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