IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei addressed the press yesterday at a meeting of the agency’s Board of Governors in Vienna (AFP photo/Dieter Nagl). Tweaked Iran Resolution Makes IAEA Rounds By Joe Fiorill Global Security Newswire VIENNA — Key European countries today circulated an updated draft resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors meeting calling on Iran to reconsider its decisions to conduct test runs of uranium-hexafluoride production at its uranium conversion facility and to build a heavy-water nuclear reactor (see GSN, June 14)...Full Story

Energy Secretary Defends Bush Nonproliferation Work By Marina Malenic Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham yesterday offered details on the department’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative and rejected criticisms that the United States is moving too slowly to secure nuclear and other radioactive materials that could fall into the hands of terrorists (see GSN, May 27)...Full Story

South Korea Offers “Comprehensive” Economic Aid to North Ahead of Nuclear Talks Set for Next Week South Korea said today it would provide North Korea with significant economic assistance if the nuclear crisis were settled, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, June 14)...Full Story

	Tuesday, June 15, 2004

CIA Finishing Review of Senate Panel Iraq Report The CIA has declassified most of a report prepared by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence regarding the issue of U.S. prewar intelligence on Iraq, Reuters reported yesterday (see GSN, June 14). The report was returned to the committee yesterday with the sections that the CIA believes should remain classified noted, according to government sources. The agency expects to finish declassifying two remaining sections of the report within the next few days, an intelligence official said. The Senate intelligence committee is expected today to vote on whether to approve the 400-page report, Reuters reported (Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters, June 14). Back to top

