WikiLeaks: MOU with NZ regarding Zheleznogorsk power plant

May 19, 2005 MOU with New Zealand regarding Zheleznogorsk power plant

date:2006-05-19T04:56:00 source:Embassy Wellington origin:06WELLINGTON387 destination:VZCZCXYZ0012 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHWL #0387 1390456 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 190456Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2799 classification:CONFIDENTIAL reference:06STATE78792 ?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000387

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DOE FOR S-1 S-2 AND NA-1: BROOKS/AOKI/FREMONT NA-20: BAKER/BLACK NA-23: TUR... ?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000387

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DOE FOR S-1 S-2 AND NA-1: BROOKS/AOKI/FREMONT NA-20: BAKER/BLACK NA-23: TURNER/CHACEY STATE FOR EAP/ANP, EUR/RUS, AND EB/ESC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2016 TAGS: ENRG, PARM, OTRA, RS, KNNP, TRGY, NZ SUBJECT: MOU WITH NEW ZEALAND REGARDING ZHELEZNOGORSK POWER PLANT

REF: STATE 78792

Classified By: DCM David R. Burnett, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (U) On May 18, 2006, PolCouns shared the revised MOU and talking points provided reftel with Deborah Panckhurst of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MFAT) Disarmament Division. Panckhurst said that she has also been in contact with DOE's Mike Stafford about this issue. MFAT will respond to our changes once the Ministry lawyer involved with the MOU, Caroline Bilkey, has reviewed it.

2. (C) Panckhurst said NZ officials are concerned they will face public and opposition criticism if they cannot visit a taxpayer-funded assistance project. DOE has provided some indication that other donors have accepted similar restrictions, but additional information would be very helpful.

3. (C) We have also told Panckhurst that Embassy is willing to approach opposition parties at the highest levels as needed, to urge that they not make a political issue of this important project. McCormick

date:2006-05-24T22:38:00 source:Embassy Wellington origin:06WELLINGTON398 destination:This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 242238Z May 06 classification:CONFIDENTIAL reference:06STATE76257 ?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000398

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DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/ANP DRICCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016 TAGS: PINR, KAWC, NZ SU... ?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000398

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DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/ANP DRICCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016 TAGS: PINR, KAWC, NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCE ON GENOCIDE AND ATROCITIES PREVENTION

REF: STATE 76257

(U) Classified by Political-Economic Counselor Katherine B. Hadda. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (U) This is an action message -- see para 4.

2. (C) On May 15, Poloff delivered reftel invitation to Valerie Meyer; Deputy Director; United Nations, Human Rights, and Commonwealth Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Meyer responded that representatives from her division would not be able to attend, but that she would relay the invitation to Gerard van Bohemen, MFAT's International Legal Advisor.

3. (C) On May 21, van Bohemen responded saying that Legal Division will likewise find it difficult to attend the conference, but requested further clarification about the conference before making a final decision.

4. (C) Post requests Department assistance in responding to the following questions from van Bohemen:

-- What will be the focus of the conference discussion? Is it legally-focused or is it looking to establish some kind of early warning system?

-- Is the intention to focus on avoiding the social and economic circumstances that might give rise to such atrocities?

-- If a Wellington-based GNZ official is unable to attend, would representation from NZ's Embassy in Washington be acceptable? McCormick

ENDS