US embassy cable - 04RANGOON412

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000412 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2014 
TAGS: ENRG, PREL, PGOV, RS, BM 
SUBJECT: BURMESE-RUSSIAN NUCLEAR REACTOR PROJECT 
 
Classified By: COM CARMEN MARTINEZ FOR REASONS 1.5 (B/D). 
 
1. (C) In a March 24 conversation, the Russian ambassador in 
Rangoon, Oleg Kabanov, told the COM that he had met with the 
Burmese Minister of Science and Technology, U Thaung, on 
March 23 and discussed the status of the proposed 
Burmese-Russian nuclear reactor project that has been hanging 
fire, according to Kabanov, "for at least four years." 
Kabanov said that he asked the Minister if the GOB intended 
to proceed with the nuclear project or to cancel it 
completely as there has been no formal agreement signed 
between Burma and Russia nor has there been any indication 
that the GOB has any fiscal resources to dedicate to the 
project.  Kabanov said the Minister assured him that the GOB 
did not want to cancel the project although there was 
currently no funding for it. 
 
2. (C) Kabanov said that it was apparent to him that the GOB 
had never fully understood the commitment, in terms of time, 
money and personnel resources, required for the project.  He 
said that someone "probably gave the idea to Senior General 
Than Shwe and he liked it because having a reactor would give 
the country international prestige" but now no one wanted to 
tell the Senior General that the idea should be abandoned as 
it would be a case of "kill the messenger." 
 
3. (C) Kabanov said that he had never seen any progress on 
the project in his two and a half years in Rangoon, and did 
not expect to see any during his tenure.  He said that in any 
case, the Russian government would insist on Burmese nuclear 
technicians working under Russian supervision and in 
accordance with IAEA standards for such a project.  According 
to Kabanov, the GOB wants a reactor to produce isotopes for 
medical and agricultural purposes (for irradiating seeds to 
increase yield). 
 
4. (C) Kabanov also said that there were about 1,000 Burmese 
studying in Russia, in a wide variety of fields.  Some are 
studying nuclear technology, but the majority are scattered 
among a variety of disciplines. 
 
5.  (C)  Comment:  This conversation with Kabanov reiterated 
what he has said previously regarding Russia - Burma nuclear 
cooperation.  He remains consistent and insistent in his 
statements that the GOR considers the issue stalled for now 
and for the near future.  End comment. 
 
 
 
Martinez