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
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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