C-3248-E
Original: Portuguese/Spanish/English
INTER-AMERICAN DEFENSE BOARD
Council of Delegates Minutes of Regular Meeting 1287
21 May 2008
I. OPENING
A. Participating Delegations
Member states: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago,
United States, Uruguay.
Observers: Spain and Denmark.
C. Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of Regular Meeting 1286, of 17 April 2008, was
approved as presented.
II. PRESENTATION
Admiral Kevin M. Donegan, Director of the Division of
Policy and Strategy of the Command of Naval Operations of the
United States Navy, made a presentation to the Council of
Delegates on the topic: “Reactivation of the 4th Fleet of the US
Navy”.
Comments:
The Head of Delegation of Argentina commented on the way
the reactivation of the 4th Fleet was announced, arriving first
to the media and then to the authorities of the allied
countries. He highlighted the importance of words in politics.
He commented about the area of operations for the Fleet,
recalling ongoing initiatives to create a regional organ for
defense issues in the Southern Cone. He also spoke about
multidimensional issues and the Fleet, and the need to
strengthen the civil organs to face the difficulties faced by
the population, and preventing the military from replacing those
organs in leading the activities to face those difficulties.
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He highlighted that this was one of the most important
presentations he had attended at the IADB, and that he believed
this was the appropriate forum to discuss these issues, because
of the matters being the defense of several countries.
He commented that the United States are the number one
military power in the world and in the region, but that in the
history of all powers these always needed allies. In light of
the ideals of union had by South American countries, he
respectfully requested that the United States not make a
mistake, because a small error of this power could bring about
serious consequences if the “remedy us worse than the disease”.
He finally asked the United States to balance its concerns of
security in South America, in light of its aspirations for
economic, education, technical, scientific and technological
development of the countries of the Region.
Admiral Donegan agreed that words have a very important
meaning, commenting on the adjustments and changes that were
made in the communications about the activities of the 4th Fleet.
He touched on the topic of the alliances, highlighting how
positive they are, with or without the participation of the
U.S., because they contribute to increasing regional stability.
He concluded by commenting that the Command of Naval Operations
shares in the goals of prosperity for all the countries and that
the 4th Fleet was reactivated aiming to unite and not divide
efforts.
The Director General of the IADB, Gen Antoine, asked if the
relations with the countries of the Caribbean would be affected
or changed with the activation of the 4th Fleet, and the response
by Admiral Donegan was that there will be no changes and that
the hoped for improvements in the positive aspects that had
already been reached.
III. PROTOCOL
A. Welcomes
Mr. Martín Francisco BONEO, Advisor of the Head of
Delegation of Argentina, who will serve as Delegate for his
country.
Mrs. Ashley RICHARDSON, of the Delegation of the United
States, who will serve as Advisor for the Delegation of her
country.
Mr. Walter K. EARLE, of the Delegation of the United States,
who will serve as Advisor of the Delegation for his country.
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Colonel Jose Luis GIRO, of the Army of Argentina, who will
serve as Advisor of the Subsecretariat for Advisory Services.
Sergeant Major Manuel ARAGON, of the Army of Colombia who
will serve as Administrative Assistant for the Subsecretariat
for Advisory Services.
Sergeant Major (CMSgt) Theodore TROY, of the Air Force of
the United States who will serve as Chief of the Personnel
Department.
B. Farewells
General Brigadier Julio Ernesto FLORIAN, of the Army of the
Dominican Republic, who served as Vice-Director and Chief of
Studies of the IADC , from August 2006 to May 2008.
Mr. Jorge Miranda, of Panama, who served as Chief of
Delegation of his country from October 2007 to May 2008.
Captain Jaime DAVALOS, of the Navy of Ecuador, who served
as Delegate, from December 2006 to May 2008.
IV. REPORTS
A. Regulations Committee
The Chairman of the Regulations Committee, LT. Col. Anthony
Phillips-Spencer, of Trinidad & Tobago, presented the Report for
the Committee on Regulations.
He thanked for the continuing of the deadline to conclude
the work, approved by the Council at the April 2008 meeting.
