LIBYA INDICATES READINESS TO SIGN NUCLEAR SPENT FUEL

UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000674 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND ISN/NESS; DOE-M FOR M. TSIKLAURI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP ENRG TRGY RS LY SUBJECT: LIBYA INDICATES READINESS TO SIGN NUCLEAR SPENT FUEL AGREEMENT REF: TRIPOLI 621 ¶1. (SBU) MFA Secretary of the Americas Department, Ahmed Fituri, told Charge August 17 that Libya was ready to sign the government-to-government agreement on spent nuclear fuel (highly enriched uranium-low enriched uranium). However, Fituri said the MFA was unsure which agreement to sign and requested the latest versions in English and Arabic. Post has provided the Libyan Government with an English translation of the mutually-acceptable version of the agreement and is working with the Department of Energy to obtain another official Arabic translation of the agreement for the MFA. ¶2. (SBU) As a sign that Libya is ready to move forward on the final steps of the agreement, the MFA renewed visas for the two DOE technical experts who are leading U.S. cooperation on the nuclear spent fuel project with Libya's Atomic Energy Establishment. The DOE experts will travel to Libya next week to conduct final preparations of Libya's nuclear spent fuel for shipment to Russia for treatment and disposal. ¶3. (SBU) Post will continue to report on Libya's progress in transferring its nuclear spent fuel to Russia by the September 2009 deadline. Department's assistance in obtaining an official Arabic language translation of the agreement would be greatly appreciated. POLASCHIK