VZCZCXYZ0019
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUNV #0083/01 0431618
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121618Z FEB 08
FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7502
INFO RHEBAAA/DOE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEANFA/NRC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L UNVIE VIENNA 000083 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/T AND IO/MPR/EA FEITH 
DOE FOR NA-1, NA-20, NA-24, NA-243 OEHLBERT/BRUNS, 
NE-1,NE-2, NE-6 
NRC FOR JSCHWARTZMAN, MDOANE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018 
TAGS: AORC APER IAEA
SUBJECT: IDENTIFYING SENIOR AMCITS AT IAEA AND OTHER 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN VIENNA 
 
REF: A) STATE 006406 B) UNVIE 62 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Geoffrey R. Pyatt for reason 1.4 d 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (C) Per ref A, Mission has identified senior level 
positions (Director-level and above) at the IAEA and other 
international organizations in Vienna that are critical to 
U.S. interests.  At the IAEA, AmCits hold the senior-most of 
six Deputy Director General (DDG) positions, and three of 19 
available key Director/senior advisory positions.  The 
Director General makes final hiring decisions for all 
senior-level posts.  AmCits are unlikely to be considered for 
another DDG slot due to geographic distribution but may be 
eligible for additional Director and senior advisory 
positions as they become vacant.  Nuclear weapons states are 
ineligible for Safeguards DDG and three Director posts in 
that department.  Although the U.S. is well represented in 
the Department of Management, it does not hold any Director 
positions reporting to the DG, or in the Departments of 
Nuclear Energy and Safety-and-Security.  Beginning with para 
8 we have identified current incumbents, noted expiry of 
their employment contracts, and assessed whether Americans 
would be seriously considered for the posts.  Upcoming 
vacancies include Directors in Safety and, potentially, the 
Safeguards Analytical Laboratory (SAL).  Mission continues to 
promote AmCit employment at all levels; our representation 
stands at around 12 percent of all positions subject to 
geographic distribution, close to the secretariat's informal 
guideline of half our total regular budget contribution.  The 
IAEA's perception that this approaches an adequate level of 
representation for the U.S. makes it all the more important 
to target critical D-level posts.  We expect additional 
turnover at the DDG and Director level at the conclusion of 
the DG's term of office in 2009. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ref B reports recent reorganization and upcoming 
vacancies at UNODC.  A number of key positions are being 
vacated at other international organizations based in Vienna 
(paras 13-14):  UN Office of Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), 
Deputy Director; UN Commission on International Trade Law 
(UNCITRAL), Secretary and Legislative Branch Head; and the 
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), 
Director.  Of these, the U.S. should prioritize the OOSA 
Deputy Director slot, though qualified AmCits with strong 
U.S. backing would be competitive for most of these 
positions.  AmCits hold one of five Director (D1) slots in 
CTBTO's small Secretariat, and are not eligible for senior 
vacancies at UNIDO. 
 
----------------------------------- 
IAEA Overview of Critical Positions 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Of the six Deputy Directors General (DDGs) who report 
to the Director General, four are central to our interests. 
The DG also has three special assistants.  Of the DDGs, the 
United States holds one position, the DDG for Management -- 
the largest Department in the Secretariat.  This position has 
traditionally been reserved for the United States.  The other 
three critical DDG slots -- Safeguards, Safety and Security, 
and Nuclear Energy -- are not likely to be given to an 
American so long as an American is the DDG for Management. 
The DG, who makes all final hiring decisions for senior 
posts, has indicated he will not appoint more than one AmCit 
DDG. 
 
¶4. (C) Opportunities for AmCit employment at the IAEA are 
further constrained by Agency traditions based on 
accommodations reached many years ago.  For example, the DG 
slot, the DDG for Safeguards and the three Directors for 
Safeguards Operations by tradition do not go to Nuclear 
Weapons States.  In addition and like other UN agencies, the 
IAEA seeks to maintain a geographic balance in its hiring 
program.  Therefore, it is very unlikely the DG would allow 
the US to hold more than one director slot in any department. 
 
¶5. (C) The critical directorships are those reporting 
directly to the DG, and those in the Departments of 
Management, Safeguards, Nuclear Energy, and 
Safety-and-Security.  One directorship in the Department of 
Nuclear Applications is judged critical because of its 
relationship to Safeguards.  While there will likely be 
 
qualified AmCits applying for other senior positions in the 
Departments of Nuclear Safety, Technical Cooperation, and 
Science and Applications, activities in these departments are 
not central to U.S. interests. 
 
¶6. (C) Of 42 total Director-level positions, we consider 22 
critical to U.S. interests, but Nuclear Weapons States are 
ineligible for three of the Director posts in Safeguards.  Of 
the 19 remaining key Director positions, U.S. citizens 
currently hold three, one each in the Legal Office and the 
Departments of Management and Safeguards.  There is one 
additional AmCit in a non-critical Director position, 
Information Technology, in the Department of Management. 
There are no AmCit senior advisors to the DG or Directors in 
the Departments of Nuclear Energy, and Safety and Security. 
 
¶7. (C) Comment:  Overall AmCit representation in IAEA for 
positions subject to geographic distribution stands at around 
12 percent, just below what Agency officials view as an 
adequate level of U.S. representation, 12.5 percent (half our 
regular budget contributions).  Arguably, however, the U.S. 
is under-represented in key Director posts and senior 
advisory positions.  To address this imbalance, we will need 
to intensify our recruitment and lobbying efforts on targeted 
D-level vacancies.  We also anticipate turnover among the DDG 
and Director-level positions reporting to the DG when 
ElBaradei's term ends in December 2009.  End Comment. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
DG Assistants and Directors Reporting to the IAEA's DG 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶8.  (C) These jobs are critical because they control the flow 
of information into and out of the DG's office.  They also 
provide the DG with critical political, legal, and management 
advice. 
 
-- Special Assistant for Management 
 
Advises the DG on all Management-related policy issues and is 
the DG's most influential advisor on personnel matters.  The 
current incumbent from Thailand, Verasak Liengsririwat (Sak 
for short), will have his contract up for renewal in November 
¶2009.  The DG is likely to extend Sak's contract for the 
duration of his term of office, which expires in 2009.  This 
position has been held previously by Japanese, Swiss and 
Australian nationals and is worth pursuing aggressively when 
the current incumbent departs. 
 
-- Special Assistants for Scientific & Technical Affairs 
and for Policy 
 
These two Special Assistants are critical gatekeepers for 
access to and information about the DG.  They are junior in 
rank to Sak.  The current incumbents are Graham Andrew (UK), 
contract expiration of August 31, 2011, and Antoine Van 
Dongen (Netherlands), who recently replaced Geoffrey Shaw 
(Australia), and is expected to stay at least until the end 
of the DG's term of office in 2009. 
 
-- The Director of External Relations and Policy 
Coordination (EXPO) 
 
EXPO's Director heads an influential office that is the first 
point of contact for member states with the IAEA.  The 
current incumbent is Hungarian Vilmos Cserveny whose contract 
expires in October 2008.  He has an excellent working 
relationship with the DG and is likely to be extended further 
unless he leaves for personal reasons.  This office does not 
have any AmCit professionals on staff in Vienna and is worth 
pursuing aggressively when it becomes available.  However, 
the conventional wisdom is that the IAEA will find it hard to 
put an American in this office under the current DG who is 
concerned about the "face" of the Agency to the outside world. 
 
-- Secretary of the Policy Making Organs 
 
Primarily responsible for supporting and organizing IAEA 
Board of Governors (BOG) meetings and the General Conference 
(GC), the current incumbent is Kwaku Aning (Ghana), whose 
contract expires November 30, 2008.  He is very competent and 
loyal to the DG and enjoys an excellent working relationship 
with him, as well as with Presidents of the GC, Chairs of the 
BOG and Member States representative.  The DG is likely to 
extend his contract further, unless Aning leaves for 
retirement/personal reasons.  This office does not have any 
 
AMCIT professionals on staff and the job is worth pursuing 
vigorously when it becomes available. 
 