Tweaked Iran Resolution Makes IAEA Rounds By Joe Fiorill Global Security Newswire VIENNA — Key European countries today circulated an updated draft resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors meeting calling on Iran to reconsider its decisions to conduct test runs of uranium-hexafluoride production at its uranium conversion facility and to build a heavy-water nuclear reactor (see GSN, June 14). The resolution is expected to be formally introduced tomorrow and to pass later this week without substantive changes, Western diplomats said. Language on the two facilities in the new British-French-German draft was slightly less confrontational than in an earlier version, under which the board would have called on Iran not to reconsider but actually to stop the activities. The Nonaligned Movement countries, in keeping with past practice, had sought to soften the initial draft. The board in another draft paragraph would still call on Iran to “correct all remaining shortcomings” related to its current suspension of uranium enrichment and reprocessing, “including by refraining from the production of” uranium hexafluoride. The board began meeting yesterday in a session that will be capped by the latest in a series of resolutions condemning Iran for its failures to cooperate with IAEA inspectors, including by providing what the agency calls changing and contradictory information. The United States and other countries believe Iran is developing a nuclear bomb under cover of energy production. The board’s discussions on Iran over the past year have been highly contentious, but diplomats here say this week’s talks are proceeding more smoothly. The agency has repeatedly found fault with Iran’s cooperation, but the board to date has limited itself to issuing resolutions criticizing the country, rather than referring the matter to the U.N. Security Council as sought by the United States. “There’s a real need for a greater sense of urgency here,” U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Brill told reporters today. Under the European draft, the board would set no deadlines for Iranian cooperation but would say that “with the passage of time, it is becoming ever more important” that Iran provide more information about its uranium-enrichment program. By approving the new draft, which Global Security Newswire obtained today, the board would call “on Iran to reconsider its decisions to begin testing at the uranium conversion facility and to start construction of a research reactor moderated by heavy water, as the reversal of those decisions would make it easier for Iran to rebuild international confidence undermined by past reports of undeclared nuclear activities in Iran.” Iran first told the U.N. nuclear watchdog in April of its plan to conduct “hot tests” of the uranium-hexafluoride production line at the conversion facility, a move the agency said would amount to production of feed material for uranium enrichment processes that could be used in a weapon program. Tehran promised last year to suspend uranium enrichment and reprocessing, but it told the agency in May that the decision does not apply to uranium-hexafluoride production. Construction of a heavy-water reactor in Arak, according to an IAEA report submitted to the board last week, is scheduled to begin this month. Citing physical specifications and other details, agency inspectors repeatedly expressed doubts about Iran’s claim that the facility is meant for producing radioactive isotopes. The reactor could be useful, however, in a plutonium-based nuclear-weapon program. Under the draft, the 35-member board would say it “deplores” Iran’s level of cooperation with the agency, call on Iran to “take all necessary steps on an urgent basis to help resolve all outstanding questions” and urge the country to ratify the Additional Protocol to its IAEA nuclear safeguards agreement. The protocol, which Iran has signed and has promised to observe in the interim period before ratification, allows for enhanced IAEA inspections. Iranian leaders have reacted strongly to the continued pressure. President Mohammad Khatami reportedly told the United Kingdom, France and Germany in writing to ease the scrutiny or Iran might consider “other alternatives,” Agence France-Presse reported today. One of those alternatives could be to refuse to ratify the Additional Protocol, Gholam Ali Hadad-Adel, conservative speaker to the Iranian parliament, said in Tehran. “The three European countries are demanding parliament adopt the protocol, but I say to France, Germany and Britain not to tell the Iranian parliament what to do,” he said, AFP reported. “The Iranian parliament does not take orders from foreigners, because these orders do not reflect the interests of the Iranian people,” the speaker added. Back to top       Energy Secretary Defends Bush Nonproliferation Work By Marina Malenic Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham yesterday offered details on the department’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative and rejected criticisms that the United States is moving too slowly to secure nuclear and other radioactive materials that could fall into the hands of terrorists (see GSN, May 27). Abraham introduced the $450 million initiative two weeks ago in Vienna. It provides for repatriation of all Russian-origin fresh highly enriched uranium fuel by the end of 2005 and spent fuel by 2010; repatriation of all U.S.-origin research reactor spent fuel within a decade; conversion of the cores of civilian research reactors worldwide that use highly enriched uranium to instead use low-enriched uranium fuel; and identification of other nuclear and radiological materials and related equipment not covered by existing threat reduction efforts (see GSN, May 26). Since that time, various experts have criticized the pace and scope of ongoing administration efforts to secure these materials. Less Soviet highly enriched uranium and plutonium was secured in the two years after Sept. 11, 2001 than in the two years preceding the attacks, Graham Allison, a director at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, said last week in a commentary in the International Herald Tribune. In addition, only one-fifth of Russia’s weapon-usable fissile material has been adequately secured, Allison wrote. He added that 57 percent of Russia’s fissile material stockpile has not received “the most basic security upgrades.” Abraham disputed those figures during a speech to the Eisenhower Institute in Washington. “By the end of this fiscal year, we will have secured over 46 percent of this material, as opposed to the 20 percent claimed by some,” he said. “Perhaps more importantly, by the end of this year we will have secured 70 percent of the sites,” he added. “Most importantly,” Abraham added, “we will finish this work by 2008, fully two years ahead of the original schedule.” Other critics, such as former Senator Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), have argued that the pace of efforts to secure fissile materials too slow. “What’s missing is a sense of urgency,” Nunn told the Washington Post last month, adding that President George W. Bush ought to work more closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Abraham