FOREIGN MINISTER REACTS TO NUCLEAR ISSUES

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000498 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR MSERGIO AND DINGRAM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG EMIN IAEA PGOV CG SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER REACTS TO NUCLEAR ISSUES REF: A. KINSHASA 247 B. STATE 38529 ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador met May 24 with Foreign Minister Antipas Mbusa and raised two issues related to the DRC,s nuclear research facility and the Congo,s status as a rich source of natural uranium. Vice-minister Ignace Gata also attended. DCM was notetaker. GDRC Nuclear Team Invited to Vienna -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador informed Mbusa that a letter inviting a team from the Ministry of Higher Education/Scientific Research (MHESR) and the Kinshasa Nuclear Energy Research Center (CREN-K) to travel to Vienna on/about July 7 will be delivered to MHESR the week of June 2. The meetings with IAEA and U.S. Department of Energy officials will cover the repatriation to the U.S. of nuclear fuel currently in and around the two TRIGA reactors located at the CREN-K facility on the University of Kinshasa campus (reftels). Mbusa seemed unaware of this initiative, despite the high-level discussions that took place with the DOS/DOE National Nuclear Safety Administration team in March of this year. (Comment: DRC and international media reports on the CREN-K facility, and its involvement in deals for uranium mine concessions, were extensive during 2007 and Mbusa must have heard about the issue. End comment.) Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador explained the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) to Mbusa, gave him a list, in English, of current GICNT partner nations and the program's statement of principles, and encouraged the GDRC to endorse the initiative. Mbusa listened attentively but did not appear to be very interested in this subject, noting he had never heard of the initiative. He requested that the information be provided in French and forwarded to the Ministry under cover of a diplomatic note, with copy to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR). Post has requested a French language version of the GICNT materials and will present these to the MFA and MHESR upon receipt. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Although Mbusa's ignorance of the discussions already underway on the repatriation of nuclear fuel to the U.S. from the CREN-K facility is surprising, it is perhaps indicative of the lack of information flow between ministries within the GDRC. The appeal for the GDRC to consider participating in the GICNT is very timely now that the DRC is in discussions about radioactive material sources such as CREN-K and is faced with recurrent international concern over its status as a potential source of natural uranium. End comment. GARVELINK