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