U/S TAUSCHER-ROSATOM DEP DIR SPASSKIY DECEMBER 7

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 003012 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2019 TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL RS IR SUBJECT: U/S TAUSCHER-ROSATOM DEP DIR SPASSKIY DECEMBER 7 BILAT Classified By: DCM Eric S. Rubin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a December 7 discussion, RosAtom Deputy Director Nikolay Spasskiy thanked Under Secretary Ellen Tauscher for her sustained support for the Angarsk fuel bank initiative, conveyed his thoughts for the way ahead on the Tehran Research Reactor impasse, stated his desire to re-address the 123 Agreement by Spring 2010, expressed support for the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit, revealed that he had initialed a Russian version of a 123 Agreement with India on 7 Dec 09, and praised the recent U.S.-Russia reset of relations in the nonproliferation sphere. The overall tone of the meeting was productive and positive. END SUMMARY. Fuel Bank -------------- ¶2. (C) On December 7, Under Secretary Tauscher and DCM Eric Rubin, accompanied by Senior Advisor James Timbie, DOE-Moscow Deputy Director, and EST and political officers, met with Rosatom Deputy Director Nikolay Spasskiy, who was joined by Rosatom International Department Deputy Ubeev, and Rosatom interlocutor Yuri Bussurin. Spasskiy began the meeting by thanking U/S Tauscher for the strong support of the United States in making Spasskiy's vision of an Angarsk fuel bank a reality. Spasskiy mentioned that the fuel bank initiative had been one of his pet projects since he first began working at Rosatom three years ago. Spasskiy stated that the recent IAEA approval of the Angarsk project was essential for Russia but lamented that Russia had been stonewalled during several previous attempts to bring the initiative to a successful conclusion. He appreciated the crucial U.S. support in Vienna and in capitals around the world. Spasskiy expressed a desire to begin preparations for a signing ceremony for the Angarsk project soon, and envisioned another signing of the Plutonium Disposition Protocol perhaps sometime on the margins of the Nuclear Security Summit in April 2010. Spasskiy said Rosatom and the Russian MFA are completely in sync on this matter. U/S Tauscher concluded that the recent IAEA Board of Governors vote to adopt a resolution approving the Angarsk fuel bank can now bring theory into reality. Tehran Research Reactor -------------- ¶3. (C) U/S Tauscher expressed her appreciation for Spasskiy's personal efforts in Vienna and stated that TRR is not necessarily a dead issue, but one which might be resuscitated with a spirit of cooperation. Spasskiy expressed agreement with U/S Tauscher's assessment. He lauded the efforts and preparation of DOE Deputy Secretary Poneman during the Vienna negotiations and stated that our joint cooperative efforts would continue. Spasskiy noted that the TRR plan offered Iran a great opportunity and should have been accepted. Iran now faces a Vienna resolution that sends a very tough message that the status quo can not continue forever. While laying the blame squarely on the Iranians for their "predictable but atrocious" handling of the situation, Spasskiy said we need to seek ways to revive the negotiation process because threats of further sanctions will clearly not work now. He recommended a two-phased approach to unfreeze the situation. First, Russia is looking into the question of how quickly we can deliver a small amount of finished fuel (e.g.,6 kilograms),and then explain how quickly we can deliver the full 115 kilograms by a certain specified date. Spasskiy emphasized that the full 1200 kilograms of LEU must be removed from Iran to a third country such as Turkey, Armenia, or Kazakhstan. Second, a multi-lateral team should be sent to Iran to visit the TRR. Spasskiy added that it would be difficult politically for the Iranians to deny the team site access and concluded that the resulting report could be useful politically and technically. U/S Tauscher responded that it is worth our cooperative efforts to pursue the implementation of the TRR proposal, while affirming that United States would continue to call for the full 1200 kg to be removed from Iran to a third country. 123 Agreement -------------- ¶4. (C) Spasskiy turned the discussion to the 123 Agreement by asking why achieving congressional approval was such a difficult task and stated that while he understood the 123 is not on the top of the priority list, it should be on a short list somewhere after resolution of the START follow-on agreement. Sticking with the Rosatom party line, Spasskiy told U/S Tauscher that the absence of a 123 Agreement is becoming a problem because the agreement is perceived by some as being a necessary framework agreement. Spasskiy then revealed that, earlier on December 7, he and his Indian counterpart had initialed the Russian version of a 123 Agreement with India. Spasskiy asked the U.S. to provide Rosatom with an updated status assessment on the 123 Agreement prior to the April 2010 Nuclear Security Summit. U/S Secretary Tauscher assured Spasskiy that the 123 remains a priority, however it would take the political will of the Congress for it to enter into force. U/S Tauscher mentioned that the outcome on the 123 Agreement would depend on a number of factors, including Iran. 60 Day Study -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Timbie opined that while a 123 Agreement is pending, the U.S. still looks forward to continuing cooperation with Russia on mutually beneficial civil nuclear activities, as proposed in the 60-day study under the auspices of the Nuclear Security and Nuclear Energy Working Group of the BPC. U/S Tauscher and Timbie added that completion of the study and launching of cooperation in the study's identified areas will help build the case for successful congressional review of the 123. Spasskiy concurred that the 60-day study could be a useful vehicle. Spasskiy said that, regarding consolidation and conversion, the Rosatom proposal to focus on third countries is on the right track if handled correctly. Spasskiy asked U/S Tauscher to provide him with a clear understanding of Global Nuclear Energy Partnership's future. While he had discussed the issue with DOE deputy secretary Poneman, Spasskiy still wanted to obtain DOE's policy prior the April Nuclear Security Summit. U/S Tauscher told Spasskiy that she would forward his request. Nuclear Security Summit -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Spasskiy gave his support for the Nuclear Security Summit saying that he was satisfied that the scenario was taking shape. He praised the efforts of Gary Samore and Laura Holgate to plan the Summit and expressed a desire to agree on an agenda as quickly as possible. Spasskiy declared that the Summit should be framed as very formal event, not simply a seminar or a conference, in order to achieve the desired results. Spasskiy then reiterated his desire to obtain a firm Summit agenda by January 2010. U/S Tauscher assured Spasskiy that she would pass this request on to Mr. Samore. ¶7. (C) Timbie reminded Spasskiy that the FBI Director had delivered during his recent visit to Moscow the sample requested by Russia. The extra effort to respond to the Russain request demostrated, Timbie said, our commitment to cooperation on nuclear security. Timbie said the U.S. would appreciate a report from Russia after analysis of the sample. Spasskiy responded that the U.S. will receive a report next year after the sample has been analyzed. ¶8. (U) Under Secretary Tauscher's office cleared this cable. Beyrle