GERMANY ALIGNED WITH USG ON SYRIA/IAEA TECHNICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001638 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CE PETER SCHROEDER STATE FOR ISN/RA JODY DANIEL STATE FOR ISN/RA BRECK HEIDLBERG E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2033 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IAEA TRGY SY GM SUBJECT: GERMANY ALIGNED WITH USG ON SYRIA/IAEA TECHNICAL COOPERATION REF: A. STATE 123074 ¶B. STATE 127578 Classified By: Global Affairs Unit Chief Don L. Brown for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Germany confirmed that its support for a Syria-requested Technical Cooperation (TC) project with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be limited to "generic discussion regarding the peaceful use of nuclear power" and that its intention is to limit technical discussion until Syria has resolved its outstanding questions with the IAEA. EconOff delivered the reftel demarche on December 4 to MFA Nuclear Energy Policy officer, Dr. