GERMANY SUPPORTS USG POSITION ON RETURN OF HEU TO

UNCLAS BERLIN 001629 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/NESS DAN FENSTERMACHER STATE FOR EUR/CE PETER SCHROEDER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP TRGY IAEA RS GM SUBJECT: GERMANY SUPPORTS USG POSITION ON RETURN OF HEU TO RUSSIA REF: STATE 126518 ¶1. (SBU) In the interest of enlisting German MFA support to expedite preparations for the return of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) from the Rossendorf Research Reactor in Saxony, Germany to Russia by the end of 2010, Berlin EMIN delivered the reftel DOE letter with cover letter to MFA Deputy Director General, Ambassador Viktor Elbling. In a follow-up conversation on December 5, Elbling told EMIN that Germany is aware of the need to expedite delivery of the HEU to Russia and is in complete agreement with the letter's contents. However, Elbling stressed that in order to transfer the HEU to Russian, the MFA must first get the support of the German Environmental Ministry (BMU),who has yet to take a position on this matter. ¶2. (SBU) In a prior conversation, Dr. Joerg Polster, MFA Nuclear Energy Policy officer, told EconOff that his ministry intends to distribute the reftel letter up to the highest levels of the MFA, as well as to senior officials in the BMU. Polster said that he is optimistic that this letter should "do the trick" and prompt the MFA to approach the Russians. However, Polster also said the possibility of delay exists due to associated political sensitivities within the BMU. Elaborating, he said the real issue is that the BMU may be wary that the Russians will not handle the HEU in accordance with German environmental Standards; BMU may also fear potential political backlash from environmentalists in an election year. Pointing out Steinmeier's candidacy as Chancellor, Polster cautioned that the MFA may be inclined to drag their feet on the HEU transfer - which is why his office requested the letter in the first place. ¶3. (SBU) EconOff also spoke with Axel Groehner, the responsible desk officer on this issue from Ministry of Economics (BMWi),who confirmed that his ministry's views are aligned with the MFA. Like Polster, Groehner emphasized that the BMU might pose difficulties. Groehner also said that he understood that the HEU delivery would take place by air, and the BMU must agree before the delivery can take place. (COMMENT: Unlike the USG, German Ministries operate with relative autonomy. The implication is neither the MFA nor even the Chancellery may be able to force the BMU,s hand on this matter. END COMMENT). Koenig