TNAG-1497-FCO40-2055-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 156

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Confidential

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