Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE18520
2009-02-27 15:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE,

Tags:  SENV EAGR EAID EFIS ENRG KGCC KSCA TBIO TPHY TSPL XB 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHC #8520/01 0581556
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FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC DIPLOMATIC POSTS PRIORITY
INFO ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 018520 

SIPDIS
FOR ALL OFFICERS FSNS AND AIDOFFS COVERING ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH ISSUES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAGR EAID EFIS ENRG KGCC KSCA TBIO TPHY TSPL XB
XC, XE, XU, XV, ZN, ID
SUBJECT: EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH CONFERENCE APRIL 15-17, 2009 IN
JAKARTA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 018520

SIPDIS
FOR ALL OFFICERS FSNS AND AIDOFFS COVERING ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH ISSUES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAGR EAID EFIS ENRG KGCC KSCA TBIO TPHY TSPL XB
XC, XE, XU, XV, ZN, ID
SUBJECT: EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH CONFERENCE APRIL 15-17, 2009 IN
JAKARTA


1. This is an action cable (please see para 10.)


2. Summary: The Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science
(OES),in cooperation with the Bureau of East Asian and
Pacific Affairs (EAP),Embassy Jakarta, and the Regional
Environmental Offices (REO) in Bangkok and Suva, announces
its biennial conference on Environment, Science, Technology,
and Health (ESTH) issues in the EAP region. The training
will be held on April 15-17, 2009 in Jakarta. This event is
open to all USG officers - Environment, Science, Technology,
and Health officers, Science Counselors, Economic/Political
and USAID officers, local hire specialists, and Foreign
Service Nationals (FSNs) from U.S. Embassies, from State and
other USG agencies. Participants are expected to pay for
their own travel and per diem through Post funds.
Participants are requested to respond via email to Embassy
Jakarta and cc REOs in Bangkok and Suva and the OES/PCI
action officer (POCs listed in para 10) by March 16, 2009 to
register for attendance. End summary.


3. OES, EAP, the REOs ("Hubs") based in Bangkok and Suva, and
Embassy Jakarta invite a broad range of participants from
U.S. Embassies, USAID Missions and other USG agencies,
including ESTH officers, Public Diplomacy and
Economic/Political officers and FSNs, to attend the 2009 EAP
ESTH Conference on April 15-17 in Jakarta. OES Acting
Assistant Secretary Reno L. Harnish, U.S. Ambassador to
Indonesia Cameron Hume, a distinguished array of State
Department and other interagency subject matter experts and
NGO representatives will participate.



4. Attendees will develop an in-depth understanding of the
new Administration's ESTH priorities in the region, share
experiences, and participate in discussions with speakers.
Speakers will address region-specific priorities regarding
topics such as integrating climate and development, forest
conservation, clean energy, science and technology,
multipollutant air quality strategies, biodiversity and
natural resource management including the Coral Triangle and
Heart of Borneo Initiatives, and transboundary cooperation on
shared water resources.


5. These sessions will familiarize participants with ESTH
tradecraft - the initiatives, partnerships, institutions, and
outreach tools available to advance our ESTH goals - and
provide an opportunity for officers to exchange ideas on
advancing regional cooperation. The principal goal is to
better integrate USG ESTH policy objectives into the
bilateral and regional political and economic context by
enhancing substantive and policy knowledge. We will
highlight opportunities in the Foreign Assistance and Mission
Strategic Plan processes to connect ESTH issues to priorities
at post.


6. This conference is intended to complement, not duplicate,
the annual Foreign Service Institute ESTH Tradecraft course
by providing updates on policy positions, presenting a
region-specific focus and elaborating on issues of interest
to attendees. In order to fulfill this last goal, we will
circulate a notional agenda to participants via email for
comment and participants are encouraged to provide input that
will shape the course. This training/conference is also
intended for the officer who handles ESTH issues on a
part-time basis and may or may not have received formal ESTH
training.


7. The President and Secretary have placed an extremely high
priority on a new approach to international engagement in the
EAP region and climate change - as demonstrated by Secretary
Clinton's first trip abroad, to Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and
China, in February 2009. The new Administration has also
emphasized a new role for science in federal policy. This
year's conference will focus on helping officers in the field
integrate the new Administration's policies in these and
other OES issues.


8. The opportunity to engage with colleagues throughout the
region and from Washington is intended to strengthen the
capacity of officers in the field to contribute to the
development and implementation of the Administration,s
policies in their respective geographical areas. ESTH issues
are increasingly recognized as inextricably linked with
economic and social development. Climate change in

STATE 00018520 002 OF 002

SUBJECT: EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH CONFERENCE APRIL 15-17, 2009
particular is having a strong impact on development and a
broad range of public policy concerns, at the domestic and
international levels. As a result, USG officials are
increasingly called upon to engage in relatively technical
aspects related to energy, air, water, and other sustainable
development concerns. Many countries in East Asia have
placed a high priority upon science and technology
development and deployment and continue to do so in order to
foster innovation and sustainable economic growth.


9. Embassy Jakarta will arrange meeting space to host the
conference and arrange lodging for all participants. Hotel
costs, including any additional conference fees, are expected
to be within the USG lodging per diem. Participants should
plan to arrive in Jakarta on or by the evening of April 14.
Posts are expected to pay their own expenses for travel and
per diem.


10. Confirmation of participation, with credit card
information for hotel reservations, is requested by March 16,

2009. Please contact Midori Oliver (OliverM2@state.gov) and
Joan Mahoney (mahoneyjm@state.gov) at Embassy Jakarta to
confirm participation, and cc OES/PCI - Erwin D. Rose
(RoseED@state.gov, phone 202-647-1410),REO Bankgok - Howell

H. Howard (HowardHH@state.gov, phone 66-2-205-4712),REO Suva
- Joseph P. Murphy (MurphyJP@state.gov, phone 679-331-4466).
Indonesia requires visas for all USG officials entering the
country. Washington-based USG officials should obtain a visa
request letter from Debra Benavidez (BenavidezDA@state.gov,
phone 202-647-4393) in EAP. FSNs planning to attend should
check Indonesia's visa requirements for their country.
Officers are reminded to seek country clearance from Embassy
Jakarta. Embassy Jakarta will provide threat assessments and
detailed logistical information in the responses to country
clearance request cables.


11. Post offers the use of its American Express Travel Office
for visitors who choose to remain in Indonesia after the
conference. Visitors may wish to observe Post's
participation in an Earth Day activity in Jakarta on the
morning of April 18; and/or visit the Center for
International Forestry Research, approximately 1-1/2 hours
outside of Jakarta. Recommended excursions also include an
orangutan reserve in Kalimantan, staying in an eco-lodge or
in a live-aboard boat for 3-4 days; for advanced divers, a
trip to Manado; and for less advanced divers or those with
tighter travel schedules, a trip to Pulau Putri, part of the
Thousand Islands located off of the Jakarta coast. Please
send all requests for travel information to Widya Tamara at
amexjk@state.gov. Please note: embassy staff will not
support any of this post-conference travel, and individuals
are expected to make their own arrangements.
CLINTON