GNEP - INITIAL GERMAN REACTION TO INVITATION TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001596 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN, EEB, AND EUR DOE/NP - M CLAPPER E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017 TAGS: ENRG TRGY KNNP PGOV PREL GM SUBJECT: GNEP - INITIAL GERMAN REACTION TO INVITATION TO SEPTEMBER MINISTERIAL REF: A. STATE 118280 ¶B. STATE 114102 ¶C. BERLIN 1503 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: EMIN Robert A. Pollard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Econoffs delivered ref A letters of invitation and ref B talking points August 20 to German Environment Ministry Deputy Director General for International Cooperation Karsten Sach and German Economics Ministry Director General for Energy Andreas Schuseil. Econoff also briefed MFA Deputy Office Director for Nuclear Energy and Nonproliferation Dietrich Becker and provided courtesy copies of the invitation letters on August 21. ¶2. (C) Becker said the German Government's commitment to phase out nuclear power facilities, as well as widespread public opposition to nuclear energy, would make it politically unfeasible for Germany to become a full participant in the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) or to send a high-level representative to the Vienna ministerial. Nonetheless, Becker said, Germany remains interested in close cooperation on nonproliferation and nuclear safety/security issues. He said Germany is interested in learning more about what GNEP observer status would entail and asked about the meaning of the term "interim period" in ref B talking points. Becker said he does not expect Germany's position on nuclear energy to change before 2009 elections, but said the MFA, which has the lead within the German Government on nonproliferation, would welcome the opportunity to participate "informally" in GNEP's work on nonproliferation issues. Becker speculated Germany would send a "back-bencher" from the MFA to the Vienna ministerial. Economics Ministry Deputy Director General for Energy Hartmut Schneider echoed Becker's concerns. ¶3. (C) Given GNEP's focus on promoting the expansion of nuclear energy, Becker said, focusing other initiatives, such as the July 3 U.S.-Russian Initiative on Nuclear Energy and Nonproliferation, on nonproliferation and nuclear security/safety issues would make it easier for Germany to participate in them. He asked how GNEP and the U.S.-Russian Initiative would fit with other multilateral nuclear approaches (MNAs) and reiterated Germany's concern that multilateral initiatives not "antagonize" the Non-Aligned Movement. German officials worry about potential negative repercussions of discussing further restrictions on transfers of nuclear technology under Article 4 of the NPT. The German Government, Becker stated, prefers a "persuasive approach" that creates incentives for countries to voluntarily forego certain nuclear fuel cycle activities, rather than legally binding restrictions or a blanket moratorium on ENR transfers. ¶4. (C) Becker stressed that Germany shares U.S. concerns about ENR transfers and has no desire to export such technologies. He pointed to Foreign Minister Steinmeier's proposal to establish an extraterritorial commercial enrichment center under the supervision of the IAEA as a long-term solution that would complement short-term MNA proposals put forth by other countries. ¶5. (U) Post will report any subsequent German response regarding participation in the GNEP ministerial septel. KOENIG