IAEA FUEL BANK ISSUE: CHINA SUPPORTS FULL

UNCLAS BEIJING 001516 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM STATE FOR T, IO/T, ISN/NESS UNVIE FOR IAEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ENRG TRGY KNNP IAEA CH SUBJECT: IAEA FUEL BANK ISSUE: CHINA SUPPORTS FULL DISCUSSION AT BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING REF: STATE 57093 (NOTAL) ¶1. PolOff delivered reftel demarche encouraging China to support a full and open discussion of fuel bank assurances at the June 15-18 IAEA Board of Governors meeting, including advocating with other countries to do the same, to Arms Control and Disarmament Department Nuclear Division Deputy Director Zhang Shen on June 5. Zhang responded that China supported the idea of multilateral fuel assurances and therefore welcomed the opportunity to discuss this issue at the June 15-18 Board of Governors meeting. China would "engage constructively" on this issue, looked forward to an "in-depth and substantive discussion," and was ready to listen to other Board members' views, Zhang said. PICCUTA