Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SANSALVADOR2358
2007-12-06 19:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:
EL SALVADOR: CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO IRAN/NUCLEAR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0023 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSN #2358 3401950 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061950Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8679 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0095 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0009
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 002358
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IR ES
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO IRAN/NUCLEAR
ISSUE
REF: STATE 162558
Classified By: Michael A. Butler, Charge, for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 002358
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IR ES
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO IRAN/NUCLEAR
ISSUE
REF: STATE 162558
Classified By: Michael A. Butler, Charge, for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (C) Summary: MFA officials told us December 5 they would
study the NIE summary and our non-paper, but that El
Salvador's basic approach to the Iran/nuclear issue would
continue to be cautious. Our interlocutors were especially
receptive to the argument that Iran must comply with existing
UNSCRs. End summary.
2. (SBU) PolCouns delivered reftel demarche December 5 to MFA
Deputy Director General for Political Affairs, Nelson Amaya,
Director for Asia, Africa, and Oceania, Milton Magana, and
Egriselda Gonzalez from MFA's Office of Multilateral Affairs.
3. (C) Amaya admitted that his familiarity with the issue and
the recently released NIE was almost completely informed by
press coverage. PolCouns reviewed the key judgments of the
NIE, emphasizing that weapons had been a purpose of Iran's
nuclear program and that Iran continued to pursue uranium
conversion-related and enrichment-related activities in
defiance of two UNSCRs, noting that once Iran mastered
enrichment, it could well resume its weapons efforts.
4. (C) Amaya said El Salvador's position on the issue would
continue to be characterized by caution, partly because of
its technical complexity and also because of the indirect
impact this issue has on El Salvador. Amaya and Magana
pledged to study the NIE summary and the non-paper in order
to provide recommendations to the Foreign Minister.
Confusion over the technical aspects of the issue aside, both
recognized the importance of Iran complying with UNSCRs 1737
and 1747. Amaya promised to share our NIE summary and
non-paper with El Salvador's recently opened
bilateral/multilateral mission in Vienna and said El Salvador
would consider a public statement calling on Iran to comply
with the demands of the UN Security Council.
5. (C) Comment: Amaya and other MFA officials are handicapped
by a limited understanding of the technical issues at play
and admit that this issue is not as much of a priority for El
Salvador as others. They were quite receptive, though, to
the argument that Iran had an obligation to comply with
existing UNSCRs.
Butler
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IR ES
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO IRAN/NUCLEAR
ISSUE
REF: STATE 162558
Classified By: Michael A. Butler, Charge, for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (C) Summary: MFA officials told us December 5 they would
study the NIE summary and our non-paper, but that El
Salvador's basic approach to the Iran/nuclear issue would
continue to be cautious. Our interlocutors were especially
receptive to the argument that Iran must comply with existing
UNSCRs. End summary.
2. (SBU) PolCouns delivered reftel demarche December 5 to MFA
Deputy Director General for Political Affairs, Nelson Amaya,
Director for Asia, Africa, and Oceania, Milton Magana, and
Egriselda Gonzalez from MFA's Office of Multilateral Affairs.
3. (C) Amaya admitted that his familiarity with the issue and
the recently released NIE was almost completely informed by
press coverage. PolCouns reviewed the key judgments of the
NIE, emphasizing that weapons had been a purpose of Iran's
nuclear program and that Iran continued to pursue uranium
conversion-related and enrichment-related activities in
defiance of two UNSCRs, noting that once Iran mastered
enrichment, it could well resume its weapons efforts.
4. (C) Amaya said El Salvador's position on the issue would
continue to be characterized by caution, partly because of
its technical complexity and also because of the indirect
impact this issue has on El Salvador. Amaya and Magana
pledged to study the NIE summary and the non-paper in order
to provide recommendations to the Foreign Minister.
Confusion over the technical aspects of the issue aside, both
recognized the importance of Iran complying with UNSCRs 1737
and 1747. Amaya promised to share our NIE summary and
non-paper with El Salvador's recently opened
bilateral/multilateral mission in Vienna and said El Salvador
would consider a public statement calling on Iran to comply
with the demands of the UN Security Council.
5. (C) Comment: Amaya and other MFA officials are handicapped
by a limited understanding of the technical issues at play
and admit that this issue is not as much of a priority for El
Salvador as others. They were quite receptive, though, to
the argument that Iran had an obligation to comply with
existing UNSCRs.
Butler