NUCLEAR FUELS: HMG SEEKS INPUT ON THEMES, DELEGATES FOR MARCH 17-18 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLES CONFERENCE

CONFIDENTIAL,NOFORN C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000540 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/NESS (CARNANHAN), IO/T, ISN/MNSA UN VIENNA (SCHELAND) DOE FOR NA-243 (GORREVICH) E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018 TAGS: ENRG, TRGY, KNNP, UK SUBJECT: NUCLEAR FUELS: HMG SEEKS INPUT ON THEMES, DELEGATES FOR MARCH 17-18 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLES CONFERENCE REF: A. UN VIENNA 83 B. LONDON 422 Classified By: Acting Economic Minister Counselor Kathleen Doherty for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1. (U) This is an action request. See para 3. 2. (C/NF) Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials highlighted the overall goal of building multilateral trust and cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy in a February 26 planning meeting for the UK March 17-18 Nuclear Fuels Conference. This conference is a high priority for PM Brown, who will provide opening remarks on March 17. While representatives from seven other UK-based missions participated in the briefing (Canada, Germany, Italy, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, and Albania), a total of 35 countries are expected to be represented at the conference. FCO would not confirm specific countries, but noted all countries that participated in the April 2008 Nuclear Fuel Cycles Conference in Berlin will be invited -- and conversely -- North Korea, Iran, Pakistan, and India will not/not be invited. FCO officials told mission representatives the HMG is still making a decision on an end product, but shared with ESTHOff privately it is leaning towards a non-legally binding "conference summary" rather than the originally planned "Statement of Principles," or even the scaled-back version of the Statement of Principles (see ref A and B). The HMG encourages up to three delegates from each country to participate at the Director-General level and seeks immediate feedback on the central themes of the conference. 3. (SBU). Action request. HMG is asking for a delegation list by March 6. FCO also welcomes input on the themes outlined in para 4. Post provided the agenda and logistical details to ISN/NSSA, US Mission UN Vienna, and DOE via e-mail on February 26/27. End action request. 4. (SBU) FCO officials seek comment from the USG and other missions attending the planning meeting regarding the themes for the March 17-18 Conference. Exact text of these themes provided by FCO follows below: - Significant increase in interest in civil nuclear power programs. - Rights and responsibilities under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including the Nuclear Weapons States. - Nuclear energy has much potential to provide great benefits to mankind; such benefits should be available to all States who meet their non-proliferation obligations. - Proliferation risks involving certain parts of the nuclear fuel cycle. - Commercial fuel market, operating successfully for many decades, but further enhancements in security of nuclear fuel services are desired by many. - Encourage states to explore the use of multilateral (multinational) nuclear fuel assurances as a means of enhancing the security of their access to nuclear fuel services. - Proposals offer States different options based on individual needs and concerns to give confidence in nuclear fuel supply. - IAEA has an essential role to play in facilitating the development and use of nuclear energy. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom LEBARON