US embassy cable - 02ROME5813

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005813 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H. VASQUEZ 
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES AND GSALVATIERA 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05813  01 OF 03  031159Z 
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/FFP 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH 
NSC FOR JWDORKEN 
USUN NEW YORK FOR CSERWER 
GAO FOR PTHOMAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, AORC, PREF, EAGR, EU, WFP, UN, EU    EAID, WFP, UN, EU    EAID, WFP, UN 
SUBJECT: WFP PROPOSES PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. PEACE CORPS - 
REQUEST FOR 1,000 VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT WORLD FOOD PROGRAM 
ACTIVITIES BY 2004 
 
REF: (A) 01 ROME 5868, (B) 01 ROME 3755 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES MORRIS HAS REQUESTED UNITED 
STATES PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H. VASQUEZ TO INVOLVE 
1,000 PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS IN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM 
ACTIVITIES BY 2004. WFP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING MORE 
THAN ONE THIRD OF GLOBAL FOOD AID FLOWS. THE UNITED STATES 
IS WFP'S LEADING DONOR, HAVING CONTRIBUTED USD 6.38 BILLION 
IN SUPPORT TO WFP OVER THE DECADE 1992-2001. WFP BELIEVES 
(AND THE USMISSION STRONGLY AGREES) THAT A STRENGTHENED 
PARTNERSHIP WITH PEACE CORPS WILL INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS 
AND EFFICIENCY OF FOOD AID WORLDWIDE AS WELL AS HELPING TO 
ENSURE THAT LONG-RANGE WFP WORK FORCE PLANNING PROVIDES 
EQUITABLE US REPRESENTATION. END SUMMARY. 
 
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                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05813  01 OF 03  031159Z 
BACKGROUND 
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2. USMISSION RECEIVED COPY OF A LETTER FROM WFP EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR JAMES MORRIS TO UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR 
GADDI H. VASQUEZ DATED NOVEMBER 15, 2002, WHICH PROPOSES A 
PARTNERSHIP TO INVOLVE 1,000 PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS IN WORLD 
FOOD PROGRAM ACTIVITIES WORLDWIDE BY 2004. AS PER REF A, WFP 
HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF 
AMERICANS WORKING IN THE UN-SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY WFP. IN 
PART THIS EFFORT FLOWS FROM A SENATOR HELMS COMMISSIONED GAO 
REPORT (JULY 2001) ENTITLED "UNITED NATIONS: TARGETED 
STRATEGIES COULD HELP BOOST US REPRESENTATION." WFP BELIEVES 
THAT A FORMAL ASSOCIATION WITH THE PEACE CORPS, IN ADDITION 
TO STRENGTHENING THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS 
FIELD OPERATIONS, CAN ALSO ADDRESS AMERICAN UNDER- 
REPRESENTATION BY OPENING AN ENTRY-LEVEL "WINDOW" FOR 
RECRUITMENT OF U.S. CITIZENS. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
TEXT OF LETTER FROM WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES T. MORRIS 
TO UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H.VASQUEZ, DATED 
NOVEMBER 15, 2002 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
3. "DEAR MR. VASQUEZ: THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) AND THE 
UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS HAVE MUCH IN COMMON. THE STRENGTH 
OF OUR COMMON INTERESTS LEADS ME TO PROPOSE THAT WE JOIN 
TOGETHER IN A BOLD NEW PARTNERSHIP TO INVOLVE 1,000 PEACE 
CORPS VOLUNTEERS IN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM ACTIVITIES BY 2004. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05813  01 OF 03  031159Z 
BOTH OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS WORK TO BETTER THE LIVES OF THE 
POOREST PEOPLE IN THE POOREST COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD.  WE 
ARE BOTH COMMITTED TO EDUCATION, MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH AND 
NUTRITION, ARRESTING THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS, AND 
HELPING THOSE SUFFERING FROM NATURAL DISASTERS. 
 
THE PEACE CORPS AND WFP ARE WORKING IN ABOUT 40 OF THE SAME 
COUNTRIES.  OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE ALREADY COLLABORATED 
(ALBEIT ON A RELATIVELY SMALL SCALE), WITH VOLUNTEERS 
WORKING IN WFP-ASSISTED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AS NEGOTIATED 
AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL, AND WITH CRISIS CORPS VOLUNTEERS 
WORKING ALONGSIDE WFP IN SOME RECENT EMERGENCIES.  WFP HAS 
ALSO HIRED FORMER PEACE CORPS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AND 
EXCHANGED INFORMATION ON CROSS-CULTURAL AND SECURITY 
TRAINING FOR OUR PERSONNEL. 
 
