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