yesterday said Bush and Putin made securing nuclear materials “a priority from the beginning of their relationship” and that U.S. leaders have established “a much better working relationship” with their counterparts in Russia, particularly that between the Energy Department and Russia’s nuclear energy agency. After introducing the initiative in Vienna two weeks ago, Abraham traveled to Moscow to sign a bilateral agreement for repatriation of all Russian-origin highly enriched uranium from nuclear power reactors. He said all fresh fuel was expected to be returned to Russia by next year, while all spent fuel could be repatriated by 2009. In addressing criticisms on the pace of efforts to convert the cores of 105 civilian research reactors worldwide from highly enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium, Abraham said technological constraints prohibited faster action. “I know some have implied that this work can be done quicker. But the people who make those assertions are simply ignoring the realities of science, and the realities of what exactly a mission of this scope entails,” he said. “Changing a reactor core is not like changing the battery in your car,” he added. He said approximately one-third of the cores have been converted, and that another third are expected to be completed within the next four to five years. Abraham also announced the transfer of authority for repatriation of U.S.-origin research reactor spent highly enriched uranium fuel from the department’s Environmental Management division to the National Nuclear Security Administration. [EDITOR’S NOTE: Sam Nunn is chief executive officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative.  NTI is the sole sponsor of Global Security Newswire, which is published independently by National Journal Group.] Back to top       South Korea Offers “Comprehensive” Economic Aid to North Ahead of Nuclear Talks Set for Next Week South Korea said today it would provide North Korea with significant economic assistance if the nuclear crisis were settled, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, June 14). “Inter-Korean cooperation will be accelerated if the nuclear issue is resolved, and we are preparing comprehensive and concrete plans for that,” said South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. “We will closely cooperate to build North Korea’s infrastructure and enhance industrial production which will help the country develop its economy,” he added. Seoul would also help Pyongyang obtain technology and funding for economic development through joining international organizations, Roh said (Agence France-Presse, Channel News Asia, June 15). China today confirmed that the next round of multilateral negotiations has been set to begin June 23 in Beijing, preceded by two days of working-level talks, AFP reported. Shortly after China’s announcement, North Korea again said it would not accept U.S. calls for a “complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling” of its nuclear programs. “Nothing will be expected from the forthcoming talks if the U.S. persistently insists that the D.P.R.K. accept CVID, a demand which can be forced on a defeated country only,” said the Korean Central News Agency (Park Chan-Kyong, Agence France-Presse/Channel News Asia, June 15). Meanwhile, the United States said China promised to review remarks made last week by a Chinese official, implying that his country doubted North Korea was pursuing a highly enriched uranium program for developing nuclear weapons. “We did see these comments by a Chinese official last week that we took exception to, and … Secretary [of State Colin Powell] raised the issue, and Foreign Minister Li [Zhaoxing] promised he would look into it and see what the Chinese government could say about what they knew,” said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher yesterday. Boucher added that U.S., South Korean and Japanese officials met this week, “to coordinate our positions on the next session of the six-party working group and plenary.” Elsewhere, a U.N. official said North Korea seems prepared to give up its nuclear weapons programs in exchange for a security guarantee from the United States. “I see an improved mood there, a desire for peace, an acceptance finally that they will not be able to get their nuclear weapons tacitly accepted by the world community as happened with Pakistan and India,” said Maurice Strong, special representative to the U.N. secretary-general. “But they will not do so without an acceptable security guarantee,” he added. “I believe we are closer to a solution than we have ever been, and yet the risks remain considerable,” added Strong, who visited Pyongyang last month. “Both parties have shown flexibility but frankly not sufficient flexibility to do a deal,” he added (Victor Mallet, Financial Times, June 14). Back to top       U.S. Panel Bashes Chinese Nonproliferation Efforts A report set to be released today by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission criticizes China for failing to end its suspected proliferation-related activities, according to Reuters (see GSN, June 4). “China’s continued failure to adequately curb its proliferation practices poses significant national security concerns to the United States,” the report says. “China’s assistance to weapons of mass destruction-related programs in countries of concern continues, despite repeated promises to end such activities and the repeated imposition of U.S. sanctions,” it adds. For example, while China has played a role in efforts to resolve the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula, Beijing also “continues to permit North Korea to use its air, rail and seaports to trans-ship ballistic missiles and WMD-related materials,” the report says. It also warns that China’s energy needs may lead to agreements with countries such as Iran that could involve “dangerous weapons transfers” (Carol Giacomo, Reuters, June 15). China today, however, denied the commission’s claims, according to Reuters. “I haven’t seen the report you mentioned and don’t know the intention of the report, but I think the report and the situation you mentioned just now are completely not in line with the facts," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said (Reuters, June 15). Back to top       South Asian Nuclear Talks Begin Next Week Experts from India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet next week in New Delhi to discuss nuclear confidence-building measures, according to Kaumudi Online (see GSN, June 2). Topics during the two-day talks could include no-first-strike policies and the separation of nuclear warheads from their delivery systems, according to sources. The talks, which are set to begin June 19, are part of a peace dialogue India and Pakistan launched earlier this year (Kaumudi Online, June 14). Back to top       Sudan Ratifies Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Sudan last week ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, according to the CTBT Organization (see GSN, June 11). To date, 114 countries have ratified the agreement, including 32 of the 44 nations whose ratifications are necessary for the treaty to enter into force (CTBT Organization release, June 15). Back to top