He said the Committee had already finished the comments
related to the nature of the organs, purposes and functions,
having great care in defining the terminology used very
precisely. The present focus is in the structures of the two
organs.
He spoke of difficulties in reaching minimum quorum for
decision making because many of the members of the Committee are
unable to participate in the scheduled committee meetings. He
congratulated the Delegations of Chile, Peru, US, Ecuador, Haiti
and the Dominican Republic, who are carrying out the main
efforts.
He encouraged the participating Delegations to heed to the
convocations for the next meetings, so they can conclude the
works and submit it to the June Regular Meeting.
B. Committee of the IADC
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The Chairman of the Committee of the IADC, Colonel
Guillermo Carrasco, of the Chile, presented the Committee
Report. As anticipated by the motion that created the Committee,
he presented the report of the Committee as to the review of the
Biannual Curriculum. A copy of the report, document X-478, was
distributed to the Delegations.
Comments:
The Head of Delegation of Colombia, as a member of the
Committee, thanked all for the support received from the
Leadership of the Advisors of the IADC, who facilitated the
works of the Committee. He said that the entire documentation
for the works of the Committee was available to all the
Delegations.
The Director of the College thanked the dedication from the
members of the Committee looking to improve academic activities
of the IADC, and said she agreed with all recommendations
presented by the Committee.
C. Secretariat
The Director of the SAS presented his report of the
activities for the period from 17 April to 21 May.
He said that the proposal for the Working Plan for the SAS
had finished and had been submitted for the approval of the
Director General of the SAS. The plans for the other sectors of
the IADB are still awaiting inclusion to the SAS plans, and that
should be concluded temporarily.
A member of the SAS participated, representing the Chairman
of the Council, in the 42º Session of the Inter-American
Commission for the Control of Drugs (CICAD), which was held at
the OAS between 30 April and 2 May.
1. HUMANITARIAN DEMINING
1.1- MARMINCA
During April of 2008, 22.126m2 were cleared, this amount
represents a 4% decrease as compared to the March figures.
Comparing the amount of the area cleared in the first quarter of
this year and the first quarter of 2007, there is a decrease of
47%, 73.645m2 of this year as compared to 137.000m2 last year.
This fact is due mainly because of:
Decrease in the number of personnel assigned to
humanitarian demining activities;
No use made of heavy equipment which could contribute to
the speed and efficiency of the works performed;
Reduction of the man-hours worked; and,
The possibility that the program in Nicaragua end at the
end of this year or beginning of 2009.
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1.2- MARMINAS (Ecuador and Peru)
During April of 2008, 468m2 were cleared, an amount 397%
greater than the number cleared in March when Ecuador did not
have a helicopter available for medical evacuations due to the
crisis in Colombia. Comparing the numbers in the area cleared on
the first quarter of this year as compared to the first quarter
of 2007, there is a 75%, increase, 1639m2 this year versus 936m2
last year.
This is due mainly because of the strengthening of the
humanitarian demining activities by Peru, recalling that this
activity had to be halted for several months last year in that
country.
1.3- GMI-COLOMBIA
During April of 2008, 12.505m2 were cleared, a decrease of
44% than cleared in March. Comparing the quantity in the cleared
area in the first quarter of this year with the area cleared of
2007, there is an increase of 3648%, 46.763m2 this year versus
1247m2 last year.
This is due mainly because of:
That in 2007 Colombia was beginning the humanitarian
demining activities and the platoons necessary to carry
out these tasks were in training.
Currently, Colombia has four highly trained demining
platoons, something that has allowed for an increase in
the performance of the cleared areas as was presented
before.
On 30 April, the ceremony to transfer command of the Group
of Inter-American Monitors in Colombia was held, chaired by the
Director General, General Antoine, who was accompanied by the
interim Vice-Director of the SAS. During the ceremony, Cnl
Alberto Cañas Ortez, of the Army of Honduras, transferred
command to Cnl Renato Marcos, of the Army of Brazil.
