IAEA/SYRIA: POINTS REBUTTING IAEA INSPECTOR

S E C R E T UNVIE VIENNA 000042

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CAPTION)

SIPDIS
NOFORN

ISN/RA FOR NEPHEW AND DANIEL, IO/T FOR GOLDSTEIN, NEA FOR
MONZ, CIA FOR HORIO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2034
TAGS: PREL PARM SY KN IAEA KNNP
SUBJECT: IAEA/SYRIA: POINTS REBUTTING IAEA INSPECTOR
ABUSHADY PASSED TO SAFEGUARDS DEPARTMENT

REF: STATE 07039 NOTAL

Classified By: AMBASSADOR GREGORY L. SCHULTE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D
)


1. (S//NF) Msnoff met with a senior IAEA inspector involved
in the Syria investigation on January 30, during which MsnOff
provided reftel points on the Abushady interview in response
to an earlier IAEA inquiry. The inspector said that he had
been tasked to prepare an internal response to Abushady's
claims. That response is ready to deploy should the DG
decide it necessary. The Secretariat's points would say: 1)
that Abushady was not authorized to give any remarks on
behalf of the Agency, and; 2) that the DG's reports to the
IAEA Board of Governors on Syria are the authoritative views
of the Agency. The inspector added that the Secretariat took
the situation very seriously.


2. (S//NF) In response to the inspector's question, Msnoff
reviewed the points in the instruction cable, highlighting
that Abushady's argument is based on the mistaken presumption
that the reactor "buildings" were the same dimensions, when
in fact the U.S. presentation referred to the size of the
reactor vessel and the plutonium production capacity of the
reactor. The inspector nodded in agreement as Msnoff
reviewed the points. (Comment: It was clear that there are
no concerns within the Secretariat that Abushady's claims
have merit.)
SCHULTE