NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP BRIEFS UAE NUCLEAR EXPORT CONTROLS

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000478

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SUBJECT: NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP BRIEFS UAE NUCLEAR EXPORT CONTROLS
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1. (SBU) Summary: UAE officials working on developing nuclear power
met May 12 in Abu Dhabi with the Nuclear Suppliers Group, discussing
mechanisms of collaboration to prevent proliferation and ensure
program integrity. With members of the UAE's export control team
also present, they reviewed UAE preparations for an oversight
organization to help manage export licensing and control lists. The
meetings were productive, noted in the UAE press, and constitute a
useful step forward in UAEG engagement on export control generally.
End summary.


2. (U) In a full day session on May 12, an 11-member team
representing the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was received at the
UAE Foreign Ministry by a similar sized Emirati team chaired by the
UAE's Special Representative for International Nuclear Cooperation
(and UAE PermRep to the IAEA) Ambassador Hamad Ali al-Kaabi. UAE
participants hailed from Foreign Affairs, Federal Customs, Dubai
Police, State Security, Ministry of Interior, GHQ (Armed Forces),
Ministry of Energy, and the Central Bank. The NSG presenters
included experts from the U.S. (key presentations by Richard
Goorevich, Chair of the NSG Consultative Group and Director of the
Office of International Regimes and Agreements at the National
Nuclear Security Administration),Germany (current NSG chair),and
Hungary (incoming NSG chair).


3. (U) The UAE began with a short briefing on the status of its
nuclear power program, expressing interest in international
coordination and acknowledging that key regulatory issues and
legislation were still under development. The NSG team gave a
thorough review of the history of the NSG with emphasis on the
philosophy, intent, mechanisms, and significance of cohesive NSG
action. Ambassador al-Kaabi's focused questions punctuated an open
and engaging discussion. The UAE clearly appreciated the timely
outreach and looked forward to ongoing coordination.


4. (SBU) Of significance to the larger UAEG export control efforts
(to include but not limited to nuclear aspects),Ambassador al-Kaabi
cited the May 10 meeting of a new Executive Committee mandated under
the Export Control Law and the planned formation within a month of a
federal level "Executive Office" (to include a technical support
wing) to coordinate day-to-day work. The Committee itself plans to
meet monthly.


5. (SBU) Licensing and control list issues would fall within the
Executive Office's mandate. The office will issue licenses to
exporters, for example, referring sensitive cases to the Committee
for review. Disputes may be elevated to the Cabinet for decision
(in the apparent absence of a more precise dispute-resolution
mechanism). UAE participants also said the control list would be
dynamic (not part of the law itself) and could therefore be
frequently updated, much as the Singapore or German models.


6. (U) The day closed with a discussion of the importance of
industry outreach as "a first line of defense" and all parties were
appreciative of the useful exchange. The meetings were noted in the
local press, based on an official UAE news release highlighting the
common interests of the UAE and NSG.


7. (SBU) Comment: This is the first time UAE officials working on
the nuclear power program have been so directly involved in broader
export controls issues. The meeting is a positive indication that
the nuclear program may help drive export controls progress, as key
nuclear officials have been suggesting. End comment.
OLSON















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