IRAN: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES "THE SWISS PLAN" WITH \

97841 2007-02-23 14:46:00 07BERN171 Embassy Bern CONFIDENTIAL 07BERN158 VZCZCXRO6253\ OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK\ DE RUEHSW #0171/01 0541446\ ZNY CCCCC ZZH\ O 231446Z FEB 07\ FM AMEMBASSY BERN\ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3721\ INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERN 000171 \ \ SIPDIS \ \ SIPDIS \ \ STATE FOR P -- U/S BURNS \ STATE ALSO FOR NEA, ISN, EUR \ \ E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2017 \ TAGS: PARM KNNP PTER ETTC IR SZ SUBJECT: IRAN: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES "THE SWISS PLAN" WITH \ PRESIDENT CALMY-REY \ \ REF: BERN 00158 \ \ BERN 00000171 001.2 OF 002 \ \ \ Classified By: DCM Carol Urban, Reasons 1.4 b.d. \ \ 1.(SBU) The Ambassador met with President and Foreign \ Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey on February 22. Although the \ two had met and talked informally on several occasions since \ the Ambassador,s arrival in Switzerland last September, this \ was their first official meeting. Calmy-Rey,s Diplomatic \ Advisor Balzaretti and Americas Division Chief Baumann, as \ well as DCM Urban, joined the meeting. \ \ 2.(SBU) Calmy-Rey began the meeting by expressing her \ personal satisfaction in successfully encouraging the Federal \ Council (Cabinet) in 2005 to broaden Switzerland,s \ perspective beyond the EU and in the fact that the first MOU \ on political cooperation Switzerland signed was with the U.S. \ The Ambassador and Calmy-Rey then briefly discussed the \ status of the MOU, the Operative Working Arrangement and the \ Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum. The Ambassador told \ Calmy-Rey of the strong relationship that he has developed \ with Ambassador Ziswiler and of their mutual goal to double \ the annual number of Fulbright grantees. After touching on \ the challenges both Switzerland and the U.S. face in dealing \ with agriculture in the Doha talks, the Ambassador asked to \ speak candidly and in good faith about two matters of \ importance: the image of the U.S. in Switzerland and the \ Iran nuclear issue. \ \ The Image of the U.S. in Switzerland \ -------------- --- \ \ 3.(C) The Ambassador carefully expressed his concern that the \ U.S. is constantly criticized in the Swiss media and only \ rarely is there recognition of the good things the U.S. does \ or that our two countries do together. He invited Calmy-Rey \ to work with us to find ways to get out the good news. \ \ 4.(C) Calmy-Rey noted that Switzerland relies on \ international law and that is often the source of its \ differences with the U.S., Iraq and Guantanamo being the two \ most obvious examples. She added that there are many areas \ where we are in agreement and usefully work together. She \ referred to the MOU as a positive story that didn,t get the \ hoped-for media coverage, but cited the successful \ partnership between Switzerland and the U.S. on the MDA as a \ story that was reflected positively in the media. She noted \ that, "Switzerland can do things the EU can,t -- we can be \ useful in that regard," and added that Kosovo and Sudan were \ areas where our two countries could successfully work \ together and let it be known. \ \ Iran \ -------------- \ \ 5.(C) Turning to Iran, Calmy-Rey said that Switzerland and \ the U.S. share the same goals, that Switzerland is supporting \ UNSC 1737, and that the goal of the Swiss plan is to bring \ the parties to the table. She also noted that Under \ Secretary Burns told State Secretary Ambuehl that he welcomed \ \ SIPDIS \ working closely with Switzerland on Iran. \ \ 6.(C) Calmy-Rey went on to say she had been very upset with \ the Iranian press release that said Switzerland had proposed \ partial suspension. "We do not support partial suspension \ and I told Larijani: we are out if you say we do." She \ emphasized that the Swiss have been very insistent that the \ Iranians suspend enrichment and fulfill their obligations to \ the IAEA. She assured the Ambassador that the Swiss are firm \ that there is no way for the Iranians around suspension. And \ she made the point that Switzerland is not being \ "instrumentalized" by the Iranians but, rather, they are \ having tough and difficult conversations with Larijani. \ "Switzerland is a credible partner. I think if we talk with \ them we can make some progress," she concluded. \ \ 7.(C) The Ambassdor responded by acknowledging that \ Switzerland plays an important role as our protecting power \ for which we are very grateful. He said that the U.S. is \ ready to sit down with the Iranians, but they must come to \ the table in good faith by first suspending enrichment. He \ added that while it is good that the Swiss have been firm \ with the Iranians on suspension, now would be a good time for \ silence. Iran knows what it needs to do. We need to be \ resolute and stand together, and we have a better chance of \ succeeding through tougher sanctions and not sending signals \ that could be misinterpreted by the Iranians, the media or \ anyone else. \ \ \ BERN 00000171 002.2 OF 002 \ \ \ 8.(C) In reply Calmy-Rey said that the Iranians are not yet \ convinced that they must suspend enrichment. They must be \ convinced. "If we are silent, they won,t get it." The \ Ambassador counter-proposed, "If Switzerland is silent all of \ a sudden, Iran will wonder what that means. And that could be \ good." \ \ 9.(C) Calmy-Rey reiterated that Iran must be transparent; \ must answer to the IAEA, and must suspend enrichment. She \ said there is much to discuss with them and that U/S Burns \ said he wants to work even more closely with Switzerland. \ She added that the Swiss always inform the Embassy of their \ discussions, and that they inform the EU-3, and the others \ (i.e., Russia and China),as well. "And we tell the Iranians \ that we are informing you." \ \ 10.(C) The Ambassador promised to clarify U/S Burns, \ communications with State Secretary Ambuehl and give the \ Swiss something in writing. He expressed concern that the \ Iranians might assume that the US is encouraging \ Switzerland,s discussions with them "by virtue of the fact \ that you are keeping us informed," and that the media and the \ Iranians may not understand the separation between the Swiss \ role as our protecting power in Tehran and its independent, \ proactive discussions with them on the nuclear issue. \ CONEWAY \