THERE IS ONE AREA IN PARTICULAR WHERE I THINK WE COULD HAVE 
A TREMENDOUS IMPACT BY WORKING MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER.  TWO 
YEARS AGO, WITH ALMOST 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND MUCH 
SUCCESS IN THE FIELD, WFP UNDERTOOK A GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR 
SCHOOL FEEDING. 
 
THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPPORTED IN NO SMALL PART BY THE 
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.  FORMER U.S. SENATORS ROBERT DOLE 
AND GEORGE MCGOVERN DESERVE MUCH OF THE CREDIT FOR WHAT IS 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ0302 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05813  02 OF 03  031159Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  EVG-00   CIAE-00  COME-00 
      CTME-00  INL-00   WHA-00   SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00 
      OIGO-00  E-00     UTED-00  FOE-00   VC-00    GAO-02   H-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01   VCE-00   MMP-00   DCP-01   NSAE-00 
      NSCE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01   PC-01    IRM-00   STR-00 
      TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  FMP-00   PRM-00   DRL-02   SAS-00 
        /011W 
                  ------------------11F1B2  031357Z /38 
P 031032Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7157 
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2452 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
USEU BRUSSELS 2983 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 005813 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H. VASQUEZ 
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES AND GSALVATIERA 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05813  02 OF 03  031159Z 
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/FFP 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH 
NSC FOR JWDORKEN 
USUN NEW YORK FOR CSERWER 
GAO FOR PTHOMAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:     EAID, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EAGR, EU 
SUBJECT: WFP PROPOSES PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. PEACE CORPS - 
REQUEST FOR 1,000 VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT WORLD FOOD PROGRAM 
ACTIVITIES BY 2004 
 
NOW A SEVEN-YEAR CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION (IN THE NEW 
"FARM BILL") FOR ASSISTANCE TO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FEEDING 
AND MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION.  OTHER DONOR COUNTRIES ARE 
ALSO STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE.  WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT 
EXPANDING THIS EFFORT.  IT CLEARLY REFLECTS PRESIDENT BUSH'S 
COMMITMENT THAT NO CHILD SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND.  OUR 
COLLECTIVE FUTURE RESTS ON ENSURING SOUND NUTRITION AND 
EDUCATION FOR ALL OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN. 
 
WFP WAS ABLE TO INCREASE OUR SCHOOL FEEDING PORTFOLIO FROM 
THE 1999 LEVEL OF 11.9 MILLION SCHOOLCHILDREN BENEFITING IN 
53 COUNTRIES, TO OVER 15 MILLION BENEFICIARY CHILDREN IN 57 
COUNTRIES IN 2001.  WE NOW HAVE SCHOOL FEEDING OPERATIONS IN 
61 COUNTRIES. 
 
WITH OUR STRONG EXPERIENCE IN THESE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE 
LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERS--AT INTERNATIONAL, 
NATIONAL AND AT THE LOCAL LEVELS.  AMONG OUR BEST PARTNERS 
HAVE BEEN USAID, USDA AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT -- THE US NOW 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05813  02 OF 03  031159Z 
CONTRIBUTES MORE THAN USD 1 BILLION ANNUALLY, 60 PERCENT OF 
OUR FUNDING, AND WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH SENIOR 
OFFICIALS IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IN AFGHANISTAN AND 
OTHER TROUBLE SPOTS. 
 
IN PROPOSING A MUCH-EXPANDED COLLABORATION WITH THE PEACE 
CORPS, WE ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMUNITY 
ORGANIZATION EXPERTISE.  VOLUNTEERS PLACED IN WFP-ASSISTED 
SCHOOLS OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WFP-ASSISTED MATERNAL/CHILD 
HEALTH CLINICS, ETC., WOULD STRENGTHEN THE PROGRAM AND HELP 
ENSURE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. 
 
WE HAVE FOLLOWED WITH GREAT INTEREST A NUMBER OF NEW 
INITIATIVES INVOLVING THE PEACE CORPS: 
 
-CONGRESSIONAL DISCUSSIONS REGARDING INCREASING THE NUMBER 
OF VOLUNTEERS WORLDWIDE AND THE PEACE CORPS CHARTER FOR THE 
21ST CENTURY ACT; 
-THE PEACE CORPS COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY ONE OF THE 
VOLUNTEERS SERVING IN AFRICA ARE PREPARED TO WORK 
KNOWLEDGEABLY TO PREVENT AIDS; 
-THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CRISIS CORPS; AND 
-THE PEACE CORPS' ATTEMPTS TO PROTECT VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF 
WORKING IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. 
 
