Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09UNVIEVIENNA68
2009-02-18 17:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
UNVIE
Cable title:  

BEIJING CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR ENERGY PROMISES TO BE

Tags:  AORC ENRG ETTC KNNP MNUC PREL TRGY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUNV #0068/01 0491704
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181704Z FEB 09
FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9023
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEANFA/NRC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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:
--------------

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.