NIGERIA TO ATTEND THE FEBRUARY 9-11 SHERPA MEETING IN THE

UNCLAS ABUJA 000194

SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO ISN/TR AMBASSADOR JENKINS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NSC LAURA HOLGATE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM EAID TBIO IAEA AORC CDG ENRG MNUC PGOV PREL UNGA
NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA TO ATTEND THE FEBRUARY 9-11 SHERPA MEETING IN THE
HAGUE

REF: STATE 7493; 09 ABUJA 696


1. (SBU) Embassy Political Counselor, ESTH Officer (note taker) and
Dutch Economic and Trade Officer jointly delivered ref A points to
the Director General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority
(NNRA) and recently-appointed Sherpa for the April 12-13 Nuclear
Security Summit Professor Shemsiden Elegba on February 3. The
Political Counselor explained the policy objectives of the Nuclear
Security Summit and the difference between the Summit and the
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference. Elegba accepted
the invitation to attend the February 9-11 Hague Sherpa meeting.



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NIGERIA'S SOUS-SHERPA NAMED

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2. (SBU) Elegba confirmed the appointment of Foreign Ministry First
United Nations Division Director Maria Laose as Nigeria's
Sous-Sherpa who will be joining him at The Hague. (NOTE: Laose
formerly worked for Nigeria's Mission to the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna and is the point person for all
matters nuclear in the MFA. END NOTE). Elegba found the
objectives of the Nuclear Security Summit to be complementary to
those of the NPT as well as the Forum of Regulatory Bodies in
Africa (FORBIA),which he chairs. (NOTE: FORBIA, established in
2009, has 30 members and aims to harmonize and strengthen the
nuclear safety and security regulatory framework of African
nations. END NOTE). Elegba also welcomed the proposed March 8-12
visit to Nigeria by U.S. Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs
Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins.



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FORBIA TO ORGANIZE A NUCLEAR SAFETY AND SECURITY WORKSHOP

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3. (SBU) Elegba informed the U.S. and the Dutch that FORBIA planned
to host a one-day executive workshop on Nuclear Safety and Security
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the assistance of the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC),in May or June of this year. He said
FORBIA decided to organize the workshop in response to a growing
number of African countries expressed interest in developing
nuclear power for peaceful purposes. He noted, however, that most
of the countries do not have either regulatory frameworks or the
means to implement them. He added that FORBIA is also concerned
about failing states becoming dumping grounds for radioactive
waste. Elegba expressed appreciation for the NRC's support and
promised to coordinate closely with the U.S. on the workshop.
MCCULLOUGH