REGIONAL ENERGY OFFICERS TRAINING SESSION, OCTOBER 8-9, THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 THE HAGUE 000521 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR ENERGY OFFICERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG EPET OTRA NL SUBJECT: REGIONAL ENERGY OFFICERS TRAINING SESSION, OCTOBER 8-9, THE HAGUE Ref: CANAVAN/ENERGY OFFICERS E-MAILS 07/31/09 AND 07/02/09 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) The State Department's Office for the Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy (S/EEE) and Embassy The Hague will host an internal energy conference October 8-9. This training continues the tradition of similar events in Athens and Sofia in recent years. The objective is to provide energy officers across the region a forum to learn about energy developments in Eurasia and their geopolitical context. The conference will also provide a venue for officers in the field and interagency Washington-based colleagues to review our strategy to advance U.S. energy objectives. This is an excellent opportunity for new officers to quickly gain an in-depth understanding of complex regional energy issues. The aim is also to strengthen relationships and information sharing between colleagues in neighboring posts to ensure energy is viewed as a regional, rather than country specific, issue. Please see paras 3 and 4 for registration instructions. -------------- ATTENDEES -------------- ¶2. (SBU) This meeting is intended for energy officers and key Washington working level staff. Addressee posts include EUR capitals and major supplier countries to Europe. If posts and/or Washington agencies have suggestions of others in the field or in Washington who should be included, please advise. Due to space considerations, we envision approximately 40 participants. -------------- ACTION -------------- ¶3. (U) Overseas posts and Washington invitees are requested to register attendance as soon as possible, but no later than September ¶23. Contacts at Embassy The Hague are: Ben Canavan Economic Officer CanavanBC@state.gov Phone: +31-70-310-2270 Leena Sundberg Economic Specialist SundbergLA@state.gov Phone: +31-70-310-2276 -------------- HOTEL -------------- ¶4. (U) Embassy The Hague has reserved a block of rooms within per diem at the Hotel Des Indes (Lange Voorhout 54-56, The Hague) from October 7 to 10. The hotel is located near the chancery and off-site conference venue. The hotel will guarantee the special rate until September 15; breakfast is not included in the rate; reservations can be cancelled until October 6 without penalty. Participants should make their own hotel reservations using the following link to a dedicated web-site: http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/ res?id=0908286234&key=D4B40 -------------- COUNTRY CLEARANCE REQUESTS -------------- ¶5. (U) As soon as possible, attendees should send e-country clearance requests containing flight information to Embassy The Hague. -------------- VISAS -------------- ¶6. (U) AmCits do not require a visa to attend this training. AmCits can enter the Netherlands on either a diplomatic or regular passport THE HAGUE 00000521 002 OF 003 and can stay for up to 90 days without a visa. -------------- ARRIVALS -------------- ¶7. (U) Transferring from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport to The Hague is straightforward. Trains run from the airport to Den Haag Centraal every 30 minutes, at :28 and :58 after the hour. Tickets are 7.50 Euros and can be purchased from an automated kiosk using a credit card, or from a ticket window using cash or credit card. From the Den Haag Centraal train station, it is a 10-15 minute walk or short taxi ride to the Hotel Des Indes. There are several ATMs at the airport and in The Hague for obtaining Euros. -------------- BADGES -------------- ¶8. (U) All attendees should bring their official USG-issued ID badge for access to Embassy The Hague. -------------- CONFERENCE FEE -------------- ¶9. (U) Embassy The Hague does not plan to assess a conference fee for this event. -------------- AGENDA/SCHEDULE -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Following is a basic outline of the program. Participants will receive a more detailed schedule closer to the training date. The agenda is based on input from energy officers overseas and in Washington. Wednesday 7 October: 18:30 Welcome reception hosted by DCM Michael Gallagher with energy contacts Thursday 8 October: 08:15-17:00 External expert presentations at off-site venue. Topics will include: - Europe's Energy Supply/Demand picture - EU Energy Policy/Strategic Energy Review - Geopolitics of Oil and LNG - Renewable Energy Economics and Impact - Pipeline Politics/Caspian Basin - Russia/Gazprom - Nord Stream/Northern Europe 19:00 No-host dinner Friday 9 October: 08:15-15:00 Internal briefings & discussion at off-site venue and chancery. Topics will include: - U.S. Domestic Energy Strategy - News from Washington - Southern Corridor Pipelines Status - Briefings on Ukraine and Central Asia - China's Influence on Eurasian Energy - Concluding Thoughts and Next Steps 15:00 Conference closes 15:30 Energy Roundtable with Special Envoy Morningstar at think tank Clingendael International Energy Program (Optional for conference attendees) 17:00 Reception hosted by Clingendael THE HAGUE 00000521 003 OF 003 LEVIN