U/S BURNS' 12/4 MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN DFAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 001782

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NOFORN
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DEPT FOR P, EAP, SCA, NEA, OES, ISN, G

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2017
TAGS: PREL AS MARR
SUBJECT: U/S BURNS' 12/4 MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN DFAT
SECRETARY L'ESTRANGE

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Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel A. Clune for reasons 1.4 (b and
d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C/NF) Summary: In a December 4, 2007 meeting in
Australia, Under Secretary Burns and DFAT Secretary
L'Estrange agreed the election of a new Australian government
would not affect the strength of our alliance, but underlined
the urgency to identify a new date for the Australia-U.S.
Ministerial Talks (AUSMIN) in the first quarter of 2008.
They noted the need for increased international engagement on
both military and development assistance to Afghanistan, and
agreed strengthening UN efforts to resolve the situation in
Burma remains a high priority. L'Estrange and Burns
expressed satisfaction with the agenda for the December 5
Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (TSD) Senior Officials'
Meeting, noting progress towards operationalizing TSD
initiatives and the need to continue bringing Japan along.
On Iran, L'Estrange confirmed he had received a briefing on
the classified version of the recent NIE on Iran and
supported a third UNSCR. On India, L'Estrange highlighted
the potential issue of the new government's po
sition on Nuclear Supplier Group approval of India's civ-nuke
deal. End summary.


2. (C) L'Estrange cited Iraq and Climate Change as the major
policy differences of the new Australian government, but
emphasized the strong, deep elements of continuity on most
issues, such as Afghanistan, counterterrorism, Pacific
Islands, and Asian Regional Architecture. The new government
was strongly committed to the TSD, though it might wish to
pursue some new issues within the framework. U/S Burns
reiterated the importance of the Australian alliance to the
U.S., shown by the early calls made by the President and the
Secretary to Rudd and Smith. U/S Burns stated the United

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States would not publicly criticize the Rudd government's
decision to withdraw combat troops from Iraq in mid-2008, and
looked forward to consulting with Defence Minister Fitzgibbon
and Foreign Minister Smith on this issue and ways which
Australia could continue to contribute, including in the
training mission. Regarding climate change, Burns said we
shared the belief that the post-2012 framework needed to
include China and India, in
volve new technologies, and a pro-growth approach.


3. (C) U/S Burns briefed L'Estrange on the necessity of
changing the date for AUSMIN, although both the Secretaries
of State and Defense want to come to Australia. We would
propose a new date after coordination with the Pentagon.
L'Estrange said the new Australian FM is planning to hold
AUSMIN in Canberra.


4. (C) L'Estrange assured Burns there was strong bipartisan
support in Australia for efforts in Afghanistan, with the
Rudd government committed to the long-term outcome. However,
he said, the Australians were concerned about the
steadfastness of the international community's commitment,
both in terms of military presence and development
assistance. U/S Burns informed L'Estrange we recommended
that UNSYG Ban appoint Paddy Ashdown as envoy to Afghanistan
in order to encourage greater assistance to Afghanistan,
coordinate a single, harmonized international strategy, and
Qcoordinate a single, harmonized international strategy, and
more closely cooperate and coordinate civilian activities
with the military. L'Estrange agreed Ashdown was very
articulate, persuasive, and a good choice for such a role.


5. (C) U/S Burns emphasized the importance the U.S. placed on
gaining Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) approval for sales of
reactor technology and fuel to India as part of the civ-nuke
deal; this was a high priority for the U.S. L'Estrange noted
that new FM Smith was from western Australia and wished to
boost ties with India to a new level, but said the Labor
government's campaign positions on not selling uranium to
India as a non-signatory to the NPT could complicate the NSG
diplomacy.


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6. (C) L'Estrange noted U.S. support for Gambari's mission in
Burma and confirmed Australia had tried, unsuccessfully, to
get the EAS and ASEAN to engage on the issue in late November
summits in Singapore. L'Estrange suggested the UNSC and
UNSYG would need to become more involved on the issue as
Gambari lost steam. Burns said Singaporean views on Burma in
December 3 had underwhelmed him; both agreed China appeared
to be the only party with real leverage with the Burmese
regime at this point.


7. (U) U/S Burns cleared this message.

CLUNE