Cablegate: Iaea Dg Elbaradei's Visit Boosts Vietnam's Nuclear Energy

VZCZCXRO3602
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #3006 3470801
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 130801Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4116
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 2230
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS HANOI 003006

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NP (FENSTERMACHER); EAP/MLS
USDOE FOR NNSA/NA-1 (BROOKS); NNSA/NA-20 (TOBEY, BAKER);
NNSA/NA-21 (BIENIAWSKI, CUMMINS, DICKERSON)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ETTC PARM PREL KNNP VM
SUBJECT: IAEA DG ELBARADEI'S VISIT BOOSTS VIETNAM'S NUCLEAR ENERGY
PROGRAM

REF: A) HANOI 2962 B) HANOI 2103

1. (SBU) Summary. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Director General Mohamed ElBaradei visited Hanoi December 9-11 to
review the Agency's cooperation with the GVN. DG ElBaradei's
objectives for the visit were to promote the potential for Vietnam's
nuclear power program to become a regional model, and to receive
"official" notification of the GVN's recent decision to sign an
Additional Protocol. In return, the GVN looked for and received a
commitment to receive technical assistance from IAEA. The issue of
nuclear fuel supply assurances was not mentioned during the visit,
and the Director General and his interlocutors did not discuss in
depth the proposed exchange of nuclear fuel at the Dalat research
reactor. End Summary.

2. (SBU) During the visit, which included DG ElBaradei's meetings
with representatives of the Ministries of Science and Technology
(MOST), Health (MOH), Industry (MOI) and Foreign Affairs (MFA), the
IAEA announced six projects for Vietnam, valued at almost USD 1.5
million. The projects, to be implemented during the period
2007-2008, cover industrial applications, nuclear analysis
technology, radioactive solid waste management, improvement of the
legal capacity of nuclear agencies, medical applications and related
human resource development. These new projects follow-up 24
technical assistance projects on energy development, valued at USD
2.55 million, funded by the IAEA during 2001-2006. During this same
period, the IAEA provided USD 1.52 million in related equipment.
According to Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety and
Control (VARANSAC) Foreign Affairs Manager Le Chi Dzung, Vietnam's
development of its future nuclear energy programs would not be
possible without this assistance.

3. (SBU) According to VARANSAC Director General Ngo Dang Nhan,
"nothing was more important" for DG ElBaradei than his mission to
"officially" confirm with the GVN its decision to sign the
Additional Protocol (Ref A). The GVN's intent to sign the
Additional Protocol was confirmed to DG ElBaradei by Minister of
Science and Technology Hoang Van Phong. At the same meeting, the
IAEA chief offered to help Vietnam build a nuclear power program
that will be a "model" for Southeast Asia, and requested Vietnam to
strengthen the safety and security of its radioactive sources, Nhan
said.

4. (SBU) The issue of nuclear fuel supply assurances was not
mentioned during DG ElBaradei's visit (Ref B), Nhan continued.
Regarding the proposed exchange of nuclear fuel at the Dalat
research reactor, the two sides did not discuss the matter in depth.
Since the GVN has already agreed to the fuel swap, DG ElBaradei
merely took note of the agreement on this matter, Nhan said.

MARINE

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