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