Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USNATO148
2009-04-15 16:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Mission USNATO
Cable title:  

SCIENCE AT NATO: UPDATE ON CURRENT PROGRAMS,

Tags:  NATO OSCI TSPL AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2875
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000148 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RPM AND OES - RUDNITSKY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO OSCI TSPL AF
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AT NATO: UPDATE ON CURRENT PROGRAMS,
REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE

REF: A. USNATO 100

B. NATO DOCUMENT AC/328-D(2008)-REV1

C. NATO DOCUMENT PDD(2009)0033

D. NATO DOCUMENT AC/328-D(2009)0002 AND 0003

E. NATO DOCUMENT AC/119-N(2008)0116

F. NATO DOCUMENT PDD(2008)0248

G. ROSS-LUCAS-RUDNITSKY EMAILS 11-25 NOVEMBER 2008

H. ROSS-LUCAS EMAILS 28 NOVEMBER-19 DECEMBER 2008

I. PDD-ROSS-VIKMANIS KELLER EMAILS 12-16 MARCH 2009

J. ROSS-VIKMANIS KELLER EMAIL 11 FEBRUARY 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000148

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RPM AND OES - RUDNITSKY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO OSCI TSPL AF
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AT NATO: UPDATE ON CURRENT PROGRAMS,
REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE

REF: A. USNATO 100

B. NATO DOCUMENT AC/328-D(2008)-REV1

C. NATO DOCUMENT PDD(2009)0033

D. NATO DOCUMENT AC/328-D(2009)0002 AND 0003

E. NATO DOCUMENT AC/119-N(2008)0116

F. NATO DOCUMENT PDD(2008)0248

G. ROSS-LUCAS-RUDNITSKY EMAILS 11-25 NOVEMBER 2008

H. ROSS-LUCAS EMAILS 28 NOVEMBER-19 DECEMBER 2008

I. PDD-ROSS-VIKMANIS KELLER EMAILS 12-16 MARCH 2009

J. ROSS-VIKMANIS KELLER EMAIL 11 FEBRUARY 2009


1. (SBU) Summary: The NATO Committee on Science for Peace and
Security (SPS) will meet in Allied-only format April 23 and
in NATO-Russia Council format on April 24. USNATO provides
the following update on SPS projects and current U.S. actions
and policy to focus and guide the interagency group in
preparation for the April 23-24 meetings. USNATO further
requests front-channel guidance on U.S. priorities for the
Science for Peace and Security Program consistent with the
United States' overall goals for the NATO Alliance. Please
see action items in Paras 5, 7, 9, 11 and 14. End summary.


2. (U) Background: The SPS Committee meeting on April 23 will
bring national science representatives from the 28 Allies to
Brussels to discuss SPS priorities, the 2009 budget and work
program, and current and planned projects including Stand-Off
Detection of Explosives and the Virtual Silk Highway, as well
as any outstanding issues. A meeting of the NATO-Russia
Council SPS Committee will take place on April 24. SPS
meetings at the representative level occur two-to-three times
per year. The last meeting took place in November 2008 and
the next is tentatively scheduled for June 2009. Between
these meetings, the SPS Liaison Group including
representatives from national delegations to NATO, meets
regularly to manage the ongoing work of SPS and its science
initiatives. At NATO, science programs are facilitated by
the SPS Section of the Public Diplomacy Division (PDD).


3. (U) Budget: PDD intends to release a revised draft of its
2009 budget before the April 23 meeting. The approved budget
is 10,850,000 Euros, including the one million "additional"
Euros approved by the North Atlantic Council (NAC) that has
yet to be allocated to specific projects. This represents a

cut from the 2008 budget of 13.3 million Euro, a cut
supported by the U.S. Science is the largest part of the
non-discretionary civil budget, which is facing a 70 million
Euro shortfall over the next five years (ref A). As a
result, significant savings in SPS future programs must be
found. USNATO believes that the April 23 meeting should be
used to lay down a marker on this issue.


