SOUTH AFRICA: NO OFFICIAL WORD ON JOINT IAEA

UNCLAS PRETORIA 002665 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/S DIOP AND WALKE,ISN/MNSA FOR ADAMS/SHARP, AND ISN/RA FOR FISHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP PREL IAEA SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: NO OFFICIAL WORD ON JOINT IAEA SAFEGUARDS OUTREACH REF: A. VIENNA 551 ¶B. STATE 116776 ¶1. (SBU) Meeting with Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Deputy Director for Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation Johann Kellerman on December 22, DepPolCouns underscored the message US UNVIE Vienna reported Ref A on U.S.-South African partnership to secure further IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements. DepPolCouns presented Ref B non-paper and indicated that the document had been discussed in Vienna. Kellerman did not comment on the proposed plan. Echoing Ref A comment on South Africa's manpower shortage, Kellerman confirmed that Pretoria would not be able to give us an answer on the proposed collaboration until late January at the earliest. ¶2. (SBU) Kellerman said Ambassador Leslie Gumbi is assigned to replace Xolisa Mahbongo as DIRCO Chief Director for Multilateral Affairs as Mahbongo departs for Vienna. Kellerman commented that he looked forward to working for Gumbi again (Note: Kellerman worked for Gumbi at the South African Mission to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. End note),but he added that Gumbi is not expected in the office before the end of January. Ambassador Minty is also on leave and not expected back until late January. Kellerman himself is due back in the office on January 18. GIPS