During the trip, the Director General had meetings with the
Commander of the Military Forces, with the Commander of the
Army, with the Director of the Presidential Program for Actions
Against Mines and with the Coordinator for the AICMA Program in
Colombia.
The Director of the SAS thanked the Head of Delegation of
Colombia for the arrangements made which greatly contributed to
the success of the trip.
2. Project for Training Course of International Monitors
The Director of the SAS relayed that the Subsecretariat has
been working in a project to create a training course for
international monitors, which has the goal to standardize the
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demining procedures for all missions, in accordance to the IADB
doctrine. The project, which still does not have a headquarters
or financing, was presented to the Council so that Delegates can
begin thinking on the topic. The details of the course and the
costs involved will be submitted temporarily to the Delegations.
Then, the Director of the SAS gave the floor to Cel Henry
Torres, of the Humanitarian Demining Division, who made a more
detailed presentation of the project.
The Director of the SACS presented the report on the
activities of the Sub Secretariat. He made a presentation about
the Fiesta de Camaradería.
He spoke of the lessons learned regarding the organization
of the Fiesta and presented the financial results, shown below:
Income US$ Liability US$
Delegations: 5290.00 Park GIESBORO 160.00
US – US$ 1145.00
17 Delegations – US$
235.00 each
1 Delegation – US$
150.00
HSBC 5000.00 Rental for 3417.00
tents/tables/chairs
Equipment and Supplies 705.34
Helpers and Assistants 672.00
(8)(11h to 16h)
DJ 400.00
Magician 500.00
Clown 60.00
Dance Troup 500.00
Total 10290.00 Total 6414.34
Balance 3875.66
The Director of the SACS suggested that the remaining
balance be used for the IADB Christmas Party. He also said, that
should any delegation desire, the contribution may be refunded.
The Director General thanked all the Delegations for the
support to the organization of the Fiesta and especially to the
Delegation of the United States for their support in finding a
location to have the event. He congratulated the personnel of
the SASC for their efforts in the event. He ratified the
suggestion to use the remaining balance for the Christmas Party
of the IADB.
He commented on the results of the external audit undergone
by the IADB, and congratulated the Division of Finances for the
good results given by the auditors. He further commented on the
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recommendation by the auditors about selling the Casa del
Soldado.
Comments:
The Head of Delegation of Uruguay said he had sent, in an
attempt to contribute, a note to the Chairman of the IADB about
the specific issues that his Delegation had in the organizing of
tents for the Fiesta de Camaradería, telling him that he would
be a full contributor to the organization of future similar
events.
D. Inter-American Defense College
The Director of the IADC commented on the invitation to the
Delegations to participate in the Graduation Ceremony got Class
XLVII, on June 27. As for Class XLVIII, she said she had
received 49 registrations and that there was still space
available for more interested countries.
Then, Captain Orozco presented the report of the IADC
activities.
He said Class 47 is in Period VI of their Academic
Curriculum, titled Application of Techniques and Knowledge.
Forty seven weeks of class had already concluded representing
86% of the curriculum.
He described the following activities already fulfilled by
Class 47:
Trip through the United States (20 April to 2 May).
Period V concluded (2 May).
Modulo IV, the Art of Negotiation was held (5 to 9 May).
Committee III – Diagnosis and Perspectives for Hemispheric
Security (12 to 15 May).
Seminar: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution was held (19
to 22 May).
Future activities:
Exercise in Crisis Management and Conflict Resolution (27
to 30 May).
Module V of USAL –Defense and Security Policies (2 to 6
June).
Presentations and defense of the Research by the students
(9 to 20 June).
Graduation Ceremony at the headquarters of the OAS (27
June).
Captain Orozco asked the Delegations to send topics of
interest that the class could work on during the next academic
cycle.
E. Activities by the Office of the Chairman
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The Chairman of the Council presented his vision on the
current moments lived by the IADB. He spoke of the electoral
process for the positions at the IADB and about the vacancy in
the position of Vice-Director of the IADC. He also tackled the
problems faced to prepare the draft resolutions on the
activities of the IADB to be brought to the General Assembly of
the OAS.
