PRESIDENT OF HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000715 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES, STAS, ISN, NEA/I AND EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG TRGY PINR KSCA HU IQ SUBJECT: PRESIDENT OF HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SUPPORTS IDEA OF AM IRAQI SCIENTIST ENGAGEMENT PROJECT WORKSHOP IN HUNGARY ¶1. (SBU) On July 18, Ambassador Foley used the occasion of her initial call on Jozsef Palinkas, the newly-elected President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA),as an opportunity to raise with him ISN's plans to host a workshop for former Iraqi WMD experts in Hungary. Palinkas expressed his support for the workshop, saying this would be an opportunity for Hungary to participate in rebuilding Iraq. In contrast to the views expressed by the MFA, which had previously told us that it would prefer not to publicize the workshop, Palinkas indicated that he preferred to make this activity public, both because the workshop offers an opportunity for Hungary to showcase it's non-military efforts to rebuild Iraq, and because he believed that the news would inevitably be leaked which would offer opponents of the government fodder for attack. Palinkas commented that he would contact the MFA, with which he has close ties, and convince them of the need to publicize the workshop. ¶2. (SBU) Palinkas promised to appoint two points of contact at MTA within the next two weeks. Ambassador Foley proposed a DVC with CRDF. Palinkas agreed, saying that once he had identified the POCs, he will contact the Embassy to set up the DVC to discuss the broad vision of the project; after that the working-level POCs can resolve the details. Palinkas suggested the Technical University of Budapest could be helpful in organizing the workshop, as that institution is strong in peaceful nuclear research and has a small nuclear reactor. He mentioned that Technical University researchers have expertise in monitoring radioactive pollution and detecting radioactive material, two potential alternatives for re-training Iraqi WMD experts. ¶3. (U) On another subject, Palinkas expressed the view that nuclear fission is at present the best means of electricity production for Hungary, in spite of the many objections to it, and that he hoped to extend the lifespan of the power plant in Paks. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Palinkas' view on nuclear energy is in stark contrast to the position of Laszlo Solyom, the President of Hungary, who has repeatedly expressed his vehement opposition to nuclear power. His assessment is, however, consistent with what we hear from sources in Parliament and in the MFA, who see an expanded Paks playing a greater role in meeting Hungary's energy needs while reducing its dependence on Russia. Since Palinkas is politically active, his nomination was criticized by the press and some scientists from his own ideological circle on the grounds that the Academy should be apolitical ¶5. (U) Bionote: Born September 18, 1952, Galvacs, Hungary. Graduated from Attla Jozsef University in Szeged, Hungary, with a degree in physics. Speaks excellent English. Palinkas is a nuclear scientist engaged in active research in the field of experimental physics. From 1983-5, he worked on high-energy heavy ion collisions as a guest scientist at Texas A&M University at College Station. In 1988, he worked on ion-atomic collisions at the Manne Siegbahn Institute in Sweden. From 1998-2002, he served as first State Secretary, and then Minister of Education in the Hungarian Government. In 2006, he was elected MP of the Young Democrats' party (FIDESZ) representing Hajdu-Bihar County. He served as a member of the following international scientific bodies: IUPAP Commission on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics; European Committee on Future Accelerators; International Conference on Photonic Electronic and Atomic Collisions. He was elected President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in May 2008; he resigned as a FIDESZ MP in order to accept the post. Foley