Pages 11-12 from FCO 66912 - Nuclear Suppliers Group; Policy - 1977

The 7th meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) took place in London, with Switzerland formally joining as a full member. The business of the meeting focused on the review of the guidelines, enlargement of membership, and publication of documents. However, substantive decisions were deferred to a further meeting planned for June. The UK and Soviet Union proposed a joint draft amending Article A of the guidelines to include full fuel cycle safeguards, which received support from most delegations except for the French. Amendments proposed by Canada, including the inclusion of sanctions and strengthening support for IAEA safeguards, were discussed and draft language was prepared. The importance of further enlargement was agreed upon, but decisions on formal invitations to new members were postponed until the June meeting. The completion of the guideline review was prioritized over publication of documents. The International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation Programme was discussed, with preliminary reactions and questions from delegates. The inability to agree on changes to the guidelines for three consecutive meetings highlights the need for careful preparation and bilateral contacts before the next meeting in June.