This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000659 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE KSAVIT, EUR/PRA JSISKOVIC, 
NP/ECS JACHURCH,NP/ECC TGROEN 
CUSTOMS FOR PLUCK,JSULLIVAN 
BERLIN FOR CUSTOMS ATTACHE 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KSTC ETTC MNUC PARM PREL AM
SUBJECT:  ARMENIA: SEIZURES AND INVESTIGATIONS OF RADIOLOGICAL 
SOURCES DETECTED IN SCRAP METAL EXPORTS TO IRAN 
 
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The GOAM has, for the first time, shared 
information with EXBS Advisor about ongoing export violation 
investigations and radiological seizures.  This is the 
result of ongoing efforts to obtain statistical data from 
Armenian National Security Service to measure the 
effectiveness of EXBS equipment and programs at Armenia's 
ports of entry/exit.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) EXBS Advisor is in frequent contact with officials 
at the National Security Service on a variety of EXBS- 
related issues.  In order to measure the effectiveness of 
EXBS equipment purchases and equipment use we have often 
requested information relating to seizures of radiological 
sources and export violations resulting from these seizures. 
The National Security Service recently gave EXBS Advisor the 
information cited below. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Below is an unofficial embassy translation of the 
information provided by the National Security Service to 
EXBS Advisor.  A laboratory at the Armenia Nuclear Power 
Plant (ANPP) analyzed the sources.  The Armenia Nuclear 
Regulatory Agency sent all information about the detected 
sources to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 
Geneva.  There have been no arrests made as a result of 
these investigations.  In all reported cases, the National 
Security Service has determined that the exporters were 
unaware that their scrap metal exports contained radioactive 
material.  The Portal Monitor detected all but one of the 
radiation sources intercepted passing through the Port of 
Meghri on the way to the Iranian Border. 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
Cylinder container with 2 grams radioactive isotope. 
Strontium-90 radioactive source. 
Strontium-90+Itrium-90 radioactive source with approximately 
20,000 mcR/hour. 
A radioactive source used as a forecasting station with 
about 20,000 Curie was found at the Khosrov Preserve, 
located about 50km from Yerevan. 
A meter for measuring liquids was found and, according to 
the ANPP, the meter was contaminated with isotopes [214]Bi, 
[228]AC with 4000 mcR/hour Gamma radiation. 
1,510 x 60 x 30 mm size aluminum construction with 4,000 
mcR/hour radiation. 
Aluminum sheets, contaminated with [214]Bi, [228]AC, 
[232]Th, [226]Ra radioactive element. 
Strontium-90 radioactive source with a diameter 1,5cm and 
1,5 cm height. 
Electronica humidity meter, containing plutonium beryllium 
neutron radiation source with 6,000 mcR/hour radiation.  END 
TEXT. 
 
¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: EXBS advisor notes the lack of detail and 
investigative precision surrounding these radiation seizures 
and will work toward curing this problem.  EXBS will work to 
ensure that the National Security Service, Border Guards, 
and Customs understand the importance of routinely releasing 
information like this as an important step in evaluating the 
effectiveness of the Armenian EXBS Program.  EXBS Advisor 
considers it a small but important first step taken by 
National Security Service. 
 
WALKER