QATAR ACCEPTS USG PLAN TO PLACE EPA FELLOW IN

UNCLAS DOHA 000505

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SENV EPA QA
SUBJECT: QATAR ACCEPTS USG PLAN TO PLACE EPA FELLOW IN
ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY

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(SBU) KEY POINTS
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-- Qatar's Minister of Environment has agreed to a U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency proposal to host a Science
Fellow at the Ministry starting in January 2010 to help the
GOQ develop an Environmental Action Plan.

-- At an August 9 meeting with the Ambassador, the Minister
also agreed to send a group of Ministry experts to the United
States to consult with their U.S. colleagues.

-- But he suggested that this trip take place after the
arrival of the Fellow, instead of the November 2009 date
suggested in the EPA proposal. He wants the Fellow to
identify the most appropriate Ministry experts to send.

-- Finally, the Minister agreed to share the cost of the
experts' trip to the United States, specifically travel and
per diem costs.

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(SBU) COMMENTS
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-- The Minister's preference to have the EPA Fellow identify
those in the Ministry who would be most appropriate to send
to the United States makes a great deal of sense to us.

-- The Fellow will understand the U.S. program better, its
requirements, and its goals and objectives.

-- If it is necessary for the Qatari team to travel to
Washington in advance of the January start date, it may be
possible for the Fellow to conduct a series of conference
calls with the Ministry to begin a working relationship with
her Qatari colleagues. She could then provide input on the
composition of the Qatari team. She has advised the Embassy
that many of the senior officials at the Ministry are already
known to her through previous consultations and conferences.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (SBU) On August 9, Ambassador met with Minister of
Environment Abdulla bin Abud Al Meidhadi to discuss a
proposal by the U.S. EPA, Region III, to place International
Programs Manager Francesca Di Cosmo as a Science Fellow at
the Ministry. The Fellow would assist the Ministry in
capacity building and with the development of a national
environmental action plan. A delegation from the Ministry
would travel to the U.S. for consultations and support teams
from the EPA would occasionally travel to Qatar to support
the Fellow's work.


2. (SBU) In advancing the plan, Ambassador stressed that the
goal of the fellowship was not to replace anything that the
GOQ was doing, but to support their goals and vision. The
work of the Fellow and the support teams would be to produce
a framework for developing the Ministry's human and technical
capacities so that it could achieve its stated goals.


3. (SBU) The Minister agreed to the proposal with enthusiasm,
pronouncing it "excellent" and "a terrific opportunity." He
said that the Fellow could evaluate Qatar's goals and offer
her insights and ideas as to how they could be achieved. He
agreed to a start date of January 2010, and to send a group
of experts from the Ministry to the U.S. to consult with
their American colleagues. He suggested that these
consultations take place after the arrival of the Fellow,
instead of the November 2009 date suggested in the proposal,
so she could identify those Qatari experts best qualified to
participate in them.


4. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that the program would be
without cost to the GOQ, except for the costs associated with
travel and lodging. The Minister indicated that the GOQ would
be willing to bear those costs, including travel costs of
other EPA experts who would occasionally travel to Doha to
work with the Fellow.
LeBaron