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