM 00000436 002 OF 003 that momentum is building with the receipt of the donations and positive test results, but acquiring stable financial support is crucial to keep pace with the project. The SESAME project was estimated to be three-fourths of the way complete. ¶7. (SBU) The main challenges ahead are gaining funding, adapting machinery and training staff. Though the EU pledged USD 12 million to the project, bureaucratic problems have prevented that funding from being released. ¶8. (SBU) Regarding hardware, SESAME currently needs a storage ring and eventually more beamlines. The storage ring, estimated to cost USD 16-20 million, and the shielding that must go around it, have yet to be built. The Palestinian Authority is providing the cooling system. ¶9. (SBU) Regarding human resources, SESAME currently has two scientific staff and 15 technical staff, and volunteer technicians from BESSY in Germany and SOLIEL in France have offered their help. There should be one scientist for each beamline, so increasing staff is a necessity with the influx of equipment. By the time of operation there should be 30 to 40 scientific and technical staff. ¶10. (SBU) In regards to SESAME's 2009 operating budget, the finance committee put forth several scenarios with a recommendation for a 35% increase in dues from member countries, which range from USD 50,000-137,000 per annum. USD 1.667 million was mentioned as the proposed budget for 2009, but the budget will be finalized during the November meeting. ¶11. (SBU) Upcoming events include a visit to the Jordan site by 27 Nobel Laureates the week of June 16, and a July visit by the German Minister of Science. On November 3 there will be a "soft inauguration" to which heads of state, ministers of science and directors of finance will be invited. Challenges in Garnering Participation -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The SESAME delegates from Bahrain and Iran were not present at the meeting. Iran nominated delegates one-and a half weeks ago, not soon enough to secure visas. Though the reason behind Bahrain's absence was unclear, it was speculated that shifts within the government which moved the SESAME project from under the control of the Minister of Education to that of Bahrain University made it difficult to nominate delegates. ¶13. (SBU) Iraq sent the Deputy Minister of Science who affirmed the country's interest in integrating itself in SESAME, calling it fundamentally important to the country. There is talk of Japan and the United Arab Emirates joining as observer countries, and two delegates from Japan were present at the meeting to affirm their interest in participating. Professor Herwig Schopper, the President of SESAME Council, expressed hope that Japan would be a full observer member by the next meeting. The admittance of Morocco, which was a member of the interim council, as an observer country is also pending. STOCKHOLM 00000436 003 OF 003 ¶14. (SBU) Professor Salman M. Salman, a delegate from the Palestinian Authority, asserted in a private conversation that there has been a growing interest in knowing the United States' intentions as to SESAME. He explained that it is unclear whether the U.S. plans to continue to merely watch and listen and suggested that perhaps failure to participate stems from the idea that this is an EU project. Some delegates thought the U.S. should give matching funds. The Director of International Affairs of the American Physical Society emphasized the training and fellowships that have already been provided by the U.S. ¶15. (U) The next SESAME Council meeting has been scheduled to take place onsite in Allaan, Jordan, November 3-4, 2008. ¶16. (SBU) Comment: SESAME has completed significant work toward its mission, but raising the funding needed for the project has been difficult. A professor from the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center commented that if funds for the 2.5 GeV storage ring do not come through in the next two years, the organization will not begin operations in 2011 as intended. Now that the building to house the project has been completed and the injector has been tested, SESAME must hire staff to build the storage ring and shielding and complete adaptations to make the different donated parts function as a whole. Dr. Adel M. Qabazard, the delegate from Kuwait, opined that after the amount of support shown by the scientific and international community, and all the work and human resources that have gone into the project thus far, member states must contribute more financially or risk being humiliated with the project's failure. The success of the project depends on raising the substantial funds necessary to keep up the project's momentum. End Comment. WOOD