Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VIENNA262
2007-02-05 15:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
COOPERATION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0023 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #0262 0361547 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051547Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6167 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1354 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0487
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000262
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR PM/WRA (BAKER) AND EUR/AGS (SAINT ANDRE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2017
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO AU
SUBJECT: COOPERATION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE
REF: STATE 6667
Classified By: Acting DCM Gregory E. Phillips. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d
).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000262
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR PM/WRA (BAKER) AND EUR/AGS (SAINT ANDRE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2017
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO AU
SUBJECT: COOPERATION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE
REF: STATE 6667
Classified By: Acting DCM Gregory E. Phillips. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C) EconPolOff discussed reftel demarche on February 2
with Alexander Benedict from the Austrian Foreign Ministry's
Department of Arms Control, Disarmament, and
Non-Proliferation. Benedict said Austria is very concerned
about the negative humanitarian impact of cluster munitions
(CMs) and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Austria, along
with 27 other states, favors the start of negotiations for a
new and stronger protocol on CMs, in addition to the existing
CCW Protocols on CMs and ERW. The new protocol would
prohibit (1) the production and use of "unreliable" CMs that
cause civilian casualities and (2) the use of CMs within
concentrations of civilian populations. Austria discussed
this idea, Benedict said, at last year's Third Review
Conference of State Parties to the CCW. He said that
government experts will discuss this idea further during the
June 19-22 meeting on ERW. Austria, according to Benedict,
would prefer to negotiate a new protocol within the CCW
framework, but is open to "outsourcing" the negotiations if
there is no agreement within the CCW. He said he hoped that
the U.S. would join in and support this effort.
2. (C) Austria, according to Benedict, intends to actively
participate in the negotiations at the Oslo conference, which
it hopes will create momentum for a new protocol. Officials
from the Austrian MFA and Austria's mission in Geneva will
attend.
3. (C) Comment. Benedict was knowledgeable about US
concerns regarding the upcoming Oslo conference, but lukewarm
to the idea of opening a military-to-military dialog on CMs.
A military-to-military dialog is not likely to change
Austrian policy on the issue, which remains firm and
committed to further restricting the production and use of
CMs. End Comment.
Kilner
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR PM/WRA (BAKER) AND EUR/AGS (SAINT ANDRE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2017
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO AU
SUBJECT: COOPERATION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE
REF: STATE 6667
Classified By: Acting DCM Gregory E. Phillips. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C) EconPolOff discussed reftel demarche on February 2
with Alexander Benedict from the Austrian Foreign Ministry's
Department of Arms Control, Disarmament, and
Non-Proliferation. Benedict said Austria is very concerned
about the negative humanitarian impact of cluster munitions
(CMs) and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Austria, along
with 27 other states, favors the start of negotiations for a
new and stronger protocol on CMs, in addition to the existing
CCW Protocols on CMs and ERW. The new protocol would
prohibit (1) the production and use of "unreliable" CMs that
cause civilian casualities and (2) the use of CMs within
concentrations of civilian populations. Austria discussed
this idea, Benedict said, at last year's Third Review
Conference of State Parties to the CCW. He said that
government experts will discuss this idea further during the
June 19-22 meeting on ERW. Austria, according to Benedict,
would prefer to negotiate a new protocol within the CCW
framework, but is open to "outsourcing" the negotiations if
there is no agreement within the CCW. He said he hoped that
the U.S. would join in and support this effort.
2. (C) Austria, according to Benedict, intends to actively
participate in the negotiations at the Oslo conference, which
it hopes will create momentum for a new protocol. Officials
from the Austrian MFA and Austria's mission in Geneva will
attend.
3. (C) Comment. Benedict was knowledgeable about US
concerns regarding the upcoming Oslo conference, but lukewarm
to the idea of opening a military-to-military dialog on CMs.
A military-to-military dialog is not likely to change
Austrian policy on the issue, which remains firm and
committed to further restricting the production and use of
CMs. End Comment.
Kilner