Cablegate: Thai Views On the Csc

VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #2112 1920827
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100827Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3658
INFO RAYWEED/OECD PARIS
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0119

UNCLAS BANGKOK 002112

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP TRGY ENRG KSTC IAEA PARM
SUBJECT: THAI VIEWS ON THE CSC

REF: STATE 54213

1. Econoff delivered reftel talking points to Mr. Chouvana
Rodthongkom, Secretary General of the Royal Thai Government's Office
of Atoms for Peace (OAP). Chouvana emphasized that Thailand is
still in the very early stages of planning for a nuclear power plant
and the legal framework for nuclear energy in Thailand, including
issues of liability, is still in draft. Chouvana said that Thailand
has much to consider before making any decisions on whether or not
to adopt the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear
Damage (CSC).

2. Chouvana had a number of questions about the CSC. He asked in
particular:
--Why is the CSC necessary in light of the Paris and Vienna
Conventions?
--Why have many countries with major nuclear energy industries,
including Japan and Germany, not ratified the CSC?
--Do these countries have any domestic laws that address nuclear
liability issues in the absence of ratifying the CSC convention?
--Would the CSC operate similarly to insurance and if so would there
be a fee or premium payment to participate?

3. Thailand, Chouvana said, needs to compare different nuclear
liability legal models used by other countries before making a final
decision on whether or not to ratify the CSC. OAP is planning to
hire outside experts to conduct research on different nuclear
liability legal models and to make a recommendation on which one is
most suitable for Thailand. Ratification of the CSC by Thailand
would require cabinet approval under the new 2007 constitution.

John

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