-- Director of the Office of Legal Affairs 
 
Responsible for advising the DG on policy-making issues, the 
current incumbent is South African Johan Rautenbach whose 
contract expires November 30, 2011.  His predecessor was an 
American, and it is possible that an AmCit could successfully 
compete for this position, when it becomes available again. 
 
-- Section Head of Legal Affairs critical Non-Proliferation 
and Policy Making Section 
 
AmCit Laura Rockwood heads the most important of the legal 
office's four sections.  She is on a long-term contract and 
her contract expiration date is November 30, 2011. She is the 
number two in the Office of Legal Affairs and holds the same 
rank as the Director (D-1). 
 
------------------------ 
Department of Safeguards 
------------------------ 
 
¶9. (C) The Department of Safeguards is the IAEA's most 
critical department because of its role in ensuring 
compliance with nonproliferation commitments.  Of the three 
director positions in Safeguards open to citizens of Nuclear 
Weapon States, one is held by an AmCit; the other two are 
held by France and Russia.  We are likely to hold one of 
these positions at all times, although it would be very 
difficult for the U.S. to occupy more than one, given the 
Agency's imperative for balance. 
 
-- The Director of the Office of Concepts and Planning in the 
Department of Safeguards 
 
The current incumbent is Amcit Jill Cooley whose long-term 
contract has been renewed until June 2013.  She is well 
respected and has an excellent working relationship with 
Safeguards DDG.  When this position opens at some point in 
the future, the U.S. should seek to retain it. 
 
--The Director of Safeguards Information Technology 
 
The incumbent is Frenchman Jacques Baute whose contract 
expires in July 2010.  His division's responsibility includes 
satellite imagery and IT technology support for safeguards 
analysis.  With the caveat that the U.S. is unlikely to 
obtain more than one Directorship in the Safeguards 
Department, we should pursue this position when it becomes 
available. 
 
--The Director of Technical Support 
 
The incumbent is Russian Nikolai Khlebnikov whose contract 
expires in July 2009.  His division's responsibility includes 
providing safeguards equipment (i.e. seals) and training. 
With the caveat that the U.S. is unlikely to obtain more than 
one Directorship in the Safeguards Department, we should 
pursue this position when it becomes available. 
 
--The Director of Seibersdorf Laboratory 
 
Although this position reports to the DDG of Nuclear Sciences 
and Applications, the Director (D-2) is responsible for the 
Safeguards Analytical Laboratory, a critical activity for 
U.S. interests.  The current incumbent is German Gabriele 
Voigt whose contract expires in April 30, 2009.  Voigt has 
told us she applied for a position at the FAO, and will leave 
if offered.  Should the position open, it would be worth 
pursuing aggressively. 
 
------------------------- 
Department for Management 
------------------------- 
 
¶10. (C) The Department of Management is responsible for 
overall management of the Agency including human resources, 
financial management, and facilities maintenance, an 
important function for the US, since we provide one third of 
all funding.  The DDG and one Director are AmCits. 
 
-- The DDG for Management 
 
AmCit David Waller is the senior DDG and acts as Director 
General in ElBaradei's absence.  His contract expires 
December 31, 2009, at the end of the DG's term of office. 
This position, traditionally held by an American, is the most 
influential the U.S. can obtain at the Agency.  When it 
becomes available in the future, we should ensure the 
position remains under U.S. control. 
 
-- The Director of Budget and Finance 
 
AmCit Gary Eidet is responsible for management of the 
Agency's budget and accounting operations.  His contract 
expires in June 2009.  He has an excellent working 
relationship with DDG Waller and is expected to remain in the 
position for the duration of the DDG's term.  This position 
should be pursued aggressively when it opens up in the 
future.  Dual Uruguay/U.S. national Bettina Bartsiotas, 
currently a Section Head in this office, has a good 
relationship with the Mission and may seek this position in 
the future. 
 
