GERMAN MFA CLAIMS INTERAGENCY VICTORY ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000702 SIPDIS ENERGY FOR SARAH DICKERSON, ISN/NESS FOR DAN FENSTERMACHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2019 TAGS: ENRG KNNP OTRA TRGY IAEA RS GM SUBJECT: GERMAN MFA CLAIMS INTERAGENCY VICTORY ON ROSSENDORF FUEL REPROCESSING REF: A. 09 STATE 27290 ¶B. 09 BERLIN 425 Classified By: Global Affairs Chief Don Brown for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The German MFA claimed it had resolved German interagency dissent regarding its proposed transfer of spent nuclear research fuel to Russia for reprocessing (ref A). The MFA also outlined its vision of the USG role in the Berlin meetings, hoping for public USG support of the transfer and financial support for the reprocessing. ¶2. (C) In the run-up to meetings scheduled for June 15-16 in Berlin, Econoff met with German MFA Desk Officer Joerg Polster. According to Polster, the Germans have resolved their contentious internal political issues (ref B) regarding the transfer of fuel from Saxony's Rossendorf nuclear research facility. At a May 25th German interagency meeting called by the Ministry of the Environment (BMU),the BMU agreed with the MFA position that no alternative exists other than to transfer this spent nuclear fuel to Russia for recycling. The transfer process will start when the Ministry of Economics (BMWi) writes to the Russian government asking for the transfer to take place. Polster said the question of how to handle the politically sensitive &is this nuclear waste8 issue will be dealt with later, but it is important to "get the ball rolling now". The "waste8 issue will probably not, as a practical matter, arise until after the German elections and, in Polster's opinion, will be easier to deal with at that time. As the German internal political disputes appear settled, Polster anticipated that this meeting could focus on logistics and US, Russian, and German roles and responsibilities in the transfer. Polster said he is happy to have "pushed BMU into a corner" and limited their ability to object to the transfer of the material. ¶3. (C) When asked, Polster described his two-fold notion of DOE / NNSA's role in the Berlin meetings. First, he hopes for substantive discussions regarding the U.S. financial contribution to the recycling of the material after its return to Russia. Polster believes the German state of Saxony will pay for its transport to the Russian facility. Second, Polster will ask the USG to publicly support Germany's initiative to have the fuel returned to Russia. This support, as Polster sees it, might take the form of a letter from the USG to the GOG, thanking them for moving this forward, applauding their efforts, and reaffirming that there is no alternative other than the repatriation of this fuel to Russia. ¶4. (C) German participation at the Berlin meetings will likely include the Rossendorf facility director, as well as MFA, BMU, and possibly BMWi and the Ministry of Transport. Econoff will attend the Berlin meetings and report developments septel. Koenig