INCREASING OUR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ENGAGEMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 001553

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, OES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG ECON ETRD PREL AMGT SA
SUBJECT: INCREASING OUR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ENGAGEMENT
WITH SAUDI ARABIA -- A CALL FOR AN ESTH POSITION AND PROGRAM

REF: A. RIYADH 659

B. RIYADH 1278

C. RIYADH 1302

D. RIYADH 1417

E. RIYADH 1492

Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) In light of our robust and rapidly expanding
cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the areas of environment,
science, technology, and health, Post recommends posting an
ESTH officer in Riyadh. Ongoing activities under the
December 2008 Science and Technology MOU, as well as ongoing
health collaboration, merit the full-time attention of an
ESTH officer, as do increasing Saudi engagement and interest
in climate change and the deployment of renewable energy
technologies such as solar power. The fulfillment of King
Abdullah's ambitious vision to develop a knowledge-based
economy, diversified away from petroleum production, is
dependent upon partnership. The SAG consistently and
increasingly requests U.S. public and private sector
assistance to reach its goals, and a well-funded ESTH program
could more effectively address these requests. Finally, an
ESTH officer supported by program funding could facilitate
increased educational exchanges in the areas of environment,
science, technology, and health. End summary.

Science and Technology
--------------


2. (SBU) In December 2008, the United States and Saudi Arabia
signed a Science and Technology MOU creating a framework for
expanding our cooperation in a range of areas. In May 2009,
a large Saudi and U.S. delegation met in several working
groups in Riyadh to map out specific areas for further
cooperation. The two sides will meet again on December 3-4
in Washington to discuss space cooperation, including Saudi
interest in working with NASA on three satellite launches in
the next four years.


3. (SBU) The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
(KACST) is the SAG's coordinator for our science and
technology cooperation. KACST, a collection of four research
centers and effectively Saudi Arabia's science ministry, is
very interested in expanding cooperation across a broad range
of science fields with the United States. KACST officials
have set up two dozen partnerships with U.S. universities to
pursue specific scientific research programs. KACST was a
primary driver behind the conclusion of the S&T agreement
because it wanted to increase direct engagement with USG
science agencies. The ongoing S&T program has already opened
up several potential areas for future cooperation. KACST is
very interested in expanding cooperation in energy and
innovation, including holding working group meetings early in
2010 which could set the stage for specific research
cooperation over the next year.

Health
--------------


3. (SBU) Our two countries are working in a number of related
areas, including health diplomacy between the Ministry of
Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Under
this program, the CDC is helping Saudi Arabia create a
world-class national health survey and information platform,
which will significantly improve the SAG's ability to monitor
and respond to public health issues such as H1N1 in Saudi
Arabia. The CDC and MOH are testing this system during this
year's Hajj pilgrimage, the world's largest and most intense
gathering of people. If successful, this system will serve
as a model for a number of other developing countries.


4. (SBU) This cooperation on infectious diseases and mass
gatherings has spurred the Minister of Health to seek to
expand our bilateral health cooperation. Saudi Arabia is
acutely aware that it needs to expand its health care system
to meet the needs of its rapidly growing, young population.
The SAG is looking to build more than 1,000 clinics and
hundreds of hospitals, and the Minister of Health is working
to improve the quality of care. Saudi Arabia is also aware
that it needs to rapidly improve its scientific capacity to
confront the growing incidence of some kinds of cancer and
regionally prevalent diseases. Increasing scientific
capacity also supports the King's vision of developing a
knowledge economy to diversify away from an oil economy. The
Minister is specifically interested in pursuing cooperative
scientific research projects with the National Institutes of

RIYADH 00001553 002.2 OF 003


Health (NIH) and other U.S. institutions, and has already set
up cooperative programs with a number of U.S. universities
and clinics, such as the Cleveland Clinic. The Minister has
requested an MOU with the Department of Health and Human
Services that would facilitate cooperation in these areas,
and would increase educational exchanges, including sending
more Saudis to U.S. medical schools (ref D).

