Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09UNVIEVIENNA59
2009-02-11 08:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
UNVIE
Cable title:  

IAEA/U.S. SAFEGUARDS: IMPLEMENTATION OF U.S.

Tags:  ENGR IAEA KNNP CVIS TRGY 
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VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUNV #0059 0420857
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 110857Z FEB 09
FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9004
INFO RHEBAAA/DOE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEANFA/NRC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000059 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/T GOLDSTEIN; ISN/MNSA: ADAMS/COCKERHAM; CA/VO
DOE FOR NA-20; NA-24-243
OSD FOR GROSS
NSC FOR CONNERY
NRC FOR OIP: HENDERSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENGR IAEA KNNP CVIS TRGY
SUBJECT: IAEA/U.S. SAFEGUARDS: IMPLEMENTATION OF U.S.
ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL, U.S. VISAS

REF: A. 07 UNVIE VIENNA 0665

B. STATE 7490

C. CONNERY/GROSS/HILLIARD EMAIL EXCHANGES 5 AND 6
FEB 2009

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000059

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/T GOLDSTEIN; ISN/MNSA: ADAMS/COCKERHAM; CA/VO
DOE FOR NA-20; NA-24-243
OSD FOR GROSS
NSC FOR CONNERY
NRC FOR OIP: HENDERSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENGR IAEA KNNP CVIS TRGY
SUBJECT: IAEA/U.S. SAFEGUARDS: IMPLEMENTATION OF U.S.
ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL, U.S. VISAS

REF: A. 07 UNVIE VIENNA 0665

B. STATE 7490

C. CONNERY/GROSS/HILLIARD EMAIL EXCHANGES 5 AND 6
FEB 2009


1. (SBU) IAEA Safeguards Department Operations B Director
Herman Nackaerts and Section Head Chris Charlier are anxious
to schedule discussions with the USG in advance of the U.S.
submitting our Additional Protocol (AP) declaration, due on
the 4th of July, 2009. The Safeguards Department had
requested a meeting in the past (reftel A),but it did not
take place. Imminent implementation of the AP in the U.S.
has brought the issue to the forefront. In addition, delays
in processing IAEA inspector visas, due to mandatory Security
Advisory Opinion (SAO) rules and incomplete travel schedules,
are causing concern in Operations B, and they want to clarify
U.S. intentions with respect to issuance of inspector visas.


2. (SBU) The Safeguards officials would like to discuss AP
implementation, begining with a scoping meeting in Vienna
with a few appropriate individuals with the goal of framing
the subjects to be discussed and reviewing the Additional
Protocol article by article to lay out responsibilities,
information flow, etc. This Vienna meeting could take place
on the margins of the March Board that begins March 2 if
appropriate individuals are available to come to Vienna.
IAEA proposes this initial discussion would be followed by a
Spring meeting in the U.S., with the full interagency team
that will be involved in AP implementation. The best dates
for IAEA travel to the U.S. would be for a meeting the week
of 20 April or the week of 4 May. Such a meeting would
provide a good basis on which to convene a constructive
follow-on meeting in the U.S. in the Spring.


3. (SBU) Mission has also scheduled a 26 February meeting
between Ops B officials and U.S. DOD officials who will be
in Vienna the week of 23 February for CTBT Working Group B
meetings; the IAEA meeting will be to discuss arrangements
for complementary access equipment for use in the U.S.


4. (SBU) Assuming the above proposed scheduling is
acceptable, Nackaerts suggests the Spring meeting in the U.S.
also include a full U.S. safeguards coordination meeting,
which he sees as long overdue. He would like to continue
discussions on the MOX plant under construction at the
Savannah River Site (SRS),U.S. enrichment plants under
construction, and other regular safeguards implementation
issues that have been on hold for some time now.


5. (SBU) Inter-agency should be alert to the likelihood
that IAEA officials would use these discussions on AP
Implementons to discuss expectations about the issuance of
inspector visas. Several IAEA inspectors have experienced
delays in visa issuance to inspect U.S. facilities, sometimes
due to mandatory SAO procedures. According to IAEA
officials, inspectors are being advised not to apply for
visas without an inspection schedule, which is often
difficult, but may become even more difficult with the AP
coming into force. It is important for the IAEA and USG to
understand the obligations and impediments to timely visa
issuance, and agree on a path forward before a problem
arises.


6. (SBU) Mission has briefed the IAEA on the worldwide SAO
backlog (reftel B). Nonetheless, the particular treaty
obligations in this instance may justify a special process
for handling IAEA visas related to AP implementation.
Mission would welcome guidance from ISN, CA and IO in this
regard.


7. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Nackaerts and his team are
available to come to the U.S. the week of 20 April
(preferred) or the week of 4 May. Please advise.

PYATT