Cablegate: G-8 Bmena Forum for the Future: Germany Stresses

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRL #1019 2331408
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211408Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4994

UNCLAS BERLIN 001019

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KMPI KPAO PREL KDEM PGOV GM
SUBJECT: G-8 BMENA FORUM FOR THE FUTURE: GERMANY STRESSES
EDUCATION COMPONENT

REF: STATE 82753

1. (SBU) PolOff shared reftel information note and talking
points regarding the 2009 G-8 BMENA Forum for the Future
(FfF) with Deputy Head of MFA Division, Union for the
Mediterranean and BMENA, Andreas Berg, who had already
received the information note from the Italian Embassy.
Berg's two main points were that due to the September 27
German national elections, it is not yet possible to confirm
the level of German participation in the FfF and that
education appears to be underrepresented on the agenda for
these events.

2. (SBU) Berg noted that because German Federal
Parliamentary elections take place 27 September -- which
could well result in a new foreign minister -- it is not yet
possible to confirm whether Germany will participate in the
FfF at the ministerial level. He also was not able to
confirm who will be attending the workshops. Berg expects
that if Germany's Foreign Minister is unable to attend, the
MFA will try to send a state secretary. Berg asked whether
Secretary Clinton will be attending the FfF and Poloff
responded per reftel.

3. (SBU) Berg said that he was heartened to learn from
reftel talking points that the USG also views education as a
key area for making progress. He expressed concern that
education was not covered in the information note. Berg
noted that he sent the information note to other relevant
government ministries and that he received a strong reaction
from the Ministry of Education that education should be
included. He suggested that an education component be added
to the workshop on human development and human security.
Noting that planning for the workshops appears to be in the
early stages, Berg assessed that it should not be difficult
to amend the workshop description to include education.
Murphy

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