US embassy cable - 05SANAA974

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000974 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ENERGY PLEASE PASS TO NNSA DIRECTOR US LINTON F. BROOKS, 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO KATHY CROUCH NP/ECC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, KNNP, YM, IAEA, NPT, COUNTER TERRORISM, ENVIRONMENT/S&T 
SUBJECT: NATEC'S BAHRAN: WE NEED USG SUPPORT, INVITE TO US 
LINTON BROOKS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d 
). 
 
1. (C) Summary: In an April 17 meeting with Ambassador, 
Director of the Yemen National Atomic Energy Commission 
(NATEC), Dr. Moustafa Bahran, asked for USG assistance to 
train NATEC staff and pushed for Yemen's acquisition of 
radioactive detection equipment.  Bahran also invited Under 
Secretary (US) of Energy for Nuclear Security and 
 
SIPDIS 
Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration 
(NNSA), Linton F. Brooks, to a May sub-regional conference. 
End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Bahran: No One in the Region Is Better Than Us 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
2. (C) In an April 17 meeting with Ambassador, NATEC Director 
Bahran asked for USG help to train NATEC security personnel. 
(Note: NATEC Security personnel are commissioned with 
enforcing laws and procedures to secure radioactive materials 
in Yemen. End Note).  Stating that his agency had the 
competency and potential to deal with nuclear and radioactive 
security, Bahran asked for training by the Department of 
Energy (DOE) and/or the National Regulatory Commission (NRC). 
"No one in the region is better than us," exclaimed Bahran, 
but training would greatly help in "sustaining" and 
"strengthening" Yemen's ability to deal with radioactive 
materials.  He stressed that it would also help by exposing 
his staff to the "vigilance" required in radioactive source 
management.  Ambassador assured Bahran that he would pass his 
requests to Washington, but patience would be required. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Yemen COULD Become a Way Station... God Forbid! 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
3. (C) Discussing once again Yemen's need for radioactive 
detection equipment to patrol points of entry, Bahran readily 
conceded that Yemen did not have a problem with radioactive 
orphan source smuggling.  "But Yemen could become a way 
station... God forbid!" he warned.  "We are not controlling 
any borders," noted Bahran in highlighting NATEC's need for 
help, "but this is the year that we start."  He added that 
the DOE's "MegaPorts" initiative has agreed to help NATEC. 
 
4. (C) Bahran also revealed that his plans to secure Yemen's 
borders from radioactive smuggling would require several 
low-end radioactive detection pagers that would be used by 
Coastguard and border crossing personnel to initially screen 
any suspect cargo.  Then, if the case warranted, trained 
specialists with higher end pagers, capable of detecting 
exact radioactive sources, would conduct subsequent 
inspections. 
 
5. (C) While making his case, Bahran showed Ambassador what 
he described to be a "confidential" document highlighting 
Yemen's nuclear security needs.  (Note: The document was most 
likely Yemen's Nuclear Security Plan that it presented to the 
IAEA to ask for radioactive detection equipment.  Bahran has 
presented separate requests to the IAEA and the DOE for 
radioactive detection equipment.  It is unclear to post 
whether the two requests highlight the need for identical or 
different equipment. End Note).  Bahran was confident that 
with the requested equipment and training he could stop any 
non-legal transport of radioactive sources through Yemen. 
 
-------------------------- 
Invite to US Linton Brooks 
-------------------------- 
 
6. (U) Bahran also asked Ambassador to pass an invitation to 
US of Energy for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the 
NNSA,  Linton F. Brooks to a conference on controlling 
nuclear and radioactive materials at borders. The conference, 
sponsored by the IAEA, will be held on May 26-24 at the Grand 
Mohur Sheraton in Aden, Yemen. 
 
7. (U) Begin Text of invitation letter: 
 
The National Energy Commission presents it compliments to you. 
 
It is my pleasure to inform you that the Republic of Yemen is 
hosting the Sub-Regional Seminar on Measures to Monitor, 
Detect, Identify and Respond to Incidents Involving Nuclear 
and Radioactive Materials at Borders, 24-26 May 2005, in 
Aden.  The seminar is intended to raise awareness on the 
subject and the participants are decision makers and experts 
from participating countries that are Member States of the 
IAEA (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, 
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen).  Also I would like 
to inform you that (Bahrain, Djibouti, Oman, Palestinian 
National Authority, and Somalia) have been invited to 
participate in the seminar by Yemen because they are not 
Member States in the IAEA. 
 
It is my opinion that this seminar is an excellent 
opportunity for the NNSA to participate and maybe deliver a 
presentation on the kind of efforts and assistance that your 
government is providing in this regard. 
 
Accordingly, it is my pleasure to invite representatives from 
your side to participate in this seminar. 
 
The National Atomic Energy Commission avails itself of this 
opportunity to renew to you the assurances of its highest 
consideration. 
 
Accept my best regards, 
 
Dr. Moustafa Bahran 
Science and Technology Advisor to the President of the Rep. 
NATEC Chairman 
 
End text. 
 
8. (C) Action Request and Comment:  Post has previously 
determined that Yemen does not have an identifiable 
radioactive source smuggling problem and that Bahran's 
request for radioactive detection equipment is not 
justifiable at this time.  However, providing training would 
be a measured and pragmatic option through which the USG 
could demonstrate its appreciation to an ally in the IAEA and 
a potential regional leader in nuclear and radioactive source 
management.  Post asks Department, DOE and NRC for 
information on training programs to help an aspiring agency 
with the potential to be a role model in the region.  End 
Action Request and Comment. 
Krajeski