Australia Stockpiles Biodefense Drugs Australia is moving to stockpile greater amounts of smallpox vaccine and anthrax antibiotics in preparation for a potential bioterrorist event, the Australian Financial Review reported today (see GSN, May 12). Emergency government regulations put through earlier this month allow for the expedited import of 200,000 doses of a smallpox vaccine produced by the U.S. company Acambis, as well as the purchase of 400,000 packets of doxycycline antibiotic tablets for prevention and treatment of anthrax in humans from the Australian manufacturer Hexal. Australia purchased 50,000 initial doses of smallpox vaccine in 2002 from the French company Aventis (Mark Davis, Australian Financial Review, June 15). Back to top

Chinese, Japanese Experts to Begin Removing World War II-Era Shells from Chinese City Chinese and Japanese hazardous materials experts are set to begin work tomorrow to remove a cache of World War II-era Japanese chemical weapons near the Chinese city of Qiqihar, according to the Asahi Shimbun (see GSN, May 25). Last month, 52 chemical weapons munitions abandoned by the Japanese army at the end of World War II were discovered outside of Qiqihar. It is expected to take several weeks to remove and seal the shells for storage, officials said. In addition, a drum of World War II-era chemical weapons agent was reportedly discovered within the city, Asahi reported (Asahi Shimbun, June 15). Back to top       U.S. Defense Department Opens Georgia Laboratory for Chemical Decontamination Kit Testing Two months after it opened, a new laboratory that is set to test chemical decontamination kits was publicly unveiled yesterday by the U.S. Defense Department at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Ga., the Associated Press reported (see GSN, June 11). The laboratory is initially expected only to test skin decontamination kits, stored in dark green packets and carried by all combat soldiers in case of exposure to agents such as mustard gas or sarin. The kits are perishable and researchers at the Albany laboratory are to determine whether they could be effective beyond their estimated expiration dates. “This is not just a Marine Corps issue,” said Jack Hart, a joint services nuclear, biological and chemical warfare program manager. “Every war fighter in every service uses a decontamination kit. There are millions out there.  With the growing threat of weapons of mass destruction, it is essential for the DOD to test its equipment so we know when to throw it away,” he added. The laboratory at some point could take on similar tasks, such as testing other types of decontamination kits and chemical protective suits, according to Hart. He added that toxic substances would not be used for the scheduled tests, AP reported. “What we have here is nontoxic and environmentally safe,” he said (Elliott Minor, Associated Press/WTVM.com, June 14). Back to top

House Committee Cuts Space Interceptor Test Program By David Ruppe Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — A key House subcommittee last week cut funding for a controversial Missile Defense Agency test using a space-based interceptor, congressional staffers said (see GSN, April 29). A key Senate committee, meanwhile, urged a change to the plan. In a closed-door session to mark up the fiscal 2005 defense appropriations bill, the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense removed all $68 million requested by the Bush administration for the planned Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE), which critics have said could be a first step toward weaponizing space. Missile Defense officials have said the interceptor could collide with the target, though they said that that is not the purpose of the experiment. Critics said the test would set a precedent for using space-based weapons, which faces opposition from some in Congress and more widely the international community, including potential missile defense partners. The NFIRE program, which has been funded at least since fiscal 2003, is scheduled to launch a satellite in 2005, and from that satellite in 2006 to launch a space-based interceptor to gather data on the appearance of an approaching missile, according to the agency. A House Democratic staffer said the fact that the Republican-controlled committee cut the program suggests it was not strongly backed by the administration. “The majority put this [bill] together. … It just seems to me that if this was something the White House wanted, they were not going to cut it,” he said. Senate Change The House Armed Services Committee last month authorized full NFIRE funding in the 2005 defense authorization bill.  The Senate Armed Services Committee also authorized the funding, but added the condition that the test be conducted in a way to avoid intercepting the target. “The committee is concerned that effects of the space debris from such an impact are not well enough understood,” it said. That committee also required a Missile Defense Agency report by March 15, 2005, on the risks to space assets posed by debris that would result from an impact, and urged the agency to explore cost-effective alternatives for collecting near-field data on missile plumes.     Back to top

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