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

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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