GERMANY - PRELIMINARY VIEWS ON U.S.-RUSSIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001503 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN, EEB, AND EUR E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/17 TAGS: KNNP PARM ENRG ECON PGOV GM SUBJECT: GERMANY - PRELIMINARY VIEWS ON U.S.-RUSSIA DECLARATION ON NUCLEAR ENERGY AND NONPROLIFERATION REF: A. BERLIN 1384 ¶B. STATE 93192 Classified By: Global Affairs Counselor Donald R. Shemanski for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 4. ¶2. (C) MFA Deputy Office Director for Nuclear Energy and Nonproliferation Dietrich Becker told Global Affairs officer July 31 Germany is interested in learning more about U.S. and Russian plans to follow up on the July 3 Declaration on Nuclear Energy and Nonproliferation. Becker said German nonproliferation experts were "astonished" by the joint declaration, particularly because of U.S. and Russian differences over asking countries to forego enrichment and reprocessing and different approaches to defining "peaceful uses of nuclear energy." He asked how the U.S. and Russia foresee mechanisms and structures for participation by third countries and how countries' positions on foregoing certain fuel cycle activities would be factored in. ¶3. (C) Becker said the commitment to a phase out of nuclear power facilities in the German Government's coalition agreement, as well as widespread public opposition to nuclear energy, would make it difficult for Germany to back any initiative that appears to promote nuclear energy. Placing greater emphasis on the nonproliferation and nuclear safety/security aspects, he added, would make it easier to win support for German participation. Becker also asked about the current state of affairs on the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP),particularly the extent to which GNEP will focus on nonproliferation and nuclear safety/security. He asked whether there are specific conditions for participation, either as a member or an observer. Becker said he read that Congress had recently cut funding for GNEP and asked whether the cuts reflect a lack of Congressional support. ¶4. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests any information that can be shared in response to German questions in paras 2 and 3. TIMKEN JR