ESTONIAN RESPONSE TO NPT SURVEY REQUEST

UNCLAS TALLINN 000058 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC CDG ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PREL UNGA, IAEA, NPT, EN SUBJECT: ESTONIAN RESPONSE TO NPT SURVEY REQUEST Ref: (A) STATE 6970 (B) 2008 Tallinn 76 (C) 02/05/2008 MOU between Estonian Tax and Customs Board and U.S. Department of Energy. ¶1. (U) On March 4, 2009, the Government of Estonia (GOE) provided a detailed response to Ref A (Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) survey). The text of the GOE response appears in paragraph 3. Per reftel request, Post is unaware of other reporting of the GOE position on this issue. The GOE is, however, an active participant in nonproliferation activities such as the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GI) and a Department of Energy/National Nuclear Safety Administration (DOE/NNSA) program to install radiation monitoring equipment at border crossing points along Estonia's eastern border (Refs B and C). ¶2. (U) While attention to the NPT itself in the press and other media is minimal, Estonians are keenly interested in America's nuclear policies and plans, particularly as they address Russia. Estonia has also recently begun a public discussion of the possibility of a nuclear power plant in Estonia. Non- proliferation cooperation (and the possibility of peaceful nuclear power development) are both Mission Strategic Plan (MSP) goals, and post engages regularly with the Foreign Ministry and other relevant parties. ¶3. (U) BEGIN TEXT ESTONIAN RESPONSE TO NPT SURVEY: Estonia, as an EU Member State, shares the views and principles endorsed by the European Union. The current review cycle should help to recreate a more secure international context by expressing renewed support from the entire international community for NPT goals, by addressing the main issues at stake, and by demonstrating the capacity of the review process to give appropriate responses to these challenges. Estonia, as EU Member State, will endeavour to ensure that in a balanced, effective, concrete and pragmatic manner, the 2010 Conference examines the means of stepping up international efforts against proliferation, pursuing disarmament, and ensuring the responsible development of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy by countries wishing to develop their capacities in this field. The 2010 Review Conference should adopt a set of consensual ways and means for stepping up international efforts against proliferation, pursuing disarmament and ensuring a responsible development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy by countries wishing to develop their capacities in this field. Estonia calls on the international community to work to promote the following action plan against nuclear proliferation in support of a successful NPT Review Conference in 2010: resolute action in response to proliferation crises, in particular in Iran and North Korea, determination of the consequences of a State?s non-compliance with NPT non-proliferation obligations, in particular with its safeguards agreement and of withdrawal from the NPT, including suspension of nuclear cooperation and transfers, promotion of the universalization of the NPT, universalization and strengthening of the IAEA Safeguards system, in particular through the universal adoption of the Additional Protocol, improvement of nuclear security and of physical protection of radioactive materials, strengthening of export and border controls of nuclear material, equipment and technology, promotion of viable alternatives to the development of national enrichment and reprocessing capabilities, adoption of national criminal sanctions against acts of proliferation, and development of assistance to countries and to public and private actors, with a view to raise their awareness in this area, resolute international and national efforts to combat proliferation financing, adoption of measures to prevent intangible transfers of knowledge and know- how, including mechanisms of cooperation in terms of consular vigilance, and development of proliferation- resistant and safeguards-friendly technologies. We would also like to draw to the attention of the USG that in December 2008, the EU adopted the New Lines for Action by the European Union in Combating the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems. END TEXT. ¶4. (U) Post POC for NPT-related issues is: Poloff Alamanda Gribbin; Gribbinal@state.gov. Estonia POCs are: Riho Kruuv; Direct of Division, Armament and Strategic Goods Control; riho.kruuv@mfa.ee and Ketlain Susmalanien; desk officer, Armament and Strategic Goods Control; Ketlain.susmalanien@mfa.ee. DECKER