I AM CONFIDENT A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF COLLABORATION 
WOULD BENEFIT BOTH OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND THE BENEFICIARIES 
WE SERVE.  IF YOU AGREE, WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER 
WORKING TOWARD THE GOAL OF HAVING 1,000 PEACE CORPS 
VOLUNTEERS AT WORK IN WFP-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES BY 2004. I 
KNOW THAT SOUNDS AMBITIOUS, BUT FROM ALL WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05813  02 OF 03  031159Z 
YOUR LEADERSHIP, IT IS NOT BEYOND THE PEACE CORPS' REACH. 
MIGHT I SUGGEST THAT WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT A STRATEGY OF 
JOINTLY APPROACHING GOVERNMENTS IN MOST OR ALL OF THE 40 
COUNTRIES WHERE WE BOTH CURRENTLY HAVE A PRESENCE. 
 
I HOPE YOU WILL SHARE MY ENTHUSIASM FOR PUTTING TALENTED 
YOUNG AMERICANS TO WORK ON FOOD AID INITIATIVES THAT WILL 
HELP THE WORLD'S POOR.  IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE TO MEET WITH 
YOU IN PERSON OR OVER THE PHONE AT YOUR CONVENIENCE TO 
DISCUSS THIS INITIATIVE.  I WILL BE IN WASHINGTON ON 
DECEMBER 3-5 AND I HOPE YOU WILL HAVE SOME TIME FOR US TO 
TALK.  FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR PROPOSAL, YOUR STAFF COULD 
CONTACT JOE SCALISE AT OUR LIAISON OFFICE IN WASHINGTON (202- 
653-2618) AND ARLENE MITCHELL (FORMER PEACE CORPS) ON SCHOOL 
FEEDING (011-3906-6513-2534). 
 
I SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERING OUR PROPOSAL AND 
VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU. THERE IS VAST SCOPE 
FOR OUR WORKING TOGETHER AS PARTNERS. SINCERELY, JAMES 
MORRIS."  END TEXT OF WFP LETTER. 
 
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COMMENT 
------- 
 
4. WFP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ0305 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05813  03 OF 03  031159Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  EVG-00   CIAE-00  COME-00 
      CTME-00  INL-00   WHA-00   SRPP-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00 
      OIGO-00  E-00     UTED-00  FOE-00   VC-00    GAO-02   H-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01   VCE-00   MMP-00   DCP-01   NSAE-00 
      NSCE-00  OES-00   OIC-02   OMB-01   PC-01    IRM-00   STR-00 
      TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  FMP-00   PRM-00   DRL-02   SAS-00 
        /011W 
                  ------------------11F1BF  031358Z /38 
P 031032Z DEC 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7158 
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2453 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
USEU BRUSSELS 2984 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 005813 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H. VASQUEZ 
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES AND GSALVATIERA 
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/FFP 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05813  03 OF 03  031159Z 
NSC FOR JWDORKEN 
USUN NEW YORK FOR CSERWER 
GAO FOR PTHOMAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:     EAID, AORC, WFP, UN, PREF, EAGR, EU 
SUBJECT: WFP PROPOSES PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. PEACE CORPS - 
REQUEST FOR 1,000 VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT WORLD FOOD PROGRAM 
ACTIVITIES BY 2004 
 
GLOBAL FOOD AID FLOWS, MAINLY FOCUSSED ON HUMANITARIAN 
CRISIS RESPONSE. THE UNITED STATES HAS LONG BEEN AND 
CONTINUES TO BE WFP'S LEADING DONOR, HAVING CONTRIBUTED USD 
6.38 BILLION IN SUPPORT TO WFP OVER THE DECADE 1992-2001. 
WFP BELIEVES (AND THE USMISSION STRONGLY AGREES) THAT A 
STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIP WITH PEACE CORPS WILL INCREASE THE 
EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF FOOD AID WORLDWIDE AS WELL 
AS HELPING TO ENSURE THAT LONG-RANGE WFP WORK FORCE PLANNING 
PROVIDES EQUITABLE US REPRESENTATION. HALL 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 2002ROME05813 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED