RESPONSE: MARINE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AUTHORIZATIONS

UNCLAS CARACAS 001280 SIPDIS FOR OES/OA - ROBERTA BARNES AND ELIZABETH TIRPAK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT KRVC TPHY VE SUBJECT: RESPONSE: MARINE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AUTHORIZATIONS REF: SECSTATE 101996 ¶1. The Embassy Caracas officer in charge of marine scientific research authorizations is Veronica Millares (Sept 2009 - Mar 2010). Ms. Millares, back up is Economic Counselor Darnall Steuart. ¶2. To request an authorization, OPA must submit relevant documents to Embassy Caracas for submission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which will in turn submit them to the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and Ministry of Science, Technology, and Intermediate Industry. The required documentation includes: -Complete and updated list of the entire crew and scientific personnel aboard the vessel, including their nationalities, passport numbers, and their roles in the project, as well as photocopies of the passports of the ship,s captain and project leader; -Registration, including all data and features of the research vessel; -Complete itinerary of the route with detailed information on the Venezuelan ports that will be used; -Direct and indirect environmental impact assessment of the project; -Detailed and complete description of the project as well as the planned participation of a Venezuelan counterpart scientist; -Curriculum vitae of the leading project scientist as well as that of the Venezuelan scientist counterpart (in the past the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Intermediate Industry has suggested that inquiries concerning Venezuelan institutions with an interest in a particular project be directed to Mr. Perez Nieto, President of the Oceanology Commission 58 416 605 6589); -Digital copy of final report and all other information once research is completed. ¶3. Although the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) states this process will take a minimum of three months, this is probably an underestimate. In 2006, the GBRV issued a research authorization to the R/V PELICAN following two denials. However, given the current state of relations with the GBRV, it would be difficult to expedite any authorization through the bureaucracy or to lobby on its behalf. DUDDY