AUSTRALIA GROUP: CANADA RETAINS FOCUS ON RUSSIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000856 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS ISN/CB AND EUR/PRA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL CBW CA SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA GROUP: CANADA RETAINS FOCUS ON RUSSIA REF: STATE 58355 Classified By: PolMinCouns Brian Flora. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) We delivered reftel points on May 8 to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Non-proliferation Policy Officer Kendra Davidson. Canada, she assured us, would send its usual delegation of both policy and "hands-on" enforcement personnel to Paris. ¶2. (C) Responding to reftel points four through six, Davisdon remarked that at last year's Australia Group (AG) plenary Canada had emphasized its interest in finding out more about Russia's chemical and biological weapons (CBW) programs, its oversight capacity, and related trade controls. To date Russian officials have not responded to GOC requests for information, Davidson said. Instead, they have insisted that, unlike other prospective members who must apply for membership, Russia should be invited to join the AG. Russia's UNSCR 1540 report reflects the GOR's determined obfuscation, she groused, "It creates the impression of strong oversight without identifying the who and the how." ¶3. (C) Canada dislikes France's suggestion that the AG invite Russia to attend as an observer, Davidson said. Rather, Canada would "to a point" support the Australian proposal that there be an AG Secretariat-led discussion with Russia regarding its CBW programs. Meantime, Canadian authorities would appreciate any available USG reporting and analysis on Russia's CBW and related capacity before the June 4-7 AG plenary. ¶4. (SBU) Kendra Davidson's contact information: Telephone: (613) 944-1308 E-mail: Kendra.Davidson@international.gc.ca Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS