VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #1251 3651959
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 311939Z DEC 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0000
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0000
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0000

S E C R E T STATE 171251 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2032 
TAGS: ECON PARM PREL IZ
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS ON TUWAITHA MATERIALS 
 
REF: A. STATE 163968 
     ¶B. BAGHDAD 4126 
     ¶C. STATE 169324 
     ¶D. BAGHDAD 2454 
     ¶E. BAGHDAD 1787 
     ¶F. BAGHDAD 734 
     ¶G. BAGHDAD 4227 
     ¶H. STATE 171234 
 
Classified By: NEA DAS LAWRENCE E. BUTLER FOR REASONS 
E.O. 12958 SEC. 1.4 (B), (D), AND (H). 
 
¶1. (S) SUMMARY.  As post continues to pursue REF A 
objectives, the following objectives and background 
information should help post expedite discussions with the 
Government of Iraq (GOI) on removing Tuwaitha's yellowcake 
and irradiators.  END SUMMARY. 
 
OBJECTIVES 
¶2. (S) The following objectives are intended to complement 
those in REF A, in response to new information in REF B.  The 
USG endorses deferring negotiations over the GOI's percentage 
of transport and packing costs until the operation's 
completion when such costs are fully known. 
 
-- Revisit the designation of Prime Minister Maliki as the 
GOI representative authorized to sign a sales contract on 
grounds of impracticality.  Encourage the designation of some 
other entity than the head of government.  Seek reassurance 
that those negotiating the sales contract will speak with 
authority. 
 
-- Confirm what role the Tuwaitha Committee plays in GOI 
decision-making. 
 
-- Inform the GOI that, after removing the damaged 
irradiators, the USG will work with the GOI to determine for 
what applications the GOI would use such irradiators.  Based 
on this plan, the USG is prepared to assist the GOI in 
approaching proper regulatory agencies and manufacturers to 
secure appropriate replacements. 
 
-- Secure copies of letters from PM Maliki to Amb. Najib and 
to USG (REF B) as soon as possible; if the letters are not 
forthcoming, determine what process or timetable the GOI is 
employing to obtain Cabinet approval. 
 
BACKGROUND 
¶3. (SBU) Irradiators:  Non-nuclear replacements for 
irradiators do exist. However, the purpose for which they 
would be used must be, as a technical matter, clearly 
defined.  For example, electron accelerators can replace 
irradiators that generate gamma rays, but are only suitable 
for certain applications.  Substitutes also come with other 
issues -- accelerators require a reliable power supply, 
whereas irradiators do not.  Therefore, understanding the 
GOI's intended uses for irradiators is necessary to properly 
assist the GOI in finding non-nuclear substitutes. 
 
¶4. (SBU) IAEA Seals: Prior to the repackaging of the 
yellowcake, the GOI is obligated to inform the IAEA of intent 
to break IAEA seals at Tuwaitha (REF C, H). 
 
¶5. (S) Following is a summary of past GOI decisions on 
yellowcake for post to use as needed if GOI attempts to 
walk-back what has already been agreed upon, including 
similar requests for assistance from different ministries: 
 
--Nov 11, 2007: Minister of Science and Technology (MOST) 
Raid J. Fahmy in a letter to Amb. Crocker requested USG 
assistance in "getting rid of the nuclear materials stored at 
site (C) through helping the committee formed for this 
purpose by: 1) Assisting in identifying potential buyers for 
these materials; 2) Providing informal advice as requested 
during the negotiations that will take place during the sales 
process; 3) Repackaging and transporting these materials in 
coordination with IAEA to ensure compliance with the 
requirements of the system of safeguards; 4) Agreeing to 
negotiate the expenses of repackaging and the transportation 
process along with the readiness of the Iraqi government to 
facilitate the entry of persons designated to perform this 
work and the equipment which they will use; 5) Facilitating 
all clearances for exporting the materials and temporary 
storage, if necessary." 
 
--Aug 6, 2007: The MFA Dept of Organizations and 
International Cooperation sent a letter to Embassy Baghdad 
"seeking assistance in getting rid of the nuclear materials 
stored at Site C through your helping the Committee formed 
for that purpose in the following areas: 1) Specifying buyers 
for these materials; 2) Conducting negotiations during the 
sales process; 3) Repacking and transferring these materials 
in coordination with the IAEA to ensure compliance with the 
requirements of the system of guarantees; 4) Entering into 
discussions concerning repackaging and transferring expenses. 
 The government of Iraq is prepared to facilitate the entry 
of the persons specified to carry out the work as well as the 
equipment and tools which they will use." 
 
--July 23, 2007: Embassy's Energy Attache informed the 
Tuwaitha Committee that ammonium nitrate will not be included 
in the operation to remove the yellowcake and irradiators 
(REF C). 
 
--May 27, 2007: Amb. Najib informed Embassy officers that the 
Tuwaitha Committee had been formed and that decisions on this 
issue would be made above the level of the MOST (REF D). 
 
--February 27, 2007: The Prime Minister's Chief of Staff 
Tariq Abdullah informed the DCM that the GOI would accept 
delayed reimbursement should a buyer not be immediately found 
and hoped that the sales price would at least cover the 
removal costs (REF E). 
RICE