ARGENTINA RECEPTIVE ON NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE GOALS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001231

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/17
TAGS: PREL IAEA ENRG AR KNNP
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA RECEPTIVE ON NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE GOALS IN
MEETINGS WITH AMB. SUSAN BURK

REF: A) BRASILIA 1320; B) BUENOS AIRES 0964

CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Kelly, Deputy Chief of Mission, State; REASON:
1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. During meetings in Buenos Aires on

October 26-27, Special Representative of the President for

Nuclear Nonproliferation Susan Burk successfully identified

areas of common interest and support going in to the 2010

Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference. Candid

discussions helped clarify positions and explain policy

priorities. While consultations revealed differences in

views, Argentine interlocutors strongly endorsed continued

engagement with the U.S. in advancing all three pillars of

the NPT: disarmament; non-proliferation; and peaceful use

of nuclear technology. Argentina indicated openness to

enhancing safeguards, including the adoption of an

Additional Protocol (AP),although interlocutors pointed to

the cost and technical burdens of the AP as a barrier.

Most significantly, they again pointed to Brazil's

opposition to the AP as a barrier given Argentina's close

integration with Brazil on nuclear safeguards. END SUMMARY




2. (SBU) In meetings with key Government of

Argentina (GOA) officials on October 26-27 in Buenos Aires,

the Special Representative of the President for Nuclear

Nonproliferation, Ambassador Susan Burk, described U.S.

preparations and priorities for the 2010 NPT Review

Conference (RevCon). The Argentines were engaged on the

topic, well-informed, and appreciative of the opportunity

to have an open and frank discussion with the USG.




3. (U) Using President Obama's speech on nonproliferation

in Prague and Secretary Clinton's recent speech on

nonproliferation at the U.S. Institute for Peace as points

of departure, Amb. Burk described the USG approach to the

2010 NPT RevCon, and its determination to contribute to a

balanced review that addresses the three pillars of the

NPT: nonproliferation; disarmament; and peaceful use of

nuclear technology. On disarmament, she outlined the

President's agenda, particularly the negotiations with

Russia on a new START agreement, plans to seek US Senate

ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT),

and negotiation of a verifiable Fissile Material Cutoff

Treaty (FCMT). With respect to nonproliferation, she

emphasized the importance of strengthening the safeguards


regime, including by promoting universal adherence to the

Additional Protocol, which Argentina has not yet adopted.




4. (U) For the RevCon, Amb. Burk said the U.S. would be

prepared to address other issues including the abuse of the

withdrawal provision, compliance with the NPT, and support,

including financial, for the International Atomic Energy

Agency (IAEA). Amb. Burk also highlighted the importance

of RevCon consideration of the peaceful use of nuclear

energy especially given growing interest in nuclear power

as a result of concerns about climate change and energy

security. Argentina could play an important role in this

discussion given its role as an exporter of nuclear

technologies.



A COMMITTED AND SUPPORTIVE PARTNER IN THE REGION

-------------- ---




5. (C) In a meeting with Dr. Norma Boero, head of the

National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA),Amb. Burk

outlined areas believed to be of common interest, such as

demonstrating progress on disarmament, strengthening of

safeguards and support for the IAEA to enforce them, abuse

of the withdrawal provision, and multilateral fuel

assurances. Boero emphasized Argentina's role as a leader

in the area of peaceful uses, having the capacity to

provide training, fuel and expertise for energy and medical

applications, although she expressed concerns about how a

fuel bank could impede Argentina's technological

development for fuel fabrication. She touted the GOA's

recent effort to convert all highly enriched uranium (HEU)

to low enriched uranium (LEU) for its reactors, which is

scheduled to be completed in mid-2010, and noted that

Argentina is now providing both fuel and advice on LEU,

especially for "high-flow" reactors.




6. (C) Amb. Burk pointed out that these efforts

demonstrated the GOA's credibility as a leader on

nonproliferation. She said she hoped Argentina would be

able to take steps to adopt the Additional Protocol (AP),

but acknowledged this would have to be reconciled with

Argentina's participation in the regional safeguards

organization, the Brazil-Argentina Agency for


Accountability and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC).

Amb. Burk suggested that the GOA and USG work together to

reinforce a common message on safeguards, including the AP,

with Boero expressing support for further outreach and an

openness to considering how Argentina could improve its own

safeguards implementation. On several occasions Boero

emphasized GOA's commitment to a successful 2010 Review

Conference, noting the GOA was willing "to provide support

for whatever is necessary."