4. (U) Work Program: PDD may release a revised draft of the
2009 Work Program before the April 23 meeting. The original
draft work program released in November 2008 sparked requests
from many Allies for further information on projects and the
planned "intensive exercise to define the SPS Program's
future directions... and develop and implement a public
information approach." As instructed, USNATO also called for
a realignment of SPS priorities with the overall priorities
of NATO and a greater emphasis on public diplomacy within the
overall program and any project proposals. As a result, PDD
contracted consultants McKinsey and Company to conduct a
"pre-diagnostic" review of the SPS program, structure and
priorities (see Para 6). This review has led to an improved
work program, however we have again asked for an emphasis on
public diplomacy.


5. (U) Action request: The interagency group should review
the latest draft work program draft (ref B) and present
comments to the Committee at the April 23 meeting. A final
work program will need to be approved by the Committee.


6. (U) McKinsey "Pre-Diagnostic" Review: In an effort to
gauge support for science programs within NATO, the
effectiveness of SPS programs, and Allies' interpretation of
Science priorities, PDD engaged McKinsey and Company in late

2008. McKinsey interviewed representatives from several
Allies, including the U.S., UK, Italy and Turkey, as well as
members of NATO's International Staff and the international
community, and produced an initial report highlighting common
priorities and possible future steps for SPS. This will be
presented more fully on April 23, however a preview given to
the Liaison Group on April 14 indicates a positive step

USNATO 00000148 002 OF 003


toward clearly defining SPS priorities tied to NATO's overall
priorities, and an important recognition of the relationship
between science, public diplomacy and NATO partnership
activities. As noted above, the Liaison Group asked that
this be reflected in the Work Program. The SPS Committee may
be asked to discuss the McKinsey findings and decide whether
to proceed with a full SPS review. (PDD has promised a
document to guide this discussion, which will be forwarded as
soon as received.)


7. (U) Action request: In order to move ahead with defining
NATO Science priorities, the interagency group should define
and articulate to the Committee our national priorities for
science consistent with U.S. national priorities for NATO as
a whole.


8. (U) Stand-Off Detection of Explosives: The SPS Committee
has agreed that the "Stand-Off Detection of Suicide Bombers
and Mobile Objects," a project bringing together scientists
from NATO, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Russia,
addresses a major threat to modern society. The initial
stages of the project were ready to be launched in November
2008, however PDD approved only 2.3 million Euro of the 4.3
million Euro budget. In the March and November 2008 SPS
Committee meetings, the U.S. Representative suggested this
program could best be funded through national contributions.
In late 2008, the United Kingdom requested full funding from
national contributions be obtained prior to the start of the
project (ref C). NATO asked for national commitments to be
submitted by 15 March; to date, only France has made a firm
commitment of 600,000 Euros. On 14 April, Turkey hinted at a
50,000 Euro commitment, leaving a shortfall of 1.35 million
Euro. The U.S. fully supports this program and its direct
link to the safety and security of NATO Allies.


9. (U) Action request: The interagency group should examine
the existing Department of Homeland Security proposal to
commit funds to this project. If a decision on funding has
been made by April 23, the U.S. Representative should fully
brief the SPS Committee on USG plans.


10. (SBU) Virtual Silk Highway: In the November Committee
meeting, PDD briefed on the success of the Central Asia and
Afghanistan Virtual Silk Highway (VSH) projects that bring
internet connectivity to key areas. On April 23, PDD will
offer an update on VSH Afghanistan, including expansion into
Afghan provinces. PDD will also present again a proposal for
a one-year, 1.34 million Euro contract extension for VSH
Central Asia service provider "VIZADA" to bridge the gap
between NATO-supported satellite internet access and a
planned EU project to provide fiber optic-based internet
access (ref D). The U.S. strongly supports this, not only to
ensure continued access for Central Asia, but also because
the VIZADA project currently offers increased bandwidth to
Afghanistan necessary to support institutional access in
Kabul and expansion to the provinces. In late 2008, Italy
blocked the approval of the VIZADA extension if cuts to the
SPS budget were approved, and pending local funding
commitments in Central Asia. The reduced 2009 SPS budget was
subsequently approved by all Allies, and 150,000 Euros was
pledged by beneficiary countries, however Italy continues to
block this project.


