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ORIGIN NEA-10
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-04 H-02 INR-07 L-03
NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 PRS-01 SP-02 SS-15 USIA-06 OMB-01
AID-05 EB-07 IGA-02 TRSE-00 ( ISO ) R
DRAFTED BY NEA:SSOBER; NEA/ARP:COCECIL:AFJ
APPROVED BY NEA:SSOBER
COE:COL.WCBURNS (SUBS)
DOD/ISA:JNOYES
NEA/ARP:FMDICKMAN
TREAS/OSSA:BONNIE POUNDS
--------------------- 024959
R 250158Z JAN 76
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY JIDDA
INFO AMCONSUL DHAHRAN
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E.O. 11652:N/A
TAGS: ECRE, EAID, MILI, SA
SUBJECT: CHANNEL FOR RECEIPT OF REQUESTS FOR CORPS OF
ENGINEERS ASSISTANCE
EMBASSY PASS USREP/JECOR
REF: TREASURY OSAA 47 (NOTAL)
1. EMBASSY MAY NOTE THAT SUGGESTED AGENDA FOR UPCOMING
JEC TALKS (REFTEL) DOES NOT INCLUDE SUBJECT OF POSSIBLE
CORPS OF ENGINEERS ASSISTANCE TO MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS
AND HOUSING, THOUGH THIS SUBJECT HAS BEEN RAISED WITHIN
JEC CONTEXT ON EARLIER OCCASION. THIS OMISSION WAS
INTENTIONAL AND REFLECTS A DESIRE TO RETURN TO PREVIOUSLY-
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ESTABLISHED CHANNELS FOR COE REQUESTS.
2. NORMAL CHANNEL FOR PAST SAUDI REQUESTS FOR COE
ASSISTANCE, WHETHER IN THE MILITARY OR CIVILIAN SECTORS,
HAS BEEN A LETTER FROM A SAG MINISTER TO THE AMERICAN
AMBASSADOR. AFTER CONSULTATIONS WITH COE AND, IF
NECESSARY, WITH SAG TO DETERMINE SCOPE AND DURATION OF
ASSISTANCE REQUIRED, EMBASSY HAS TRANSMITTED REQUEST
SIMULTANEOUSLY TO DOD AND STATE FOR POLICY DECISION. THIS
CHANNEL HAS EFFECTIVELY SERVED OUR MUTUAL PURPOSE IN
MEETING SAUDI DESIRES WITHIN LIMITATIONS OF COE
CAPABILITIES.
3. IN RECENT MONTHS, SOME APPROACHES BY SAUDIS FOR
PARTICIPATION BY COE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED TO JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION, E.G.,
COE INVOLVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING
CENTERS. WE BELIEVE NORMAL CHANNEL OF REQUEST BY SAG
MINISTER DIRECT TO AMERICAN AMBASSADOR IS PREFERABLE
AND WISH IT TO BE USED. IF THE REQUEST IS FOR COE ASSIST-
ANCE IN THE AREA RELATED TO A JOINT COMMISSION PROJECT, IT
WILL BE NECESSARY OF COURSE TO COORDINATE WITH THE JOINT
COMMISSION. RELEVANT SAUDI AGENCIES SHOULD BE INFORMED, AS
OCCASION ARISES, THAT THIS CHANNEL HAS WORKED WELL OVER
A PERIOD OF YEARS AND SHOULD BE ENTIRELY ADEQUATE BEARING
IN MIND LONG AND SUCCESSFUL HISTORY OF COE PROGRAMS IN
SAUDI ARABIA. FYI: WE ARE PREPARING CIRCULAR 175 REQUEST
FOR AUTHORITY FOR EMBASSY TO NEGOTIATE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
1965 COE AGREEMENT WHICH WOULD PERMIT COE ASSISTANCE TO
THE SAG IN CIVILIAN FIELDS. WE RECOGNIZE URGENCY SAG
ATTACHES TO REQUEST FOR A CORPS SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC WORKS
AND HOUSING MINISTRY (JIDDA 0077 AND PREVIOUS) AND WILL
MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ON THIS. END FYI. SHOULD
SAUDIS RAISE THIS QUESTION IN COURSE OF DISCUSSING AGENDA
FOR COMING JEC MEETING, THEY SHOULD BE INFORMED THAT
EMBASSY WILL BE PURSUING THIS MATTER WITH SAG AUTHORITIES
IN THE NEAR FUTURE. INGERSOLL
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