GULF REGION COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE 2010 UPDATE

UNCLAS STATE 012095 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECIN ECPS EINT MARR MCAP PREL XF SUBJECT: GULF REGION COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE 2010 UPDATE REF: 09 STATE 122229 ¶1. This is an action request. See paragraph 6. ¶2. SUMMARY. Reftel announced a by-invitation-only Gulf Region Communications Conference (GRCC) in Amman, Jordan, 21-23 February 2010, co-hosted by United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) and the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF). Reftel requested posts deliver a hold-the-date request to regional civilian and/or government attendees pending release of formal invitations. A separate notification was distributed to military attendees through military channels. On 4 February 2010, USCENTCOM forwarded to posts, in care of the security assistance offices, hard copy and electronic versions of the formal GRCC invitations, along with RSVP registration information and conference agenda, for delivery to attendees. Invitations are co-signed by Commander, USCENTCOM and by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, JAF. This cable requests posts deliver invitations and an update notification to regional civilian and/or government attendees to further highlight the conference and encourage participation. In order to ensure timely delivery of invitations, please deliver update notifications based on receipt of, and in conjunction with, the electronic invitations, and forward hard copy versions when they arrive. Draft update notification language is provided in paragraph ¶6. END SUMMARY ¶3. For reference, the following is the text for USCENTCOM's half of the formal joint invitation. Dear Mr. Communications Minister, On behalf of United States Central Command, I am pleased to invite you to attend the 2010 Gulf Region Communications Conference in Amman, Jordan during 21-23 February 2010. The conference follows last year's inaugural conference in Bahrain. Again, our intent is to gather regional communications representatives to collaborate on topics of mutual interest in a Regional forum. Ministers of communications, communications regulatory commissioners, and senior military communicators from each of eleven Gulf Region states are invited to participate. Also, senior United States communications representatives from the federal, military, and private sectors are invited. Regional private sector representatives will also be invited. Conference participants will be able to address regional communications capabilities and concerns and discuss opportunities to support regional stability and security efforts. The enclosed conference agenda is provided for your information. We would be honored to have you join us. Mr. John Simpson, the Central Command point of contact (813-827-3931, simpsoja@centcom.mil),will accept replies. A detailed conference information packet will be sent separately. With warm regards, DAVID H. PETRAEUS General, U.S. Army Commander, United States Central Command ¶4. Also for reference, the following is the text for JAF's half of the formal joint invitation. Dear Honorable Minister, On behalf of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, I am pleased to invite you to attend the 2010 Gulf Region Communications Conference (GRCC) in Amman, Jordan during 21-23 February 2010. We believe last year's conference in Bahrain was a great success, and we are looking forward to hosting distinguished communicators within the Kingdom of Jordan. This next GRCC will enable us, as partners, to continue our examination and discussion of the Region's most significant communications concerns. We are hopeful that this forum and its actions will lead to improved capabilities, stability, and security within the Gulf Nations and across the Region. Communications ministers and regulatory commissioners, and senior military communicators from each of eleven Gulf Region states are invited to participate. Also, senior United States communications representatives from the federal, military, and private sectors are invited. Representatives of the Gulf Region's private sector will also be invited. The enclosed conference agenda is provided for your information. We would be honored to have you join us in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. With utmost respect, General Khaled J. Al-Sarayreh Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff Jordan Armed Forces ¶5. The agenda's structure and content reflect extensive collaboration with JAF, including integration of JAF-recommended panel discussions. Each participating nation will be given one speaking part (seat) on each panel and one speaking part (five minute presentation) during closing remarks. All attendees will be invited to participate in roundtable discussions. For reference, the GRCC Agenda follows: 21-23 February 2010 Grand Hyatt Hotel Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Sunday, 21 February Arrival of conference participants and registration at Grand Hyatt Hotel, Amman, Jordan, Telephone: 962-6-456-1234 1830-2000 RECEPTION (Hotel Location TBD) - For ministers and distinguished visitors (DVs) HOST: U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) ATTIRE/GENTLEMEN: Business/National Dress ATTIRE/LADIES: Business (dress, pants outfit)/National Dress Monday, 22 February ATTIRE/GENTLEMEN: Business/National Dress/Class A Uniform ATTIRE/LADIES: Business (dress, pants outfit)/National Dress/Class A Uniform 0800-0850 NO-HOST BREAKFAST 0900-0905 CONFERENCE WELCOME (Hotel Grand Ballroom) - Brigadier General Ghazi Salem Salman al-Jobor, Director of the Special Communications Commission, Jordan Ministry of Defense 0905-0910 TRANSLATION EQUIPMENT FAMILIARIZATION 0910-0930 CONFERENCE OPENING REMARKS - USCENTCOM and Kingdom of Jordan Representatives (TBD) 0930-1000 PRESENTATION 1 - His Excellency Marwan Juma, Jordan Minister of Information and Communications Technology TOPIC: Sector Policy--Mobile Communications, Fixed Services, and Regional Connectivity 1000-1030 PRESENTATION 2 - Jordan Telecommunications Regulatory Commission TOPIC: Regulation of Telecommunications 1030-1045 BREAK 1045-1145 PRESENTATION 3 - Mr. Craig Mundie, Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Microsoft Corporation, United States TOPIC: Cloud Computing 1145-1245 PANEL DISCUSSION 1 - Industry/Government Representatives TOPIC: Implementing Cloud Computing Solutions to Information Exchange Challenges 1245-1345 LUNCH (Hotel Restaurant TBD) - For ministers and DVs HOST: Jordan Ministry of Information and Communications Technology 1400-1415 GROUP PHOTO SESSION (Hotel Location TBD) 1415-1515 ROUNDTABLE 1 - Roundtable Moderator, TBD TOPIC: Policy and Regulation Perspective--Improving Telecommunications across the Region and across the Commercial, Government, and Military Sectors 1515-1535 PRESENTATION 4A - Brigadier General Ghazi Salem Salman al-Jobor, Jordan Ministry of Defense TOPIC: Mobile Communications in Support of Relief Operations 1535-1555 PRESENTATION 4B - Brigadier General Mowafaq Assaf, Royal Jordanian Air Force TOPIC: Fiber Infrastructure in Support of Government and Civilian Agencies 1555-1655 PANEL DISCUSSION 2 - Military Communicators TOPIC: Mobile, Fixed, and Fiber Communications 1655-1830 FREE TIME 1830-1900 COCKTAILS (Hotel Location TBD) - For ministers and DVs HOST: USCENTCOM ATTIRE/GENTLEMEN: Business/National Dress ATTIRE/LADIES: Business (dress, pants outfit)/National Dress 1900-2100 DINNER (Hotel Location TBD) - For ministers and DVs HOST: Jordan Telecommunications Regulatory Commission ATTIRE/GENTLEMEN: Business/National Dress ATTIRE/LADIES: Business (dress, pants outfit)/National Dress Tuesday, 23 February ATTIRE/GENTLEMEN: Business/National Dress/Class A Uniform ATTIRE/LADIES: Business (dress, pants outfit)/National Dress/Class A Uniform 0800-0850 NO-HOST BREAKFAST 0900-0915 ADMINISTRATIVE REMARKS (Hotel Grand Ballroom) - Brigadier General Ghazi 0915-0945 PRESENTATION 5 - Lieutenant General Carroll F. Pollett, United States Army, Director, Defense Information Systems Agency TOPIC: Synchronizing Commercial, Government, and Military Communications Priorities in the United States 0945-1015 PRESENTATION 6 - Mr Sami Smeirat, Chief Executive Officer, Orange Company, Jordan TOPIC: Regional Reach 1015-1030 BREAK 1030-1130 ROUNDTABLE 2 - Roundtable Moderator TOPIC: Synchronizing Wireless Challenges and Potential Solutions 1130-1200 PRESENTATION 7 - Mr. Nidal Qanadilo, Investment Manager, Jordan Ministry of Information and Communications Technology TOPIC: Fiber Communications in Support of E-learning, E-government, and Rural Areas 1200-1300 LUNCH (Hotel Restaurant TBD) - For ministers and DVs HOST: USCENTCOM 1345-1415 ROUNDTABLE 3 - Roundtable Moderator TOPIC: Regional Fiber Backbone Solutions to Civilian, Government and Military Challenges 1415-1445 ROUNDTABLE 4 - Brigadier General Donahue, Roundtable Moderator TOPIC: 2010 Conference Action Items and 2011 Conference Theme and Topics 1445-1500 BREAK COUNTRY REMARKS 1500-1510, Kingdom of Bahrain 1510-1520, Arab Republic of Egypt 1520-1530, Republic of Iraq 1530-1540, State of Kuwait 1540-1550, Republic