VZCZCXRO0574
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHBS #1701 3521643
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181643Z DEC 09
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHWD/AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK PRIORITY
RUEHFN/AMEMBASSY FREETOWN PRIORITY
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY PRIORITY
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY
RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE PRIORITY
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY
RUEHDE/IRAN RPO DUBAI PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001701
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IR KNNP MNUC PARM EUN
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER AFRICAN URANIUM
MINE SECURITY PROJECTS
REF: A. STATE 128756
B. 08 STATE 130622
1. (SBU) On December 18, poloff delivered REF A non-paper
and demarche to Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, Head of the Security
Policy Unit in the External Relations Directorate of the
European Commission. Poloff emphasized that as part of our
engagement with the European Union to deny Iran the means to
enrich uranium, the USG would like to work with the European
Commission to secure uranium mines in key African countries
such as Namibia, Sierra Leone, Niger, Gabon, the DRC, and
South Africa. In particular, the U.S. would like to invite
the Commission to send experts to a mid-January 2010 mine
security assessment in Namibia.
2. (SBU) Wigemark said the Commission would examine the
proposal and respond formally as soon as possible.
Commenting that the Commission has been looking to expand its
non-proliferation activities in Africa under the Instrument
for Stability (REF B), he promised to communicate with the
Development Directorate-General and AIDCO, which administers
the Instrument for Stability.
3. (SBU) Wigemark said the Commission is unlikely to have
sufficient travel funds to support involvement in the January
assessment. He suggested that if, in fact, Commission
officials are unable to participate, the U.S. should provide
a post-assessment briefing to the Commission delegation in
Windhoek and to Commission officials in Brussels. He said
such a briefing would allow the EU to make an informed
decision about providing funding. Wigemark noted that while
a funding decision would be made in Brussels, Commission
delegations in Africa have considerable influence over
development project decisions in African countries.
KENNARD
.