AUSTRALIA GROUP: U.S. DISCUSSION PAPER ON REGIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000344

SIPDIS

FOR NP/CBM

E.O. 12958: DECL: OADR (1.6X6)
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MCAP IT EUN
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA GROUP: U.S. DISCUSSION PAPER ON REGIONAL
NONPROLIFERATION FOR FEB. INTERSESSIONAL (C)

REF: SECSTATE 16482

CLASSIFIED BY: ECONOMIC COUNSELOR KAREN MILLIKEN FOR REASON 1.5 (D)
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 00344 291517Z


1. (C) ECONOFF PASSED REFTEL NON-PAPER TO ITALIAN MFA
NONPROLIFERATION COORDINATOR UGO DE MOHR, EMPHASIZING U.S.
INTEREST IN ADDRESSING REGIONAL NONPROLIFERATION AT THE
UPCOMING INTERSESSIONAL MEETING. DE MOHR SAID HE WELCOMED
THE U.S. PROPOSAL AND WOULD SHARE IT WITH HIS GOI COLLEAGUES
AT THEIR UPCOMING INTER-MINISTERIAL MEETING, PRIOR TO THE
AUSTRALIA GROUP MEETING IN PARIS.


2. (C) DEMOHR NOTED A FEW ISSUES OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO
THE GOI THAT HE EXPECTED TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE FEBRUARY
MEETING. THE EU REMAINED STRONGLY INTERESTED IN HAVING EU
CANDIDATE COUNTRIES BECOME MEMBERS OF THE AG (AND OTHER
MULTILATERAL NONPROLIFERATION REGIMES) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
HE ALSO NOTED GOI SUPPORT FOR CREATING AN INFORMATION
EXCHANGE SYSTEM AMONG AG MEMBERS ALONG THE LINES OF THE
SYSTEM ALREADY IN USE BY THE NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP, ADDING
THAT ADOPTING AN EXISTING SYSTEM WOULD EASE THE FINANCIAL
BURDEN OF IMPLEMENTING SUCH A SYSTEM.
SKODON

CONFIDENTIAL

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2003ROME00344 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL