MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 002028

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2017
TAGS: ECON ENRG IZ PREL
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY REGARDING THE TUWAITHA SITE


Classified By: ECONOMIC MINISTER COUNSELOR DANIEL WEYGANDT FOR REASONS
1.5 (b) AND (d)

SUMMARY: June 17, 2007, Embassy Officers met with the
Minister of Science and Technology and several of his
directors general. The Minister reported that he had yet to
prepare the letter authorizing Coalition Forces to install
the additional site security features at Tuwaitha. He said
that the preparation of the list of radioactive sources the
Government of Iraq no longer needs was in process, and that
perhaps the list would have to be reviewed by other
ministries before it is finalized. The Minister was
apparently unaware of the existence of large quantities of
ammonium nitrate in Area C. Embassy officials also
emphasized the need for a letter from the GoI requesting
assistance in removing the natural uranium (yellow cake) and
four large radioactive sources from their current location.
END SUMMARY.


1. (C) On June 17, the Energy Attache and others met with
the Minister of Science and Technology, Ra,id Fahmi Jahid,
and several of his directors general regarding a number of
issues, including those associated with the Tuwaitha site.
The Minister reported that he had not completed the letter
authorizing Coalition Forces access to Site C to install new
concrete barriers, concertina wire, gates and locks, and an
improved communications system. He stated that he would
complete the letter sometime in the next two days.


2. (C) As for the list of radioactive sources stored in
Bunker B that the GoI no longer needs, he and others noted
that Dr. Mousa al-Atia has the list but was not present. The
Minister also discussed the need to contact other ministries
to confirm which sources are no longer necessary to those
ministries.


3. (C) The Minister was apparently unaware of the presence
of large quantities of ammonium nitrate at the Tuwaitha site.
Dr. Mohammed al-Sharaa confirmed that the material was
ammonium nitrate and that it was contaminated with unknown
quantities of natural uranium. He also stated that the
ammonium nitrate was stored in the same building used to
store the yellow cake.


4. (C) Energy Attache requested a letter from the GoI
asking for USG assistance in removing the four high-level
radioactive sources, and the removal and sale of the yellow
cake. The Minister responded that he would discuss the
matter with the Prime Minister,s Chief of Staff, Tauriq
Abdullah. In a private meeting, Emboff told the Minister
that Ambassador Timothy Carney had met with Mr. Abdullah and
that he had concurred in the need to remove and sell the
yellow cake. Emboff told the Minister that significant
planning efforts were underway and that the letter was needed
as soon as possible.


5. (C) In a separate meeting, Dr. al-Sharaa stated that the
ammonium nitrate could not be sampled without removing the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) seals from the Site
C buildings. In response to questions, he also noted that
there was at least one building at the Tuwaitha site that
could be used by workers for housing. Emboff informed Dr.
al-Sharaa that another meeting of the Prime Minister,s
expert committee was appropriate. He agreed but noted that
several members of the committee would be out of the country
for the next two weeks. He also stated that the GoI had
still received no response to its letter to the IAEA
notifying it of the GoI,s intent to sell the yellow cake.
CROCKER