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