EUROPEAN COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER AFRICAN URANIUM

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001701 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IR KNNP MNUC PARM EUN SUBJECT: EUROPEAN COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER AFRICAN URANIUM MINE SECURITY PROJECTS REF: A. STATE 128756 ¶B. 08 STATE 130622 ¶1. (SBU) On December 18, poloff delivered REF A non-paper and demarche to Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, Head of the Security Policy Unit in the External Relations Directorate of the European Commission. Poloff emphasized that as part of our engagement with the European Union to deny Iran the means to enrich uranium, the USG would like to work with the European Commission to secure uranium mines in key African countries such as Namibia, Sierra Leone, Niger, Gabon, the DRC, and South Africa. In particular, the U.S. would like to invite the Commission to send experts to a mid-January 2010 mine security assessment in Namibia. ¶2. (SBU) Wigemark said the Commission would examine the proposal and respond formally as soon as possible. Commenting that the Commission has been looking to expand its non-proliferation activities in Africa under the Instrument for Stability (REF B),he promised to communicate with the Development Directorate-General and AIDCO, which administers the Instrument for Stability. ¶3. (SBU) Wigemark said the Commission is unlikely to have sufficient travel funds to support involvement in the January assessment. He suggested that if, in fact, Commission officials are unable to participate, the U.S. should provide a post-assessment briefing to the Commission delegation in Windhoek and to Commission officials in Brussels. He said such a briefing would allow the EU to make an informed decision about providing funding. Wigemark noted that while a funding decision would be made in Brussels, Commission delegations in Africa have considerable influence over development project decisions in African countries. KENNARD .