US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION858

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 000858 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FSINFATC FOR FSI/SPAS/PD LISA R. MILLER 
STATE FOR WHA/PDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, APER, AFSN, AFSI, KIRC 
SUBJECT: ASUNCION, PY204 NOMINATION 
 
REF:  STATE 99786 
 
1. PAS Asuncion is nominating the following FSN/LES employee 
for subject training. The following information follows the 
format as requested in paragraph 7 of reftel. 
 
A. Name: Irene Cristina Escriba 
 
B. Position:  Cultural Affairs Assistant Grade 6, Step 3. 
 
C. Date of birth: 12/16/81 
 
D. City: Asuncion 
 
E. Nationality:  Paraguayan 
 
F. Passport Number: Paraguayan 001986117 
 
G. American Supervisor's name/e-mail: A/PAO, Claudia Baker 
 
L. BakerCL@state.gov 
 
H. PAO's name and e-mail:  see G above 
 
I. Continuing Service Agreement:  Yes 
 
J. USG Start:  6/4/01 
 
K. Position Start:  8/22/04 
 
 
 
L. Education, Job Experience and Current Responsibilities: 
Education: Currently studying the 4th year of Law at the 
National University of Asuncion (2002 to present). Course in 
Administration and Accounting with Highest Distinction 
(2001). Training courses for New English Teachers and 
Translation at the Paraguayan American Cultural Center (Bi- 
national Center). 
Job Experience:  Cultural Affairs Assistant (August 22, 2004 
to present), Protocol Secretary, Executive Office, State 
Dept. (Jun 4, 2001- August 22, 2004), Assistant in the 
International Department of a cotton export company (Jan 
2001 - May 2001), English teacher for two courses at the 
CCPA (Binational Center) (Mar 2001 - Oct 2001). 
Current Responsibilities: Under the supervision of the 
Senior Cultural Affairs Assistant, the Cultural Affairs 
Assistant manages the Book Donation Program, the English as 
a Foreign Language Programs, cultural and educational 
Speaker Programs and the Ambassador's Grant Fund for 
Cultural Preservation. Provides logistical and planning 
support for cultural section programs (workshops, U.S. 
speakers/specialists, exchanges, scholarships, grants, 
American Studies, civic education) in support of MPP 
objectives.  Responsible for evaluating and reporting on all 
these activities to the appropriate offices. Maintains mid- 
level contacts in NGOs, international organizations, think 
tanks, educational organizations and government in order to 
effectively carry out MPP-based programming.    Drafts 
program requests, reports, letters and cables. 
 
M. Previous training in the U.S.: None 
 
N. Previous non-U.S. training:  The nominee has not 
participated in any training yet, but has attended the WHA 
ELF - PAS Conference (January 30 - February 4, 2005, 
Heredia, Costa Rica). This conference gave an opportunity 
for English Language Fellows and FSNs and American Officers 
working on English Language Programs in the Western 
Hemisphere to come together and discuss the different 
programs and the ways to improve them. 
 
O. Training Objectives: 1) Enable nominee to see how 
exchange programs are conceptualized and administered both 
in Washington and at a local level 2) Expand nominee's 
perspective on broad-scale cultural and societal issues in 
the US that impact cultural programming  3)  Give nominee 
the opportunity to meet other cultural affairs assistants 
and exchange best practices 
 
P. Training justification: The nominee has worked at Embassy 
Asuncion for over 4 years.  During that time, she has 
consistently proven to be an outstanding employee.  Her work 
is always of the highest quality, she is extremely organized 
and diligent and can be counted on to take care of all 
details of any task she is assigned.  Although she has been 
with the Embassy for some time, she began a new assignment 
in the Public Diplomacy section in August of 2004.  Her 
position involves a wide range of duties and interaction 
with many different cultural programs.  Many of her duties 
involve the nuts-and bolts of successful program 
implementation and thus she is crucial to the effective 
functioning of the section. The knowledge she would gain 
would benefit the section as a whole and would also 
constitute important professional development for the 
nominee. 
 
 
Q. English levels: 4+/4 
 
KEANE