GEORGIA'S ENVIRONMENT MINISTER ON NONPROLIFERATION

UNCLAS TBILISI 000019 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PGOV PREL KNNP GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA'S ENVIRONMENT MINISTER ON NONPROLIFERATION REF: 08 TBILISI 2212 ¶1. (SBU) Begin summary and comment. New Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Giorgi Khachidze, discussed nonproliferation issues with the Ambassador on December 23, focusing on a new donation from the U.S. of specialized equipment to handle radioactive materials at Georgia's borders. The Minister requested to meet with the Ambassador to confirm this $150,000 donation and receive assurances that the U.S. will continue to support cooperation with the Ministry in implementing the joint action plan to improve Georgia's capabilities to combat nuclear smuggling. The Ambassador assured the Minister that the donation is on schedule and that the U.S. strongly supports continued cooperation in nuclear safety. Post notes that officials in the Ministry and in other agencies responsible for combating nuclear smuggling consistently complain about a lack of high-level government support and funding for their initiatives (reftel). End summary and comment. ¶2. (SBU) Minister Khachidze was concerned that due to a lack of finances and support from his own government, the Ministry's Nuclear Radiation Safety Service (NRSS) will not succeed in meeting its obligations defined in the joint document, specifically the opening of the western field office. Citing the proposed donation of $150,000 worth of vehicles and equipment by the Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance Program (EXBS),Khachidze had earlier suggested that if he could show his own government that the U.S. is committed to enhancing radioactive security in Georgia, especially in the west as demonstrated by the planned donation, this will help justify increased funding from the Government of Georgia for NRSS. DONATION SPECIFICS ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador informed the Minister that the donation of the vehicles and specialized equipment is on track; the equipment is scheduled to start arriving at the end of January. The Minister thanked the Ambassador for this good news, and stated that the Ministry plans to establish the western office in March, likely in the city of Kutaisi. The donation includes the following: two general purpose vehicles, one general purpose truck, gas masks and gas mask replacement filters, GPS receivers, three sets of two-way radios, thirty-six c-level protective suits, forty-eight protective boot covers, a radioactive isotope identifier, two waterproof radioactive isotope identifiers, two portable multi-channel analyzers, sixty copies of eight different nautical charts, rechargeable flashlights, and thirty-five rechargeable spotlights. RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador further inquired as to the status of the establishment of a radioactive waste management agency which would be responsible for managing disused radioactive sources. While the Minister could not provide an immediate answer, he noted that the Government of Georgia is creating an environmental protection code which should address this issue. TEFFT