7. (C) Meetings with the Argentina Nuclear Regulatory

Authority (ARN) revealed a similar openness to finding

areas of common interest and cooperation as well as some

additional areas of concern. In a discussion with ARN

Head, Dr. Raul Racana, Amb. Burk commented on the special

relationship the US and Argentina enjoyed, and the

"extraordinary" bilateral cooperation demonstrated by the

Joint Standing Committee on Nuclear Energy Cooperation

(JSCNEC). Racana said this cooperation was "just good,"

and that further cooperation in the area of technology

assistance could improve this relationship. Amb. Burk

raised the AP, encouraging the GOA to adopt it, although

she acknowledged Argentina's role in ABACC and Brazil's

position. Racana responded that the AP "is a lot of work"

and imposes additional costs, and that more simple and

straightforward safeguards technologies would facilitate

and enable its implementation. Amb. Burk said she

understood that initial implementation of the AP was,

indeed, a lot of work, but could lead to Argentina

achieving "integrated safeguards," which would lessen the

safeguards burden in the longer term.



MFA: DIFFERENT POINTS OF EMPHASIS BUT COMMON

OBJECTIVES

-------------- --------------




8. (C) In a meeting with key Foreign Ministry issue leaders

on October 26, MFA Director General or Political Affairs

Rafael Grossi expressed appreciation for Obama's agenda and

approach, noting UNSCR 1887 could be an effective tool for

addressing NPT compliance and withdrawal issues. He

registered concern, however, about certain messages from

senior administration officials such as references to a



"4th pillar" and a "21st century version of the NPT" that

would include India. Both Grossi and Director of

International Security, Nuclear and Space Issues (DIGAN)

Gustavo Ainchil emphasized that were the NPT opened up it

could never be closed again. Ainchil sustained that safety

and capacity-building duties will necessarily create large

budget demands on the IAEA if there is a nuclear

renaissance.




9. (C) Amb. Burk explained that the U.S. has no plans to

amend the NPT, and the fourth pillar was a reference to new

concerns about nuclear security and preventing nuclear

terrorism. This was not intended to reflect USG interest

in a new provision of the NPT but was a complementary goal

that NPT parties possessing nuclear material and technology

should embrace. She also expressed concern for how

implementation of the 1995 Middle East Resolution would

play out at the 2010 Review Conference, noting Egypt will

likely focus exclusively on this resolution. She noted

that the U.S. is working to facilitate constructive

engagement with Egypt and Israel with a view to finding a

way forward. She suggested the GOA could be helpful in

outreach on this and other regional issues, noting that

Argentina's credibility would be an asset. Grossi

responded that Argentina had its own distinct goals in the

NPT Review, but that they were largely in line with U.S.

objectives. Grossi emphasized the need to maintain

engagement with the U.S. and continue to identify areas of

cooperation and common interest, both before and after the

RevCon.




10. (C) Amb. Burk continued MFA discussions with Vice

Minister Victorio Taccetti on October 27, joined by Nuclear

Security Summit Sherpa, Ambassador (ret) Elsa Kelly, and

Rafael Grossi as well as Embassy DCM. As in earlier

meetings, Taccetti praised the Obama administration's agenda

on nonproliferation and its approach to multilateralism.

He described arms control advances between the United

States and the Russian Federation as "very important."

Taccetti stressed Argentina's focus on the medical

applications of nuclear technology and "clean" energy

production, but indicated concern about the possible


imposition of new barriers to this business through nuclear

security efforts. Taccetti said that Argentina "is not

opposed" to signing the AP, but that its current

arrangements with ABACC and Brazil's opposition to the AP

prevent it from doing so. He indicated that the GOA is

promoting better regional integration and safeguards

cooperation with Brazil, and would like to see U.S.

recognition for these efforts. Amb. Burk acknowledged the

GOA as a leader, noting that ABACC is a model for regional

cooperation that potentially other countries, such as India

and Pakistan, could use.



Public Outreach

--------------




11. (SBU) Amb. Burk capped off her consultations in Buenos

Aires with a well-received address to students and retired

diplomats at Belgrano University. In a question and answer

session, students focused many of their questions on Iran

compliance and sanctions issues, noting concern that

current actions were not effective. Questioners also

raised concerns about U.S. development of new nuclear

weapons and delivery vehicles.




12. (U) Ambassador Burk cleared this message.
MARTINEZ