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3. FOLLOWING THE COMMISSION EXPOSE THE PRESIDENCY UNDERLINED THE
NEED TO MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM IF CHERNOBYL WAS TO LEAD TO REAL
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR REGIME. THE PRINCIPAL TAKS
FOR THE COMMUNITY WAS TO TAKE A UNITED POSITION IN THE IAEA AND
OTHER INTERNATIONAL FORA TO KEEP THE WORK MOVING FORWARD. THIS MIGHT
CONCENTRATE ON FIVE QUESTIONS:
(A)
(B)
(a)
(E)
THE NEED FOR A WORLD-WIDE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.
AGREEMENT ON A SYSTEM FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN THE
EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
TIGHTER INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND RULES ON REACTOR SAFETY
AND PRODUCTION.
EXTENSION OF THE RULES ON LEGAL LIABILITY FOLLOWING SUCH
ACCIDENTS SO THEY APPLY WORLD-WIDE (CLAIMS ARE NOW APPARENTLY
BEGINNING TO COME IN IN THE NETHERLANDS).
4. PORTUGAL, DENMARK AND ITALY SUPPORTED THE GENERAL THRUST OF
THOSE FIVE POINTS. IRELAND WELCOMED THE COMMISSION FRAMEWORK. THERE
MIGHT ALSO BE A CASE FOR STRENGTHENING THE CONSULTATIONS PROCEDURE
UNDER ARTICLE 37 EURATOM.
5. THE UK AND FRANCE WERE MORE CAUTIOUS. THE UK SPOKE AS INSTRUCTED
IN YOUR TELNO 193. NOT ALL OF THE CURRENT SPATE OF IDEAS LOOKED
RELEVANT TO THE MAIN PROBLEM. THE RIGHT PLACE TO TACKLE THAT WAS THE
IAEA, WITH THE COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER, AND THE RIGHT OBJECTIVE
WAS A BINDING INTERNATIONAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEM. THE COMMUNITY
COULD POINT THE WAY TO THIS BY EARLY ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A SYSTEM
AMONG THEMSELVES WHICH MIGHT THEN IN DUE COURSE BE EXTENDED.
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FRANCE AGREED WITH THE MAIN OBJECTIVE, BUT SUGGESTED THAT ANOTHER
ROUTE TO IT MIGHT BE TO MAKE THE IRS BINDING AND ADAPT IT TO OPERATE
FAST IN EMERGENCIES. BUT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT BE DRAWN INTO
PANIC ACTION WHICH COULD ONLY LEAD TO REACTION. THE BASIC SAFETY
STANDARDS FOR EXAMPLE WERE BASED ON UNPRECEDENTEDLY CLOSE AND
THOROUGH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC HARMONISATION. THERE MAY BE A CASE
FOR EXTENDING THESE, BUT SEEMED VERY LITTLE FOR MAKING THEM MORE STRINGENT. THE SAME APPLIED TO REACTOR DESIGNS. THERE WAS LITTLE PROSPECT OF FRANCE SHUTTING ANY OF ITS REACTORS DOWN BECAUSE OF
MODIFIED DESIGN STANDARDS PROVOKED BY CHERNOBYL.
6. (COMMENT): WE HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO CONTACTS IN THE COCKFIELD
CABINET ABOUT THE COMMISSION LIST. THEY SAY THAT IT WAS DRAWN UP BY
A TASK FORCE OF THE VARIOUS DIRECTORATES CONCERNED UNDER AUDLANDS'
CHAIRMANSHIP. THEY CONFIRM THAT IT WILL COME TO THE COMMISSION
TOMORROW AND EXPECT A MAJOR SPLIT BETWEEN THOSE WHO SEE THE
CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT AS OPENING THE WAY FOR A MAJOR EXTENSION OF COMMUNITY COMPETENCE, REVIVAL OF THE EURATOM TREATY, ETC, AND OTHERS (NOTABLY CHEYSSON) WHO ARE MORE CONSCIOUS OF MEMBER STATE
SENSITIVITIES. THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT LINE DELORS IS LIKELY TO TAKE.
HANNAY
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/ADIANCE