GERMANY FORMULATING POSITION ON CSC

UNCLAS BERLIN 000790 SENSITIVE SIPDIS, STATE FOR L, OES, ISN, EUR, AND EEB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP TRGY ENRG KSTC IAEA PARM GM SUBJECT: GERMANY FORMULATING POSITION ON CSC REF: STATE 54213 ¶1. (SBU) Global Affairs officer delivered reftel nonpaper and talking points on June 6 to the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) Specialized Working Group for Nuclear Safety Head of Division Ms. Ursula Adenauer and on June 11 to the German MFA Head of Unit for Nuclear Energy and Non-Proliferation Dietrich Becker. Neither offered immediate responses to the nonpaper information, but indicated that Germany would carefully consider the CSC before taking an official position. ¶2. (SBU) Becker welcomed the nonpaper information but expressed confusion as to the purpose and utility of the CSC given that Germany is already party to the Paris Convention of 1960 and Brussels Supplementary Convention of 1963. Becker admitted unfamiliarity with the legal nuances of the CSC provisions and said he would pass the nonpaper to Dr. Norbert Pelzer of the German University of Goettingen for further study and ask him to provide legal advice. Pelzer has served as the MFA's legal advisor for nuclear law matters since 1970. ¶3. (SBU) Adenauer said the BMU is aware that the United States deposited its instrument of ratification for the CSC with the IAEA on May 21, but noted that Germany has not yet taken an official position on the CSC. Adenauer expressed appreciation for the information and stated a number of German ministries would have to take a close look at the CSC before offering any feedback. ¶4. Post will continue to follow up with German ministries and report any substantive German response septel. TIMKEN JR