He spoke about how successfully the invitations sent to the
international organizations were received regarding their
membership as observer countries to the IADB, and that an
increase in the relations between the board and the
organizations was expected.
He spoke of the audit done of the IADB, specially the
recommendations to the sale of the Casa del Soldado and the
doing away with the Secretariat of Administration and
Conferences, by highlighting that they go against the Statutes
of the IADB and that they do not have the power to implement.
He requested the Council to reflect on this, and said that
although the Board has been successful in gaining success in its
activities, especially regarding Humanitarian Demining, the
monitoring of the Confidence and Security Building Measures, the
disaster projects, the increase in the relations with other
international organizations and the quality of the courses at
the IADC, on the other, must be aware to issues such as:
- not reaching consensus at the OAS in any of the
resolutions of support for the IADB;
- the intent to sell the Casa del Soldado be brought to the
General Assembly of the OAS without the IADB being asked and
inquired as to where the Board would go;
- the lack of candidates for the elections, and
- the lack of quorum in the meetings of the Committees of
the Council of Delegates.
He encouraged all members of the Council to work with their
governments so the new Inter-American Defense Board, which is
only two years old, develop all its potential for peace in the
Hemisphere and so all this negativity goes away, because to his
understanding, it is a threat to the existence of the
Organization. He concluded by saying that now more than ever,
the IADB will be that which the Council of Delegates wishes it
to be, and that more than ever, the IADB will need the members
of the Council of Delegates.
F. Activities by the Office of the Vice-Chairman
Gen Villagran mentioned the following activities:
15 April – Visit to the College of Resource and Information
Management to look to broaden the cooperation between the
Defense University and the IADB.
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23 April – Working Meeting with the Secretary and Sub
Secretary of SICOFAA, to discuss cooperation and interaction
among the organizations.
24 to 25 April – participated in the Regional Conference of
the Security Forces and the Media. During the event,
conversations were held with the Secretary of State of the Armed
Forces of the Dominican Republic and with the Chief of the
National Police to strengthen the ties of cooperation with the
country. Contacts were also established between the Inter-
American Society of Press looking to explore the possibility of
hosting a joint hemispheric event.
28 April – Working meeting with the Sub director of the
Center for Hemispheric Studies to strengthen the cooperation
between both entities.
06 May – Meeting with the Vice-Chairman of the Association
of the U.S. Army to look for possible cooperation between both
organizations.
13 to 15 May – participated, representing the Chairman of
the Council, in the Sixth Multilateral Conference for Planning
for Naval Forces in Copenhagen, Denmark. During the event,
conversations were held with the Director of Strategic Plans and
Policy from the Pentagon to strengthen the cooperation ties with
the U.S. Delegation at the IADB.
21 May – Meeting with the Sub commander of the Southern
Command of the U.S. to strengthen cooperation among the two
entities.
He said he is also in conversations about a possible visit
by the Secretary of Defense of the U.S. and the Minister of
Defense of El Salvador, who is also the Chairman of the
Conference of the Central American Armed Forces, to the Council
of Delegates.
V. MATTERS CONSIDERED
A. Motion by the President of the IADC Committee
“CONSIDERING:
1. That the Council of Delegates approved the motion submitted
by the Director of the IADC during the ordinary meeting
#1284, 21.FEB.008;
2. That the Commission work with regards to the tasks for the
current month included in that Motion has been concluded;
3. That the recommendations by the Commission regarding the
Report N. X-478 of May 21st, 2008 have been taken into
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account, as well as the presentation of this report by the
President of the Commission;
The President of the IADC Commission submits the following
motion to be considered by the Council of Delegates:
MOTION
That the Council of Delegates of the Inter-American Defense
Board approves the following recommendations:
1. For the Inter-American Defense College
1.1. Task: study and evaluate the activities of the IADC
a. Short term (2008-2009).
1) To include in the work agendas of the IADC and
the SAS the exchange of information, and the
participation in pertinent activities in order to
take advantage of the numerous activities that
take place in both entities, whose material can
be used for their works and advisory services.
