GEORGIA: U.S. AND GEORGIA SIGN JOINT DOCUMENT ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000409 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP PARM PGOV PREL GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: U.S. AND GEORGIA SIGN JOINT DOCUMENT ON COMBATING NUCLEAR SMUGGLING REF: A. 08 STATE 117568 ¶B. 07 TBILISI 0283 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. On February 27, U.S. and Georgian representatives signed the "Addendum to the Joint Document of Georgian and U.S. Delegations on Georgia's Priority Needs to Improve Its Capabilities to Combat Nuclear Smuggling." This document addresses both the degradation of Georgia's anti-nuclear smuggling capabilities resulting from the August 2008 conflict and the additional needs which became apparent after the original agreement was signed in 2007. By signing this addendum, the governments of the U.S. and Georgia deepen their cooperation on combating nuclear smuggling, and the Government of Georgia commits to expand an already impressive record of progress in improving its capabilities in this arena. End summary. SIGNATORIES AND CEREMONY ¶2. (U) The Ambassador signed the agreement for the United States, and the following Deputy Ministers signed for Georgia: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Nlbandov; First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Ekaterine Zguladze; Deputy Minister of Defense, Giorgi Muchaidze; Deputy Minister of Finance, Vazha Petriashvili; Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Natural Resources, Davit Ioseliani; and Deputy Head of Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, Irakli Siradze. After the signing, the Ambassador, Deputy Minister Nalbandov, and Michael Stafford, U.S. Negotiator for Nuclear Security and Dismantlement, made remarks noting the continued cooperation between the U.S. and Georgian governments in fighting the threat of nuclear terrorism and Georgia's substantial progress in improving its efforts in this battle. WHY SIGN AN ADDENDUM? ¶3. (SBU) The addendum expands upon U.S. and Georgian cooperation as part of the "Joint Document of Georgian and U.S. Delegations on Georgia's Priority Needs to Improve Its Capabilities to Combat Nuclear Smuggling." The original agreement was signed on February 2, 2007 by the Ambassador and Georgian Foreign Minister at the time, Gela Bezhuashvili (reftel B). Following the August 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia, the U.S. and Georgian governments agreed it was advisable to develop an addendum to the original document to address new needs that arose as a result of the conflict and to include additional needs that became apparent since the original was negotiated in 2007. The addendum also reflects an expansion of U.S. efforts to help Georgia combat nuclear smuggling. GEORGIAN ACHIEVEMENTS ¶4. (SBU) Since signing the original document, the Government of Georgia has made extensive progress in its efforts to combat nuclear smuggling, both on its own and in cooperation with the U.S. and other international partners. These efforts include strengthening its nuclear regulatory system, placing additional radiation detection equipment at the borders, improving training for border security personnel, enhancing communication and cooperation among various response agencies, strengthening prosecution of smugglers, and continuing the fight against corruption. To date, Georgia has completed or made significant progress on 46 out of 52 steps outlined in the original joint action plan. U.S. ASSISTANCE ¶5. (SBU) This addendum also reflects an expansion of U.S. Q5. (SBU) This addendum also reflects an expansion of U.S. efforts to help Georgia combat nuclear smuggling. Since the early 1990s, the U.S. has provided more than $275 million in assistance to Georgia to secure nuclear and radioactive materials, strengthen export control laws, improve border monitoring, support the Georgian Coast Guard, bolster law enforcement efforts, advance nuclear forensics capabilities, and enhance communication and cooperation among agencies responding to incidents involving radioactive materials. As part of the $1 billion U.S. aid package to Georgia, the U.S. has already approved more than $20 million in funding for providing secure communications and other support to Georgia's law enforcement personnel and for developing a national response plan for responding to incidents involving radioactive material. TBILISI 00000409 002 OF 002 ¶6. (U) A copy of the signed addendum has been emailed to EUR/CARC. TEFFT