Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06ROME439, DISPOSITION OF ELK RIVER SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL:

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06ROME439.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06ROME439 2006-02-13 17:09 2011-03-24 11:00 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Rome
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000439 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR ISN/NESS (WHAMMACK, EUR/WE (FETCHKO), AND EUR/PRA 
(JCONLON), DOE FOR NNSA/NA-212 (TANNO) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2015 
TAGS: ENRG KNNP KSTC IT ITALY NATIONAL ELECTIONS

SUBJECT: DISPOSITION OF ELK RIVER SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL: 
LETTER FROM U/S OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS GIANNI LETTA TO 
AMBASSADOR 
 
REF: 04 ROME 003592 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD P. SPOGLI, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 


1.  (C)  SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST:  On February 6, the 
Ambassador received a letter from Gianni Letta, Under 
Secretary to the Council of Ministers requesting assistance 
 
SIPDIS 
to return to the United States 64 thorium-uranium bundles of 
spent nuclear fuel (SNF) originally from the Elk River, MN 
plant.  Letta requested a response by the end of February. 
The Under Secretary made the same request directly to the 
Department of Energy (DOE) in August 2004 (reftel), but in 
January 2005, former Secretary of Energy Abraham responded 
that after thorough technical and legal review, the DOE could 
not accept the spent nuclear fuel under any existing 
programs.  The reason the GOI has repeated the request on an 
urgent basis is because the issue is politically sensitive 
for Prime Minister Berlusconi's center-right coalition, which 
is facing a tough battle for re-election in April.  With the 
election looming, Letta writes, the GOI will be ""forced"" to 
transfer the Elk River SNF to Russia if it cannot be 
repatriated to the United States.  An unofficial translation 
of Letta's letter (para. 2-5), along with the Ambassador's 
proposed reply (para. 9-11) follow.  ACTION REQUEST: 
Department please review U/S Letta's letter and proposed 
response from the Ambassador in paragraphs 9 through 11, and 
provide comments/clearance by February 17.  END SUMMARY AND 
ACTION REQUEST. 
 
BEGIN TEXT OF INFORMAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION 
 


2.  (C)  Dear Mister Ambassador, 
I am writing you to call your attention to an issue about 
which your embassy has probably already informed you.  It is 
a very important issue for the (Italian) government even from 
the psychological point of view.  We will soon be sending our 
nuclear waste currently stored in Piedmont and Emilia Romagna 
to France.  The spent fuel will remain in France until 2025 
at least, when Italy should have its own nuclear waste 
storage site.  This is causing protests in the South.  In 
fact, sixty-four thorium-uranium bars of spent fuel are 
stored in the ITREC (Trisaia Research Center) site at 
Rotondella (in the province of Matera), and these bars cannot 
be reprocessed in Europe.  These came to Italy from the U.S. 
Elk River Plant in 1970, during a joint project, which was 
later abandoned, between CNEN (now ENEA - the Agency for New 
Technologies, Energy and the Environment) and the AEC (Atomic 
Energy Commission) (now DOE).  Hundreds of such bars (which 
contain uranium-235 at 93% and even up to 95% when combined 
with thorium, are currently stored at the U.S. Savannah River 
site. 
 


3.  (C)  We have asked the U.S. authorities (the President 
and DOE) to bring to that site also the few bars stored at 
Rotondella, which are contained in two casks made according 
to U.S. requirements for storage and transport.  Italy will 
provide full funding for the operation.  As you can see, it 
is a small thing.  But if the practical issue is painless, 
the psychological and thus political impact is the opposite. 
The issue has been used already by local and national 
opposition forces, which state that the Berlusconi government 
supports the north more than the south. 
 


