VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUNV #0068/01 0491704
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181704Z FEB 09
FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9023
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEANFA/NRC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000068 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/T, ISN/MNSA, ISN/RA 
NA-243-GOOREVICH/OEHLBERT, BRUNNS; NA-241 O'CONNOR, SIEMON; 
NA21-CUMMINS, ILIOPULOS; NE- MCGINNIS, PEKO, CLAPPER 
NRC FOR OIP - DUNN LEE, HENDERSON, SCHWARTZMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC ENRG ETTC KNNP MNUC PREL TRGY
SUBJECT: BEIJING CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR ENERGY PROMISES TO BE 
INTERESTING 
 
REF: Gebert-Burkhart Email 02/4/2009 
 
-------------- 
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: 
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¶1. (U) SUMMARY:  A brief conference update was presented by the IAEA 
and the Permanent Mission to China to showcase the upcoming 
International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Energy for the 21st 
Century in Beijing, China on April 20-22, 2009.  A Chinese rep 
expanded upon conference logistics as well as travel documents, 
while the Agency briefed on conference content noting it will be a 
policy discussion given Ministerial attendance as well as an expert 
discussion with four breakout sessions.  No member states, except 
Iran, raised objections to the suggested conference content. Iran 
asked the Agency to define an outcome document and explain how 
statements at the conference should be interpreted (i.e. as binding 
or not).  The IAEA Secretariat stated there would be no outcome 
document instead, as after the Paris conference; the Agency would 
issue a report reflecting all Ministerial Statements. China, 
separately circulated a Chairman's Statement to the Friends of 
Nuclear Energy Group (FoNE) on February 13 (ref). A number of states 
cautioned that the document should not be interpreted as a legally 
binding statement.  On participation, the Secretariat singled out 
the U.S. noting it hoped for high-level U.S. attendance.  Thus far 
13 developing countries have indicated Ministerial-level 
participation.  Mission recommends consideration of Energy Secretary 
Chu's participation or other high-level U.S. participation. 
 
¶2.   (U)  ACTION REQUEST: Mission seeks guidance on acceptable 
language for Chinese circulated draft Chairman's Statement by 
February 20 in order to ensure USG comments are reflected.  END 
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. 
 
 
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POLICY & TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS 
--------------- 
 
¶3. (U) The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and 
its Nuclear Energy Agency are cosponsors of the Beijing Conference 
along with the IAEA. The April conference, which is follow-on from a 
2005 Paris conference on developments in nuclear energy, will 
discuss developments in nuclear energy over the past four years and 
provide an opportunity for Ministers and other senior officials to 
discuss policy issues associated with the nuclear renaissance. At a 
briefing on February 12 IAEA DDG Yuri Sokolov and Director Vilmos 
Cserveny urged Member State Ministers to be active participants in 
both the high-level segment as well as the technical sessions. The 
four technical sessions will be: 1) energy resources and 
environment; 2) available technology and long term perspectives; 3) 
infrastructure development and safety/legal issues; and 4) reliable 
fuel supply, spent fuel waste management and strengthening 
nonproliferation. 
 
¶4. (U) Iran raised concerns that they did not want the conference to 
become political and that they were looking for a summary document 
at the end of the conference that addressed technical issues.  The 
IAEA countered that focus on an outcome document would detract from 
the overall information exchange which is the spirit of the 
conference. This spawned additional questions from Canada asking 
what makes this conference critical enough for the Ministerial-level 
participation. IAEA Secretariat officials conceded that it will be 
up to the Ministers to decide if participation was valuable. 
[COMMENT: Mission believes Iran is pressing for an outcome document 
which would uphold the right of states to decide on enrichment for 
peaceful purposes, something Iran would then use to counter 
assertions that it is developing nuclear technology for military 
purposes. END COMMENT.] 
 
----------------------- 
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AT FRIENDS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY MEETING 
----------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) At the Friends of Nuclear Energy Meeting held on February 13, 
China asked for feedback on the draft of the Chairman's Summary to 
be released at the end of the International Ministerial Conference 
on Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century, to be held on April 20-22 in 
Beijing, China. The U.S. commented that the basic premises of the 
statement are good, but that nuclear energy should not be compared 
to renewable energy.  Russia expressed concern over the phrase 
"obligations of states" in regards to spent fuel and radioactive 
waste. Both Canada and Russia asked for clarification on the meaning 
of 'international framework' in implementing nuclear power.  Canada 
also commented that the statement should more clearly express the 
 
benefits of nuclear power. France echoed Canada's sentiment in 
calling for a more positive expression of the benefits of nuclear 
power as well as highlighting the need to discuss the paragraph on 
nonproliferation more thoroughly in the coming months. After hearing 
the comments, China expressed its willingness to adapt the text and 
to respond to specific legal issues raised by Russia and Canada. 
 
--------------- 
CONFERENCE LOGISTICS AND TRAVEL 
--------------- 
 
¶6. (U) The US requested a list of participants be released prior to 
the Conference. The IAEA Secretariat declined this request, but 
voiced their hope that the U.S. will send a high-level 
representative and that U.S. participation "is more active" than at 
the 2005 conference. [COMMENT: The Secretariat has confirmed in 
other conversations that thirteen Ministers or at least officials 
with a Ministerial title from thirteen countries (Egypt, Romania, 
Latvia, Poland, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, 
Mexico, Argentina, Bangladesh) have registered. END COMMENT.] 
Responding to Missionoff on visa requirements for the conference, 
the Chinese rep said a letter of invitation will be sent to all 
individuals who register via the conference website.  Prospective 
participants then need to initiate the visa process.  Per the 
Chinese Mission, visa applications should include the following 
information (full name, maiden name, date and place of birth, home 
address, nationality, name and full address of employer, passport 
number, length of stay and arrival date, as well as place of 
issuance of visa)and be addressed to Mr. Huang Wei at the email 
address below as soon as possible but not later than one month 
before the beginning of the conference: Mr. Huang Wei, Division 
Director, Department of International Cooperation, CAEA; Tel:  +86 
10 8858 1286, Email: Huangwei@caea.gov.cn.  When pressed the Chinese 
rep admitted that there would be no guarantees of visas for 
participants. 
END NOTE] 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶7. (U) There will be merit to US participation in the conference, 
given the importance China accords to this event and the opportunity 
to engage informally on the safe and secure expansion of nuclear 
power.   Mission understands that NRC is sending a high-level 
representative and would recommend consideration of Secretary Chu's 
participation.  This would likely be Secretary Chu's first 
opportunity to address the new Administration's views on nuclear 
power before an international audience.