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