BRIEFING ON DECLARATION ON NUCLEAR ENERGY AND

UNCLAS PARIS 002967 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR T, ISN, EUR; DOE FOR NE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP PARM FR SUBJECT: BRIEFING ON DECLARATION ON NUCLEAR ENERGY AND NONPROLIFERATION - PROVIDED TO FRENCH AUTHORITIES REF: SECSTATE 93192 ¶1. (U) As instructed reftel, on July 9, ESTH Counselor, together with Russian Embassy disarmament expert, Dr. Igor Kondratskiy, called on Martin Briens, Head of the Disarmament and Nuclear Nonproliferation Office, and Jean Cazalet, Adviser on Civilian Nuclear Matters, Economic Affairs Department, MFA to present the 'Declaration on Nuclear Energy and Nonproliferation' and discuss its contents. Thierry Ethvignot, North America Desk Officer for the French Atomic Energy Commission also attended the meeting. ¶2. (U) Briens responded to the U.S. and Russian presentations, which were identical, very positively that "France fully shares in the goals of the instrument." He also referred to the Declaration as "timely," pointing out that when the idea of having specific countries provide for international nuclear fuel supply first arose several years ago, it was not then "ripe." Briens said that a confluence of factors and events, among them the U.S.-led GNEP initiative, as well as global climate concerns, make the Declaration a proposal whose time has come. ¶3. (SBU) The French side, however, asked questions to which neither Kondratskiy nor ESTH Counselor could reply with precision. Generally, the Russian and U.S. presenters highlighted that the Declaration provided clear direction, and intent for an expanded nuclear energy future, bearing constantly in mind the nonproliferation challenge. The Declaration contained a strong statement of political will on the part of the two leaders. Nonetheless, Briens asked about specific, practical mechanisms for implementation, other than those mentioned in the Declaration's text, such as GNEP or IAEA. What would third countries receiving nuclear fuel from a designated fuel supply country be required to do to become eligible for such fuel; might they be required, for example, "to renounce" their sovereign right to enrich uranium?, the French side queried. There were questions about the bilateral agreement, to which Kondratskiy and ESTH Counselor demurred. Briens also asked about the financial mechanisms alluded to in the text of the Declaration. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON