Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BERLIN2175
2006-07-31 15:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMAN COMMENTS ON FMCT COORDINATION PROPOSAL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRL #2175 2121525 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 311525Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4456 INFO RUCNDSC/DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0371 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1318 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0219
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 002175
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/MSNA, EUR/PRA, AND EUR/AGS; NEW YORK FOR
USUN-POL; GENEVA FOR USCD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2016
TAGS: GM KNNP MNUC PARM PREL CDG
SUBJECT: GERMAN COMMENTS ON FMCT COORDINATION PROPOSAL
REF: SECSTATE 120281
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE; REASONS 1.4(B) A
ND (D).
(C) POLOFF delivered the message in reftel July 28 to
Hellmut Hoffmann, Director of the MFA's Office of Nuclear
Nonproliferation Policy. Responding to our points, Hoffmann
reiterated that Germany welcomes the USG's proposal to begin
negotiations on the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) and
feels it is an important step in the right direction. He
underlined that the German government also does not want
linkages made to other issues at the Conference on
Disarmament, although Germany supports progress in developing
other subsidiary bodies important to vital CD partners.
While Germany would not attempt to slow the initiation of
treaty negotiations based on the verification issue, Hoffmann
did allude to the fact Germany may be "hard-pressed to sign
on to a treaty which did not include a verification regime."
Upon being pressed, Hoffmann admitted that the German
position on this matter remained undetermined. Despite this
difference in opinion, Germany will be pleased to encourage
other CD states to express public support for CD/1776 once
the European Union approves the effort as expected.
TIMKEN JR