IAEA/TC: The U.S. Continues to Support Technical

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000504 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/GS, ISN/MNSA, ISN/RA, ISN/NESS NA-243-GOOREVICH/OEHLBERT; NA-241 O'CONNOR, SIEMON; NA21-CUMMINS, ILIOPULOS; NA-24 MENSELSOHN NE-62 SZYMANSKI NRC FOR OIP - SCHWARTZMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KNNP IAEA ENRG TRGY SUBJECT: IAEA/TC: The U.S. Continues to Support Technical Cooperation ¶1. (U) Ambassador Davies met with IAEA Technical Cooperation DDG Cetto and TC Regional Directors October 30 to signal the USG's continued willingness to work closely with the TC Division and ensure sound project development and transparency of the TC Program. DDG Cetto spoke at length about the basic building blocks of TC and the need for assured and predictable funding for the entire TC program. Interestingly, when asked hypothetically if TC funding should be included in the regular budget, Cetto did not favor the idea. She welcomed Ambassador Davies's interest in the TC program and promised continued cooperation. ¶2. (U) Speaking about "break-out" areas of TC, Cetto noted the substantial increase in nuclear energy projects, but could not speak to how much funding or resources would be needed to fulfill future requests. She noted the usefulness of the Nuclear Power Support Group, chaired by Africa TC Director Boussaha, as a coordinating mechanism within the Agency. Boussaha added that TC projects in nuclear energy focus mainly on feasibility studies and providing policy advice to Member States on how to intelligently plan for nuclear power. Responding to questions about industry involvement, both Cetto and Boussaha noted there is some industry cooperation with TC, but there could be more. ¶3. (SBU) Cetto also commented on the politicization of TC as the "disease of member states" and asserted that her department maintains its neutral integrity when it comes to this issue. Reflecting her inherently flawed perspective of the IAEA role, Cetto used the 2008 TACC as an example, citing the deep division between sides because extraneous elements were introduced into the conversation, which should not have been. (COMMENT: This was an indirect reference to U.S. and like-minded opposition to the TC project on a feasibility study for a nuclear reactor in Syria. In separate conversations with TC officials, Mission has confirmed that this project has not progressed beyond an initial IAEA meeting to discuss the Milestones documents. END COMMENT.) ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: This meeting was a further illustration of how DDG Cetto hews to TC orthodoxy, including with respect to regular budget oversight of TC or the injection of "political" criteria into TC. As we consider how to move our TC reform agenda forward, she is not one to think outside the box. DG-designate Amano's selection of Cetto's successor will be an early indicator of his ability to fix the lower-performing parts of this generally well-functioning organization. END COMMENT. DAVIES