Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRASILIA1477
2008-11-13 14:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Brasilia
Cable title:  

BRAZIL: UPDATE ON NUCLEAR MATTERS

Tags:  KNNP TRGY ENRG KSTC IAEA PARM BR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0076
RR RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #1477/01 3181421
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131421Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2876
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0129
INFO RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 3035
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 6850
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 8677
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 001477 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE PLEASE PASS TO IO/T - H. VON BEHREND, ISN/NESS - DICK
STRATFORD, ISN/CPI - KEVIN MCGEEHAN, ISN/RA - RISA MONGIELLO; ENERGY
PLEASE PASS TO NNSA - ADAM SCHEINMAN, RICHARD GOOREVICH, AND MELISSA
KRUPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP TRGY ENRG KSTC IAEA PARM BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL: UPDATE ON NUCLEAR MATTERS

REF: A) STATE 112229, B) STATE 114408, C) STATE 89032,
D) BRASILIA 1289

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 001477

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE PLEASE PASS TO IO/T - H. VON BEHREND, ISN/NESS - DICK
STRATFORD, ISN/CPI - KEVIN MCGEEHAN, ISN/RA - RISA MONGIELLO; ENERGY
PLEASE PASS TO NNSA - ADAM SCHEINMAN, RICHARD GOOREVICH, AND MELISSA
KRUPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP TRGY ENRG KSTC IAEA PARM BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL: UPDATE ON NUCLEAR MATTERS

REF: A) STATE 112229, B) STATE 114408, C) STATE 89032,
D) BRASILIA 1289


1. (U) THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT
ACCORDINGLY. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY. Per November 10 meeting with the Ministry of
External Relations (MRE) Division of Disarmament and Sensitive
Technologies (DDS),the Government of Brazil (GOB) has not received
an invitation to the Iran nuclear conference (REFTEL A). Further,
it assures that it will comply with UN Security Council Resolutions
regarding Iran and appreciated the information from the USG about
freezing the assets of the Export Development Bank of Iran and three
affiliated entities (REFTEL B). The MRE is supportive of the USG
proposal (REFTELS C) for using IAEA safeguards for nuclear material
returned to the United States from Brazil; however, the MRE is
awaiting word from Brazil's National Nuclear Energy Commission
(CNEN) before formally responding to the U.S. diplomatic note
(REFTEL D). Finally, on November 10, Post delivered a copy of the
letter and proposed revision to Paragraph 6(a)(ii) of the Criteria
Based Approach to Control Sensitive Nuclear Technologies in the NSG
Part 1 Guidelines, from National Nuclear Security Administration
(NNSA) Administrator Thomas D'Agostino, to Defense Minister Nelson
Jobim and to MRE Under-Secretary for Bilateral Politics Ambassador
Everton Vargas, with a copy for MRE/DDS. END SUMMARY.

NO INVITATION YET FROM IRAN FOR NUCLEAR CONFERENCE


3. (SBU) On October 28, 2008, Environment, Science and Technology
(EST) Officer delivered REFTEL A non-paper on Iran's upcoming
nuclear conference on November 30, 2008 to Ministry of External
Relations (MRE),Head of the Division of Disarmament and Sensitive
Technologies (DDS),Minister Santiago Mourao, and to Third Secretary
Fabio Simao Alves, who works in MRE/DDS. During a November 10
meeting between Simao Alves and EST Counselor and EST Officer, Simao
Alves stated that the Government of Brazil (GOB) had not received an

invitation from Iran and was not aware of the nuclear conference.
MRE/DDS had looked into the matter, and neither the MRE's Energy
Department nor its Iran Desk had heard anything about the
conference. In the case that it does receive an invitation, Simao
Alves said the GOB realized such a conference would be a very
sensitive political issue. The MRE would need to consider the
matter carefully. Simao Alvas added that the GOB would welcome
additional information on the conference should it become
available.

FREEZING ASSEST OF EDBI AND AFFILIATES - COMPLYING WITH UNSCRS


4. (SBU) Also at the November 10 meeting, EST Counselor and EST
Officer raised with Simao Alves the matter of freezing the assets of
the Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI) and three affiliated
entities. Post had earlier delivered to MRE/DDS REFTEL B, which
notified the GOB that pursuant to UN Security Council Resolutions
(UNSCRs) 1737, 1747 and 1803, and Executive Order 13382, the USG was
freezing the assets of EDBI and these affiliates. Simao Alves
appreciated the information and stressed that the GOB was committed
to upholding the UNSCRs regarding Iran. He said they were not aware
of EDBI or any of the affiliated entities being present in Brazil.
He reassured that the GOB was doing its utmost to internalize and
comply with the UNSCRs regarding Iran.

SAFEGUARDS FOR NUCLEAR MATERIAL CONTAINED IN IRRADIATED RESEARCH
REACTOR FUEL RETURNED BY BRAZIL


5. (SBU) During the November 10 meeting, ESTOFFs followed up on
REFTEL C with respect to arrangements that proposed to apply
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards to irradiated
research reactor fuel of U.S. origin to be returned from Brazil to
the U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Facility for
disposition. On September 22, Post had delivered this proposal per
Diplomatic Note number 387 (see REFTEL D). Simao Alves indicated
that the MRE supported this proposed application of safeguards.
However, the MRE had to finish its consultations with the Brazil's
National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) to query about an official
response. Simao Alves said that MRE was awaiting the formal
response from CNEN. MRE would send an official response once it
became available.

PROPOSED LANGUAGE FOR NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP CRITERIA-BASED
APPROACH TO TRANSFER OF ENRICHMENT AND REPROCESSING TECHNOLOGY


6. (SBU) On November 10, Post delivered a hard copy of the letter

BRASILIA 00001477 002 OF 002


and proposed revision to Paragraph 6(a)(ii) of the Criteria Based
Approach to Control Sensitive Nuclear Technologies in the NSG Part 1
Guidelines, from National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Administrator Thomas D'Agostino, to Defense Minister Nelson Jobim
and to MRE Under-Secretary for Bilateral Politics Ambassador Everton
Vargas, with a copy for MRE/DDS.

SOBEL