4.  (C)  On November 9, 2005, the President of SOGIN (the 
Agency for Administration of Nuclear Plants) repeated the 
same request to the Department of Energy and other embassy 
representatives, underlining that Italy needed a reply by the 
end of February.  If not received by then, reasons of 
relevant opportunity - in practice, in order to avoid 
demonstrations - would force us to transfer the two casks to 
Russia for about fifty years.  A company of Rosatom (formerly 
Minatom) has already shown interest in storing the two casks 
for a decidedly modest price.  Given the military level of 
enriched uranium in the ITREC bars, the operation could be 
included under the Global Threat Reduction initiative, since, 
as I have said, the fuel came from a U.S. plant.  SOGIN is 
available to provide you with all the details.  The U.S. 
decision could be made known at a public meeting to which I 
would invite local and neighboring regional authorities and 
the media. 
 


5.  (C)  Being sure of your interest in this matter, I thank 
you in advance on behalf of the government, and underline 
once again that we need an answer by the end of February. 
With warm regards, //ss// Gianni Letta. 
END TEXT OF INFORMAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION. 


COMMENT 
------- 
 
6.  (C)  The south, especially the region of Puglia which 
adjoins Matera to the east, will be a key battleground in the 
April 9 elections.  Hence the Berlusconi government's 
interest in defusing the potentially negative publicity that 
could ensue from demonstrations over the spent fuel issue. 
END COMMENT. 
 
7.  (C)  We want to respond in a timely manner to Under 
Secretary Letta.  He is one of the best and senior-most 
 
SIPDIS 
contacts for the embassy, and is someone to whom we turn for 
help on issues critical to the U.S. interest.  U.S.-Italy 
relations traditionally have been strong regardless of the 
party in power, but have been especially close under Prime 
Minister Berlusconi and his center-right coalition 
government.  Berlusconi's close personal relationship with 
the President is a key factor in maintaining Italian military 
contributions in Iraq in the face of significant popular 
opposition, and reflects our strong bilateral cultural and 
historical ties.  Italy also provides other funding and 
troops (over 10,000 total peacekeeping troops deployed 
worldwide), including assets in Afghanistan, the Balkans, and 
Darfur. 
 


GLOBAL THREAT REDUCTION INITIATIVE 
---------------------------------- 
 

8. (C)  We understand, based on Secretary Abraham's January 
2005 letter and on DOE's November discussions with SOGIN on 
the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) ""gap"" materials 
disposition program, that DOE does not consider the Elk River 
SNF sufficiently ""high-risk"" to be given priority under GTRI 
programs at this time.  We propose the following response to 
Under Secretary Letta. 
 

PROPOSED RESPONSE FROM AMBASSADOR TO U/S LETTA 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
BEGIN PROPOSED TEXT: 
 

9. (C/Releasable to Italy)  Dear Under Secretary Letta: 
 
Thank you for your letter of February 6 concerning the 
disposition of uranium-thorium spent nuclear fuel stored at 
the ITREC (Trisaia Research Center) at Rotondella, in the 
province of Matera.  I have been fully briefed on the history 
of the efforts to repatriate this material, originally from 
the Elk River nuclear plant, to the Savannah River National 
Laboratory in Aiken, South Carolina. 
 


10.  (C/Releasable to Italy)  I can assure you that we 
understand the government of Italy's pressing need to find a 
disposition path, and I have followed up carefully on this 
issue with the Department of Energy (DOE).  The Office of 
Global Nuclear Material Threat Reduction of the National 
Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has carefully reviewed 
your request.  DOE officials reviewed the matter again after 
NNSA representatives met with the President of SOGIN last 
November.  And I have inquired myself.  Unfortunately, there 
has been no change in the Department of Energy's position 
that it cannot accept the Elk River material. 
 
11. (C/Releasable to Italy)  As you know, the United States 
greatly values its strong partnership with Italy on 
nonproliferation cooperation and on the development of 
nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes.  We 
have tried to be helpful where possible on the difficult 
issue of nuclear waste disposal.  In this case, although the 
answer is negative, I wanted to be sure to respond 
expeditiously, so that you could proceed if necessary with 
the alternate remedies you described in your letter. 
(Complimentary close) 
END PROPOSED TEXT. 
SPOGLI 
"	Classification: UNCLASSIFIED 




"