UNGA MEETS ON IAEA REPORT: ELBARADEI'S SWAN SONG,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 USUN NEW YORK 001004

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL UNGA CU KN KS RS IS IR
SUBJECT: UNGA MEETS ON IAEA REPORT: ELBARADEI'S SWAN SONG,
IRAN, DPRK, CUBA, ISRAEL, AND OTHERS DEBATE THE AGENCY AND
NON-PROLIFERATION


1. (U) SUMMARY: The UN General Assembly met in plenary to
discuss the Report of the International Atomic Energy (IAEA),
hearing for the last time from its outgoing Director-General,
Mohammad ElBaradei, who emphasized the importance of not
isolating countries, using diplomatic means to address
proliferation, and congratulated President Obama for the
recent steps taken by the U.S to begin reducing weapons
stocks in cooperation with the Russian Federation. After
ElBaradei,s remarks, the following countries spoke:
Malaysia, Sweden, the Russian Federation, Egypt, Belarus, the
Islamic Republic of Iran, Cuba, Indonesia, Sudan, Republic
of Korea, Mongolia, Switzerland, South Africa, Kuwait,
Japan, Singapore, Ukraine, Ethiopia, China, Pakistan, the
United States, Venezuela, and Libya. The Republic of Korea
accused the DPRK of provocative actions, while the DPRK
defended its weapons program and blamed the U.S. for leading
it to develop a nuclear deterrent. Iran defended its nuclear
program as existing only for peaceful means and cautioned
against double standards that allow leniency towards Israel.
Major themes included criticism of Israel,s alleged nuclear
program, a call to use nuclear technology to assist
developing nations, an emphasis on the right of all countries
to develop peaceful nuclear technology, and warm words for
both the role of the IAEA and its out-going Director General.
The U.S. statement emphasized strong support for the IAEA
and called for an approach to the Middle East to proceed in a
non-politicized way. The United States and dozens of other
countries co-sponsored draft Resolution A/64/L.7, entitled
"Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency,8 which
passed without a vote. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) ELBARADEI REFLECTS ON DEVELOPMENT, DIPLOMACY, IRAN,
THE DPRK, IRAQ, AND THE UNITED STATES: Mohammad ElBaradei
delivered his final address to the United Nations as IAEA
Director General and affirmed that the Agency has "gained
universal respect for its independence and objectivity in
nuclear verification, safety and security." He praised
efforts to bring nuclear technology to the developing world
and encouraged even more work in this sector calling energy
"the engine of development." He highlighted the Program of
Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) and the Technical
Cooperation Program as two initiatives that have well served
those most in need. ElBaradei commented that "the gravest
threat the world faces today, in my opinion, is that
extremists could get hold of nuclear or radioactive
materials" and called for an expansion of the IAEA,s legal
authority, technology, and most critically funding to assist
the IAEA in its mandate. ElBaradei addressed the war in
Iraq, and noted that he will "always lament the fact that a
tragic war was launched in Iraq, which has cost the lives of
possibly hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians." He
referred to the situation with the DPRK as a "glaring example
of the fragility and shortcomings of the non-proliferation
regime" and suggested that both Iraq and the DPRK prove that
countries should not be isolated and diplomacy should run its
course. ElBaradei urged Iran to be forthcoming and said that
there are "a number of questions and allegations relevant to
the nature of their program" that must be "clarified by Iran
through transparency and cooperation with the Agency." He
called President Obama,s recent non-proliferation agenda a
"courageous initiative" and said that the efforts of the
weapons states to reduce their stock will help grant them
"the moral authority to call on the rest of the world to curb
the proliferation of these inhumane weapons."


3. (U) WARM WORDS FOR THE IAEA AND MOHAMMAD ELBARADEI: Many
countries praised the IAEA and the leadership of its outgoing
Director General. South Africa commented that ElBaradei "had
virtues that contributed towards building confidence about
the work of the Agency." Egypt thanked ElBaradei for his
"balanced role" and helping to develop "this most important
and sensitive international body." The Republic of Korea told
delegates that ElBaradei will "undoubtedly leave a lasting
legacy" thanks to his "commitment to professional
impartiality, transparency and equitable cooperation."
Sweden, speaking on behalf of the E.U., noted that
ElBaradei,s 2005 Nobel Peace Prize was a "just recognition
of the achievements both of the Director General and of the
Agency." South Africa lauded the "commendable activities
undertaken by the Agency in strengthening international
cooperation in nuclear, radiation, transport and waste
safety, as well as in nuclear science, technology and
applications."


