EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM - 2008 (TASHKENT)

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000470

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, OES/STC FOR EILEEN KANE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL AMGT UZ
SUBJECT: EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM - 2008 (TASHKENT)

REF: STATE 28712


1. (U) Per reftel, Post requests the temporary posting of an
Embassy Science Fellow to Embassy Tashkent for approximately
six weeks in September-October 2008. No medical or security
clearance is required. If approved for participation in the
program, Post commits to provide housing, office support,
in-country travel arrangements, and other logistical support
as required, barring any unexpected reductions in Post
funding. The points of contact for substantive questions
about this request are Political Officer Steven Prohaska,
tel: 998-71-120-5450, email: prohaskasn@state.gov, and
Environmental Affairs Specialist Bakhtiyor Mukhamadiev, tel:
998-71-120-5450, email: mukhamadievbr@state.gov.
Management-related questions may be directed to Management
Chief Doug Ellrich, tel: 998-71-120-5450, email:
ellrichdk@state.gov.


2. (SBU) Post requests the assignment of a water management
expert to Embassy Tashkent. Transboundary water management
is a sensitive issue that the Government of Uzbekistan is
keenly interested in, and has been a source of tension
between the countries of Central Asia, so the Embassy Science
Fellow's interaction with Uzbek officials will be undertaken
in close cooperation with the Embassy's Political/Economic
Section, DCM, and Ambassador. Post proposes
responsibilities for the Fellow to include: assessments and
recommendations on transboundary water issues related to the
Amu Darya in light of recent developments in Afghanistan and
Turkmenistan; assessing USAID projects on water management;
conducting training for the Water Users' Association of
USAID; giving presentations on his work; and meeting with the
Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia
as well as Government of Uzbekistan officials on
transboundary water matters. Uzbekistan is a member state of
the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the posting
of an Embassy Science Fellow here would advance OES plans to
establish partnerships with scientists in the Muslim world.
NORLAND