VZCZCXRO2368
PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHWD #0301 2701108
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 261108Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0082
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0015 C O N F I D E N T I A L WINDHOEK 000301 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR ISN/RA RICHARD NEPHEW JODY DANIEL, 
FOR IO/T HEATHER VON BEHREN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2018 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: NAMIBIA: IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS VOTE 
 
REF: A. STATE 99746 
      B. WINDHOEK 239 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Dennise Mathieu for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
 1. (C)  Emboff met with the Namibian Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs' Director of Multilateral Affairs Julius Zaya Shiweva 
and delivered reftel demarche on September 22.  Shiweva 
stated that "to his knowledge Namibia had not yet been 
approached by any country" with regards to the nomination of 
a member of the Middle East and South Asia (MESA) group to 
the Board of Governors of the International  Atomic Energy 
Agency (IAEA).  After Emboff explained USG's  concerns over 
Syrian or Iranian membership on the Board of Governors, 
drawing on reftel talking points, Shiweva responded that the 
Government of Namibia (GRN) did not yet have a position but 
that it would take the U.S. position into account.  Shiweva 
noted that it was the GRN's policy not to make a public 
declaration against the candidacy of any member nation. 
 
 2.  (C)  On September 25, Emboff followed up with Helena 
Itamba, the Deputy Director of the Controlled Minerals and 
Minerals Development Division of the Ministry of Mines and 
Energy,  to reinforce USG concerns about Iranian or Syrian 
membership on the Board of Governors.  (Note: Itamba is 
responsible for the GRN's IAEA compliance within the Ministry 
of Mines. End Note.) Itamba indicated that her government was 
aware of the USG's concerns over Syria and Iran following a 
July 29 meeting between Ambassador Mathieu and the Minister 
of Mines and Energy (reftel B).  She declared that Namibia 
would not support Syria's or Iran's candidacies.  Itamba then 
explained the chief of Namibia's delegation (National Liaison 
Officer) to the IAEA General Conference is Minister of Health 
and Social Services Permanent Secretary Kahijoro Kahuure and 
that he was already in Vienna.  Itamba added that she would 
travel to Vienna in two days to attend IAEA meetings the 
following week and would convey our concerns to the Namibian 
delegation personally, including to Kahuure. 
 
 3.  (C)  Comment:  Given the Ministry of Health's role in the 
IAEA Deliberations, DCM will follow up with the Ministry of 
Health on September 30 to reiterate our concerns.  End 
Comment. 
MATHIEU