Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PARIS1006
2009-07-24 15:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
GOF HEU Assurances for Nuclear Exercise
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #1006/01 2051520 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 241520Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6828 INFO RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0714 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 2675
UNCLAS PARIS 001006
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
State FOR ISN/NESS - RDELABARRE
DOE for NNSA/NA-243 - RGOOREVICH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TRGY ETTC KNNP KSCA PARM FR
SUBJECT: GOF HEU Assurances for Nuclear Exercise
REF: Goorevich to Figuet letter
UNCLAS PARIS 001006
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
State FOR ISN/NESS - RDELABARRE
DOE for NNSA/NA-243 - RGOOREVICH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TRGY ETTC KNNP KSCA PARM FR
SUBJECT: GOF HEU Assurances for Nuclear Exercise
REF: Goorevich to Figuet letter
1. (U) On July 3 the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided
the assurances requested in a letter from the U.S. Department of
Energy to the French Embassy's Counselor for Nuclear Affairs
concerning the transfer of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to the
French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)
for a nuclear forensics exercise.
2. (U) Unofficial Embassy translation of the diplomatic note from
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (with Embassy clarifying notes in
parentheses) is as follows:
BEGIN TEXT OF FRENCH DIPLOMATIC NOTE
Diplomatic note 1970/QA dated July 3, 2009
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs presents its
compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has
the honor to refer to the letter sent by Mr. Richard S. Goorevich,
an official of the Department of Energy, to Mr. Jacques Figuet,
Counselor for Nuclear Affairs at the French Embassy in Washington.
This document is annexed to this diplomatic note (Embassy note: see
para 3).
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is able to confirm that
the laboratory of the Commissariat de l'Energy Atomique (Embassy
Note: French Atomic Energy Commission) has expressed an interest in
participating in the nuclear forensics exercise organized by the
European Union, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),and the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the framework of the
International Technical Working Group on Nuclear Smuggling (ITWG).
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs assures the U.S.
authorities that the 10 to 14 gram sample of highly enriched uranium
to be transferred by DOE will be used exclusively for peaceful
purposes and only to fulfill the scientific objectives of the
exercise.
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs avails itself of this
opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America
the assurances of its highest consideration.
END TEXT OF FRENCH DIPLOMATIC NOTE
3. (U) Text of the undated letter from Richard Goorevich of the U.S.
Department of Energy is as follows:
BEGIN TEXT OF GOOREVICH LETTER
Mr. Jacques Figuet
Counselor for Nuclear Affairs
Embassy of France
4101 Reservoir Road NW
Washington, DC 20007
Dear Mr. Figuet:
Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (CEA) has expressed an interest in
participating in a nuclear forensics exercise in support of the
International Technical Working Group (ITWG) on Nuclear Smuggling.
The exercise will involve the transfer of between 10-14 grams of
highly enriched uranium under a contract with the United States
Department of Energy (DOE) to their facility. Title will transfer
to the Government of France for the exclusive use of participating
in the ITWG exercise. Because the CEA laboratory is not considered
an eligible facility for international safeguards under the
International Agency for Atomic Energy (IAEA),prior to the DOE
entering into a contract with the laboratory to supply the enriched
uranium for receipt, sampling and analytical analysis and reporting,
the United States Government requests that the Government of France
provide assurance to the DOE that the nuclear material will be used
only for peaceful uses and exclusively for the purpose of this
sampling exercise.
Please confirm your receipt of this notice acknowledging the
facility's responsibility to use this material for peaceful uses and
exclusively for the purpose of the subject ITWG exercise and
furthermore, subject to a contract with DOE, the facility will
account for the nuclear material in accordance with the contract to
be executed between the DOE and the Government of France. You may
confirm receipt by faxing or emailing a signed copy of this form to
Mr. Sean Ochlbert. He may be reached at 202-586-3806 or
sean.oehlbert@nnsa.doe.gov.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Richard S. Goorevich
Director
Office of International Regimes and Agreements
U.S. Department of Energy
Pekala
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
State FOR ISN/NESS - RDELABARRE
DOE for NNSA/NA-243 - RGOOREVICH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TRGY ETTC KNNP KSCA PARM FR
SUBJECT: GOF HEU Assurances for Nuclear Exercise
REF: Goorevich to Figuet letter
1. (U) On July 3 the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided
the assurances requested in a letter from the U.S. Department of
Energy to the French Embassy's Counselor for Nuclear Affairs
concerning the transfer of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to the
French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)
for a nuclear forensics exercise.
2. (U) Unofficial Embassy translation of the diplomatic note from
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (with Embassy clarifying notes in
parentheses) is as follows:
BEGIN TEXT OF FRENCH DIPLOMATIC NOTE
Diplomatic note 1970/QA dated July 3, 2009
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs presents its
compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has
the honor to refer to the letter sent by Mr. Richard S. Goorevich,
an official of the Department of Energy, to Mr. Jacques Figuet,
Counselor for Nuclear Affairs at the French Embassy in Washington.
This document is annexed to this diplomatic note (Embassy note: see
para 3).
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is able to confirm that
the laboratory of the Commissariat de l'Energy Atomique (Embassy
Note: French Atomic Energy Commission) has expressed an interest in
participating in the nuclear forensics exercise organized by the
European Union, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),and the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the framework of the
International Technical Working Group on Nuclear Smuggling (ITWG).
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs assures the U.S.
authorities that the 10 to 14 gram sample of highly enriched uranium
to be transferred by DOE will be used exclusively for peaceful
purposes and only to fulfill the scientific objectives of the
exercise.
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs avails itself of this
opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America
the assurances of its highest consideration.
END TEXT OF FRENCH DIPLOMATIC NOTE
3. (U) Text of the undated letter from Richard Goorevich of the U.S.
Department of Energy is as follows:
BEGIN TEXT OF GOOREVICH LETTER
Mr. Jacques Figuet
Counselor for Nuclear Affairs
Embassy of France
4101 Reservoir Road NW
Washington, DC 20007
Dear Mr. Figuet:
Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (CEA) has expressed an interest in
participating in a nuclear forensics exercise in support of the
International Technical Working Group (ITWG) on Nuclear Smuggling.
The exercise will involve the transfer of between 10-14 grams of
highly enriched uranium under a contract with the United States
Department of Energy (DOE) to their facility. Title will transfer
to the Government of France for the exclusive use of participating
in the ITWG exercise. Because the CEA laboratory is not considered
an eligible facility for international safeguards under the
International Agency for Atomic Energy (IAEA),prior to the DOE
entering into a contract with the laboratory to supply the enriched
uranium for receipt, sampling and analytical analysis and reporting,
the United States Government requests that the Government of France
provide assurance to the DOE that the nuclear material will be used
only for peaceful uses and exclusively for the purpose of this
sampling exercise.
Please confirm your receipt of this notice acknowledging the
facility's responsibility to use this material for peaceful uses and
exclusively for the purpose of the subject ITWG exercise and
furthermore, subject to a contract with DOE, the facility will
account for the nuclear material in accordance with the contract to
be executed between the DOE and the Government of France. You may
confirm receipt by faxing or emailing a signed copy of this form to
Mr. Sean Ochlbert. He may be reached at 202-586-3806 or
sean.oehlbert@nnsa.doe.gov.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Richard S. Goorevich
Director
Office of International Regimes and Agreements
U.S. Department of Energy
Pekala