VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUNV #0549/01 3381230
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 041230Z DEC 09
FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0384
INFO RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0345
RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA 0015

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000549 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/GS, ISN/MNSA, ISN/RA, EAP/K, ISN/NESS 
NRC FOR OIP - DOANE 
DOE FOR NA-243-GOOREVICH/OEHLBERT, BRUNNS, 
NA-241 O'CONNOR,SIEMON; NA-21- CUMMINS, ILIOPULOS; 
NE- MCGINNIS, PERKO, CLAPPER 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC KNNP IAEA ENRG TRGY NK
SUBJECT:  IAEA/BOG: North Korea and Other Issues at the November 
Board 
 
Ref:  a) UNVIE 546 b) UNVIE 544 c) UNVIE 538 d) UNVIE 539 
e) UNVIE 535 f) UNVIE 505 g) STATE 121331 
 
-------- 
Wrap-Up 
-------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) The November 26-27 Board of Governors session concluded 
with two significant accomplishments: passage of a resolution 
formally censuring Iran's nuclear program by more than a two-thirds 
vote (25-3-6 abstain, 1 absent), the first such resolution to be 
adopted since the February 2006 referral of Iran to the UN Security 
Council, and secondly, approval of the Russian fuel reserve proposal 
(23-8-3 abstain, 1 absent), the first such mechanism for assurance 
of nuclear fuel supply, a goal envisioned in the IAEA Statute more 
than a half century ago.  The Board also approved the report of the 
November 23-24 Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee (TACC) 
and discussed verification issues in Syria and the DPRK (paras 4-8 
below).  Reftels cover the TACC (ref a) and Board debate on Iran 
(refs b and c), Syria (ref d) and the Russian fuel reserve (ref e). 
The only other verification item on the agenda was approval of an 
Additional Protocol (AP) for Bahrain, welcomed by Australia and the 
U.S. in statements supporting the universalization of the AP. 
 
¶2. (U) The then-DG's opening remarks in this, his last, Board 
meeting covered all areas reported in reftels.  In addition, the DG 
addressed IAEA assistance to nuclear power newcomers, as proposed in 
GOV/INF/2009/11 "Strengthening Agency Support for Member States 
Considering or Launching Nuclear Power Programs," which was to have 
been discussed under Any Other Business.  In a cautionary note, the 
DG added that plans for development or expansion of nuclear power 
are outpacing the necessary safety and security infrastructure and 
capacity.  The DG provided a tally of APs and Comprehensive 
Safeguards Agreements (CSAs), while noting the need to amend Small 
Quantities Protocols, and hoped that all these agreements could come 
into force prior to the NPT RevCon.  The DG also cited the 
inadequacy of Agency funding which would have an impact on program 
delivery in 2010 (as per GOV/INF/2009/10 "The 2010 Budget:  Effect 
on Program Delivery"), in particular, with respect to assistance to 
nuclear power newcomers.  ElBaradei concluded by expressing 
gratitude to Member States and Agency Staff for their support during 
his 12-year tenure and wished DG-elect Yukiya Amano success.  He 
hoped that Member States would provide all the support the Agency 
needs to remain an effective and credible partner. 
 
¶3. (U) Under Any Other Business, regional groups delivered another 
round of accolades to outgoing DG ElBaradei and welcomed DG Amano, 
who took office December 1.  Canada delivered an impromptu statement 
on behalf of the North America group (para 9).  The Board Chair also 
briefly noted that Board Vice Chair, Romanian Ambassador Cornel 
Feruta (who ably shepherded the contentious 2010-2011 budget debate 
last year), would lead a working group on the Mid-term Strategy 
Review.  USDEL submitted its prepared statements on the INFCIRCs 
treating assistance to nuclear power newcomers and the 2010 budget 
to the Secretariat.  France was the only country to address the 
INFCIRC on new nuclear power under AOB, taking a similar cautionary 
tack as our prepared remarks with respect to the scope of Agency 
assistance and funding. 
 
----- 
DPRK 
----- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Pursuant to a request from ROK, seconded by Japan and the 
U.S., DPRK was reinstated as an agenda item (ref f).  As expected, 
then-DG ElBaradei did not address North Korea in his opening 
statement as the IAEA had nothing to report.  Despite this, 12 Board 
members delivered national statements on DPRK in addition to Sweden 
on behalf of the EU (covering seven EU Board members), indicating a 
strong resolve by Member States to remain apprised of the North 
Korea issue and a desire for DPRK to denuclearize and return to the 
NPT and IAEA safeguards.  The speakers were South Korea, Sweden 
(EU), China, Ukraine, Canada, Egypt, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, 
Cuba, U.S., Russia, and South Africa.  Japan, Canada, Australia, New 
Zealand, and the EU requested that DPRK be included on the agenda of 
subsequent Board meetings, while Cuba opined that DPRK should not be 
addressed by the Board. (Comment: We anticipate DG Amano will be 
eager to include DPRK on future agendas. End Comment.) 
 
