NAMIBIA: IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS VOTE

C O N F I D E N T I A L WINDHOEK 000305 SIPDIS FOR ISN/RA RICHARD NEPHEW, JODY DANIEL FOR IO/T HEATHER VON BEHREN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2018 TAGS: IAEA PARM MNUCWA WA SUBJECT: NAMIBIA: IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS VOTE REF: A) WINDHOEK 301 B) WINDHOEK 239 C) STATE 99746 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Matt Harrington for reasons 1. 4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) CDA met with Ministry of Health deputy Permanent Secretary Norbert Forster on September 30 to discuss the IAEA vote for the MESA Group open seat, per ref C. The Ministry of Health's Permanent Secretary, Forster's immediate superior, is currently in Vienna as head of Namibia's delegation at the General Conference discussions. CDA's meeting with Forster was in follow-up to earlier Embassy discussions of this topic with the MFA and Ministry of Mines and Energy (refs A and B). ¶2. (C) CDA underscored the inappropriateness of Syria or Iran serving on the IAEA Board of Governors, drawing on ref C talking points. Forster, who was clearly familiar with the topic, said the Africa Group was meeting in Vienna that day to try to determine a common position. He said the political turmoil in South Africa had so far complicated agreement on a consensus position. Forster provided no insights into the internal Africa Group discussions to date, nor on whether Namibia had been active in support of a particular position. HARRINGTON