GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM:

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000267

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ISN/WMDT AND T: TIM KATSAPIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2012
TAGS: PTER KNNP MCAP PINR PINS PARM PREL TZ
SUBJECT: GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM:
TANZANIA TO CONSIDER PARTICIPATION

REF: STATE 21535

Classified By: D. Purnell Delly, Deputy Chief of Mission, for reason 1.
4 (b).


1. (C) During his meeting with the DCM on February 26,
Ambassador Charles Sanga, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed interest regarding the
USG invitation for the Government of Tanzania (GOT) to
participate in the Global Initiative to Combat Global
Terrorism. Sanga noted, however, that countries which have
already developed nuclear technology, whether for peaceful
purposes or armaments, should take the lead on building a
regime to ensure that nuclear technology does not fall into
the hands of terrorists. Sanga did acknowledge that
countries that either extract radioactive materials such as
uranium, or allow the transit of such materials through their
country, also had a responsibility to play an active role in
the effort.


2. (SBU) The DCM explained that at the inaugural meeting of
the Global Initiative in October 2006, the 13 charter nations
realized that a safeguard regime to counter nuclear terrorism
would be most effective with broad support and participation
from the international community. Nearly every country has
the potential to be a source, transit or destination country
of illicit nuclear technology or materials.


3. (SBU) Reminding Ambassador Sanga that President Jakaya
Kikwete is already playing a proactive role in regional
efforts to stabilize flash points such as Sudan and the Horn
of Africa, the DCM noted that preventing nuclear materials
from reaching the hands of terrorists is, of necessity, a
cooperative global effort. Tanzania's role could be key
since the country has significant, though as yet unexploited,
uranium deposits. "We are asking that the GOT work with the
U.S., Russia and other member countries, to establish an
effective anti-nuclear terrorist safeguard regime from the
ground up," the DCM said.


4. (C) Sanga agreed that in lesser developed nations which
have uranium or other radioactive deposits, there could be a
"strong temptation" to sell these materials to the highest
bidder, motivated by the goal of eradicating poverty. He
added that a nation that initially is merely a transit route
for such materials, could be drawn further and evolve into a
source country or even a victim of nuclear terrorists. Sanga
promised that the GOT would seriously examine the Guiding
Principles and give a reply to both the USG and Russia in the
near future.
RETZER