¶5. (SBU) The five Six-Party Talks members on the Board expressed 
support for the Six-Party process, with South Korea calling it the 
"best venue to deal with the issue" while China described it as a 
 
"practical and feasible means" to resolve the DPRK nuclear issue. 
Russia called on DPRK to return immediately and without 
preconditions to the Six-Party process.  Japan also urged DPRK to 
return to the Talks and honor its commitments made in the 2005 Joint 
Statement.  China noted the DPRK's expressed willingness to have 
bilateral talks with the U.S. and the renewed initiative for 
resuming the Six-Party Talks.  South Korea said the upcoming visit 
by Ambassador Bosworth to DPRK is expected to pave the way for the 
Six-Party Talks.  The ROK expressed serious concern at North Korea's 
continued defiance, including the series of provocative actions this 
year.  Japan expressed similar concerns, in particular about the 
DPRK's November 3 announcement that it completed reprocessing fuel 
rods and called on North Korea to refrain for further nuclear tests. 
 South Korea and Russia reaffirmed the IAEA's essential role in the 
verification process.  Japan called on North Korea to immediately 
return to full compliance with the NPT and IAEA safeguards.  In 
addition, the ROK announced its new proposal for comprehensively 
dealing with North Korea, "the grand bargain," without giving any 
details.  The ROK recounted recent conciliatory gestures between the 
two Koreas but said that no substantive change has been expressed by 
the DPRK in its nuclear ambitions. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Sweden delivered a strong statement on behalf of the EU, 
reiterating grave concern over DPRK's ceasing cooperation with the 
IAEA, conduct of a nuclear test, and announcement of weaponization 
and uranium enrichment activities.  New Zealand and the EU cited the 
DPRK's announcement that it completed reprocessing the spent fuel, 
bringing the reprocessing facility back to its original state.  The 
EU and Australia urged DPRK to abandon and completely dismantle any 
nuclear weapons related programs in a prompt, transparent, 
verifiable and irreversible manner.  Canada called on DPRK to return 
to the NPT and IAEA safeguards and Canada, Australia, and New 
Zealand expressed concern at DPRK's decision to cease all 
cooperation with the IAEA.  The EU, Canada, and Australia joined in 
calling on the DPRK to comply with UNSCRs 1695, 1718, and 1874 and 
on all countries to implement UNSCR 1874.  Russia said all UN 
Security Council resolutions should be implemented in full. 
 
¶7. (SBU) In addition to like-minded countries, Ukraine, South Africa 
and Egypt expressed strong support for the Six-Party Talks process 
and urged North Korea to return immediately to the negotiating 
table.  Reflecting an across-the-board strong approach to our 
nonproliferation priorities, Board newcomer Ukraine associated with 
the EU statement (as did Azerbaijan) and delivered a national 
statement condemning the nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009 and calling 
on DPRK to return to the Talks.  South Africa said the Six-Party 
Talks were the only appropriate forum for resolving this issue and 
welcomed the announcement that Ambassador Bosworth would be visiting 
DPRK on December 8.  South Africa added that North Korea should 
invite the IAEA back to perform its monitoring and verification 
activities.  Australia likewise welcomed efforts by the U.S. to 
engage in bilateral talks with North Korea to bring it back the 
Six-Party Talks. 
 
¶8. (SBU) As in the IAEA General Conference (GC), Egypt linked its 
statement under the DPRK issue to the establishment of a Middle East 
NWFZ, citing the latter as the main gap in the international system 
of disarmament and nonproliferation. Egypt then called on the Board 
to consider including an item on the implementation of safeguards in 
Israel as the GC said we should remain seized of that issue, "as 
with DPRK," but this was not included in the Chairman's summary of 
this item. Cuba was the only speaker not to support the Six-Party 
Talks by name, but cited the need diplomacy and dialogue for a long 
term solution.  Cuba also stated that DPRK issue should not be 
considered at the Board since there are no new developments and it 
no longer has "anything to do" with the Agency.  Cuba also used the 
opportunity to call for progress toward general disarmament. 
 
----  ----------------------------- 
AOB:  Testimonial to DG ElBaradei 
----  ---------------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) Begin text of statement delivered by Canada on behalf of the 
North America Group (U.S. and Canada): 
 
Mr. Chair, 
 
On behalf of the North America Group, I would like to join the other 
regional groups in again expressing our thanks and appreciation to 
the outstanding and sustained efforts of Director General Mohamed 
ElBaradei over many years.  You have served the Agency and Member 
States extremely well, for which we remain greatly appreciative. 
 
Your receipt of the Noble Peace Prize speaks volumes for your many 
contributions.  Thank you very much again and please accept our very 
best wishes for all of your future endeavors. 
 
The North America Group also welcomes incoming Director General, 
Ambassador Yukiya Amano, who may be assured of our full support and 
cooperation as you assume your responsibilities. 
 
Thank you again, on behalf of the North America Group. 
 
End Text.