Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CANBERRA1763
2007-12-18 00:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIA'S RESPONSE TO CLUSTER MUNITIONS DEMARCHE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001763
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM/WRA KBAKER AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2017
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA'S RESPONSE TO CLUSTER MUNITIONS DEMARCHE
REF: STATE 167308
Classified By: POLCOUNS James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
SUMMARY:
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001763
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM/WRA KBAKER AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2017
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA'S RESPONSE TO CLUSTER MUNITIONS DEMARCHE
REF: STATE 167308
Classified By: POLCOUNS James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
SUMMARY:
1. (C) Pol/Mil Officer delivered reftel demarche on cluster
munitions December 17 to Dr. Ada Cheung of the Arms Control
and Counter-Proliferation Branch in DFAT's International
Security Division. Australia remains in agreement with the
USG position on cluster munitions, particularly on the need
for interoperability. Dr. Cheung described the efforts of
the moderate group of 20 like-minded countries and NGOs ("20
Group"),including Australia, that is rebuffing attempts to
force through unacceptable treaty language, and seeking to
craft acceptable alternative language. Dr. Cheung reiterated
three redline items for Australia in the Oslo Discussions,
including the need for defense forces to be interoperable,
the retention of legacy cluster munitions for training and
countermeasure development purposes, and the exclusion of
sensor-fused munitions from any proposed bans. She advised
that FM Stephen Smith has accepted and agreed to these
positions and that the new MOD, Joel Fitzgibbon, has been
similarly briefed. End summary.
THE 20 GROUP EFFORT
2. (C) Australia continues to work with a group of more than
20 other like-minded countries (20 Group) and NGOs on
interoperability and other issues. Through their discussions
and educational efforts, support for interoperability
continues to grow among more moderate and thoughtful
countries and NGOs. The 20 Group includes the U.K., Canada,
New Zealand, Poland, France, Finland, and Germany, as well as
two Australian NGOs, AustCare and the Australian Network to
Ban Landmines. They work as a team in the Oslo Discussions
against the Norwegians and other NGOs, for example, insisting
on treating offending treaty language as simply text for
discussion purposes, and cooperating to develop acceptable
alternative content. Dr. Cheung indicated the Norwegians and
NGOs are recruiting participation by other countries,
possibly in anticipation of introducing a two-thirds majority
voting rule to outweigh the voting power of the 20 Group.
138 countries and NGOs have joined to date. Dr. Cheung
questioned the effectiveness of a cluster munitions agreement
that did not include Australia or the U.K. and advised that
Australia is prepared to withdraw from the Oslo Discussions
if any of their redlines are crossed.
3. (C) Australia is working in parallel with the U.K. on a
non-paper regarding interoperability for delivery at the
January CCW meeting, in advance of the next Oslo Discussion
meeting scheduled in Wellington on February 18-22. The U.K.
earlier presented a paper supporting interoperability to its
NATO allies, including Norway, but according to Dr. Cheung,
remains under heavy public pressure from organizations such
as Oxfam to stay a part of the Oslo Discussions regardless of
the proposed content.
CLUNE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM/WRA KBAKER AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2017
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA'S RESPONSE TO CLUSTER MUNITIONS DEMARCHE
REF: STATE 167308
Classified By: POLCOUNS James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
SUMMARY:
1. (C) Pol/Mil Officer delivered reftel demarche on cluster
munitions December 17 to Dr. Ada Cheung of the Arms Control
and Counter-Proliferation Branch in DFAT's International
Security Division. Australia remains in agreement with the
USG position on cluster munitions, particularly on the need
for interoperability. Dr. Cheung described the efforts of
the moderate group of 20 like-minded countries and NGOs ("20
Group"),including Australia, that is rebuffing attempts to
force through unacceptable treaty language, and seeking to
craft acceptable alternative language. Dr. Cheung reiterated
three redline items for Australia in the Oslo Discussions,
including the need for defense forces to be interoperable,
the retention of legacy cluster munitions for training and
countermeasure development purposes, and the exclusion of
sensor-fused munitions from any proposed bans. She advised
that FM Stephen Smith has accepted and agreed to these
positions and that the new MOD, Joel Fitzgibbon, has been
similarly briefed. End summary.
THE 20 GROUP EFFORT
2. (C) Australia continues to work with a group of more than
20 other like-minded countries (20 Group) and NGOs on
interoperability and other issues. Through their discussions
and educational efforts, support for interoperability
continues to grow among more moderate and thoughtful
countries and NGOs. The 20 Group includes the U.K., Canada,
New Zealand, Poland, France, Finland, and Germany, as well as
two Australian NGOs, AustCare and the Australian Network to
Ban Landmines. They work as a team in the Oslo Discussions
against the Norwegians and other NGOs, for example, insisting
on treating offending treaty language as simply text for
discussion purposes, and cooperating to develop acceptable
alternative content. Dr. Cheung indicated the Norwegians and
NGOs are recruiting participation by other countries,
possibly in anticipation of introducing a two-thirds majority
voting rule to outweigh the voting power of the 20 Group.
138 countries and NGOs have joined to date. Dr. Cheung
questioned the effectiveness of a cluster munitions agreement
that did not include Australia or the U.K. and advised that
Australia is prepared to withdraw from the Oslo Discussions
if any of their redlines are crossed.
3. (C) Australia is working in parallel with the U.K. on a
non-paper regarding interoperability for delivery at the
January CCW meeting, in advance of the next Oslo Discussion
meeting scheduled in Wellington on February 18-22. The U.K.
earlier presented a paper supporting interoperability to its
NATO allies, including Norway, but according to Dr. Cheung,
remains under heavy public pressure from organizations such
as Oxfam to stay a part of the Oslo Discussions regardless of
the proposed content.
CLUNE