IAEA/General Conference: Side Events

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000452


SIPDIS

STATE FOR T, IO/T, ISN/MNSA, ISN/RA
NRC FOR OIP - DOANE
DOE FOR S-1, NA-20-D'AGASTINO
NA-243-GOOREVICH,OEHLBERT
NA-241 O'CONNOR; NA-21- CUMMINS
NE- MCGINNIS, PERKO, CLAPPER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KNNP IAEA ENRG TRGY
SUBJECT: IAEA/General Conference: Side Events


1. (U) SUMMARY: During the 2009 IAEA General Conference several
side events were scheduled by the Technical Cooperation (TC) and
Nuclear Applications (NA) departments and the Office of Nuclear
Security (ONS). Msnoffs attended four events of interest to the
USG: 1) the unveiling of a new Technical Cooperation (TC) project to
implement Results Based Management (RBM),2) the TC Division's
Europe Regional Meeting, 3) the Program of Action for Cancer Therapy
(PACT) annual briefing, and 4) a Member State briefing on the
Agency's Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB). Additionally, the
2009 Scientific Forum took place focusing on energy demands and
issued a report with recommendations for international organizations
to consider. Like other Member States, the USG had two displays from
DOE and NNSA and the U.S. supported NGO WINS also had a booth. U.S.
delegation members also conducted bilateral meetings on the
Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC).
TC DDG Cetto invited Member States to a briefing on the
implementation of RMB in the TC Division. Cetto expects Member
States to whole-heartedly endorse the implementation of an RBM model
for project management at the November TACC and BOG. Another TC
side event, hosted by the Director of the European Division, Peter
Salema, focused on updating the Europe regional TC strategy and
project implementation. DDG Werner Burkart spoke at the PACT
briefing highlighting the need for more fundraising by PACT to meet
rising numbers of cancer patients in developing countries resulting
increasing need for cancer control assistance. IAEA representatives
also briefed the Agency's Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB),which
monitors illicit trade, possession or movement of nuclear and
radioactive materials within and across international borders. The
goal of the ITDB is to identify trends, threats, and vulnerabilities
of material security and detection capabilities by providing such
information to participating States and appropriate international
organizations, while also encouraging States to improve the
monitoring and reporting of such incidents. END SUMMARY.

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RESULTS BASED MANAGEMENT
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2. (U) Responding to repeated calls by Member States for more
transparency and better management of TC projects, DDG Cetto has
secured the services of a Canadian expert team to implement results
based management (RBM) in the division. To introduce Member States
to RBM modeling, Member States were invited to a briefing hosed by
DDG Cetto at which she reaffirmed the intent that Technical
Cooperation with the Member States increasingly promote tangible
socio-economic impact by contributing in a cost effective manner to
the achievement of the major sustainable development priorities of
each country.


3. (U) RBM, simply put, is a strategic management approach. TC
plans to use this approach with both donor and recipient Member
States to plan, cost, implement, monitor and measure technical
cooperation and the changes brought about by each project, rather
than just monitor the inputs provided or activities conducted. Using
RBM, the TC Department seeks to ensure that its funding, supply and
technical assistance contribute to a logical chain of results that
increase in complexity and ambition as a recipient Member State
gains more and more nuclear technology know-how. RBM depends on
critical assumptions about the project environment and risk
assessments, clearly defined accountabilities and indicators for
results, and performance monitoring and reporting. If successful,
this approach will shift managerial and administrative emphasis from
a process-focused approach to one based on performance and results
(outcomes),something Member States have repeatedly called for. At
the close of the briefing, a number of Member States advised the TC
Division to release a full-scope project document on the RBM
implementation plan and possibly add it to the November TACC as an
agenda item for discussion.

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TC Europe Regional Meeting
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4. (U) The U.S. attended the Europe Regional TC meeting as an
observer. The meeting, hosted by Director of the European Division,
Manase Peter Salema, focused on finalizing the European regional
strategy and technical cooperation program (TCP). The objectives of
the European TCP is to identify and implement in a comprehensive and
balanced manner nuclear technologies for addressing national and
regional needs and to promote their sustainable use; to promote
regional networks for exchange of nuclear technologies and
information; to promote high levels of safety, security and
non-proliferation; and to create awareness on the benefits of
nuclear technologies and obtain funding for the program. European
Member States pledged to finalize their inputs by mid-October.

