Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08TRIPOLI372, PD PROGRAMS FALL VICTIM TO BILATERAL TENSIONS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08TRIPOLI372.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08TRIPOLI372 2008-05-08 08:48 2011-08-23 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Tripoli
VZCZCXRO8284
PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHTRO #0372/01 1290848
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080848Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3410
INFO RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 0666
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 0497
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 0617
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 1085
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0791
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 3914
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TRIPOLI 000372 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR: NEA/MAG, NEA/PPD, ECA D. IVES, K. WILSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO SCUL LY PREL OIIP OEXC CVIS PGOV
SUBJECT: PD PROGRAMS FALL VICTIM TO BILATERAL TENSIONS 
 
REF: TRIPOLI 289 
 
1. (U) Summary: Since January, Post has experienced increasing 
difficulties in obtaining visas for incoming Public Affairs 
Section visitors, both for educational and cultural programs. 
The Government of Libya (GOL) has canceled some programs 
outright, and has simply not approved visas for others. These 
recent difficulties appear to be the result of an intentional 
decision by elements within the GOL, rather than the routine 
difficulties of navigating the Libyan bureaucracy.  End summary. 
 
RECENT HISTORY OF CANCELED PROGRAMS 
 
2. (U) Prior to January, Post experienced several months of 
relatively successful Public Affairs Section (PAS) programming, 
particularly educational programs. We brought in our first 
English Language Fellow, conducted successful English Language 
Specialist workshops, and gained routine access for the first 
time to students and faculty at Libyan public universities. 
However, since January several programs have been canceled by 
the GOL. While the Embassy has successfully secured visas for 
other visitors during the same time period, PAS visitors have 
been singled out for denial. Failure to issue visas to PAS 
visitors is not a reciprocity issue, as Post has expedited and 
issued more visas more quickly in response to Libyan official 
requests than the GOL has done for Embassy official requests 
(see reftel). 
 
3. (U) In early January, DAS Tom Farrell, accompanied by other 
ECA staff and 4 representatives of American universities and 
higher education, planned to come to Libya to meet with 
representatives of Libyan universities and government officials. 
Despite prior agreement to the visit and assurances that visas 
would be approved, the visas were not approved. The General 
People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International 
Cooperation (GPCFLIC, or MFA-equivalent) blamed the snafu on 
their internal bureaucracy. 
 
4. (U) In mid-January, the GOL canceled the planned performance 
of a musician following a U.S. court decision awarding 
compensation to families of victims of the UTA bombing. The 
GPCFLIC told the CDA that it was not the right time for such 
performances, stating that it would be "confusing" for the GOL 
to facilitate concerts by a U.S. musician in the wake of the 
court decision, and suggesting that the U.S. postpone it. 
Shortly thereafter, the musician's visa, which had previously 
been approved, was canceled. 
 
5. (U) In early February, the GOL abruptly canceled an event 
that the GPC for Higher Education (GPCHE) had requested of the 
Embassy - an information session for recipients of Libyan 
scholarships for post-graduate study in the United States. 
Expecting to brief several hundred students, CAO and visiting 
Regional Education Advising Coordinator were notified of the 
event's cancellation minutes before it was scheduled to begin. 
Despite Embassy efforts to provide information to scholarship 
recipients, PAS still frequently receives complaints about the 
Libyan students' lack of preparation for applying to and 
studying at U.S. universities. 
 
6. (U) In mid-April, the GOL canceled the performance of a 
second musical group. PAS had taken precautionary steps to 
confirm that the musical performance would be permitted, and 
obtained approval from various government bodies. Our local 
partners had also obtained approval to host performances. In 
early April, our local partners contacted us to let us know they 
received instructions to cancel the scheduled performances, and 
were told that given the state of the bilateral relationship, 
such programs were not a priority for the Libyan government. In 
subsequent conversations, Libyan officials told the P/E Chief 
that public programming was not appropriate because the 
bilateral relationship was "not fully normalized". 
 
7. (SBU) In April, Post expected an American Fulbright grantee 
to come to Libya to work with professors at Garyounis 
University. Despite written approval of the Program and numerous 
assurances, the visa has not been issued. The Head of the 
Protocol Office told a Post employee that he wished that Public 
Affairs programs would simply go away. (Comment: We believe that 
the Protocol Office has instructions not to issue visas to 
Embassy visitors who will engage the public, and that excuses 
blaming lack of visa issuance on bureaucratic snafus is merely a 
dodge. End comment.) 
 
8. (U) In late April, Post expected the publishers of MEPI's My 
Arabic Library program to come to Libya to meet with the GPC for 
 
TRIPOLI 00000372  002 OF 003 
 
 
Basic Education to discuss implementation of the program, which 
Libyan authorities have approved. The visas were not approved, 
much to the disappointment of officials at the GPC for Basic 
Education, who, in addition to the My Arabic Library program, 
are eager to meet with American publishers to discuss using 
American textbooks in public schools. 
 
