Cablegate: Support for Regional Esth Hub in Oman

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS MANAMA 000691

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/PCI, NEA/EX, NEA/RA, AND NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TBIO BA KSCI
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL ESTH HUB IN OMAN

REF: 04 MUSCAT 274

1. Embassy Manama strongly supports the establishment of a
regional Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH)
hub in Oman to support ESTH efforts in Bahrain and the
greater Gulf region. Embassy ESTH officer is the post's sole
economic/commercial officer, and has a full plate of issues
(e.g. FTA implementation, MEPI programming, and economic
reporting). An ESTH officer dedicated to Gulf environmental
issues would provide much needed support to Embassy ESTH
efforts.

2. Director of Environmental Assessment and Planning Zahwah
Al Kuwari told EconOff May 9 that ESTH priorities in Bahrain
are (1) health policies in relation to sustainable
development, (2) water resources, and (3) defining the value
of environmental parameters for economic growth. She noted
that Bahrain's first environmental law was passed in 1996 and
much work is needed in the areas of education, awareness, and
enforcement. The experience and expertise of a regional hub
office located in the Gulf could greatly assist Bahrain with
its environmental needs as well as encourage greater regional
cooperation in these areas.

3. Health and Sustainable Development: Al Kawari said
Bahraini decision makers do not take health considerations
into account when developing policies for sustainable
development. This can be seen, she said, in a recent case of
residents of a village being harmed by gas emissions from a
nearby industrial plant. She said Bahrain needs to create a
statistical database that links health with the environment.
Bahrain also has one of the highest percentages of diabetes
around the world. Joslin Diabetes center (affiliate of
Harvard Medical Center) has a center in Manama. There is a
need for additional research in this area.

4. Water Resources: Al Kawari said Bahrainis are surrounded
by water on all sides and believe they do not have to concern
themselves with water consumption, as long as the
desalination plants are running. She said the population
needs to be educated on water use and water conservation.
Bahrain is also aggressively reclaiming land with estimates
of 12-50 percent total land mass growth. The native
ecological systems now face severe distress due to these
efforts.

5. Value of Environmental Perimeters: Al Kawari noted that
Bahrain does not have a system to account for the value of
environmental parameters when calculating economic growth and
development. It is just not thought of, she said. Bahrain
needs technical assistance to better estimate environmental
factors in evaluating a project's costs and benefits.
MONROE

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