-- The Director for Personnel 
 
Responsible for all aspects of human resources from 
recruiting to salary and pension issues, the incumbent is New 
Zealander Douglas Northey, whose contract expires April 2009. 
 The DG chose Northey to replace his female predecessor 
by-passing our well-qualified Amcit candidate Catherine 
Monzel, who works as a P-5 in the same department.  As long 
as an AmCit occupies the position of DDG for Management and 
Director (Budget and Finance) in this department, it is 
unlikely the DG would choose another Amcit director. 
Nonetheless, when the position opens up in the future, the 
U.S. should pursue it aggressively. 
 
-- The Director for Public Information 
 
Responsible for disseminating the Agency's policies to the 
media, the incumbent is Canadian Marc Vidricaire whose 
contract expires in August 2010.  One of the two Section 
Heads in this Department, who serves as the Agency's 
spokesperson, is an American.  The U.S. should actively 
pursue the Director's post when it becomes available. 
 
-------------- 
Nuclear Energy 
-------------- 
 
¶11. (C) As the United States has been actively promoting 
nuclear energy, this DDG position has become more central to 
our interests.  Currently, no Amcits occupy senior positions 
in the Nuclear Energy Department.  As our interest in this 
department develops through engagement with GNEP and INPRO, 
we should aggressively pursue one of these jobs. 
 
-- The DDG for Nuclear Energy 
 
Responsible for promoting the development of nuclear power, 
Russian Yury Sokolov's contract expires in September 2010. 
This is seen as a Russian job, largely because Russia 
initiated and funded the department's principal activity. 
Sokolov is likely to remain for the long term.  In light of 
GNEP, this would be an excellent position for the U.S. to 
hold in the future.  However, it is unlikely that an American 
will be able to obtain another DDG position as long as the 
U.S. holds the DDG of Management. 
 
-- The Director for Nuclear Power 
 
Japanese Akira Omoto's contract expires in January 2009 but 
it likely to be extended thereafter.  The U.S. should pursue 
this position when it becomes available. 
 
-- The Director for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology 
 
The U.S. enjoys a good relationship with the incumbent, Swede 
Hans Forsstroem, whose contract expires in June 2010.  This 
position is critical for U.S. interests if our nuclear energy 
program remains ambitious into the future.  It should be 
pursued aggressively when it becomes available. 
 
-------------------- 
Safety and Security 
-------------------- 
 
¶12. (C) Like the Department of Nuclear Energy, the Department 
of Safety and Security plays a key role in the renewed 
 
international interest in nuclear power.  The DDG is 
responsible for promoting the safe and secure use of nuclear 
energy and technology.  The U.S. is not represented at the 
Director level and currently holds only one P5 management 
position in the entire department, the head of the Incident 
and Emergency Response Center.  Though not a Director-level 
post, this position reports directly to the DDG for Safety 
and Security.  The DDG for Safety and D-1 Head of Safety and 
Security Coordination Section will be vacated in summer 2008. 
 With increased emphasis on nuclear power in developing 
nations, safety and security have become all the more 
important and need U.S. leadership and influence. 
 
-- The DDG for Nuclear Safety and Security 
 
The incumbent Japanese Tomihiro Taniguchi's contract ends 
August 2008.  This would be a valuable position for the U.S. 
to hold, though it is unlikely that an American would be able 
to obtain another DDG position as long as the U.S. holds the 
DDG of Management. 
 
-- The Director of Nuclear Installation Safety 
 
This position reports directly to the DDG for Nuclear Safety 
and Security, and is responsible for promoting safety policy 
on nuclear installations, which is central to U.S. interests 
in nuclear energy.  The incumbent Philippe Jamet's (France) 
term ends in June 2010 though he may be extended.  The U.S. 
held this position before Jamet and should aggressively 
pursue it again when Jamet departs. 
 
-- Head of Safety and Security Coordination Section 
 
Safety and security are each important issues to the U.S. as 
is the interface between the two.  This position reports 
directly to the DDG and has influence over both the Director 
of Nuclear Installation Safety and the Head of the Office of 
Nuclear Security.  The incumbent Brazilian Luis Lederman's 
term ends this year - July 31, 2008.  Since it will be 
several years before there may be an opportunity to place 
Americans in other director positions in the Department, this 
would be a key position for the U.S. to pursue. 
 
