PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY ZERHOUNI BRINGS MESSAGE OF SCIENCE AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS FR 000185 State for IO Department for Office of Environment and Science SIPDIS E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: EAID KPAO UNESCO SCUL SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY ZERHOUNI BRINGS MESSAGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT IN MUSLIM COMMUNITIES TO UNESCO ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On February 10, Presidential Science Envoy Dr. Elias Zerhouni inaugurated his first official trip with a stop at UNESCO, where he met with key ambassadors, secretariat staff and the director general to promote President Obama's agenda of enhanced scientific and technological cooperation with the Muslim world. His message that data and information must be transformed into real, practical knowledge and that knowledge in turn must be transformed into jobs and economic development resonated deeply with his audience. Following the program at UNESCO, PAS Paris arranged a press roundtable with Dr. Zerhouni and journalists from several Arab and Muslim media outlets. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On February 10, Ambassador Killion hosted a roundtable discussion with Dr. Zerhouni, UNESCO secretariat staff and ambassadors and deputies from Nigeria, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Malaysia, Senegal, Algeria and Afghanistan and ISESCO (the Islamic Science, Education, and Cultural Organization). In his remarks, Zerhouni noted that the Science Envoy initiative was not solely a U.S.-Muslim dialogue, but a global one; how can we share our knowledge to create local solutions, he asked. He mentioned three key elements of the program: using modern technologies to create opportunities; creating systems that fosters enterprise within individual countries at local levels; and creating centers of excellence that would build competencies that would lead to jobs in the real economy -- and not just deliver diplomas -- in key areas such as food and water security, renewable energy, climate change and public health. ¶3. (SBU) Zerhouni also articulated the need for "informationists" - information specialists who could transform data into real knowledge at local levels. He also cited the need for science policy centers, as currently there are no real standards on how to transfer technology between organizations or governments. Responding to the Malaysian ambassador, who lamented that while the Islamic world was once the center of scientific innovation, since 1901 there have been only two Muslim Nobel laureates in the sciences, Zerhouni called for greater access to digital networks highlighting Islam's scientific heritage, but also greater access to contemporary scientific resources. ¶4. (SBU) UNESCO's acting deputy director general, Hans D'Orville, expressed great enthusiasm for Zerhouni's words and his meeting with UNESCO and noted the very close alignment of UNESCO's goals and mandate and that of the envoy program. He described UNESCO as giving only ad hoc advice to member states, and as falling behind in creating real, sustainable networks. The Nigerian ambassador, referring to President Obama's Cairo speech, suggested that Muslim states create parallel science envoys at their own embassies, and also urged that local initiatives, such as the Nigerian Science Fund, needed support. ¶5. (SBU) Both the Egyptian and Senegalese deputies questioned the merit of describing this program as one for the "Muslim" world, rather than the "developing" world. Investment and cooperation between African countries needed to be strengthened, across religious lines. Zerhouni agreed with this, but stated that President Obama had chosen the Muslim world as his starting point, but that the impact must be global. He also said that after listening to the discussion, he would take on board the ideas that south-south networking must be encouraged, and that each country's unique challenges merited a "bottom-up" approach. ¶6. (SBU) In a separate meeting with Director-General Irina Bokova, Zerhouni emphasized the importance of science and technology programs that would have real impact and would lead to entrepreneurship and wealth creation. He proposed the idea of a UNESCO workshop on the theme "Nexus of Science and Technology Education and Job Creation," stating that there is no good, comprehensive study of the subject. The Director-General said that she would seriously consider the idea. ¶7. (SBU) Zerhouni reiterated his earlier message that there was a need for centers of excellence which would train students in real competencies, and not just deliver diplomas. Science education must also include programs for women, as well as for young males whose unemployment remains the greatest factor in instability in fragile parts of the world. Talking about sharing scientific and technological expertise, he said, "Science and technology do not have borders," and can be enhanced by ICTs. ¶8. (SBU) The Director-General expressed her delight with Zerhouni's message, also noting the parallels with UNESCO's work. She asked for continued support of the SESAME (Middle East regional synchrotron) project, and spoke of UNESCO's skill at being an honest broker, with a primary role in bridge-building and creating inclusive societies. In response to Zerhouni's question on how to improve universities in target countries, she mentioned ICTs for teacher training and a focus on quality education. Both agreed that it was critical to increase and promote capacities in science and technology in order PARIS 00000185 002.2 OF 002 to for real development to take place. ¶9. (SBU) Comment: Dr. Zerhouni could not have presented a better message to our UNESCO colleagues. As he pointed out in all his conversations, the synergies between the science envoy program and UNESCO's own mandate are significant. Our audience responded with delight and enthusiasm, and expressed a real commitment to work together on creating greater access to science and technology in the Muslim world, as well as on a global level. We would like to invite Dr. Zerhouni to return to UNESCO as he and the other science envoys develop their ideas and possible projects. We will also follow up with the secretariat on his suggestion of a UNESCO workshop. End comment. Killion