NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS WORKSHOP -- INDONESIAN RESPONSE

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001425 SIPDIS DEPT FOR T, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, PM, ISN, VCI DOE FOR MONA DREICER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM ENRG IAEA KNNP ID SUBJECT: NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS WORKSHOP -- INDONESIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 71296 ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request -- See Para 6. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: Mission has conveyed reftel invitation re the upcoming nuclear safeguards workshop to the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU). DEPLU expressed interest in sending Indonesian participants and asked whether USG funding was available to help defray costs. Mission requests Department of Energy's review of possible assistance in para 6. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) Dep/Pol/C conveyed to DEPLU contacts reftel invitation for Indonesia to send two to three participants to the workshop on next generation nuclear safeguards taking place in Washington, September 11-12. Dep/Pol/C explained the challenges facing the international safeguards system and the importance of continuing to strengthen those safeguards. ¶4. (U) Our GOI contact expressed interest in the workshop. Andy Rachmianto, Deputy Director for International Security and Disarmament at DEPLU, remarked that Indonesia had been among the first countries to implement previous generations of nuclear safeguards and wanted to stay at the forefront in the next generation as well. He said he would convey the invitation to colleagues at the Indonesian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN),as specifically requested in reftel. ¶5. (U) Noting that most agencies had recently experienced sharp budget cuts because of rising food and fuel prices, he asked whether any USG funding was available to help defray the costs of participation. Dep/Pol/C said he would check. ¶6. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Mission has checked DOE's website re the workshop and found no information on funding. Mission strongly supports the invitation to Indonesia, which has a good record on nuclear safeguards and takes these issues seriously. Any funding that can be made available would be well spent. We would appreciate a review of this request in the near term so that we can get back to DEPLU. HUME