DIPLOMATIC NOTE REQUESTING CONFIRMATION OF HMG

UNCLAS STATE 076104 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM UK AORC PTER PINR SUBJECT: DIPLOMATIC NOTE REQUESTING CONFIRMATION OF HMG ASSURANCE IN ORDER TO TRANSFER URANIUM IN SUPPORT OF NUCLEAR FORENSICS EXERCISE REF: STATE 005970 ¶1. (U) This is an action request for Embassy London. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. (SBU) BACKGROUND: Washington informed Post per REF A (January 22, 2009) that the United States Department of Energy (DOE) had sent a request for assurances to Clare Bloomfield at the British Embassy in Washington to facilitate U.K.'s Atomic Weapons Establishment's (AWE) request to participate 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 highly enriched uranium under a contract with DOE to an AWE facility. Most importantly, DOE on behalf of the United States Government requested that the U.K. provide assurances that the nuclear material would be used only for peaceful uses and exclusively for the purpose of this sampling exercise. As of yet we have not received such assurances from the U.K. ¶3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post is requested to pass to FCO a copy of the DOE letter to the British Embassy in paragraph 4 and confirm that Her Majesty's Government (HMG) is facilitating the request made in REF A in support of this important exercise. Post is also requested to explain to interlocutors the routine nature of this request, as required by law regarding the transfer of special nuclear material, and that such requests for assurances to the U.K have been made in past, as well as to other strong nonproliferation allies such as France. ¶4. (SBU) Begin text of letter: Clare Bloomfield Foreign Section British Embassy 3100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 Dear Ms. Bloomfield: The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) 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 highly enriched uranium. Pursuant to a contract between the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and United Kingdom's AWE, the material would be transferred for receipt, sampling and analytical analysis and reporting. The United States Government requests assurances from the Government of the United Kingdom that the material transferred will be used solely for the purposes of this sampling exercise and thus exclusively for peaceful purposes. 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 the United Kingdom. You may confirm receipt by faxing or emailing a signed copy of this form to Mr. Sean Oehlbert. 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 End text of letter. (Complementary Closing) ¶5. (SBU) REPORTING DEADLINE: Washington requests that Post respond via front-channel cable no later than July 31, 2009. ¶6. (U) Washington appreciates Post's assistance. Please contact Aryn Weinberg in ISN/WMDT at WeinbergAB@state.gov or 202-736-7695 for additional information. CLINTON