REMOVING IAEA SEALS IN IRAQ UPDATE

S E C R E T STATE 171234 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2017 TAGS: IAEA ECON IZ PARM PREL SUBJECT: REMOVING IAEA SEALS IN IRAQ UPDATE REF: A. STATE 169324 ¶B. UNVIE VIENNA 327 ¶C. STATE 154502 ¶D. BAGHDAD 3775 ¶E. BAGHDAD 4227 Classified By: NEA Lawrence E. Butler for reasons EO 12958 1.4(b),(d),and (e). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (S) A DOE team plans to begin repackaging the natural uranium stored at the Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center pursuant to a GOI request to do so as soon as possible. As reported in ref B, the IAEA requires that it be given advanced notice prior to the seals' removal. Ref A requested Post to provide the GOI with a draft IAEA notification letter tranmitted to post via NEA/I Official-Informal on December 21, 2007. Due to concerns for operational security regarding the GOI mission to the IAEA, the letter has been updated to reflect that IAEA is requested to reply directly to Baghdad officials and UNVIE only. Post is requested to provide the updated IAEA notification draft in paragraph 3 to the appropriate GOI official as soon as possible. The signed letter should be faxed directly to the IAEA at the following number: 43 (1) 2600-29270. Post is also requested to send an electronic copy of the signed letter to UNVIE VIENNA attention Gabriela Fernandez. Department appreciates Post,s continuing prompt attention to this matter. ¶2. (S/REL IAEA) UNVIE is requested to inform the appropriate IAEA official upon receipt of the GOI notification letter that, pending IAEA approval, the United States plans to remove the IAEA seals in the near future and that all exterior seals will be returned to the IAEA. -------------- OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶3. (S/REL IZ) Embassy Baghdad is requested to provide the following draft letter to the appropriate GOI official with revisions as needed: December 31, 2007 Herman Nackaerts Director, Division of Operations B International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna International Center FAX: 43 (1) 2600-29270 Dear Mr. Herman Nackaerts: Please be informed the United States will begin repackaging the 550 MT of yellowcake at Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center in Iraq in the near future. We request the IAEA grant immediate approval to break the seals needed to access the material to begin repackaging work. Please note that for reasons of operational security your response should be sent directly to me and to the United States Mission in Vienna only. The United States plans to return the seals, as instructed by the IAEA in previous discussions. We are very pleased with the level of support and cooperation by the IAEA in ensuring this effort is consistent with all safeguards requirements. Sincerely, Cc: Mr. Herman Nackaerts, Director Operations B Mr. Lauro Pedraza, Operations B Mr. Walter Vela-Espinoza, Operations B -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE AND POCS -------------- ¶4. (S) As IAEA approval is needed before the seals may be removed, Posts should report back to Washington as soon as possible. Please slug responses for ISN/RA Jody Daniel (202-647-9486) and NEA/I-PM Peter Evans (202-647-7642). -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶5. (S) As reported in ref B, UNVIE met with IAEA Ops B officials in May 2007 to discuss steps that needed to be taken before the removal of safeguarded material stored at Tuwaitha. With regard to the seals, the IAEA informed UNVIE that it needed advance notice before the seals are removed. Once notified, the IAEA would then give approval for the seals to be removed. The IAEA officials also said that the IAEA is only interested in the seals placed on doors and windows and would like those returned to the Agency. Given the large number of seals on the barrels of material inside the building, the IAEA official said that these could be disposed of as their cataloguing could slow the removal effort. RICE