GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM:

UNCLAS KABUL 000752 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/A, ISN/WMDT, T(TKATSAPIS),ISN/MNSA (SADAMS), ISN/CIP (MFELIPE),AND IO/UNP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER KNNP PARM IAEA AF SUBJECT: GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM: GOA ASKED TO ENDORSE STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES REF: A. STATE 21535 ¶B. KABUL 364 ¶1. (SBU) Polmil Deputy Counselor delivered reftel A message on March 5 to Ayoob Erfani, Director General of the MFA's UN Affairs Department. Mr. Erfani had not previously heard of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (CICNT), but said that the GOA would review the matter mindful of its importance. Prior to the meeting with Erfani, polmiloff had coordinated the approach to the GOA with Jangarian Levan, the Russian Embassy POC for this issue. Mr. Levan will meet separately with Mr. Erfani on March 6, and reiterate the invitation to the GOA to endorse the CICNT. ¶2. (SBU) Given the thematic overlap of detection, mitigation, regulation, and enforcement issues between the CICNT and the export control matters discussed in reftel B, as well as the GOA's interest in establishing an independent Afghan Nuclear Affairs Commission, Border Management Initiative Advisor (Embassy EXBS program POC) accompanied Polmil Deputy Counselor to the meeting to explain the EXBS program and outline broad areas in which the USG might be able to provide technical assistance to the GOA. ¶3. (SBU) Erfani welcomed the prospect of potential USG assistance and undertook to designate a POC on his staff for future follow up. He said that he had received a letter March 4 from the Director of the Afghan Environmental Protection Agency (AEPA) stating that the AEPA proposes to house the future Afghan Nuclear Affairs Commission within AEPA facilities. Erfani also reiterated the GOA's hope that the IAEA will be able to provide assistance in this area. NEUMANN