NSG PRELIMINARY READOUT

UNCLAS BRASILIA 001132 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR GDRAGNICH OES/STC, WPOPP WHA/BSC, RDELABARRE ISN/NESS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TRGY TNGD EMIN KSCA BR SUBJECT: NSG PRELIMINARY READOUT REF: 06 STATE 86484 ¶1. Summary: The May 29-June 2 NSG Plenary in Brasilia featured a low-key review of the India civil nuclear cooperation initiative, with the USDEL Chairman suggesting that India be invited to the October 2006 NSG Plenary in Vienna to brief the group on its plans. Participating Governments expressed full support for the IAEA implementing its mandate on Iran, while discussions of the NPT Additional Protocol revealed NAM objections to suppliers dictating to recipients that they must implement an AP to receive nuclear supplies. Brazil's Ambassador Jose Medeiros will chair the NSG for the coming year. End Summary ¶2. The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Plenary meetings were held in Brasilia, Brazil, May 29 to June 2. The State Department's Richard Stratford led a 17 member U.S. delegation composed of representatives from State, DoE, DoC, DHS and the NRC. Principal among the USG's goals were to maintain forward movement in the NSG's consideration of civil nuclear cooperation with India, updating the NSG on the situation in Iran and strengthening controls over transfers of ENR (enrichment and reprocessing) technology. ¶3. On the issue of civil nuclear cooperation with India, Stratford reported to the Group that bilateral cooperation discussions were near and congressional action was likely this summer. He suggested that the October 2006 NSG Consultative Group meeting in Vienna would provide an excellent opportunity to invite the Indians to Vienna to brief Participating Governments on their actions. In summary, the India discussion was fairly low-key, consisting of an update by the US del, and reiteration of positions by PG supporters and opponents. ¶4. On Iran, PGs agreed to a statement calling on all suppliers to exercise extreme vigilance and make best efforts to ensure that none of their exports contribute to nuclear weapons programs and expressed full support of the continuing work of the IAEA to fulfill its mandate in Iran. ¶5. On the Presidential proposals, Russia expressed frustration at the lack of movement in the U.S. position on control of ENR technology and indicated it was prepared to recommend dropping all efforts to strengthen the existing ENR language in the Guidelines. The Additional Protocol (AP) discussion revealed that South African and Brazilian objections to the proposal stemmed not from objections to the AP itself, but from a NAM objection to suppliers dictating to recipients that they must implement an AP to receive nuclear items. PGs agreed to keep the AP proposal on the agenda. ¶6. The NSG officially wrapped up on Friday June 2. A copy of the NSG Statement and the Chairman's summary have been forwarded to Washington by the delegation. The GoB under the guidance of Ambassador Jose Medeiros will chair the NSG for the coming year. CHICOLA