-- The Head of the Office of Nuclear Security 
 
This is a separate office within the Department of Nuclear 
Safety and Security.  Its functions are central to our 
interest in preventing terrorists from gaining access to 
nuclear installations, materials and sources.  Swede Anita 
Nilsson's contract expires November 30, 2009 and she is 
expected to remain until then.  This position is worth 
pursuing when it becomes available. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Other International Organizations 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶13. (SBU) In addition to IAEA and UNODC (ref B), Vienna is 
host to number of smaller international organizations. 
Upcoming senior vacancies at the following IOs are of 
particular interest.  While highly qualified Americans with 
strong U.S. backing would be competitive for all of these 
positions, the U.S should prioritize the Deputy Director 
vacancy at the UN Office of Space Affairs (OOSA) to maintain 
an American presence.  A senior Amcit among the 
Russian-dominated staff will help keep OOSA from pursuing an 
agenda in areas inconsistent with U.S. interests. 
 
-- UN Office of Space Affairs (OOSA): Deputy Director (D-1), 
UN Expert of Space Applications. 
 
Amcit incumbent Alice Lee's contract expires January 14, 
¶2009.  This is the second highest position at OOSA and is 
responsible for oversight if the Space Applications Section, 
which promotes use and access to space-based technology.  The 
only other Amcit in OOSA's 20-officer staff encumbers a P-3 
position; there are a disproportionate number of 
professionals from Russia and Eastern Europe.  Several OOSA 
professional staff members are already lobbying for the 
Deputy Director position, but because the U.S. is such a key 
player in COPUS and Americans are under-represented, a strong 
Amcit candidate with USG backing, would be highly 
competitive.  Ms. Lee (who originally applied for her job 
without active USG support) has also offered to help our 
efforts by providing insight into the internal process. 
OOSA's new Director Mazlan Othman also agreed to help, since 
 
Lee is the only Amcit there. 
 
--UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), 
Secretary (D-2) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
This is the head of the UNCITRAL Secretariat, consisting of 
14 legal professionals.  The incumbent Slovene Jernej 
Sekolec's contract ends June 30, 2008 and he will step down 
upon reaching his 60th birthday, the mandatory UN retirement 
age.  His deputy, Frenchman Renaud Soriel, a strong supporter 
of the U.S. in UNCITRAL, is the heir apparent to the 
Secretary position.  The U.S. is already very influential in 
 
SIPDIS 
UNCITRAL so seeking to secure the Secretary position may be 
counterproductive to the extent that it bolsters the 
perception of U.S. dominance over the substantive agenda of 
the organization. 
 
--UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Head, 
Legislative Branch (D-1) 
 
This position oversees the branch responsible for monitoring 
developments in the Case Law on UNCITRAL texts system and 
status and promotion of these texts.  If the incumbent, 
Soriel, moves as expected into the Secretary's position, this 
vacancy would be a good opportunity for an AmCit.  There are 
no other AmCits on the UNCITRAL staff. 
 
--International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis 
(IIASA), Director 
 
The Director is responsible for management and oversight of 
research programs, development of research priorities and 
managing relations with national member organizations.  The 
incumbentr Leen Hordijk's (Netherlands) contract expires in 
mid-2008 and the search for a replacement began last fall. 
The search committee was not happy with the quality of 
candidates, so it continued its search and has now 
short-listed three to four candidates.  At least one American 
is likely to be on the short list and interviews are being 
scheduled for mid-March.  The U.S. National Academy of 
Sciences is a major contributor to IIASA, giving 4 million 
USD annually. 
 
¶14. (SBU) At CTBTO, there is one AmCit, John Sequeira, 
Director of Administration (D-1), among the five Directors in 
the provisional Secretariat.  His contract expires in January 
¶2010.  At the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), 
since the U.S. withdrew in 1996, no AmCits have been hired 
and our status as a non-member would probably preclude the 
four remaining AmCit professional staff members from 
promotion to D-level positions. 
PYATT