BURMESE-RUSSIAN NUCLEAR REACTOR PROJECT

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000412

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2014
TAGS: ENRG PREL PGOV RS BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE-RUSSIAN NUCLEAR REACTOR PROJECT

Classified By: COM CARMEN MARTINEZ FOR REASONS 1.5 (B/D).


1. (C) In a March 24 conversation, the Russian ambassador in
Rangoon, Oleg Kabanov, told the COM that he had met with the
Burmese Minister of Science and Technology, U Thaung, on
March 23 and discussed the status of the proposed
Burmese-Russian nuclear reactor project that has been hanging
fire, according to Kabanov, "for at least four years."
Kabanov said that he asked the Minister if the GOB intended
to proceed with the nuclear project or to cancel it
completely as there has been no formal agreement signed
between Burma and Russia nor has there been any indication
that the GOB has any fiscal resources to dedicate to the
project. Kabanov said the Minister assured him that the GOB
did not want to cancel the project although there was
currently no funding for it.


2. (C) Kabanov said that it was apparent to him that the GOB
had never fully understood the commitment, in terms of time,
money and personnel resources, required for the project. He
said that someone "probably gave the idea to Senior General
Than Shwe and he liked it because having a reactor would give
the country international prestige" but now no one wanted to
tell the Senior General that the idea should be abandoned as
it would be a case of "kill the messenger."


3. (C) Kabanov said that he had never seen any progress on
the project in his two and a half years in Rangoon, and did
not expect to see any during his tenure. He said that in any
case, the Russian government would insist on Burmese nuclear
technicians working under Russian supervision and in
accordance with IAEA standards for such a project. According
to Kabanov, the GOB wants a reactor to produce isotopes for
medical and agricultural purposes (for irradiating seeds to
increase yield).


4. (C) Kabanov also said that there were about 1,000 Burmese
studying in Russia, in a wide variety of fields. Some are
studying nuclear technology, but the majority are scattered
among a variety of disciplines.


5. (C) Comment: This conversation with Kabanov reiterated
what he has said previously regarding Russia - Burma nuclear
cooperation. He remains consistent and insistent in his
statements that the GOR considers the issue stalled for now
and for the near future. End comment.



Martinez