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PACT
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4. (U) DDG for Nuclear Sciences and Applications Werner Burkart
and PACT Director Massoud Samiei hosted the annual GC PACT briefing
to focus delegates from capitals on objectives achieved and goals
for the medium term. Noting the continued rise in cancer patient
numbers in developing countries and consequent increasing need for
cancer control assistance, Samiei encouraged Member States to make
contributions (either in-kind or monetary) to PACT. Both Burkart
and Samiei spoke very highly of new partnership with the World
Health Organization (WHO),which will provide a comprehensive cancer
therapy plan to states which includes the niche services the IAEA
can provide. Representatives from Nigeria, Vietnam, and Mongolia
spoke at the event and encouraged more national participation in
PACT/WHO programs.

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Illicit Trafficking Database
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5. (U) On the margins of the General Conference, IAEA
representatives briefed the Agency's Illicit Trafficking Database
(ITDB),which monitors illicit trade, possession or movement of
nuclear and radioactive materials within and across international
borders. The ITDB was established in 1995 as a means of collecting,
maintaining and analyzing credible information through official
channels and to facilitate the exchange of authoritative information
between Member States. In addition to receiving data through
official channels, the ITDB collects open source information on
incidents of unauthorized acquisition, possession, use, or sale of
such materials. Open source information not obtained via official
channels from a Member State is always verified by the country where
the incident occurred to ensure the accuracy of the information.
The goal of the ITDB is to identify trends, threats, and
vulnerabilities of material security and detection capabilities by
providing such information to participating States and appropriate
international organizations, while also encouraging States to
improve the monitoring and reporting of such incidents.
Dissemination of information collected and analyzed is restricted
and for official use only. The ITDB strictly adheres to certain
guidelines on protecting any "confidential" information that is
provided by Member States. From 1993-2008, the ITDB reported 1562
confirmed incidents of unauthorized activities. ITDB analysts note
that while there has been a marked reduction of incidents in recent
years largely due to improved national and international efforts to
address nuclear security, the problem of securing and recovering
nuclear and radiological materials continues to persist."

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CSC
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6. (U) On the margins of the GC, U.S. delegation experts on
nuclear liability took the opportunity to advocate the Convention on
Supplementary Compensation (CSC) with other delegations. In some
cases, delegations provided an update of their progress on CSC
ratification. For others, the discussions were clarifications of
aspects of the CSC. U.S. del members met with four members of the
so-called coastal states, Member States that have voiced concerns
about transport of nuclear fuel and spent nuclear fuel through their
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters. Surprisingly, all seemed
unaware of the provision in the CSC that would allow the judicial
proceedings related to nuclear damage suffered in their EEZ waters
to be heard in their respective domestic courts. This was a
provision which had been specifically added to the CSC for the
benefit of the coastal states. The Department will follow up on
emphasis of this aspect for those states.


7. (U) Of note were comments from:

- CANADA: Before Parliament can take up the CSC, it must revise its
domestic law on civil liability and compensation in the case of a
nuclear accident. A bill doing this has reached the second reading
(of three required) in Parliament. The same thing occurred with a
similar bill last year and the process had to start anew with
Parliamentary elections in 2008. There is concern that the same
thing may occur before the bill is passed. The Canadians tell us
that they must finish that bill before they can take up the CSC.

-UKRAINE: Last year, the Ukrainian delegation opined that the
political situation would make it virtually impossible to take of
the CSC in the Rada. Now, due to the economic slowdown, the
situation is even worse, with the estimate that it would take one to
two years before the GOU could even consider taking up the question
of ratification of the CSC.

