FINNISH VIEWS ON THE GLOBAL THREAT REDUCTION

UNCLAS HELSINKI 001443 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP TRGY AORC PTER FI IAEA SUBJECT: FINNISH VIEWS ON THE GLOBAL THREAT REDUCTION INITIATIVE INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS CONFERENCE REF: SECSTATE 233267 ¶1. On November 2, Acting Econ Chief delivered the reftel demarche to officials at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. ¶2. Jussi Manninen, Head of the Nuclear Energy Division at the Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry, expressed his thanks for the talking points and explained that security of nuclear materials has been an important issue to Finnish regulatory authorities since Finland introduced nuclear energy for electricity production in the 1960s. Note: Finland has begun construction of its fifth nuclear power plant in Olkiluoto, which is expected to be completed by 2010. ¶3. Manninen added that the Finnish regulatory regime has a well-developed system to account for other high-risk radioactive materials as well. He acknowledged Finland's readiness to work toward following the guidance contained in the IAEA Code of Conduct on Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources. He said he recently reaffirmed this in a letter to the Director General of the IAEA. MACK