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