IAEA: UK RESPONSE TO REQUEST RELATED TO THE

UNCLAS LONDON 001647 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP TRGY ENRG KSTC IAEA PARM UK SUBJECT: IAEA: UK RESPONSE TO REQUEST RELATED TO THE CONVENTION ON SUPPLEMENTARY COMPENSATION FOR NUCLEAR DAMAGE REF: STATE 54213 ¶1. (U) PolMilOff delivered reftel and on June 13, 2008, received the response below from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's Counter Proliferation Department. ¶2. (U) Begin Text of HMG Response: June 13, 2008 (Complimentary opening), (Regarding) the non-paper on CSC that you provided. Overall we were pleased with the outcome of the recent G8 Energy Ministers' discussion on nuclear energy and the declaration: "We emphasize that the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy must be carried out in a manner that ensures nuclear non-proliferation, safety and security and take note of the importance of various schemes for nuclear liability, such as the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage. We also emphasize the necessity of responsible policies for decommissioning and fuel and radioactive waste management." I think the key points to report back to Washington are: -- We share your view that international nuclear liability law is important and that it makes a valuable contribution to encouraging the use of nuclear power; -- We therefore agree that we should aim for worldwide coverage for international nuclear liability law; -- At present UK energies are focused on implementing the amendments to the Paris Convention, which we aim to have done by spring 2009. We will look at the Convention on Supplementary Compensation thereafter. Hope that this is helpful. Nick Low Nuclear Issues Team Leader Counter Proliferation Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office End Text. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom TUTTLE