Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE76014
2009-07-21 18:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

DIPLOMATIC NOTE REQUESTING RUSSIAN PARTICIPATION

Tags:  KNNP MNUC ASEC KCRM PARM PINR RS XG XH 
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VZCZCXYZ0017
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #6014 2021903
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211848Z JUL 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 0000
RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 0000
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD IMMEDIATE 0000
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 0000
UNCLAS STATE 076014 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC ASEC KCRM PARM PINR RS XG XH
SUBJECT: DIPLOMATIC NOTE REQUESTING RUSSIAN PARTICIPATION
IN ITWG TASK GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN NUCLEAR
FORENSICS

REF: A. MOSCOW 001461

B. STATE 055511

UNCLAS STATE 076014

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC ASEC KCRM PARM PINR RS XG XH
SUBJECT: DIPLOMATIC NOTE REQUESTING RUSSIAN PARTICIPATION
IN ITWG TASK GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN NUCLEAR
FORENSICS

REF: A. MOSCOW 001461

B. STATE 055511


1. (U) This is an action request for Embassy Moscow. Please
see paragraph 3.


2. (SBU) BACKGROUND: The Department is grateful for the
Government of Russia's (GOR) active participation at the 14th
annual meeting of the International Technical Working Group
on Nuclear Smuggling (ITWG) hosted by the IAEA and valued
interacting with Russian colleagues. Most importantly, the
Department is pleased to learn that the GOR has informed
leadership in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and
Rosatom of Washington's proposal to strengthen international
nuclear forensics cooperation described in REF B. The
Department remains hopeful that the GOR will continue to
provide leadership on nuclear smuggling issues and
participate in international efforts to strengthen
cooperation in nuclear forensics.


3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: The Department requests that post
pass the diplomatic note in paragraph 4 to the appropriate
host government officials and encourage continued Russian
participation in the ITWG task group detailed below.


4. (SBU) INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN TASK GROUP:

(complimentary opening) ... and has the honor to request the
Ministry's support of Russian experts' participation in joint
studies of the use of national nuclear forensics libraries to
promote international cooperation on combating nuclear
terrorism.

The Russian Federation and United States have worked
effectively together on several nuclear security and
terrorism issues, and this collaboration is strongly evident
in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT)
and underscored in the Joint Statement on Nuclear Cooperation
issued by Presidents Obama and Medvedev on July 6. At the
fifth GICNT plenary, the Joint Co-Chairs' Statement
identified nuclear forensics, inter alia, as a focus area
over the coming year given the value of these techniques to
governments in investigating illicit uses of nuclear
material.

In response to a GICNT recommendation for a briefing at the
2010 plenary, the International Technical Working Group on
Nuclear Smuggling (ITWG) established a task group to review
the concept of national nuclear forensics libraries as a
basis to promote international cooperation. The ITWG is an
experts group that was formed by the G-8 in the mid 1990s and
is the most active multilateral entity working on nuclear
forensics issues.

In preparation for the briefing, the ITWG task group will
conduct a technical review of the forensics library concept,
and as a first step, prepare a Terms of Reference. In the
coming weeks, a draft will be circulated for comment, and in
the coming months, the group plans to meet in Europe to
continue its technical review. The first meeting of the task
group occurred on July 1 and included experts from several
countries including Mr. V. Erastov from Rosatom.

Given the Russian Federation's unique expertise in nuclear
forensics and cooperative activities -- for example, between
the Bochvar Institute and the European Union's Institute of
Transuranic Elements (ITU) -- the United States as a co-chair
of the task group sees great value in Russian participation.
The Embassy has the honor to express its hope that the
Government of Russia will facilitate the participation of
Russian experts in this activity.

(complimentary closing)


5. (SBU) REPORTING DEADLINE: Department requests that post
respond via front-channel cable no later than July 31, 2009.


6. Department appreciates Post's assistance. Contact Michael
Curry (currymr@state.gov, 202-736-7692) in ISN/WMDT for more
information.
CLINTON