IAEA/BOG: North Korea and Other Issues at the November

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000549 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/GS, ISN/MNSA, ISN/RA, EAP/K, ISN/NESS NRC FOR OIP - DOANE DOE FOR NA-243-GOOREVICH/OEHLBERT, BRUNNS, NA-241 O'CONNOR,SIEMON; NA-21- CUMMINS, ILIOPULOS; NE- MCGINNIS, PERKO, CLAPPER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KNNP IAEA ENRG TRGY NK SUBJECT: IAEA/BOG: North Korea and Other Issues at the November Board Ref: a) UNVIE 546 b) UNVIE 544 c) UNVIE 538 d) UNVIE 539 e) UNVIE 535 f) UNVIE 505 g) STATE 121331 -------------- Wrap-Up -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The November 26-27 Board of Governors session concluded with two significant accomplishments: passage of a resolution formally censuring Iran's nuclear program by more than a two-thirds vote (25-3-6 abstain, 1 absent),the first such resolution to be adopted since the February 2006 referral of Iran to the UN Security Council, and secondly, approval of the Russian fuel reserve proposal (23-8-3 abstain, 1 absent),the first such mechanism for assurance of nuclear fuel supply, a goal envisioned in the IAEA Statute more than a half century ago. The Board also approved the report of the November 23-24 Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee (TACC) and discussed verification issues in Syria and the DPRK (paras 4-8 below). Reftels cover the TACC (ref a) and Board debate on Iran (refs b and c),Syria (ref d) and the Russian fuel reserve (ref e). The only other verification item on the agenda was approval of an Additional Protocol (AP) for Bahrain, welcomed by Australia and the U.S. in statements supporting the universalization of the AP. ¶2. (U) The then-DG's opening remarks in this, his last, Board meeting covered all areas reported in reftels. In addition, the DG addressed IAEA assistance to nuclear power newcomers, as proposed in GOV/INF/2009/11 "Strengthening Agency Support for Member States Considering or Launching Nuclear Power Programs," which was to have been discussed under Any Other Business. In a cautionary note, the DG added that plans for development or expansion of nuclear power are outpacing the necessary safety and security infrastructure and capacity. The DG provided a tally of APs and Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements (CSAs),while noting the need to amend Small Quantities Protocols, and hoped that all these agreements could come into force prior to the NPT RevCon. The DG also cited the inadequacy of Agency funding which would have an impact on program delivery in 2010 (as per GOV/INF/2009/10 "The 2010 Budget: Effect on Program Delivery"),in particular, with respect to assistance to nuclear power newcomers. ElBaradei concluded by expressing gratitude to Member States and Agency Staff for their support during his 12-year tenure and wished DG-elect Yukiya Amano success. He hoped that Member States would provide all the support the Agency needs to remain an effective and credible partner. ¶3. (U) Under Any Other Business, regional groups delivered another round of accolades to outgoing DG ElBaradei and welcomed DG Amano, who took office December 1. Canada delivered an impromptu statement on behalf of the North America group (para 9). The Board Chair also briefly noted that Board Vice Chair, Romanian Ambassador Cornel Feruta (who ably shepherded the contentious 2010-2011 budget debate last year),would lead a working group on the Mid-term Strategy Review. USDEL submitted its prepared statements on the INFCIRCs treating assistance to nuclear power newcomers and the 2010 budget to the Secretariat. France was the only country to address the INFCIRC on new nuclear power under AOB, taking a similar cautionary tack as our prepared remarks with respect to the scope of Agency assistance and funding. -------------- DPRK -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Pursuant to a request from ROK, seconded by Japan and the U.S., DPRK was reinstated as an agenda item (ref f). As expected, then-DG ElBaradei did not address North Korea in his opening statement as the IAEA had nothing to report. Despite this, 12 Board members delivered national statements on DPRK in addition to Sweden on behalf of the EU (covering seven EU Board members),indicating a strong resolve by Member States to remain apprised of the North Korea issue and a desire for DPRK to denuclearize and return to the NPT and IAEA safeguards. The speakers were South Korea, Sweden (EU),China, Ukraine, Canada, Egypt, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Cuba, U.S., Russia, and South Africa. Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the EU requested that DPRK be included on the agenda of subsequent Board meetings, while Cuba opined that DPRK should not be addressed by the Board. (Comment: We anticipate DG Amano will be eager to include DPRK on future agendas. End Comment.) ¶5. (SBU) The five Six-Party Talks members on the Board expressed support for the Six-Party process, with South Korea calling it the "best venue to deal with the issue" while China described it as a "practical and feasible means" to resolve the DPRK nuclear issue. Russia called on DPRK to return immediately and without preconditions to the Six-Party process. Japan also urged DPRK to return to the Talks and honor its commitments made in the 2005 Joint Statement. China noted the DPRK's expressed willingness to have bilateral talks with the U.S. and the renewed initiative for resuming the Six-Party Talks. South Korea said the upcoming visit by Ambassador Bosworth to DPRK is expected to pave the way for the Six-Party Talks. The ROK expressed serious concern at North Korea's continued defiance, including the series of provocative actions this year. Japan expressed similar concerns, in particular about the DPRK's November 3 announcement that it completed reprocessing fuel rods and called on North Korea to refrain for further nuclear tests. South Korea and Russia reaffirmed the IAEA's essential role in the verification process. Japan called on North Korea to immediately return to full compliance with the NPT and IAEA safeguards. In addition, the ROK announced its new proposal for comprehensively dealing with North Korea, "the grand bargain," without giving any details. The ROK recounted recent conciliatory gestures between the two Koreas but said that no substantive change has been expressed by the DPRK in its nuclear ambitions. ¶6. (SBU) Sweden delivered a strong statement on behalf of the EU, reiterating grave concern over DPRK's ceasing cooperation with the IAEA, conduct of a nuclear test, and announcement of weaponization and uranium enrichment activities. New Zealand and the EU cited the DPRK's announcement that it completed reprocessing the spent fuel, bringing the reprocessing facility back to its original state. The EU and Australia urged DPRK to abandon and completely dismantle any nuclear weapons related programs in a prompt, transparent, verifiable and irreversible manner. Canada called on DPRK to return to the NPT and IAEA safeguards and Canada, Australia, and New Zealand expressed concern at DPRK's decision to cease all cooperation with the IAEA. The EU, Canada, and Australia joined in calling on the DPRK to comply with UNSCRs 1695, 1718, and 1874 and on all countries to implement UNSCR 1874. Russia said all UN Security Council resolutions should be implemented in full. ¶7. (SBU) In addition to like-minded countries, Ukraine, South Africa and Egypt expressed strong support for the Six-Party Talks process and urged North Korea to return immediately to the negotiating table. Reflecting an across-the-board strong approach to our nonproliferation priorities, Board newcomer Ukraine associated with the EU statement (as did Azerbaijan) and delivered a national statement condemning the nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009 and calling on DPRK to return to the Talks. South Africa said the Six-Party Talks were the only appropriate forum for resolving this issue and welcomed the announcement that Ambassador Bosworth would be visiting DPRK on December 8. South Africa added that North Korea should invite the IAEA back to perform its monitoring and verification activities. Australia likewise welcomed efforts by the U.S. to engage in bilateral talks with North Korea to bring it back the Six-Party Talks. ¶8. (SBU) As in the IAEA General Conference (GC),Egypt linked its statement under the DPRK issue to the establishment of a Middle East NWFZ, citing the latter as the main gap in the international system of disarmament and nonproliferation. Egypt then called on the Board to consider including an item on the implementation of safeguards in Israel as the GC said we should remain seized of that issue, "as with DPRK," but this was not included in the Chairman's summary of this item. Cuba was the only speaker not to support the Six-Party Talks by name, but cited the need diplomacy and dialogue for a long term solution. Cuba also stated that DPRK issue should not be considered at the Board since there are no new developments and it no longer has "anything to do" with the Agency. Cuba also used the opportunity to call for progress toward general disarmament. -------------- -------------- AOB: Testimonial to DG ElBaradei -------------- -------------- ¶9. (U) Begin text of statement delivered by Canada on behalf of the North America Group (U.S. and Canada): Mr. Chair, On behalf of the North America Group, I would like to join the other regional groups in again expressing our thanks and appreciation to the outstanding and sustained efforts of Director General Mohamed ElBaradei over many years. You have served the Agency and Member States extremely well, for which we remain greatly appreciative. Your receipt of the Noble Peace Prize speaks volumes for your many contributions. Thank you very much again and please accept our very best wishes for all of your future endeavors. The North America Group also welcomes incoming Director General, Ambassador Yukiya Amano, who may be assured of our full support and cooperation as you assume your responsibilities. Thank you again, on behalf of the North America Group. End Text.