US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN634

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000634 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NP/PTR, EUR/CACEN, INR, NP/EDD, CBP/INA, NP/ECC. 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2015 
TAGS: PINR, MNUC, PARM, KCRM, PTER, ASEC, TU, AM 
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON CESIUM 137 CONFISCATED ON THE TURKISH 
BORDER 
 
REF: A) YEREVAN 312 B) 04 YEREVAN 2450 
 
Classified By: DCM A.F. Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b, d). 
 
1. (C) We recently met with Ashot Martirosyan, head of the 
Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (ANRA) to follow-up on any 
details concerning the December 2004 Cesium-137 seizure at 
the Georgian/Turkish border per ref A.  Martirosyan stated 
that ANRA had still not received any official notification 
from the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority concerning this 
seizure or any proof that the Cesium-137 originated from 
Armenia.  Martirosyan stated that he assumed that the 
Cesium-137 was still being held by Turkish customs. 
Martirosyan stated that the Armenian National Security 
Service (NSS) had primacy in the investigation of this 
incident and has not shared any information with ANRA 
concerning this seizure. 
 
2. (C) Martirosyan informed us that the NSS had not shared 
any new information with ANRA about the seizure of Cesium-137 
in October of 2004 in Armenia per ref B.  Martirosyan had 
been informed by the NSS that they would only reveal details 
of their investigation after a trial of the accused Armenian 
smuggler took place.  Martirosyan was not aware of when the 
trial might take place. 
EVANS