CHINA CONSIDERING INCREASE IN THE INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS BEIJING 001515 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM STATE IO/T: JIM DETEMPLE AND IO/MPR: LISA SPRATT UNVIE FOR IAEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL AORC ENRG KNNP IAEA CH SUBJECT: CHINA CONSIDERING INCREASE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY BUDGET REF: A. STATE 57105 ¶B. UNVIE 227 ¶C. STATE 48677 ¶D. UNVIE 201 ¶1. PolOff delivered ref A demarche encouraging China to support a significant real increase in the IAEA regular budget and to move costs associated with nuclear security into the regular budget to Arms Control and Disarmament Department Nuclear Division Deputy Director Zhang Shen on June 5. Zhang responded that China would consider a real budget increase based on the "general principle" that the "IAEA budget should be in line with activities of the IAEA." Zhang said he would share the information provided by PolOff with the China Atomic Energy Agency, which "controls the funds" provided by China to the IAEA. PICCUTA