ENGAGING WITH THE APEC SECRETARIAT IN SINGAPORE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000179 SENSITIVE SIPDIS EAP FOR TONG AND STANTON STATE PASS USAID FOR ANE/YOUNG STATE PASS USTR FOR CUTLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: APECO ECON EAID ETRD SN SUBJECT: ENGAGING WITH THE APEC SECRETARIAT IN SINGAPORE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: New leadership and a further strengthening of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat offer an opportunity to increase engagement with Secretariat staff. With the U.S. year to host APEC set to begin in 2011 after the 2010 Japan year, there is a need for strong links with APEC to help shape the development of policy. Although the Secretariat plays primarily an administrative rather than policy role (or, as the new Executive Director describes it, a "customer service" role),its role in supporting the policy process, in particular through its research on APEC issues, gives it the ability to accelerate and enhance the development of sound policies. Embassy Singapore recommends regular contact between Embassy and the Secretariat at various levels, full staffing of the U.S. detail to the Secretariat, regular visits to the Secretariat by Washington leaders and experts, and financial support for policy research at the Secretariat's new Policy Support Unit and the independent Pacific Economic Cooperation Council. The Embassy will continue to coordinate closely with the USG-funded Technical Assistance and Training Facility (TATF) in promoting U.S. cooperation with APEC. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) In a move towards strengthening and professionalizing the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Muhammad Noor Yacob was hired by APEC Senior Officials as the new Executive Director of the Singapore-based APEC Secretariat, taking office on January 1. Ambassador Noor, formerly Malaysia's Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, is the first Executive Director to be appointed for a fixed three-year term. Prior to his appointment, the position was filled by a representative from the host economy of APEC for that year, usually after serving for the previous year as Deputy Executive Director. Engaging with APEC Secretariat -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The conjunction of Ambassador Noor's appointment and the upcoming U.S. hosting of APEC in 2011 gives the USG the ability and the need to engage more closely with the APEC Secretariat in Singapore. The Secretariat is an administrative organization rather than a policy-making body, with policy driven by the 21 member economies. However, as it can be difficult to organize 21 senior 
APEC officials and because much of the APEC expertise resides in the Secretariat, the support provided by the Secretariat is a significant factor in promoting the development of policy. Experts at the Secretariat provide counsel on APEC procedures and on effectively utilizing APEC's range of working groups and other sub-fora. Such assistance can be essential in pushing forward policy initiatives. ¶4. (SBU) Embassy Singapore is preparing to welcome a new U.S. Ambassador and we will be suggesting regular contact for the Embassy with Ambassador Noor, who appears disposed to working well with the USG. Ambassador Noor's six-year tenure in Geneva was reportedly well-regarded, where he demonstrated a willingness to work with Americans. In a January 29 meeting with Charge, Noor commented that he found the direct American approach to discussing issues to be refreshing and useful. Noor also spoke fondly of his experience in the United States as a student at the University of Wisconsin and Harvard University, and also of his children's recent university education in the United States. He stated that "customer service" was one of his priorities and considered local missions in Singapore to be among his customers. ¶5. (SBU) We also recommend adding the Secretariat to visit schedules of Washington visitors, including congressional delegations as well as USG officials involved in work of relevance to APEC. Regular contact with USG officials and Congressmen would give the Secretariat a more nuanced feel for USG priorities in APEC and other issue areas. In particular we recommend that the U.S. Senior Official (SOM) for APEC spend a day with the Secretariat early in 2010 to share ideas with Secretariat leadership and Program Directors. The SOM could also constructively meet with the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC),an official observer of the APEC process and a frequent producer of studies and reports on APEC issues. The Institute of Southeast Asia Studies is steps away from both PECC and the Secretariat and its Singapore APEC Study Center would be an excellent venue for a roundtable on APEC issues. ¶6. (SBU) The USG also has an opportunity to develop contacts with the newly formed Policy Support Unit at the Secretariat, an Australian initiative to provide APEC with an ability to handle policy research and analysis. As APEC host in 2011 following the 2010 Japan year, the United States has a seat on the PSU's board for the next three years. This seat offers an opportunity to discuss the research agenda for this and future years. Since the PSU started up in August 2009, the unit has produced research on trade SINGAPORE 00000179 002 OF 002 creation, cross-border investment and supply chain connectivity. Current research on APEC issues will help drive the APEC agenda in future years. The PSU is funded through the end of the year, primarily from an Australian grant together with nominal funding from Japan and Singapore. If available, USG funding would give the United States a longer term seat at the PSU table. According to PSU Governance Arrangements, a board seat is given to economies that donate more than US$400,000 to the PSU budget during the calendar year. ¶7. (SBU) In addition, to engage with the APEC Secretariat, the USG should fully staff its delegation at the organization. Each APEC economy provides a Program Director to staff the Secretariat and provide support and coordination in issue areas. The next APEC host is also expected to fill a Host Economy Representative position to work with the Secretariat to prepare for the next year's meetings. At the moment the Host Economy Representative position is vacant and there is no known funding source to pay for the position. In a recent meeting with the Charge, Ambassador Noor said the Secretariat would welcome a Host Economy Representative from the USG and encouraged the USG to staff the position well in advance of the first USG-hosted APEC meetings scheduled to be held near the end of ¶2010. ¶8. (SBU) Finally, in doing all of the above, it will be useful for the Embassy to coordinate closely with the USG-funded Technical Assistance and Training Facility (TATF). TATF, located in Singapore, is tasked with implementing USG-funded APEC projects, in cooperation with the Secretariat, the Washington inter-agency and APEC working groups, but it also has a mandate to provide technical assistance and training to strengthen APEC operations. SHIELDS