APRIL 2005 AUSTRALIA GROUP PLENARY DEMARCHES:

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001708

SIPDIS

FOR NP/CBM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10 YEARS
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL FR CBE
SUBJECT: APRIL 2005 AUSTRALIA GROUP PLENARY DEMARCHES:
PROMOTIONAL PARTICIPATION IN INFO EXCHANGE AND PLENARY
TECHNICAL PROPOSALS (SBU)

REF: A. SECSTATE 41247

B. SECSTATE 39371

Classified By: EST COUNSELOR ROBERT W. DRY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) (D) AND
(H)


1. (C) On 11 March 2005, Embassy EST officer delivered
reftels non-papers on U.S. Government (USG) proposals in
advance of the April 2005 Australia Group (AG) Plenary to
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs point of contact for AG
matters, Etienne Sur. After reading points in non-papers,
Sur first addressed the AG releasable non-paper containing US
recommendations for the Plenary's Information Exchange (IE)
and the Enforcement Experts (EE) discussions, commenting that
France also supported active participation of AG members in
the IE and EE discussions. He noted that France would fully
endorse the USG suggestion that during the IE, group members
place additional emphasis on emerging technologies, trends,
and threats. Sur thanked the USG for its recommendations,
and noted that France looked forward to working closely with
the U.S. delegation at the Plenary.


2. (C) Addressing the 'France-Only' non-paper that
contained a request to the French that they share information
on recent French law enforcement actions related to ricin and
botulism in the Lyon area, as well as a request to elaborate
on recent French official comments relating to continued
terrorist activity in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge, Sur remarked
that France might be able to make some informal comments on
these issues during the Plenary, but doubted France would be
in a position to distribute formal comments on these cases to
the group.


3. (C) Sur then provided some general remarks and requested
clarification on the USG non-paper regarding additional
biological agents for inclusion in the AG core list. Sur
read through the non-paper, then asked EST officer if the USG
was suggesting that the AG take specific action at the
Plenary to add some of the "new" biological agents listed in
the USG non-paper to the AG core list. EST replied that the
USG was requesting that during the Plenary, France and other
AG members consider placing the targeted biological agents
into the AG core list. Sur said that he would discuss the
list of agents included in the non-paper with French experts,
and would provide EST officer with a formal reply once this
analysis was completed.


4. (C) Sur then made general remarks on the non-paper
calling for a revision to the AG control for pumps and
components on the common control list for chemical
manufacturing facilities and equipment. Sur remarked that he
would have to consult with French technical experts and once
this review was completed would make formal comments to EST
officer.
Leach