-NORWAY: The Norwegians expressed interest in the CSC, especially
the provisions concerning the EEZ. The fact was noted that Norway
had had input into this aspect of the CSC and it was included to
address the concerns of Norway and other coastal states. Further
communication will be made regarding the CSC with the MFA and the
Radiation Protection Authority.

-IRELAND: The Irish delegation was more skeptical of the benefit of
membership in the CSC, especially regarding the amount of funds that
would be available to recompense victims of a nuclear accident.
They felt that 600 million Special Drawing Rights (about 900 million
USD) was too little potential compensation. They already had been
skeptical of the amount, but cited the recent dioxin scare in
Ireland that caused a large amount of pork products to be destroyed.
The losses due to this dioxin scare totaled up to 600 million
Euros. With that in mind, the Irish have concluded that if a
relatively limited dioxin incident can cause a 600 Euro loss, then a
nuclear accident would be far more expensive. Notwithstanding their
concerns, the Irish agreed to continue to discuss the Convention.
The point was made to them that under the CSC, they would be in a
position to at least be able to get a certain amount, and if an
incident occurred in Irish EEZ waters, the court hearings would be
in Ireland.

-NEW ZEALAND: The head of the New Zealand delegation, Joan Mosely,
was the most positive of the coastal-state delegates regarding the
CSC. While New Zealand has been antagonistic toward nuclear power
and concerned about transport of nuclear fuel and spent fuel
(transported from Japan to Europe, and passing near New Zealand EEZ
waters),she noted the improvements the shipping states have made.
She also positively noted the EEZ provisions that would put the
judicial hearings regarding a nuclear accident in New Zealand EEZ
waters in its own courts.

-PERU: The DCM of the Peruvian mission, Miluska Caceres, discussed
the CSC and promised to forward the information and provide a
Peruvian Government point of contact. The EEZ provisions were of
particular interest as Peru depends heavily on fishing in its EEZ.

-AUSTRALIA: Australia's stated position for ratification of the CSC
is to wait until it has entered into force, and a substantial number
of countries have ratified it. This would make the amount
potentially available in the supplementary amount worthwhile for
Australia to forgo some rights of its citizens in order to enter the
Convention.

-THAILAND: Thailand is serious about embarking on a civil nuclear
power program and Sirichai Keinmeesuke, Secretary-General of the
Office of Atoms for Peace, expressed interest in the CSC.

-JAPAN: The Japanese were requested for a meeting on the CSC,
mainly to get an update on the relevant ministries' review of the
CSC. The Japanese demurred on a meeting, and indicated that the CSC
would be discussed at the October talks with the U.S. on IAEA
strategy.

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Scientific Forum
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8. (U) The 2009 Scientific Forum held on the margins of the
General Conference focused on the lack of access to modern energy
services in many parts of the world and debated whether this is the
missing Millennium Development Goal. Sessions looked at energy
demand and supply and the energy options - renewable sources, fossil
and nuclear. The link between food security and energy supply and
the weaknesses in existing energy aid mechanisms was also discussed.
The Scientific Forum Chair concluded there was a general consensus
that crafting robust national energy strategies is a prerequisite
for reducing energy poverty and charting sustainable energy
development. The planning tools and capacity building provided by
IAEA are an important contribution towards this objective but much
more is needed. According to the Chair, there is indeed a need for
an International Energy Organization, covering all energy types that
would address development-energy challenges by searching for
technology solutions, elaborating policy frameworks and monitoring
implementation. An important task would be fostering relevant
international treaties that bring together
resource rich and resource poor, developing and developed
countries.

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USG Exhibits
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9. (U) Throughout the General Conference, the Department of Energy
(DOE) and the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) sponsored
educational exhibits in the Rotunda Building. On Monday, September
14, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu visited DOE's two booths
promoting the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative and the Office
of Nuclear Energy, and gave a press conference following his plenary
speech. Both exhibits highlighted the United States' commitment to
the peaceful and safeguarded use of nuclear energy, while also
recognizing the important roles of the IAEA and its member states.
WINS also participated in the exhibition and used this opportunity
to promote membership to its organization and to share its mission
of providing an international forum for nuclear security.

DAVIES