[Federal Register: November 12, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 218)] [Notices] [Page 63294-63295] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr12no98-46] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Technology Administration [Docket No. 9805-29138-8138-01] The United States-Greek Initiative for Technology Cooperation With the Balkans; Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Council AGENCY: Technology Administration, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for nominations for joint council. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 63295]] SUMMARY: The Technology Administration invites nominations of individuals to appointment to the Joint Council on Technology Cooperation established under a Memorandum on Understanding between the United States Department of Commerce and the Greek Ministry of National Economy concerning technology cooperation with the Balkans. The Technology Administration will consider all nominations received in response to this notice of appointment to the Joint Council. DATES: Please submit nominations on or before January 8, 1999. ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to Lucy H. Richards, Office of Technology Policy, Technology Administration, Department of Commerce, Room 4411, Washington, D.C. 20230. Nominations may also be submitted by fax to 202-482-4826. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucy H. Richards, telephone 202-482- 6804; fax 202-482-4826, e-mail Lucy__Richards@ta.doc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Goals of the Memorandum of Understanding On January 17, 1998, the United States Department of Commerce and the Greek Ministry of National Economy (hereinafter known as the ``Participants'') entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning technology cooperation with the Balkans, to be known as ``The United States-Greek Initiative for Technology Cooperation with the Balkans'' (ITCB). A Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Advisory Council (hereinafter ``the Joint Council'') is to be established under the MOU. The Participants recognize that working together to foster collaborative and mutually beneficial technology cooperation with countries in the Balkan region will provide economic benefits to the Balkan region and to the United States and Greece. The goal of the Participants is to foster collaboration among public and private entities in the Participants'countries, and public and private entities in the Balkan region in order to enhance technological capabilities in the Balkan region, enhance the relationship between U.S. and Greek private sector firms and entities in the Balkan region, and promote the development of stable, free market economies in the Balkan region. For the purposes of the MOU, the Balkan region is to encompass Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and any other countries in the region that the Participants may later mutually agree to include. Cooperative Activities Cooperative activities under this MOU may include, among others, coordinated and joint research and technology projects, studies, and investigations; joint technological courses, workshops, conferences, and symposia; exchanges of science and technology information and documentation in the context of cooperative activities; exchanges of scientists, specialists, and researchers; exchanges or sharing of equipment or materials; and other forms of scientific and technological cooperation as may be deemed appropriate. Cooperative activities should reflect technological strengths in the United States and Greece, and should be structured to provide an appropriate role for U.S. and Greek private sector and academic organizations. Cooperative activities should also seek to include public and private science and technology establishments in the Balkan region and encourage the application and adoption of technology in their relevant entities. Information on the Joint Council For the purposes of implementing this MOU, the Participants intend to jointly establish a Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Advisory Council, to consist of six members, three to be designated by, and serve at the pleasure of the Greek Ministry of National Economy, and three to be designated by, and serve at the pleasure of, the U.S. Department of Commerce. Each participant may also designate alternate members. The members of the Joint Council will be expected to carry out the following functions: 1. Recommend to the Participants overall policies under the MOU; 2. Identify fields and forms of cooperation in accordance with the goals and objectives of the MOU; 3. Review, assess, and make specific recommendations concerning cooperative activities; 4. Prepare periodic reports concerning the activities of the Joint Council and cooperative activities undertaken under the MOU for submission to the Participants; and 5. Undertake such further functions as may appropriately be approved by the Participants. Meetings of the Joint Council The Joint Council may meet annually, or at other regular intervals as deemed appropriate, alternately in Greece and the United States, and additionally as may be determined by the Participants. Length of Service A member's length of service on the Joint Council is not stipulated in the MOU and is discretionary with the Department of Commerce. Individuals chosen for membership will serve a term that best fits the needs and objectives of the Joint Council. Members will serve a two or three-year term with staggered term ends. Upon the completion of a member's term, the Department will either repeat this recruitment and selection process or extend the member's term as long as the member proves to work effectively on the Joint Council and his/her expertise is still needed. Membership Criteria and Requirements The U.S. members of the Joint Council shall be eminent leaders, broadly representative of industry, academia, or government, who have experience in technology development, technology diffusion, or international technology collaboration. They shall be U.S. citizens. They shall be familiar with the business climate and the status of technology and economic development in Greece and the Balkans, with Greek and Balkan industry, or with Greek and Balkan academic institutions. Members of the Joint Council shall serve without compensation. The Department of Commerce is committed to equal opportunity in the workplace, and seeks a broad-based and diverse Joint Council membership. Conflict of Interest Nominees will be evaluated for their ability to contribute to the goals and objectives of the MOU. Nominees will be vetted in accordance with processes established by the Department of Commerce in February 1997, as soon as possible following tentative selection. The vetting system has three components: (1) an internal review for possible appearance of conflict problems; (2) an external review for possible appearance of problems; and (3) a recusal/ethics agreement review. Dated: November 4, 1998. Kelly H. Carnes, Deputy Assistant Secretary For Technology Policy. [FR Doc. 98-30186 Filed 11-10-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-18-U