WORKSHOP ON SAFE MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000677 SIPDIS SIPDIS OES, EB, NEA/ARP DOE FOR PHAMILTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2017 TAGS: ENRG TRGY OSCI BA REGION SUBJECT: WORKSHOP ON SAFE MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS REF: STATE 95123 Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6. ¶2. (U) In his July 16 farewell call with Minister of Health Nada Haffadh, the Ambassador conveyed reftel details regarding the Safe Management of the Radioactive Sealed Source Materials workshop set to take place August 9-11 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. ¶3. (SBU) Ministry of Health Radiation Protection Consultant Jaffar Mattar told Econoff July 17 that he would likely be designated by the Health Ministry to attend the workshop. He said the Ministry was increasingly interested in developing expertise in this field in order to ensure that medical and industrial RSS materials in Bahrain are handled properly. ¶4. (SBU) In addition to RSS materials handling, Mattar said the Ministry was keenly interested in acquiring expertise in providing medical treatment for individuals who might be exposed to harmful doses of radiation. He said that IAEA advice to date had not been in-depth enough to meet the ministry's goals. He hoped for something more along the lines of a month-long study tour in the U.S. ¶5. (C) He added that the IAEA had been providing related advice ahead of Bahrain's formal ascension to that body in September. Mattar said that he and his colleagues had advocated Bahrain's joining the IAEA for several years, but that the idea had not found wider traction within the GOB until recently, as Iran's nuclear program has evolved. ¶6. (U) Post would appreciate any advice regarding the availability of training of the type described by Mattar. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE