NETHERLANDS: RESPONSE TO INVITE ON FUEL SUPPLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 002666 SIPDIS STATE TO T STAFF/JIM TIMBIE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM KNNP NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: RESPONSE TO INVITE ON FUEL SUPPLY ASSURANCES REF: A. STATE 180457 ¶B. STATE 172017 ¶1. Post delivered ref A letter to the office of Hugo Siblesz (Director General for Political Affairs, MFA) on September ¶30. On October 4, Charge followed up directly with Siblesz. Siblesz said the Dutch definitely plan to participate in the October 12 and 13 London meetings on fuel supply assurances. Although he had not made a final decision regarding his own attendance, Siblesz said he probably would not/not be able to attend in person due to a scheduling conflict. If this proved to be the case, Siblesz proposed that Robert de Groot (Director, Security Policy Department, MFA) attend the meeting in his place. Paul Wilke (Head, Nuclear Affairs and Non-Proliferation Division, MFA) also plans to be in London during that time frame and could attend the experts session. Siblesz confirmed that his office would send a response to U/S Joseph's letter as soon as the MFA made a final determination on participation. ¶2. Separately, Polmiloff received September 30 the below faxed letter response to ref B. Wilke said the letter also had been sent to the Dutch embassy in Washington for delivery to the Department. Begin text: Mr. R.G. Joseph Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security State Department Den Haag, September 2005 Dear Mr. Joseph, Thank you for your letter dated September 19th, in which you ask my attention for the detailed proposal introduced by the United States to establish a mechanism to provide assured access to nuclear fuel for countries that forgo enrichment and reprocessing. The Netherlands appreciates this initiative and thinks it is highly relevant in our fight against nuclear proliferation to achieve results soon. We will therefore continue to work constructively with your country and others in order to accomplish this. We will be most interested in learning the results of the "market research" that will be conducted to survey duel supply concerns of potential recipient states, and hope this will provide further impetus to the early development of a credible and internationally accepted mechanism. The modalities of such a mechanism are best discussed between experts, and I can assure you that the Netherlands is committed to participate in such discussions, now and in the future. As to the forum in which these discussions should best take place, it is our considered opinion that we need to organize them in such a way that all interested countries, both consumers and producers, can fully participate in the development of this mechanism. The reasons for this are twofold. First of all, the main beneficiaries of the proposed mechanism will be the consuming countries. The outcome of the "market research" will hopefully provide important indications about the needs of these countries. However, we feel that without the inclusion of consuming countries in establishing a mechanism, issues of real or perceived importance for those countries might be insufficiently dealt with. Second, and perhaps more important, is that a mechanism to provide assured access to nuclear fuel will only further our non-proliferation goals if and when it becomes widely accepted amongst consumer countries. It is our appreciation that, after the failure of the 2005 Review Conference and the impossibility to arrive at consensus on a text on disarmament and non-proliferation for the UN Summit that was recently concluded, we need to pay extra attention to developing an adequate platform. Otherwise, the mechanism now proposed by the United States, however potentially beneficial to all parties concerned, might not be widely accepted, and least of all by those countries that concern us most. Therefore, the Netherlands would like to promote having a discussion on assured access to nuclear fuel in the framework of the IAEA, in a format that would allow both producing and consuming countries to participate. The mechanism that was proposed by the United States would be a valuable contribution to such discussion. The Netherlands would therefore be most happy with the United States on a statement setting forth the intention of the supplier states to conduct open ended talks in the framework of the IAEA aimed at establishing a mechanism of assured access to nuclear fuel, in which reference is made to your proposals. Mr. H.H. Siblesz Director General of Political Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs End text. BLAKEMAN