BEIJING CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR ENERGY PROMISES TO BE

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000068 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/T, ISN/MNSA, ISN/RA NA-243-GOOREVICH/OEHLBERT, BRUNNS; NA-241 O'CONNOR, SIEMON; NA21-CUMMINS, ILIOPULOS; NE- MCGINNIS, PEKO, CLAPPER NRC FOR OIP - DUNN LEE, HENDERSON, SCHWARTZMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ENRG ETTC KNNP MNUC PREL TRGY SUBJECT: BEIJING CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR ENERGY PROMISES TO BE INTERESTING REF: Gebert-Burkhart Email 02/4/2009 -------------- SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: -------------- ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: A brief conference update was presented by the IAEA and the Permanent Mission to China to showcase the upcoming International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Energy for the 21st Century in Beijing, China on April 20-22, 2009. A Chinese rep expanded upon conference logistics as well as travel documents, while the Agency briefed on conference content noting it will be a policy discussion given Ministerial attendance as well as an expert discussion with four breakout sessions. No member states, except Iran, raised objections to the suggested conference content. Iran asked the Agency to define an outcome document and explain how statements at the conference should be interpreted (i.e. as binding or not). The IAEA Secretariat stated there would be no outcome document instead, as after the Paris conference; the Agency would issue a report reflecting all Ministerial Statements. China, separately circulated a Chairman's Statement to the Friends of Nuclear Energy Group (FoNE) on February 13 (ref). A number of states cautioned that the document should not be interpreted as a legally binding statement. On participation, the Secretariat singled out the U.S. noting it hoped for high-level U.S. attendance. Thus far 13 developing countries have indicated Ministerial-level participation. Mission recommends consideration of Energy Secretary Chu's participation or other high-level U.S. participation. ¶2. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Mission seeks guidance on acceptable language for Chinese circulated draft Chairman's Statement by February 20 in order to ensure USG comments are reflected. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. -------------- POLICY & TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS -------------- ¶3. (U) The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and its Nuclear Energy Agency are cosponsors of the Beijing Conference along with the IAEA. The April conference, which is follow-on from a 2005 Paris conference on developments in nuclear energy, will discuss developments in nuclear energy over the past four years and provide an opportunity for Ministers and other senior officials to discuss policy issues associated with the nuclear renaissance. At a briefing on February 12 IAEA DDG Yuri Sokolov and Director Vilmos Cserveny urged Member State Ministers to be active participants in both the high-level segment as well as the technical sessions. The four technical sessions will be: 1) energy resources and environment; 2) available technology and long term perspectives; 3) infrastructure development and safety/legal issues; and 4) reliable fuel supply, spent fuel waste management and strengthening nonproliferation. ¶4. (U) Iran raised concerns that they did not want the conference to become political and that they were looking for a summary document at the end of the conference that addressed technical issues. The IAEA countered that focus on an outcome document would detract from the overall information exchange which is the spirit of the conference. This spawned additional questions from Canada asking what makes this conference critical enough for the Ministerial-level participation. IAEA Secretariat officials conceded that it will be up to the Ministers to decide if participation was valuable. [COMMENT: Mission believes Iran is pressing for an outcome document which would uphold the right of states to decide on enrichment for peaceful purposes, something Iran would then use to counter assertions that it is developing nuclear technology for military purposes. END COMMENT.] -------------- ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AT FRIENDS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY MEETING -------------- ¶5. (U) At the Friends of Nuclear Energy Meeting held on February 13, China asked for feedback on the draft of the Chairman's Summary to be released at the end of the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century, to be held on April 20-22 in Beijing, China. The U.S. commented that the basic premises of the statement are good, but that nuclear energy should not be compared to renewable energy. Russia expressed concern over the phrase "obligations of states" in regards to spent fuel and radioactive waste. Both Canada and Russia asked for clarification on the meaning of 'international framework' in implementing nuclear power. Canada also commented that the statement should more clearly express the benefits of nuclear power. France echoed Canada's sentiment in calling for a more positive expression of the benefits of nuclear power as well as highlighting the need to discuss the paragraph on nonproliferation more thoroughly in the coming months. After hearing the comments, China expressed its willingness to adapt the text and to respond to specific legal issues raised by Russia and Canada. -------------- CONFERENCE LOGISTICS AND TRAVEL -------------- ¶6. (U) The US requested a list of participants be released prior to the Conference. The IAEA Secretariat declined this request, but voiced their hope that the U.S. will send a high-level representative and that U.S. participation "is more active" than at the 2005 conference. [COMMENT: The Secretariat has confirmed in other conversations that thirteen Ministers or at least officials with a Ministerial title from thirteen countries (Egypt, Romania, Latvia, Poland, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Mexico, Argentina, Bangladesh) have registered. END COMMENT.] Responding to Missionoff on visa requirements for the conference, the Chinese rep said a letter of invitation will be sent to all individuals who register via the conference website. Prospective participants then need to initiate the visa process. Per the Chinese Mission, visa applications should include the following information (full name, maiden name, date and place of birth, home address, nationality, name and full address of employer, passport number, length of stay and arrival date, as well as place of issuance of visa)and be addressed to Mr. Huang Wei at the email address below as soon as possible but not later than one month before the beginning of the conference: Mr. Huang Wei, Division Director, Department of International Cooperation, CAEA; Tel: +86 10 8858 1286, Email: Huangwei@caea.gov.cn. When pressed the Chinese rep admitted that there would be no guarantees of visas for participants. END NOTE] -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (U) There will be merit to US participation in the conference, given the importance China accords to this event and the opportunity to engage informally on the safe and secure expansion of nuclear power. Mission understands that NRC is sending a high-level representative and would recommend consideration of Secretary Chu's participation. This would likely be Secretary Chu's first opportunity to address the new Administration's views on nuclear power before an international audience.