S23B-04: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON IRANIAN

S E C R E T VIENNA 000199 SIPDIS FOR ISN/CB AND EUR/AGS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2016 TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL AU CBW SUBJECT: S23B-04: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON IRANIAN RESEARCHER SEEKING DUAL-USE RESEARCH ASSISTANCE ON AG-CONTROLLED TOXINS (S) REF: STATE 160915 Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips for reasons 1.4 (b, d, h). ¶1. (S) Econ Chief and Poloff delivered reftel talking points January 23 to Helmut Krehlik, head of the Export and Import Control Division at the Ministry of Economics and Labor (MOE). Krehlik promised to contact the appropriate Austrian universities and alert them to possible Iranian attempts to attain research assistance on Australia Group (AG)-controlled toxins. Krehlik mentioned that the MOE had already alerted several Austrian universities to be "careful" after previous contacts with the Iranian Pasteur Institute (IPI). The academics concerned had been quite understanding of the GoA's concerns, and Krehlik expected a similar reaction this time. Krehlik promised to pass reftel talking points to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so it would be aware of our request to review visa applications in light of reftel information. MCCAW