Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT250
2008-02-20 08:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN COOPERATING WITH IAEA EFFORTS TO
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000250
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV IAEA TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN COOPERATING WITH IAEA EFFORTS TO
ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH NUCLEAR CONVENTIONS
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000250
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV IAEA TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN COOPERATING WITH IAEA EFFORTS TO
ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH NUCLEAR CONVENTIONS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: An IAEA delegation met with government
officials in Ashgabat in mid-February to assist
Turkmenistan's efforts to achieve compliance with
nuclear-related international conventions to which it is a
signatory. Turkmenistan's state-run media reported that
inspections of old dump sites revealed no issues needing
near-term attention. The visitors also worked with Turkmen
officials to get Turkmenistan's mandated report regime into
order. IAEA representatives may have also sought to discuss
the December discovery of radioactive waste by Uzbekistani
border authorities. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) A working-level International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) delegation was in Turkmenistan February 11-15 for
meetings with the Foreign Ministry and specialists from the
"Gun" (Sun) Scientific-Production Association of the Supreme
Council for Science and Technology. IAEA officials last
visited a year ago to help the government initiate a survey
within all government organs to determine whether
Turkmenistan holds any nuclear or radiological materials.
Turkmen press reported that the survey is complete, and
confirmed there are no nuclear materials "of interest to
IAEA," and that Turkmenistan does not conduct any nuclear
research or development.
4. (U) During this visit, Turkmen press reported that
members of the IAEA delegation examined the data gathered in
the survey, and visited sites where radioactive waste had
been disposed during the Soviet period, and they conducted
tests to determine levels of radioactivity. The site
locations were not specified, but were reported to have been
under IAEA's acceptable limits. IAEA representatives also
taught Turkmen personnel how to electronically draft the
agency's mandatory annual report.
5. (SBU) While here, IAEA representatives may have also
raised the December 2007 discovery of radioactive material on
a train bound for Iran by authorities in Uzbekistan. The
material reportedly contained Cesium-137, a radiological
waste product that comes from nuclear reactors and nuclear
test facilities. Had the material not been discovered by
Uzbek authorities, its course would have continued through
Turkmenistan. The IAEA may have found this issue easier to
address to the Turkmen government since the Parliament
ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of
Acts of Nuclear Terrorism on February 6.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: While we have no independent reporting
regarding the extent to which Turkmen authorities cooperated
with the IAEA's fact-finding efforts, the fact they were
permitted to visit known radioactive dump sites and gather
data is a further indication that the Turkmen government is
invested in conforming to its international convention
obligations. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV IAEA TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN COOPERATING WITH IAEA EFFORTS TO
ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH NUCLEAR CONVENTIONS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: An IAEA delegation met with government
officials in Ashgabat in mid-February to assist
Turkmenistan's efforts to achieve compliance with
nuclear-related international conventions to which it is a
signatory. Turkmenistan's state-run media reported that
inspections of old dump sites revealed no issues needing
near-term attention. The visitors also worked with Turkmen
officials to get Turkmenistan's mandated report regime into
order. IAEA representatives may have also sought to discuss
the December discovery of radioactive waste by Uzbekistani
border authorities. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) A working-level International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) delegation was in Turkmenistan February 11-15 for
meetings with the Foreign Ministry and specialists from the
"Gun" (Sun) Scientific-Production Association of the Supreme
Council for Science and Technology. IAEA officials last
visited a year ago to help the government initiate a survey
within all government organs to determine whether
Turkmenistan holds any nuclear or radiological materials.
Turkmen press reported that the survey is complete, and
confirmed there are no nuclear materials "of interest to
IAEA," and that Turkmenistan does not conduct any nuclear
research or development.
4. (U) During this visit, Turkmen press reported that
members of the IAEA delegation examined the data gathered in
the survey, and visited sites where radioactive waste had
been disposed during the Soviet period, and they conducted
tests to determine levels of radioactivity. The site
locations were not specified, but were reported to have been
under IAEA's acceptable limits. IAEA representatives also
taught Turkmen personnel how to electronically draft the
agency's mandatory annual report.
5. (SBU) While here, IAEA representatives may have also
raised the December 2007 discovery of radioactive material on
a train bound for Iran by authorities in Uzbekistan. The
material reportedly contained Cesium-137, a radiological
waste product that comes from nuclear reactors and nuclear
test facilities. Had the material not been discovered by
Uzbek authorities, its course would have continued through
Turkmenistan. The IAEA may have found this issue easier to
address to the Turkmen government since the Parliament
ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of
Acts of Nuclear Terrorism on February 6.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: While we have no independent reporting
regarding the extent to which Turkmen authorities cooperated
with the IAEA's fact-finding efforts, the fact they were
permitted to visit known radioactive dump sites and gather
data is a further indication that the Turkmen government is
invested in conforming to its international convention
obligations. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND