AUSTRALIA: INTERIM RESPONSE ON IRAQI WMD SCIENTIST

S E C R E T CANBERRA 001651 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/ANP AND ISN/CTR J.BOYD AND K.FISHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017 TAGS: PTER PINR PINS PARM PREL PREF AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA: INTERIM RESPONSE ON IRAQI WMD SCIENTIST RELOCATION PLAN REF: A. STATE 157364 ¶B. CANBERRA 1217 ¶C. STATE 84894 Classified By: Deputy PolCouns John W. Crowley. Reasons 1/4 (b),(d). ¶1. (S) Poloff provided Ref A responses to Australia's questions on the Iraqi WMD Scientist Relocation Plan (Ref B), along with notification that we would be seeking Australia's acceptance of a specific case, to Gerry McGuire, Director of the Counter-Proliferation Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on November 19. McGuire expressed appreciation for the comprehensive responses to his questions. He seemed satisfied with the answers but registered some surprise that the Iraqi government was unaware that employment of WMD scientists through IICSI involved temporary relocation. 2 (S) After consultation with First Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs Jennifer Rawson, and as anticipated in Ref A, McGuire advised that the decision whether to participate in the relocation program was a policy matter that could not be decided while the Australian government was in caretaker status, and would have to taken up after the November 24 general election. McGuire noted that even if Foreign Minister Downer was inclined to consult the opposition Australian Labor Party to seek a policy consensus - the established mechanism for the caretaker government to adopt a new policy - Downer was out of the country and it would be practically impossible for him to do so before the election. ¶3. (S) McGuire said he looked forward to receiving details of the scientist the U.S. wishes to relocate to Australia, noting again that no decision could be taken on accepting the scientist until after the election. MCCALLUM