SHIELD S08-02, S63-02, S21-04: GOA RESPONSE TO USG

S E C R E T VIENNA 002345 SIPDIS FOR NP/CBM AND EUR/AGS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2015 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC AU IR CBW SUBJECT: SHIELD S08-02, S63-02, S21-04: GOA RESPONSE TO USG CONCERNS REGARDING AUSTRIAN-IRANIAN WMD PROLIFERATION COOPERATION (S) REF: STATE 121596 Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). Iranian Technology and Trade Center -------------- ¶1. (S) On July 1, Econ Unit Chief delivered reftel talking points to Helmut Krehlik, Head of the Economic Ministry's Export and Import Control Division, underscoring USG concerns with plans to build an Iranian Trade and Technology Center in Austria. Krehlik (strictly protect) said certain Austrian "political circles," particularly within the Freedom Party, had initiated the idea of the Trade and Technology Center. Krehlik agreed that the Trade and Technology Center could easily serve the same function as the aborted Technology Cooperation Office. Krehlik said he did not believe development of the Trade and Technology Center was moving forward, but he agreed that now was the appropriate time for the USG to raise any concerns. Krehlik promised to send an information memo to his Minister's Chef de Cabinet outlining USG concerns. ¶2. (S) In a separate meeting with Econ-Pol Counselor and Econ Unit Chief on July 8, Dorothea Auer, Head of the MFA's Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Division, cautioned that the MFA could not impede Iranian-Austrian commercial and technological cooperation unless there was clear evidence of violations of Austria's Foreign Trade Act's dual-use provisions. Auer welcomed the information on individuals involved in developing the Trade and Technology Center and said the GoA would welcome additional, more specific information on companies and individuals. Auer cautioned that the MFA could not, absent hard evidence of Iranian WMD intenst, legally abrogate the 2004 MoU with Iran, as it originated from the Health and Social Affairs Ministry. Auer also expressed doubts whether the center would actually materialize, but she promised to pass our concerns to senior MFA officials. ¶3. (S) Post will continue to follow developments related to the Trade and Technology Center and remain actively engaged with our GoA interlocutors on the issue. Autumn 2004 Seminar on Dual-Use Issues -------------- ¶4. (S) Krehlik told us the autumn 2004 seminar for Austrian researchers was an MFA/MoE initiative to emphasize the GoA's dual-use regulations and to make scientists particularly aware of potential WMD projects. The conference, according to Krehlik, was also a vehicle for the GoA to obtain information about any suspect cooperation. Krehlik said that initial discussions had led to more intensive investigations of two current programs. Krehlik emphasized that analyses of these programs fully satisfied all GoA concerns. Krehlik said the response from the researchers had been "surprisingly cooperative." Krehlik said the GoA might consider organizing a follow-up seminar, particularly since Parliament had recently passed major amendments to the Foreign Trade Act. He noted that this would be the third such conference since ¶2002. Brown