Environment
--------------


5. (SBU) The Saudis are increasingly concerned about
protecting their environment, particularly with regard to
rising air pollution, access to fresh water, and other
environmental issues related to food security. Access to
fresh water is a serious issue as natural aquifers are
exhausted by farming (e.g., wheat). Saudis are increasingly
aware that an increase in global temperatures could threaten
their current vegetation and the little arable land that
exists. Petroleum Minister Al-Naimi has noted that one of
the primary motivations for the King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology (KAUST) is to develop high saline
tolerant crops, in part to cope with the environmental
challenges Saudi Arabia faces (refs B and E). These
challenges will grow as the population expands, putting more
pressure on the land and increasing energy demand
(electricity demand is increasing 8-10% per year).


6. (SBU) Saudi Arabia is interested in promoting the
development of renewable energy. The Presidency of
Meteorology and Environment (PME) and the Ministry of
Petroleum and Mineral Resources have been actively supporting
the development of renewable energy, especially solar power.
Minister Al-Naimi has publicly stated that Saudi Arabia's
goal is to become the "Saudi Arabia of solar," exporting as
much electricity generated by solar as it exports in oil
today (Ref E). Saudi Arabia recognizes it needs to reach out
to international partners to develop this technology to meet
the demands of its growing population. Saudi Arabia is an
active participant in the "Four Kingdoms" project to develop
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, and is pursuing
joint scientific projects with a number of companies and
countries on a range of new technologies.


7. (SBU) Saudi Arabia is also acutely aware of the need to
protect its fragile wildlife. The National Commission for
Wildlife Conservation and Development has a long history of
partnership with U.S. agencies in developing its own corps of
park rangers. Saudi Arabia faces significant challenges,
however, in protecting native flora and fauna as development
expands into protected areas. The SAG is interested in
learning more from the U.S. about how we work with local
populations to support economic development in a sustainable
way.


8. (SBU) Saudi Arabia also would like to expand educational
exchanges and partnerships with the United States. Saudi
Arabia has been an enthusiastic participant in the GLOBE
program since its inception.

Political Context and Recommendation
--------------


9. (SBU) As the Middle East's largest economy and the Gulf's
largest population, Saudi Arabia will play an important role
in determining how the region will develop in the future.
King Abdullah has an ambitious agenda for his country to
diversify its economy away from its heavy reliance on oil and
towards a knowledge economy that generates satisfying,
sustainable jobs for his people. The SAG has made it clear
that it is looking to the U.S. to be its leading partner in
meeting that challenge. This partnership involves working
with both the private sector, including attracting
investments in advanced technologies like those Dow and Exxon
have announced, and USG agencies, such as NASA on space
cooperation. Meeting this challenge will not only help the
Kingdom meet its economic development goals, but will also
help it improve its domestic security situation by providing
the kind of sustainable jobs and economic opportunity that
are likely to reduce the attraction of extremist elements.


10. (SBU) The Mission is working hard to partner with the SAG
in these areas, and appreciates the tremendous support from
our colleagues in Washington, led by OES. We look forward to
meeting the new Science Envoy for this region, and expect he
will bring much energy and guidance to our efforts. We could
be more effective, however, if we had an ESTH position in the
Econ Section in Riyadh to concentrate full-time on this large

RIYADH 00001553 003 OF 003


and growing agenda. An ESTH position could devote more time
and energy to following this fast-moving set of issues,
including coordinating with the increasing number of USG
agencies working with Saudi Arabia in this field. This
position could also assist the ESTH hub in Amman and other
posts in the region, as well as liaise more effectively with
the GCC headquarters in Riyadh on ESTH issues. It would be
useful to support this position with the provision of an LES
staff member, given language constraints in some of the
ministries.


11. (SBU) It would also be very helpful to support such a
position with program funding, as envisioned in the
President's June 4 Cairo speech. We have found tremendous
interest in various Saudi communities in learning more about
how to approach, scientifically and technologically, a range
of environmental issues, from conservation of endangered
species to climate change. Having the resources to support
exchange visits to the U.S. and support local groups would
significantly improve our ability to communicate our message.
The UK made notable advances in its ability to engage the
Saudis on climate change issues, for instance, when it
offered to co-fund the Kingdom's first project on
sustainability with a local research institute. Providing an
ESTH position as well as program funding would help the U.S.
mission here to foster the creation of centers of scientific
excellence in Saudi Arabia and in the Arabian Peninsula
region. Establishing a fully supported ESTH position in
Riyadh would also capitalize on the Department's recent
decision to allow the return of family members, making it
easier to recruit to fill this exciting new position.
SMITH