9. (U) During the first week of May, Post planned to host Dr. 
Steve Morrison of SAIS. The Green Book Society, the National 
Center for Disease Control, and Al Fatah University Medical 
School had all agreed to host Dr. Morrison for events. His visa 
was not approved. 
 
CONFLICTING MESSAGES 
 
10. (U) It is clear that our Libyan education and cultural 
partners want Americans to come to Libya to implement joint 
programming. They are greatly disappointed when Americans do not 
receive their visas, and complain of conflicting points of view 
they hear behind the scenes. The GPC for Basic Education is 
tasked with finding the best textbooks possible, and has been 
advised by some government parties to use American textbooks. 
Without being able to host American publishers, however, they 
cannot find a way to practically implement that plan. Libyan 
universities are tasked by the highest levels to send their 
students to the U.S. for study. University administrators, 
however, are blocked from bringing American professors and 
representatives to Libya to establish the relationships 
necessary to achieve that objective. 
 
11. (SBU) At a recent meeting at Al Fatah University Medical 
School, the dean complained about the inability of Libyan 
academic administrators to achieve the unrealistic and 
frequently contradictory goals of Libyan politicians. He 
described how "politicians" have told him that he has to send 
2,000 students to the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain for 
medical school next year. When he explains that Libyan students 
will not be accepted into medical schools in those countries, he 
is viewed as a nay-sayer. When he introduces plans to improve 
the quality of Libya's medical education (such as bringing 
American medical school representatives here to discuss 
curriculum development and establishing joint programs, meeting 
American accreditation standards, and sending Libyan students to 
U.S. schools for undergraduate degrees followed by medical 
school), "the politicians" criticize him for his suggestions 
that will take too long to implement. (Note: A key part of a 
proposed Regional Nuclear Medicine Center project being 
implemented with USG assistance involves sending Libyans to U.S. 
medical schools for advanced training. End note.) 
 
12. (SBU) The new Educational Attachi to the Libyan Embassy in 
Washington recently expressed to us his nervousness that the 
goals he is tasked with achieving are unattainable. While Libyan 
officials have repeatedly stressed that they want Libyan 
students to return to U.S. universities by the thousands, the 
Libyan bureaucracy, and to a large extent, Libyans themselves, 
remain intransigent in terms of their willingness to meet the 
requirements necessary to matriculate in U.S. schools. 
 
MORE DIFFICULTIES AHEAD 
 
13. (U) While for the past two years American universities have 
given Libyan students substantial benefit of the doubt in 
accepting them, there are already rumblings from those 
universities about Libyan students. Universities have recently 
remarked about the high level of complaining from Libyan 
students and the intense bureaucratic support they and their 
families require. They also note that while some Libyan students 
have done exceptionally well academically, others are performing 
terribly. A number of GOL scholarship students reportedly have 
paid more than 1000 Libyan Dinars each to poorly-qualified local 
"educational agencies" for assistance in completing university 
admissions forms (typically Colorado State and Oklahoma State) 
and visa applications.  The universities have found that many 
such admissions forms contain inaccurate information and essays 
they suspect the students themselves did not write. Universities 
are now reviewing applications from Libyans with more intense 
scrutiny to try to better screen them. 
 
14. (U) In addition to more intense scrutiny by American 
universities, Libyan students hoping to study in the U.S. may 
also begin to experience more intense scrutiny during their visa 
interviews. Post's Consular Officer recently learned that at 
Oklahoma State University, 50% of Libyan students have applied 
for public benefits. It is not clear yet whether that indicates 
 
TRIPOLI 00000372  003 OF 003 
 
 
that GOL scholarship funds are insufficient, and/or that Libyan 
students budget such funds poorly. Another possibility is that 
Libyan students are seeking to inappropriately exploit public 
benefits, even if they have sufficient funds from other sources. 
(Note: Egyptian Embassy officials recently told P/E Chief that 
Libyan university students in Egypt, who number in the 
thousands, routinely abuse public benefits reserved for Egyptian 
students.) 
 
15. (SBU) Comment:  As the bilateral relationship has grown more 
tense during the past several months as a result of outstanding 
compensation issues and human rights issues, GOL officials who 
oppose reengagement with the U.S. have gained ground in putting 
a halt to PAS programs in Libya. While Libyan government 
officials still desire reengagement with the American academic 
community, their lack of understanding of the academic 
environment coupled with the recent trend of refusing American 
visitors prevents Libyan academic officials from achieving those 
goals. Post will continue to push in particular for educational 
programs and visitors.  End comment. 
STEVENS