(Example: workshops, and seminars).
2) To consider that the reference framework for the
topics of the students’ monographic projects and
thesis is the American Hemisphere, and have to be
related to military or defense issues, or similar
disciplines.
3) To strengthen communication with the Delegations
of the Council of Delegates, the Secretariat, and
the OAS entities so that they can provide
interesting topics for the thesis or the
monographic projects that would serve the purpose
of the course
4) To inform the Chiefs of Delegation about the
academic performance of the students at the end
of a period in the middle of the course, and,
another one, at the end of the course. This
feedback shall include details that show their
performance in an objective manner.
5) To define the academic profiles that advisors and
students should meet, based on the needs of the
IADC, and to express this need to the Chiefs of
Delegation one year before the following Class.
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6) To study and suggest to the Council of Delegates
a new methodology for the IADC academic trips to
Latin America in order for them to be able to
plan ahead and participate in the trips.
7) To hold formal meetings with the Chiefs of
Delegations to communicate and coordinate the
areas and topics of interest for the IADC when
the planning cycle of the trip to LATAM starts.
8) To provide the students in an ongoing and timely
manner with the information about their
performance, and, when necessary, the results of
surveys conducted.
9) To ask for voluntaries to the Delegations of the
Council of Delegates to asses the work of the
students following criteria defined by the IADC.
10) To study the possibility of including the
student’s performance in the conclusion document
that is delivered to them (certificate).
b. Medium term (2009-2010).
1) To execute the agreements established with higher
related entities (For example: to use the credits
achieved by the students in their countries). To
avoid taking on new commitments if there is no
certainty that they will be implemented by the
IADC in the medium term.
2) To assign able tutors or guides for the students'
work
3) To reinforce the presentation of objective and
documented information to the IADC Commission so
that it can appreciate and better assess the
tasks of the IADC.
c. Long term (as of 2011).
None.
1.2. With regards to the Curriculum 2008-2010
a. Short term (2008-2009).
To include in the first period of the student’s
adaptation to the DC metropolitan area, the visit to
the OAS and the IADB to meet with their authorities
and obtain a general vision of the framework where
they are.
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b. Medium term (2009-2010).
1) To classify the activities included in the
curriculum among administrative, teaching,
research and complementary activities in annual
quantitative terms for each period.
2) To consider that the executive summary or
abstract of the curriculum sent to the
delegations, together with the invitation letter
for the students, should be coherent with the
curriculum.
3) In order for the States to choose their potential
students according to the profile established by
the IADB, the invitation has to be sent a year
before the course starts.
4) To use terminology in the curriculum consistent
with that used in the IADB Statute and
Regulations, whenever possible.
c. Long term (as of 2011).
To change the focus of the regular course to the
study of what was included in the strategic
objective that the IADB established in the Plan for
Goals and Objectives 2008-2016.
2. For the Council of Delegates to decide:
a. To invalidate the 2nd Report “Fulfillment of the
IADC curriculum for the current academic year”,
which the Commission should issue next June
b. In exchange:
1) The Commission, together with the IADC, shall
draft criteria of evaluation for a plan of
studies and submit them to the Council of
Delegates in September 2008 for their
consideration and approval.
2) The Commission shall stop its work in the current
month and restart it in August to carry out its
tasks.
c. Finally, approve the curriculum proposed by the IADC
for the Student Class 48 and 49, between 2008 and
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2010, including all modifications recommended by the
Commission.”
Having no comments, the motion was put to a vote, and was
approved by 14 votes.
B. Electoral Process for the positions of Vice-SACS and
Vice-SAS
The Chairman of the Council announced there were no
nominations for these two positions. In light of this, he
proposed a new timeline for these two positions and a new
timeline for the electoral calendar for these two positions,
namely:
30 August 2008 – deadline for nominations;
date of the Regular Meeting of September of 2008 –
electoral Act; and
st
1 April 2009 – date to take over the position.
The proposal was put to a discussion, and the Delegate of
Argentina had announced early the intent of his country to
nominate Col. Giró, advisor of the SAS, for the position of
Vice-SAS.
