POINTS ON RALLYING SUPPORT FOR THE INDIA-IAEA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 002047 SIPDIS ISN/RA FOR TODD KOCA SCA/RA FOR JASON MCCLELLAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC KNNP RS SUBJECT: POINTS ON RALLYING SUPPORT FOR THE INDIA-IAEA SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT DELIVERED REF: STATE 74896 Classified By: EST ACTING COUNSELOR KRISTINA KVIEN FOR REASONS 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) On July 17 we delivered reftel points regarding rallying support for the India - IAEA safeguards agreement to Alexander Trofimov, Nuclear Affairs Officer in the MFA Department for Disarmament and Security Affairs. Trofimov thanked us for the information and stated that Russia continues to support the USG in its efforts to assist India's progress through the IAEA/NSG process. ¶2. (C) Trofimov said that the GOR would prefer a comprehensive agreement, but that they accept that it is not possible. He added that Russia will support the USG in the upcoming IAEA Board of Governors (BOG) meeting, but has two areas of concern. First, India should explain why there is no actual list of facilities included in the current draft. He opined that India would achieve leverage if it were proactive in addressing this before the BOG. His second is that India should specify the measures it would apply related to the preamble's "right to apply measures to suspend" the agreement. Trofimov believed that India would enhance its chances for success in the upcoming IAEA BOG and subsequent NSG waiver effort if it elaborates on these issues and its future intentions. He also noted that he sees Pakistan as the main potential problem at the BOG. ¶3. (C) Trofimov considers the time between the BOG and the NSG meetings to be "critical". He advised that a new NSG draft be circulated to all the members of the NSG with sufficient time for review, to forestall delays based on requests for additional time. BEYRLE