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