VZCZCXRO3659
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3143/01 2730848
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 290848Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9695
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0075
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0749
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0264

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003143 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR ISN/NESS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2028 
TAGS: TPHY SENV TRGY TSPL PARM ENRG KGIT KNNP KSCA
OSCI, IZ 
SUBJECT: MOVING FORWARD FROM UNMOVIC/UNSCR 1762: THE BALL 
IS IN IRAQ'S COURT 
 
REF: STATE 95569 
 
Classified By: EMIN Ambassador Marc Wall for reasons 1.4 (e, f). 
 
------- 
Summary 
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¶1. (C) Responding to reftel points on Iraq's normalization of 
its civil nuclear program and lifting UNSCR restrictions, 
Minister of Science and Technology (MoST) Ra'id Fahmi told 
EMIN that "the ball is in Iraq's court."  Betraying limited 
understanding of the international nonproliferation regime, 
Fahmi and his staff displayed a noteworthy willingness to 
engage in detail on each of the arms control conventions and 
promised to follow up with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to 
ensure the political and diplomatic aspects of the process 
move forward apace with the technical side.  MoST said their 
future civil nuclear plans include research in water 
resources, materials science, agriculture, medicine, and 
industrial research and development to include the purchase 
of a 25 million electron-volt accelerator.  MoST is not 
presently considering nuclear technology for electricity 
development, noting they must "start simple and work their 
way up."  Fahmi confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has 
received the first two of three payments from Cameco for the 
yellowcake and were anticipating the final payment as early 
as next week.  Septel will report on MFA response.  We will 
follow-up with the Iraqi National Monitoring Directorate 
(INMD).  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) Participant list: 
 
Iraq: 
- Ra'id Fahmi -- Minister of Science and Technology 
- Dr. Faoud Al Mousawy -- Deputy Minister 
- Dr. Talib Ebrahim, Director General, Materials Science and 
Physics 
- Dr. Farouq -- Deputy Director General, INMD 
- Sundus Ahmed Mousa -- Head of Computer Administration, 
Minister's Office 
 
United States Embassy: 
- Ambassador Marc Wall -- Coordinator for Economic Transition 
in Iraq 
- Roy Therrien -- ESTH Officer 
- Dr. Melissa Finley -- Sandia National Lab, International 
Biological Threat Reduction Organization 
- Daniel Markley -- Deputy Energy Attache 
 
----------------------------- 
"The Ball is in Iraq's Court" 
----------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Responding to reftel points on Iraq's way forward 
to normalizing their civil nuclear program and lifting UNSCR 
restrictions, Minister of Science and Technology (MoST) Ra'id 
Fahmi told EMIN, "I guess the ball is in Iraq's court." 
Particularly noting EMIN's emphasis on the importance of 
working closely with other ministries, especially the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), to ensure the political 
and diplomatic aspects of this issue advance apace with the 
technical side, Fahmi agreed to meet with the MFA as soon as 
possible to investigate the status and way forward for each 
of the protocols and treaties noted in the talking points. 
 
¶4.  (C) Betraying limited understanding of the international 
nonproliferation regime, Fahmi and his staff did display a 
noteworthy willingness to engage in discussion regarding 
Iraq's present status as existing or aspiring states parties. 
 MoST described Iraq's status as follows: 
 
- Additional protocol to IAEA safeguards -- "I believe the 
Ministry of Justice is working on this." 
- Export controls (Missile Technology Control Regime, 
Australia Group, Nuclear Suppliers Group, Wassenaar 
Arrangement) -- not clear on status. 
- Nonproliferation Treaty -- not clear on status. 
- Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) -- "We signed that in 
the 90s." (Note: Iraq signed the BWC in 1971 and ratified the 
treaty in 1991.  End note.) 
- Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and 
on the Safety of Radioactive Waste -- "Do we have to sign 
these since we do not have a nuclear power program?"  EconOff 
explained that the international community prefers states 
sign these conventions before undertaking nuclear programs, 
 
BAGHDAD 00003143  002 OF 002 
 
 
not after. 
- Code of Conduct for Safety and Security of Radioactive 
Sources -- "The Iraq Radioactive Source Regulatory Authority 
is handling that." 
- Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage 
-- not clear on status. 
- Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) -- "The Presidency has 
signed it and it will be published as law very soon." (Note: 
Fahmi was surprised to hear that Iraq had further 
responsibilities under CWC accession besides signing.  They 
must also report to the Organization for the Prohibition of 
Chemical Weapons on the legislative and administrative 
measures Iraq has taken to implement the CWC as well as 
submit its initial declaration on its present and past 
chemical weapons activities.  End note.) 
- Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) -- 
"That is probably something for the MFA." (Note: It appeared 
they had never heard of the GICNT.  End note.) 
- Report to the United Nations in accordance with UNSCR 1762 
-- "I believe we are doing this." (Note: Iraq's Permanent 
Mission to the UN reported to the Security Council in 
accordance with UNSCR 1762 in a letter dated May 29, 2008. 
End note.) 
 
Minister Fahmi assured EMIN they would research each topic 
thoroughly and follow-up with the Embassy.  (Note: We also 
delivered this message to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(septel) and will follow-up with the INMD.  The INMD is the 
National Authority responsible for implementing Iraq's 
obligations pursuant to international and regional 
conventions and treaties concerned with the non-proliferation 
of weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, chemical, and 
biological - and their means of delivery.  End note.) 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
MoST Eager to Reengage in Civil Nuclear Programs 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) MoST said their future civil nuclear plans include 
research in water resources, materials science, medicine, 
agriculture, and industrial research and development to 
include the purchase of a 25 million electron-volt 
accelerator.  Dr. Faoud Al Mousawy, MoST Deputy Minister, 
noted with pride that Iraq used to have a 5 megawatt (MW) 
vertical and horizontal channel research and isotope 
production reactor.  "In 1967-68, we were the only country in 
the region capable of producing radiological sources.  Now, 
we can do nothing," he said.  (Note: Iraq's IRT-5000 5 MW 
reactor at Tuwaitha was built by the Soviet Union in 1967 and 
destroyed by coalition forces in 1991.  End note.)  MoST said 
they are not presently considering nuclear technology for 
electricity development, noting they must "start simple and 
work their way up." 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Fahmi said that Iraq's Gammacell irradiators were 
removed by coalition forces "even though they were not even 
working."  Noting the time and effort it has taken to sign 
the CWC, Fahmi lamented, "It could take us ten years before 
we can import another Gammacell."  (Note: The Gammacell is a 
shielded Cobalt-60 source used for research, food 
decontamination, and sterilization of medical equipment.  End 
note.) 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Update on the Yellow Cake Payments from Cameco 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Fahmi confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has 
received the first two of three payments from Cameco for 550 
metric tons of Iraqi yellowcake delivered to Canada by MNF-I 
in July.  Sundus Mousa, the Minister's Assistant, said they 
were anticipating the final payment as early as next week. 
"They finished the chemical analysis a long time ago, but we 
are still waiting for the results to determine the size of 
the final payment," she said.  Fahmi also said that the Prime 
Minister's Office had authorized the Ministry of Finance to 
release 7 million USD from the proceeds of the sale to the 
I-CERP Fund to repay MNF-I for the delivery cost of the 
yellowcake, but was not sure if transfer has been completed. 
CROCKER