Cablegate: South Africa: No Official Word On Joint Iaea

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSA #2665 3621416
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281416Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0352
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0744
INFO RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS PRETORIA 002665

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/S DIOP AND WALKE,ISN/MNSA FOR
ADAMS/SHARP, AND ISN/RA FOR FISHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP PREL IAEA SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: NO OFFICIAL WORD ON JOINT IAEA
SAFEGUARDS OUTREACH

REF: A. VIENNA 551
B. STATE 116776

1. (SBU) Meeting with Department of International Relations
and Cooperation (DIRCO) Deputy Director for Nuclear
Disarmament and Nonproliferation Johann Kellerman on December
22, DepPolCouns underscored the message US UNVIE Vienna
reported Ref A on U.S.-South African partnership to secure
further IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements.
DepPolCouns presented Ref B non-paper and indicated that the
document had been discussed in Vienna. Kellerman did not
comment on the proposed plan. Echoing Ref A comment on South
Africa's manpower shortage, Kellerman confirmed that Pretoria
would not be able to give us an answer on the proposed
collaboration until late January at the earliest.

2. (SBU) Kellerman said Ambassador Leslie Gumbi is assigned
to replace Xolisa Mahbongo as DIRCO Chief Director for
Multilateral Affairs as Mahbongo departs for Vienna.
Kellerman commented that he looked forward to working for
Gumbi again (Note: Kellerman worked for Gumbi at the South
African Mission to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
End note), but he added that Gumbi is not expected in the
office before the end of January. Ambassador Minty is also
on leave and not expected back until late January. Kellerman
himself is due back in the office on January 18.

GIPS

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