CANADA: STRONG STATEMENT ON IRAN AT IAEA BOG

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001691 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/RA - K. KESSLER STATE ALSO FOR IO/T - H. VON BEHREN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2017 TAGS: PARM MNUC KNNP IAEA AORC IR CA SUBJECT: CANADA: STRONG STATEMENT ON IRAN AT IAEA BOG REF: STATE 124823 Classified By: DCM Terry Breese. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche on September 6 to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Non-proliferation and Disarmament Senior Adviser Anthony Hinton and Deputy Director Shawn Caza. Hinton expressed appreciation for the points and remarked that Canada shared our view of the way ahead with respect to Iran at the IAEA and the UNSC. He promised to review our points closely before drafting Canada's statement to the IAEA Board of Governors meeting next week. ¶2. (C) Ambassador followed up by telephone with Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister Len Edwards the same day, drawing on reftel talking points. (FM Bernier is in Australia at APEC where he has a scheduled bilateral with Secretary Rice.) The Ambassador urged Canada to make a strong statement and that FM Bernier convey Canada's views personally to IAEA DG El-Baradei. ¶3. (C) Edwards had already reviewed the U.S. points and responded that Canada would issue a strong statement to the BOG consistent with the U.S. statement. Edwards said he understood that France and the UK also intended to make strong statements. Edwards noted that given FM Bernier's travel schedule, Ottawa would have its Ambassador in Vienna meet with DG El-Baradei to convey Canada's position. Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap BREESE