ALBANIA FULLY SUPPORTS U.S. OFFER TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000585 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/IR; EUR/SCE (BENEDICT, SAINZ) NSC FOR BRAUN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV AL SUBJECT: ALBANIA FULLY SUPPORTS U.S. OFFER TO DIPLOMATICALLY ENGAGE IRAN REF: STATE 87682 Classified By: Ambassador Marcie B. Ries for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador delivered reftel points to PM Berisha on June 1. Berisha immediately agreed to issue a statement in support of the USG's offer to Iran. The GoA issued the following statement on June 2: (Begin text) -- The Government of the Republic of Albania follows with special attention the dangerous crisis created by Iran's insistence to develop nuclear weapons in contravention of international laws. -- The Iranian Government's opposition, to date, to respect the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and commitments made during negotiations with the EU, are testimony to too dangerous a path that Iranian authorities have engaged their country in. -- The GOA joins the assessment of the U.S. Government and of EU countries and considers the nuclear weapons development programs (undertaken) by Iran a real and great danger to peace and stability in the Middle East region and the entire world. For the GOA, prevention of these programs, at any cost, is of defining significance for security and peace in the Middle East and the world. -- The GOA has supported international efforts so far in general and in particular those of the EU and the U.S. for a resolution of this problem through a diplomatic path and negotiations, just as it applauds and supports the recent USG decision to engage in direct negotiations with Iranian authorities. This decision of President Bush is clear testimony of the will of the American Government to resolve, through dialogue, this major problem of global security. The Albanian Government calls upon the Government of Iran to give up on practices and actions (used) so far and engage in serious negotiations, by first interrupting uranium enrichment as the most minimal condition to demonstrate its good will for abandoning nuclear weapons development programs and for making possible a peaceful diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear issue. Only by acting in this manner can the Iranian Government prevent a series of very serious repercussions, responsibility for which will fall directly upon itself. (End text) ¶2. (C) Berisha's first comment after hearing the talking points was that "we will definitely support the USG's effort to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power." Berisha opined that an Iran with nuclear weapons would be "a big danger to its neighbors and the rest of the world" and that "its ambitions were well known." Berisha added that he welcomed the USG's decision to offer direct talks as it demonstrated the U.S.'s will to settle the matter through diplomacy. Berisha also expressed skepticism over Iran's probable response to the offer but said the USG's move was nevertheless "an important right step." ¶3. (C) Berisha further offered to instruct Albania's representatives to the UN and the IAEA to use their offices to encourage Iran to "make the right choice." RIES