VZCZCXRO9999
PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHLZ
DE RUEHRL #0790 1680719
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160719Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1458
INFO RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0929
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0342
UNCLAS BERLIN 000790
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS, STATE FOR L, OES, ISN, EUR, AND EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP TRGY ENRG KSTC IAEA PARM GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY FORMULATING POSITION ON CSC
REF: STATE 54213
1. (SBU) Global Affairs officer delivered reftel nonpaper
and talking points on June 6 to the German Federal Ministry
for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
(BMU) Specialized Working Group for Nuclear Safety Head of
Division Ms. Ursula Adenauer and on June 11 to the German MFA
Head of Unit for Nuclear Energy and Non-Proliferation
Dietrich Becker. Neither offered immediate responses to the
nonpaper information, but indicated that Germany would
carefully consider the CSC before taking an official position.
2. (SBU) Becker welcomed the nonpaper information but
expressed confusion as to the purpose and utility of the CSC
given that Germany is already party to the Paris Convention
of 1960 and Brussels Supplementary Convention of 1963.
Becker admitted unfamiliarity with the legal nuances of the
CSC provisions and said he would pass the nonpaper to Dr.
Norbert Pelzer of the German University of Goettingen for
further study and ask him to provide legal advice. Pelzer
has served as the MFA's legal advisor for nuclear law matters
since 1970.
3. (SBU) Adenauer said the BMU is aware that the United
States deposited its instrument of ratification for the CSC
with the IAEA on May 21, but noted that Germany has not yet
taken an official position on the CSC. Adenauer expressed
appreciation for the information and stated a number of
German ministries would have to take a close look at the CSC
before offering any feedback.
4. Post will continue to follow up with German ministries
and report any substantive German response septel.
TIMKEN JR