Pages 202-203 from FCO 177-1349

This is a restricted message expressing the United Kingdom's doubts about inviting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as an observer to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Plenary. The UK believes that the NSG is an informal grouping of supplier states, and the IAEA has no role in deciding export control policies. There are concerns that the IAEA's presence may be perceived as aligning itself too closely with the suppliers, which the UK thinks the agency should avoid. The UK suggests that NSG countries should first review the findings of the NSG Working Group on Institutional Matters before making any decisions. Based on these considerations, the UK is reluctant to support the proposal to invite the IAEA as an observer at the Lucerne meeting.