DEMARCHE DELIVERY ON INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR FUEL

UNCLAS ACCRA 000583 SIPDIS DEPT FOR T, IO/T, ISN/NESS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP ENRG TRGY SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERY ON INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR FUEL BANK REF: SECSTATE 57598 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Reftel demarche delivered to the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ghana appeared favorably disposed to supporting an open discussion at the IAEA regarding an international nuclear fuel bank, but gave no specific assurances of what steps they would take to advance discussion of the issue. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On June 9, Econoff delivered the demarche to the GAEC,s Director of the Radiation Protection Board, Dr. G. Emi-Reynolds (the highest official present at the GAEC.) He passed the delivered non-paper by scanned copy to Prof. Edward Akaho, Director General of the GAEC and lead technical advisor to the Ghana IAEA delegation. Akaho was already in Vienna; his later feedback to the GAEC was that personally he agreed with the US position and would take up the points with Ghana,s Ambassador in Geneva, who formally represents Ghana on the IAEA board. ¶3. (SBU) On June 16, Econoff delivered the demarche to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director for Multilateral Affairs, Dr. Kojo Assan, who noted that Ghana fully supported the peaceful development of nuclear technology. He promised to communicate the USG,s support for an open discussion on nuclear fuel bank issues to the appropriate GOG officials. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: Within the GOG, the GAEC is the technical advisor to the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on issues of nuclear technology. They are a natural advocate for supporting discussion at the IAEA level of an international nuclear fuel supply mechanism, which could eventually benefit Ghana. Although Ghana might have exploitable uranium resources, the GAEC,s leadership have in previous meetings dismissed any ambition to domestically pursue enrichment for even peaceful purposes. END COMMENT. TEITELBAUM