ARGENTINA TO REVIEW GLOBAL NUCLEAR TERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000285 SIPDIS SIPDIS ISN/WMDT FOR DAVID WEEKMAN T FOR TIM KATSAPIS WHA/BSC FOR BARNES, FRIEDMAN, AND BLAKENEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2017 TAGS: PTER KGIT KNNP PREL AR BR OM KS SN SF IAEA SUBJECT: ARGENTINA TO REVIEW GLOBAL NUCLEAR TERRORISM INITIATIVE REF: SECSTATE 16451 Classified By: DCM MICHAEL MATERA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 1.(U) This is an action request. See para 3. ¶2. (C) On February 9, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicolas Burns delivered reftel points to Argentine Foreign Minister Taiana. FM Taiana stated that the GOA would need time to review the initiative before determining whether it will sign on to the principles, and participate in, the initiative. Later on February 9, the DCM spoke with Ambassador Elsa Kelly, Director of the MFA office of International Security and Nuclear and Space Issues, who noted with interest the invitation to the GOA to join the initiative and promised to review the non-paper which had been left with the MFA. ¶3. (C) Given the urgent nature of the demarche, post was unable to coordinate with the Russian Embassy. Post and the Russian Embassy have agreed to follow up with the Argentine Foreign Ministry after the conclusion of the February 12-13 meeting on the Global Nuclear Terrorism Initiative in Ankara. Post requests that the Department provide a readout soonest of the Ankara meeting that may be shared with the GOA. WAYNE