4. (U) MANY COUNTRIES REITERATE RIGHT OF ALL COUNTRIES TO

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PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY: A theme stressed by
nearly all of the countries speaking was the importance of
preserving the right of countries to develop nuclear
technology for peaceful purposes. Countries posited this as a
basic right enshrined in international law. Belarus affirmed
its stance that efforts must be made to "promote equal,
non-discriminatory access of all countries concerned to the
benefits of the nuclear energy." Egypt painted the expansion
of peaceful nuclear technology as critical to address poverty
since "developing countries face growing needs to clean and
affordable sources of energy." China took a similar view
noting that both economic-development needs and climate
change have led to the increase in countries seeking nuclear
technology.


5. (U) CALLS FOR NON-PROLIFERATION AND THE IAEA ROLE: Most
countries emphasized the need to strengthen the
non-proliferation regime. Venezuela stressed the IAEA,s role
in non-proliferation and criticized the recent Security
Council Resolution 1887, by noting that Venezuela rejects
initiatives that take legitimacy away from the international
disarmament system. Sweden called the IAEA "an essential
part of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime as its
prime objective is to detect and deter the diversion of
nuclear materials for use in nuclear weapons." Ukraine
reaffirmed the importance of the IAEA and called it the
corner-stone of the non-proliferation regime. Pakistan took
an opportunity to "reiterate Pakistan,s firm commitment to
nuclear non-proliferation" and added that efforts globally
must be "strengthened on the basis of moral, political and
international commitments." South Africa maintained - along
with others - that radioactive waste management ought to be
considered a high priority.


6. (U) CUBA SAYS U.S. ECONOMIC BLOCKADE PREVENTS ITS ABILITY
TO ACQUIRE NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY: Cuba called attention to the
U.S. economic "blockade" of its country, noting that it
prevents the IAEA from operating there since U.S. firms are
unable to sell their equipment to Cuba, fearing potential
sanctions. Referring to Iran, Cuba said the world must do
away with double standards. Cuba affirms "the inalienable
right for countries to use nuclear technology for peaceful
purposes" and "rejects any attempts" to use the issue as a
"means of political coercion." Cuba contended that the only
road to peace and security is the total elimination of all
nuclear weapons. Lastly, Cuba bemoaned the bloated size of
the war industry in some countries and praised ElBaradei for
his impartiality.


7. (U) SEVERAL COUNTRIES CRITICIZE ISRAEL FOR ALLEGED WEAPONS
PROGRAM: Egypt mentioned the most recent IAEA General
Conference, which adopted a resolution entitled "Israeli
Nuclear Capabilities" and referred to it as a document
"alerting the international community of the dangers
represented by those capabilities which remain outside any
international control in the area of safeguards, nuclear
safety or security." Libya stated that there can be no
progress in making the Middle East free of nuclear weapons as
long as Israel refuses to relinquish its own supply. Kuwait
referred to "Israeli intransigence" and requested "the
international community to pressure Israel to join the NPT."
Indonesia expressed a "deep concern of continued failure to
establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East" and
contended that "progress will only happen if Israel places
all its nuclear weapons under Agency control." Sudan said
the inability to create a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the
Middle East is due to Israel,s unwillingness to cooperate.


8. (U) IRAN CALLS TREATMENT OF ISRAEL A DOUBLE-STANDARD AND
DEFENDS ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM AS PEACEFUL: Iran criticized the
IAEA for spending too much time being used as a "verification
tool" and said that this function was directly related to a
"few countries" that "have attempted to degrade it to a
uni-purpose entity during the last decade." But in speaking
to this very role, Iran called the IAEA "the sole competent
body for verification activities in accordance with the
provisions of the Statute and the NPT." Iran blamed "certain
nuclear-weapon States and their allies" for creating "various
restrictions and limitations on the way of transfer of
nuclear material, equipment and technology to developing
countries with peaceful activities." Iran characterized those
states cooperating with the "Zionist regime" as an example of
"non-compliance both to the letter and spirit of the NPT" and
said that the treatment towards Israel represents "double
standards and discriminatory approaches." Iran blamed Israel

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for thwarting efforts to remove a nuclear threat from the
Middle East and declared that Israel is "the main obstacle in
establishing the nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle
East." Finally, Iran stressed that its nuclear program "is,
and has always been, for peaceful purposes."


