MOVING FORWARD FROM UNMOVIC/UNSCR 1762: THE BALL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003143 SIPDIS FOR ISN/NESS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2028 TAGS: TPHY SENV TRGY TSPL PARM ENRG KGIT KNNP KSCA OSCI, IZ SUBJECT: MOVING FORWARD FROM UNMOVIC/UNSCR 1762: THE BALL IS IN IRAQ'S COURT REF: STATE 95569 Classified By: EMIN Ambassador Marc Wall for reasons 1.4 (e, f). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Responding to reftel points on Iraq's normalization of its civil nuclear program and lifting UNSCR restrictions, Minister of Science and Technology (MoST) Ra'id Fahmi told EMIN that "the ball is in Iraq's court." Betraying limited understanding of the international nonproliferation regime, Fahmi and his staff displayed a noteworthy willingness to engage in detail on each of the arms control conventions and promised to follow up with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the political and diplomatic aspects of the process move forward apace with the technical side. MoST said their future civil nuclear plans include research in water resources, materials science, agriculture, medicine, and industrial research and development to include the purchase of a 25 million electron-volt accelerator. MoST is not presently considering nuclear technology for electricity development, noting they must "start simple and work their way up." Fahmi confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has received the first two of three payments from Cameco for the yellowcake and were anticipating the final payment as early as next week. Septel will report on MFA response. We will follow-up with the Iraqi National Monitoring Directorate (INMD). End summary. ¶2. (U) Participant list: Iraq: - Ra'id Fahmi -- Minister of Science and Technology - Dr. Faoud Al Mousawy -- Deputy Minister - Dr. Talib Ebrahim, Director General, Materials Science and Physics - Dr. Farouq -- Deputy Director General, INMD - Sundus Ahmed Mousa -- Head of Computer Administration, Minister's Office United States Embassy: - Ambassador Marc Wall -- Coordinator for Economic Transition in Iraq - Roy Therrien -- ESTH Officer - Dr. Melissa Finley -- Sandia National Lab, International Biological Threat Reduction Organization - Daniel Markley -- Deputy Energy Attache -------------- "The Ball is in Iraq's Court" -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Responding to reftel points on Iraq's way forward to normalizing their civil nuclear program and lifting UNSCR restrictions, Minister of Science and Technology (MoST) Ra'id Fahmi told EMIN, "I guess the ball is in Iraq's court." Particularly noting EMIN's emphasis on the importance of working closely with other ministries, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),to ensure the political and diplomatic aspects of this issue advance apace with the technical side, Fahmi agreed to meet with the MFA as soon as possible to investigate the status and way forward for each of the protocols and treaties noted in the talking points. ¶4. (C) Betraying limited understanding of the international nonproliferation regime, Fahmi and his staff did display a noteworthy willingness to engage in discussion regarding Iraq's present status as existing or aspiring states parties. MoST described Iraq's status as follows: - Additional protocol to IAEA safeguards -- "I believe the Ministry of Justice is working on this." - Export controls (Missile Technology Control Regime, Australia Group, Nuclear Suppliers Group, Wassenaar Arrangement) -- not clear on status. - Nonproliferation Treaty -- not clear on status. - Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) -- "We signed that in the 90s." (Note: Iraq signed the BWC in 1971 and ratified the treaty in 1991. End note.) - Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste -- "Do we have to sign these since we do not have a nuclear power program?" EconOff explained that the international community prefers states sign these conventions before undertaking nuclear programs, BAGHDAD 00003143 002 OF 002 not after. - Code of Conduct for Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources -- "The Iraq Radioactive Source Regulatory Authority is handling that." - Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage -- not clear on status. - Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) -- "The Presidency has signed it and it will be published as law very soon." (Note: Fahmi was surprised to hear that Iraq had further responsibilities under CWC accession besides signing. They must also report to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on the legislative and administrative measures Iraq has taken to implement the CWC as well as submit its initial declaration on its present and past chemical weapons activities. End note.) - Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) -- "That is probably something for the MFA." (Note: It appeared they had never heard of the GICNT. End note.) - Report to the United Nations in accordance with UNSCR 1762 -- "I believe we are doing this." (Note: Iraq's Permanent Mission to the UN reported to the Security Council in accordance with UNSCR 1762 in a letter dated May 29, 2008. End note.) Minister Fahmi assured EMIN they would research each topic thoroughly and follow-up with the Embassy. (Note: We also delivered this message to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (septel) and will follow-up with the INMD. The INMD is the National Authority responsible for implementing Iraq's obligations pursuant to international and regional conventions and treaties concerned with the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, chemical, and biological - and their means of delivery. End note.) -------------- --- MoST Eager to Reengage in Civil Nuclear Programs -------------- --- ¶5. (SBU) MoST said their future civil nuclear plans include research in water resources, materials science, medicine, agriculture, and industrial research and development to include the purchase of a 25 million electron-volt accelerator. Dr. Faoud Al Mousawy, MoST Deputy Minister, noted with pride that Iraq used to have a 5 megawatt (MW) vertical and horizontal channel research and isotope production reactor. "In 1967-68, we were the only country in the region capable of producing radiological sources. Now, we can do nothing," he said. (Note: Iraq's IRT-5000 5 MW reactor at Tuwaitha was built by the Soviet Union in 1967 and destroyed by coalition forces in 1991. End note.) MoST said they are not presently considering nuclear technology for electricity development, noting they must "start simple and work their way up." ¶6. (SBU) Fahmi said that Iraq's Gammacell irradiators were removed by coalition forces "even though they were not even working." Noting the time and effort it has taken to sign the CWC, Fahmi lamented, "It could take us ten years before we can import another Gammacell." (Note: The Gammacell is a shielded Cobalt-60 source used for research, food decontamination, and sterilization of medical equipment. End note.) -------------- - Update on the Yellow Cake Payments from Cameco -------------- - ¶7. (SBU) Fahmi confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has received the first two of three payments from Cameco for 550 metric tons of Iraqi yellowcake delivered to Canada by MNF-I in July. Sundus Mousa, the Minister's Assistant, said they were anticipating the final payment as early as next week. "They finished the chemical analysis a long time ago, but we are still waiting for the results to determine the size of the final payment," she said. Fahmi also said that the Prime Minister's Office had authorized the Ministry of Finance to release 7 million USD from the proceeds of the sale to the I-CERP Fund to repay MNF-I for the delivery cost of the yellowcake, but was not sure if transfer has been completed. CROCKER