VZCZCXRO2521
OO RUEHDH RUEHSL
DE RUCNDT #0104/01 0552310
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 242310Z FEB 10
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8225
INFO RUCNDSC/DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHYY/GENEVA CD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000104 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2020 
TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC UNSC IR RP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE 
PRESIDENT CABACTULAN 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Susan E. Rice for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Ambassador Rice on February 22 met with 
Filipino Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, President-elect of the 
Review Conference (RevCon) of the Treaty on the 
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to be held in May, 
¶2010.  Cabactulan said he is gauging expectations of the 
States Parties to the NPT, and based on his meetings said he 
is cautiously optimistic that the RevCon can achieve success 
in strengthening the NPT regime.  The flexibility of the 
United States, he said, drives part of his optimism and is a 
key to the success of the RevCon.  Moreover, he said 
expectations center on the nuclear-weapon states (NWS) making 
clear and transparent progress on nuclear disarmament, 
without which progress in other areas will be difficult.  In 
addition to nuclear disarmament commitments, Cabactulan said 
progress on implementing the 1995 NPT RevCon resolution on 
the Middle East will be key to success in May.  Regarding 
Iran, Cabactulan remarked that states should not overestimate 
Iran's ability to negatively influence NAM countries, but he 
also said many NAM states sympathize with Iran as a 
developing country with ambitions for peaceful nuclear 
energy.  Despite some NAM countries' judgment that Iran could 
undermine the RevCon, he assessed that many in NAM do not 
consider Iran's enriching uranium to 20% as problematic since 
that level still falls within the parameters of peaceful 
uses. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) Ambassador Rice on February 22 met with Filipino 
Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, President-elect of the NPT 
Review Conference (RevCon) to be held in May, 2010. 
Ambassador Rice explained that the U.S. attaches great 
importance to strengthening the NPT at the RevCon and 
building on the high-profile commitments of President Obama 
during his first year in office.  Cabactulan said he will be 
based in New York through the end of the RevCon and will make 
himself available to NPT signatories.  He said that based on 
his meetings with signatories, he is guardedly optimistic 
that the RevCon will be a success and strengthen the nuclear 
non-proliferation regime.  Ambassador Rice queried Cabactulan 
on the mood of the states parties and whether some 
delegations would come to the RevCon to make substantive 
progress or grandstand.  Cabactulan replied that signatories 
want success, but he admitted that he is worried about the 
difficulties that Iran in particular can make. 
 
¶3. (C) Cabactulan assessed that most delegations have three 
issues they want addressed:  a robust strengthening of the 
NPT regime, practical progress on implementing the 1995 
resolution on the Middle East, and ensuring that no single 
issue threatens the RevCon's success.  On the Middle East in 
particular, he said the NAM and the Arab states recognize 
there is an imbalance in the region where Israel, a non-NPT 
party, adheres to the most minimal of safeguards while Iran, 
as an NPT party, is forced to abide by tougher standards and 
inspections.  Progress on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the 
Middle East is also crucial because, in his opinion, a 
regional nuclear-arms race is a strong possibility. 
Cabactulan said that most states parties, in particular 
countries in the NAM, desire an unequivocal undertaking by 
the NWS to make progress on nuclear disarmament, including a 
change of nuclear doctrine and a practical "roadmap" of 
implementation.  The NAM would also like the creation of a 
nuclear convention, consistent with the spirit of Article VI 
of the NPT. 
 
¶4. (C) With respect to Iran, Ambassador Rice said the 
Iranians are inherently unconstructive and are not increasing 
confidence in their nuclear program.  Other countries need to 
work toward keeping the RevCon positive and not dignify 
Iran's planned conference on nuclear disarmament scheduled 
for April 18-19, one week before the RevCon's commencement. 
Cabactulan replied that we should not overestimate Iran's 
influence over NAM positions, but he judged that many NAM 
states sympathize with Iran as a developing country with 
ambitions for peaceful nuclear energy.  Moreover, despite 
some NAM countries' judgment that Iran could undermine the 
RevCon, he assessed that these same countries do not consider 
Iran's enriching uranium to 20% as problematic since that 
level still falls within the parameters of peaceful uses. 
 
¶5. (C) Cabactulan said that based on the negotiations during 
the NPT Preparatory Committee (held in New York in April-May 
2009) he added a third subsidiary body to focus on Article X 
withdrawal provisions for the RevCon. Initially no party 
objected to this decision, but he said Iran subsequently said 
it opposed the establishment of this body.  This issue must 
be resolved, he said, because Iran--although it claims to 
have no substantive opposition to the issue--could hijack an 
otherwise facile procedural motion.  Cabactulan noted that he 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000104  002 OF 002 
 
 
continues to engage with the Iranians on finding agreement to 
this issue but has so far not received an official response. 
However, at lower levels Iran has indicated that officials 
will agree to discussing Article X withdrawal provisions in 
committee but not in a subsidiary body. 
RICE