P R 041806Z JUN 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 
INFO USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA

UNCLAS STATE 057671 
 
 
UNVIE FOR IAEA MGOODMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG TRGY AORC KNNP OTRA TC
SUBJECT: U.S.  UAE NUCLEAR INFRASTRUCTURE 
COOPERATION AS AN IMPLEMENTING ARRANGEMENT OF THE 
U.S.  UAE MOU ON PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY 
 
¶1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST.  SEE PARA 7-8. 
 
UNCLASSIFIED - ENTIRE TEXT. 
 
2.SUMMARY:  Consistent with Article IV of the 
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons 
(NPT), one of the ways that the United States 
supports peaceful nuclear development is through 
bilateral arrangements with developing nations.  The 
Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear 
Security Administration (NNSA) conducts peaceful 
nuclear engagement with selected nations to improve 
nuclear infrastructures as those nations move toward 
civil nuclear energy.  To this end, DOE/NNSA would 
like to support the establishment of an arrangement 
for cooperation on nonproliferation and peaceful uses 
of nuclear energy between DOE/NNSA and appropriate 
UAE authorities.  The proposed arrangement would 
serve as an implementing arrangement pursuant to the 
21 April 2009 non-binding Memorandum of Understanding 
between the United States and the United Arab 
Emirates. Such an arrangement would provide for 
cooperation between DOE/NNSA and UAEs Federal 
Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), as well as 
the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). 
DOE/NNSA believes this cooperation would promote 
broad-based dialogue that would contribute to U.S. 
nonproliferation objectives.  This message contains 
further information on DOE/NNSA's International 
Nuclear Safeguards and Engagement Program, requests 
that Embassy convey this proposal formally to 
appropriate officials at at the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA), FANR, and ENEC, and proposes a U.S. 
delegation visit to UAE in the late July or early 
August timeframe to discuss this initiative with 
appropriate officials. END SUMMARY 
 
¶3. BACKGROUND:  The United States regards civil 
nuclear energy as an important current and future 
source of energy for both developed and developing 
nations.  Consistent with Article IV of the NPT, one 
of the ways that the United States supports peaceful 
nuclear applications is through bilateral cooperation 
with developing states.  This cooperation, 
complementary to the International Atomic Energy 
Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation Programme, has 
enabled many developing countries greater utilization 
of peaceful nuclear techniques in a wide range of 
disciplines, such as nuclear safety, nuclear 
medicine, agriculture, and water resources. 
 
4.As a component of U.S. bilateral cooperation, the 
DOE/NNSA International Nuclear Safeguards and 
Engagement Program (INSEP) contributes to 
strengthening the international nuclear safeguards 
regime through cooperative safeguards and related 
infrastructure programs and supports the safe, 
secure, and peaceful implementation of nuclear 
technologies.  Since 1982, DOE/NNSA has implemented 
non-legally-binding bilateral cooperation 
arrangements with Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, 
Indonesia, Libya, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Thailand, 
and Vietnam.  A new arrangement is being negotiated 
with Malaysia. An arrangement for cooperation between 
DOE/NNSA and the UAE would provide for cooperation 
between DOE/NNSA and UAEs Federal Authority for 
Nuclear Regulation (FANR), as well as the Emirates 
Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). 
 
¶5. Under these arrangements, INSEP's nuclear 
infrastructure engagement supports the peaceful uses 
of nuclear technology in select countries, and 
addresses numerous nuclear infrastructure topics 
including: radiation protection; nuclear regulation; 
energy planning; international safeguards; emergency 
planning and response; radioactive waste management; 
environment, safety and health; quality assurance; 
international laboratory certification; and nuclear 
human resource development.  The areas for 
collaboration are developed jointly between the 
technical organizations in both countries, with the 
overall approval by DOE/NNSA and Department of State. 
Mechanisms for collaboration include: on-site joint 
evaluations; technical trainings and workshops; 
expert visits and consultations; exchange of samples, 
computer codes, and standards; and use of non- 
classified facilities.  Through these collaborative 
activities, INSEP supports effective civil nuclear 
stewardship and helps developing countries meet 
future nuclear energy needs in ways that are safe, 
secure, and consistent with the highest standards of 
nuclear nonproliferation. 
 
¶6. DOE/NNSA would like to explore the possibility of 
collaboration with appropriate authoriites of the UAE 
in peaceful nuclear infrastructure through DOE/NNSAs 
International Nuclear Safeguards and Engagement 
Program.  If conditions are favorable DOE/NNSA would 
be prepared to consider bilateral cooperative 
activities, as an implementing activityunder the 
April 2008 US-UAE MOU on peaceful uses of nuclear 
energy.  END BACKGROUND 
 
7.ACTION REQUEST:  Drawing from the background and 
the talking points contained in para 8 below, Embassy 
is requested to approach appropriate UAE Government 
officials to offer a visit by DOS and DOE/NNSA in 
July to explain INSEP's nuclear infrastructure 
development program in greater detail and to discuss 
the possibility of establishing a technical 
cooperation arrangement with appropriate authorities 
of UAE.  Embassy is also requested to provide 
relevant points of contact at the Embassy and at 
UAEs MFA, FANR, ENEC, and other relevant agencies 
for coordination and planning purposes.  END ACTION 
REQUEST 
 
¶8.  BEGIN TALKING POINTS: 
 
-- The UAE has demonstrated its leadership in the 
Middle East by committing to develop civil nuclear 
power in accordance with the highest standards of 
nuclear non-proliferation, safety, and security. 
UAEs planning for civilian nuclear power serves as a 
model for the region. 
 
-- We would like to thank UAE for its recent 
participation in the Middle East Infrastructure 
Preparedness Workshop that took place in Amman, 
Jordan in March 2009. 
 
-- The United States Government views commercial 
nuclear energy as an important, environmentally clean 
source of energy for both developed and developing 
countries. 
 
-- As UAE prepares to establish a civil nuclear 
energy program, the U.S. Department of Energy's 
National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) 
would like to establish a technical relationship with 
appropriate UAE authorities , as an implementing 
activity under the April 2009 US-UAE Memorandum of 
Understanding on peaceful uses of nuclear energy. 
Such an arrangement would provide for cooperation 
between DOE/NNSA and the Federal Authority for 
Nuclear Regulation, as well as the Emirates Nuclear 
Energy Corporation. 
 
-- Nuclear infrastructure cooperation between 
DOE/NNSA and the UAE would benefit both countries 
through exchange of experience and best practices, 
and would demonstrate commitment by both countries to 
the safe, secure, and peaceful development of nuclear 
energy. 
 
-- Nuclear infrastructure cooperation would provide a 
mechanism for U.S. technical experts from DOE 
National Laboratories to partner with UAE 
counterparts on nuclear infrastructure topics, 
including: radiation protection; nuclear regulation; 
energy planning; international safeguards; emergency 
planning and response; radioactive waste management; 
environment, safety and health; quality assurance; 
international laboratory certification; and nuclear 
human resource development. 
 
--Such an arrangement would also serves to advance 
the objectives of Article IV of the Treaty on the 
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which 
calls for Parties to facilitate the fullest possible 
exchangeof scientific and technological information 
for peaceful uses of nuclear energy. 
 
-- Representatives from the Department of State and 
DOE/NNSA propose to visit UAE in July to explain the 
nuclear infrastructure development program in greater 
detail, to discuss the possibility of establishing 
technical cooperation, and to learn more about UAEs 
development of an appropriate nuclear energy 
infrastructure. 
 
-- John McClelland-Kerr, the Director of the 
International Nuclear Safeguards and Engagement 
Program, is available to discuss the nuclear 
infrastructure development program with you.  He can 
be reached at 202-586-5353 or at John.McClelland- 
Kerr@nnsa.doe.gov.  END TALKING POINTS 
 
¶9. Embassy is requested to provide GOT feedback to 
John McClelland-Kerr, DOE/NNSA/NA-242, Deborah 
Rudolph DOS/ISN/MNSA, and Marc Humphrey DOS/ISN/NESS 
by June 12.  Post's assistance in introducing the 
nuclear infrastructure program and in requesting 
points of contact for technical engagement is greatly 
appreciated.  END TEXT. 
 
CLINTON