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).

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Summary
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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

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"The Ball is in Iraq's Court"
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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,

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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.)

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MoST Eager to Reengage in Civil Nuclear Programs
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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.)

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Update on the Yellow Cake Payments from Cameco
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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