AUSTRIA: RESPONSE ON INFORMATION EXCHANGE AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001239

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/AGS (SAINT ANDRE),EUR/PRA, AND ISN/CB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL CBW AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: RESPONSE ON INFORMATION EXCHANGE AT
UPCOMING AUSTRALIA GROUP PLENARY

Classified By: STATE 58355


1. (C) EconPolOff discussed reftel demarche on May 9 with
Alexander Benedict from the Austrian Foreign Ministry's
Department of Arms Control, Disarmament, and
Non-Proliferation and urged the GoA to make a presentation at
the upcoming Australia Group (AG) Plenary meeting. Benedict
mentioned that he, along with officials from the Ministry of
Economy and Austrian military intelligence service (HNA),
attended the last Plenary meeting in Paris. Benedict noted
that only people from the Austrian secret services could
answer the reftel questions on Russia's chemical and
biological weapons program and on Iranian procurement. He
plans to share the reftel questions with the HNA and said he
will encourage them to make a statement on these topics if
they have any information. On Russia, Benedict did say that
Austria is still skeptical about its interest in joining the
AG.


2. (C) Post would appreciate any information ISN/CB or
EUR/PRA can provide on the following questions posed by
Benedict. First, Benedict asked if the U.S. is still opposed
to Croatia's application for membership in the AG. This was
a topic at the last plenary and he said the EU strongly
supports Croatia's application. Second, Benedict asked if
the U.S. has seen a copy of the agenda for the Plenary.



3. (SBU) Benedict said that someone from the Austrian
Embassy in Paris will head the Austrian delegation to the
June Plenary.
Kilner