of Lebanon 1550-1600, Sultanate of Oman 1600-1610, State of Qatar 1610-1620, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 1620-1630, United Arab Emirates 1630-1640, Republic of Yemen 1640-1700 CLOSING REMARKS - USCENTCOM and Jordan Representatives TBD 1700 CONFERENCE CONCLUDES ¶6. Action Request: Washington agencies request posts ensure delivery of invitations and deliver the following update notification regarding GRCC 2010 to the appropriate regional civilian and/or government attendees by 8 February 2010. Please notify the USCENTCOM and State POCs in paragraph 7 on completion of action by 10 February 2010. Email replies are acceptable. Dear (Embassies, please address invitations to appropriate individuals listed), ABU DHABI: -- His Excellency Muhammad bin Ahmad Alqamzi, Chairman Telecommunications Regulatory Authority -- His Excellency Mohamed Nassar Al Ghanim, Director General and Board Member Telecommunications Regulatory Authority BAGHDAD: -- His Excellency Farooq Abdulqadir Abdulrahman, Minister of Communications -- Barhan Shawi Al-Tamimi, DG, Communications & Media Commission -- His Excellency Mazin Hashim Al-Haboubi, CEO Deputy for Administrative Affairs BEIRUT: -- His Excellency Mr. Charbel Nahas, Minister of Telecommunications -- Dr. Kamal S. Shehadi, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Telecommunications Regulatory Agency CAIRO: -- His Excellency Dr. Tarek Kamel, Minister of Communications and Information Technology -- Dr. Amr Badawy, Executive President of National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority DOHA: -- His Excellency Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, Secretary General Supreme Council of Information & Communications Technology -- Mister William Fagan, Director, Supreme Council of Information & Communications Technology KUWAIT: -- Dr. Mohammed Mohsen Al-Busairi, Minister of Communications MANAMA: -- Dr. Mohammed Al Amer, Chairman and Acting General Director, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority MUSCAT: -- His Excellency Dr. Khamis bin Mubarak al Alawi, Minister of Transportation and Communications -- His Excellency Mohammed Nasser Al-Khusaibi, Chairman, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority RIYADH: -- Mister Mohammed Jameel bin Ahmed Mulla, Minister of Communications and Information Technology -- Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Jafari, Governor Communications and Information Technology Commission SANAA: -- His Excellency Kamal Al-Jabri, Minister of Telecommunications & Information Technology United States Central Command and the Jordanian Armed Forces will co-host the by-invitation-only Gulf Region Communications Conference (GRCC) 2010 in Amman, Jordan on 21-23 February 2010. Formal invitations have been distributed to you separately along with details regarding RSVPs and registration and the conference agenda. GRCC 2010 will continue GRCC 2009 multilateral engagement on regional telecommunications and information sharing capabilities and will foster cooperation among our respective entities in order to overcome challenges, to include crisis response and/or disaster relief missions. GRCC 2010 presentations and discussions support a theme of Synchronizing Commercial, Government and Military Communications Priorities. GRCC 2010 adds panel discussions to the GRCC 2009 conference format of presentations and roundtables. Each nation attending the conference will be given one seat for a national representative on each panel. As with GRCC 2009, roundtable discussions will be open to participation by all attendees. Each nation attending the conference will also be given five minutes for one national representative to present closing remarks. Please identify to the conference co-hosts as soon as possible those individuals who will represent (post, please insert here your nation) on each panel and present closing remarks. I encourage you to attend the conference. Sincerely, (DoS originator name) (DoS originator title) U.S. Department of State ¶7. CENTCOM point of contact for the conference: Jim Ramirez DAFC U.S. Central Command Deputy, Strategic C4 Architecture Programs and Policy Division * (813) 827-5816 DSN 651-5816 * ramirejs@centcom.mil * ramirejs@centcom.smil.mil State Department points of contact for the conference: COL Dave Huggins Senior Military Advisor, Near Eastern Affairs Bureau * (202) 647-3945 * HugginsWD@state.sgov.gov Steve Simpson Communications and Information Policy / Middle East Energy, Economic, and Business Affairs * (202) 647-5306 * SimpsonSC@state.gov * SimpsonSC@state.sgov.gov CLINTON