11. (SBU) Action request: The Science Representative should
voice strong support for the extension of this project,
noting that it directly supports NATO's priority mission in
Afghanistan. If necessary, the Science Representative should
expressly note that the NATO Political Committee in May 2008
passed under the silence procedure a document outlining
cooperation activities with Afghanistan under the Afghanistan
Cooperation Program (ref E) which includes a specific
reference to extending "VSH connectivity in Kabul... and in
other locations outside Kabul to support access to
information and contribute to successful implementation of
(the Afghan Cooperation Program) including R&D
Capacity-Building."


12. (U) Award Recommendations: In December 2008, the U.S.
followed instructions and broke silence on a document
requesting approval of "Award Recommendations for the SPS
Committee Advisory Panel" (ref F). USNATO asked for a review
of SPS priorities to "ensure that future projects reflect
NATO's overarching goals" and noting that until "Allies agree

USNATO 00000148 003 OF 003


on clear priorities for the Science program, we cannot
support projects that we believe fall outside NATO's main
goals." The U.S. declined support to two projects, "Flood
monitoring and forecasting in a Ukrainian river basin" and
"Desertification observatory for environmental and
socio-economic sustainability" (ref G and H). PDD informed
USNATO on 14 April that the Assistant Secretary General
expects to raise this on 23 April under "Any Other Business."



13. (U) PDD provided further information on only one of the
two projects, the Ukraine Pripyat River project, noting its
importance to NATO-Ukraine relations and preparing Ukraine
for membership, and its "national priority for Ukraine-NATO
SPS cooperation" (ref I). PDD has also noted that this
project has received explicit support from Ukraine, Belarus,
Slovakia and Norway. The U.S. Mission to NATO remains
skeptical about the direct link between this project and
NATO's main goals to ensure Alliance security, and the
ability to guarantee future funding for this project proposal
estimated to cost 250,000-300,000 Euro over the next
three-five years.


14. (U) Action request: The interagency group should review
Pripyat River documents and determine if the project
addresses our goals for Science within a NATO context. If
not, then no further support should be offered. If
determined that it does address U.S. goals, USNATO will
contact PDD directly to request this be brought before the
full Committee on April 23 for a decision, with the
suggestion that if support is offered to this project the
full funding for the three-five year project be allocated
from the 2009 budget, perhaps from the one million
"additional" funds approved by the NAC. This approach
ensures full Committee approval, full project funding, and
provides PDD the opportunity to showcase a program, its
benefits to NATO, and its importance in terms of public
diplomacy. (While we still have not received further
information on the second held project, USNATO recommends
requesting PDD present this project also to the Committee.)


15. (U) NATO-Russia Council SPS Committee Meeting: On April
24, the NRC(SPS) Committee will meet to discuss the Stand-Off
Explosives Detection Program, and present and future SPS
activities with Russia in Defense Against Terrorism. PDD and
Russia are still developing the 2010-2013 NRC(SPS) action
plan, however cooperation in 2009 will be discussed at the
April 24 meeting. NATO halted cooperation with Russia
following Russia's August 2008 invasion of Georgia. In
December, NATO Foreign Ministers agreed to a "measured and
phased" reengagement with Russia which has been further
defined to include only areas in which NATO and Russia share
common objectives.


16. (U) Action request: The interagency group should define
priority areas for scientific cooperation with Russia that
address U.S. priorities as well as NATO's main goals. The
U.S. should raise this with NATO Allies in the SPS Committee
in preparation for the NRC(SPS).
ANDRUSYSZYN