GOI EXPRESSES CONCERN ON TIMING OF NSG POLICY

UNCLAS ROME 000189 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/NESS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR ADAM SCHEINMAN, RICHARD GOOREVIVH, AND MELISSA KRUPA UNVIE FOR LISA HILLIARD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG KNNP PARM TRGY IN SUBJECT: GOI EXPRESSES CONCERN ON TIMING OF NSG POLICY EXCEPTION FOR U.S.-INDIA CIVIL NUCLEAR COOPERATION INTIIATIVE REF: SECSTATE 7192 ¶1. On February 8, Econoff delivered reftel points on the status of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) draft policy exception for the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative to Roberto Liotto, the Italian MFA official responsible for GOI participation in the NSG. Although Liotto agreed it is not feasible to complete the draft policy exemption until after the IAEA Board of Governor's March 2-7 meeting, he expressed concern that NSG participating governments may not have enough time to review the draft prior to the NSG,s May Plenary in Berlin. Liotto urged that the draft policy exception be released to NSG participating governments as soon as possible after the conclusion of the IAEA,s March meeting. SPOGLI