Once put to a vote, the proposal only received 12 votes of
approval and was thus rejected.
The Delegation of Barbados requested more clarification
about the electoral process under discussion. He then, by
proposal from the Delegation of Trinidad & Tobago, put the
calendar to a vote again.
The Delegation of Chile commented on the difficulty of
keeping the elected positions occupied, indicating that it is
necessary to find a strategy to convince the leadership in the
member countries to consider the invitation to participate by
nominating candidates for the electoral process. He remarked
that the initiative of the Office of the Chairman of inviting
other regional organizations to participate in the meetings of
the Council is positive since it contributes to disseminate the
activities of the IADB.
The Head of Delegation of Uruguay suggested studying the
possibility of changing the sequence of the matters discussed in
the meetings, so the matters that require deliberation by the
council be discussed at the beginning of the meeting, in light
of the reduction in the number of Delegations present throughout
the meeting.
Finally, the calendar was approved by 14 Delegations.
C. Vacancy in the position of IADC Vice-Director
In light of the early return of the IADC Vice-Director to
his country to take over new functions, and leaving the position
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vacant as of June 1, the Chairman of the Council proposed the
following calendar to elect a new Vice-Director:
30 August 2008 – deadline for the nominations;
date of the Regular Meeting of September of 2008 –
Electoral Act; and
December 1, 2008 – date to occupy the position.
Having no comments, the proposal was put to a vote, and was
approved by 14 votes.
D. Motion of the Director General – Meeting Calendar for
the Council of Delegates
“Considering:
a. The provisions contained in Article 30.1.1 of the IADB
Regulations, which states
Article 30.1.1 - Regular meetings shall be convened once a
month according to the calendar approved by the Council in May.
The Council shall also hold a Plenary Meeting once a year,
coinciding with the Regular Meeting in March, for the principal
purpose of commemorating the anniversary of the IADB.
b. The known Holidays as listed:
Labor Day 1st September 2008
Columbus Day 13th October 2008
Veteran’s Day 11th November 2008
Thanksgiving Day 27th November 2008
Holiday Season 24th, 25th and 31st December 2008
(approved by Council of
Delegates Document C-2399)
New Year’s Day 1st January 2009
Martin Luther King’s Birthday 19th January 2009
President's Day 16th February 2009
Good Friday 10th April 2009
Memorial Day 25th May 2009
Independence Day 4 July
c. Also, that it is convenient to avoid having the dates of
meetings coinciding with seminars and other important IADC
events.
d. That we do not yet have a schedule for a calendar of meetings
of the Committee on Hemispheric Security of the OAS, but,
cognizant that historically, the meetings of that Committee
occur on Thursdays.
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e. That, in the months of October, November, January, and
February, there will be holidays on the Monday or Tuesday of
the week proposed for the IADB Regular Meetings.
The Director General proposes the following calendar of Regular
Meetings of the Council of Delegates, for the period Aug 2008 to
Jun 2009:
Month Day Meeting
August 20, Wednesday Regular Meeting 1289
2008
September 17, Wednesday Regular Meeting 1290
2008
October 16, Thursday Regular Meeting 1291
2008
November 13, Thursday Regular Meeting 1292
December 11, Thursday Regular Meeting 1293
2008
January 22, Thursday Regular Meeting 1294
2009
February 19, Thursday Regular Meeting 1295
2009
Regular Meeting 1296 / 10th
March 2009 18, Wednesday
Plenary
April 2009 15, Wednesday Regular Meeting 1297
May 2009 13, Wednesday Regular Meeting 1298
June 2009 17, Wednesday Regular Meeting 1299
----------------------------------------------------------------
Having no comments, the motion was put to a vote, and was
approved by 14 votes.
Official:
// Signed // // Signed //
Marcos Carvalho Costa Ysidro Lopez Aquino
Commander, Navy, Brazil Colonel, Army,
Subsecretary for Conferences Dominican Republic
Director of the SASC
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