9. (U) SEVERAL COUNTRIES WEIGH IN ON IRAN: Kuwait encouraged
Iran, which it referred to as the "friendly Islamic Republic"
to "continue its cooperation with the IAEA with transparency"
and encouraged a diplomatic solution including the
discussions between the group of 5 1 in Geneva and Iran.
Japan noted that "Iran,s nuclear program is a source of
concern for the international community."


10. (U) RUSSIAN FEDERATION LAUDS COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED
STATES: The Russian Federation highlighted its recent
cooperation with the U.S. and commented that the joint
statement "confirmed the commitment to the buildup of
cooperation aimed at prevention of nuclear-weapons
proliferation and preclusion of acts of nuclear terrorism."
Russia went on to say that it hopes the steps will lead to a
decrease in the use of highly enriched uranium for civilian
applications. Russia also praised the effectiveness of the
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, put forward by
the Presidents of Russia and the United States in 2006, and
said that it has now reached a "global dimension." Russia
noted its efforts working with the U.S., the IAEA and partner
countries to return to Russia spent highly enriched uranium.
Russia discussed other positive steps it is taking in
conjunction with the IAEA - including its implementation of
the IAEA International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors
and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) - a
nd endorsed the body,s work as "strengthening international
security."


11. (U) THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA BLAMES DPRK FOR "PROVOCATIVE
ACTIONS" AND "BLATANT VIOLATIONS": The Republic of Korea
emphasized that "the peaceful resolution of the DPRK nuclear
issue is vital to securing lasting peace and prosperity of
the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia." It expressed
concern that recently "the international efforts for
verifiable denuclearization of the DPRK have faced a series
of provocative actions taken by the DPRK" and accused the
country of blatantly violating the Six-Party Talks agreements
as well as UN Security Council Resolutions. ROK also noted
the IAEA General Conference Resolution of last September,
which it hopes will lead to the "DPRK,s realization that its
nuclear ambition will not be tolerated." It urged the DPRK
to return to the Six-Party Talks, to abandon its nuclear
program, and to return to the NPT regime.


12. (U) DPRK DEFENDS ITSELF IN EXPLANATION OF VOTE: The DPRK
delivered an explanation of vote and called the IAEA,s
position prejudiced and urged the IAEA towards impartiality.
The DPRK blamed U.S. policy for the behavior of the DPRK,
including its testing of a second nuclear weapon, and accused
the U.S. of maintaining a hostile policy towards the DPRK.
The DPRK accused the U.S. of aggravating the Korean peace
process, and offered a commitment to continue talks with the
U.S., possibly within a multi-lateral setting.


13. (U) U.S. STATEMENT: The U.S. delivered a statement
reiterating its support for the IAEA in "all facets of its
work" and added its commitment to finding multilateral
solutions to global challenges. The U.S. noted its support
for the IAEA role of expanding the peaceful use of nuclear
energy, while at the same time preventing proliferation of
weapons. With respect to the Middle East, the U.S. emphasized
that any efforts to address nuclear-related issues there must
be done in a "comprehensive and non-politicized" way. The
U.S. noted reservations on the adoption of the Israeli
Nuclear Capabilities text at the recent IAEA General
Conference. Full text of the U.S. statement can be found at
http://usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/200 9/131211.htm.


14. (U) ISRAEL EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE IAEA GENERAL
CONFERENCE IN EXPLANATION OF POSITION: Following the adoption
of the resolution, Israel explained its position and noted
disappointment in the recent IAEA General Conference
resolution, and calledthe "Israeli Nuclear Capabilities" text
as completely one-sided. Israel also complained that other
nations in the Middle East have shown unwillingness to
promote regional talks aimed at establishing a
nuclear-weapons-free zone. Israel disassociated itself from
the reference in the report to the attack of Israel on the

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"Dir Azour" site in Syria and noted that this was a
politically motivated reference that contrasts the usual
professionalism of the Agency.
Rice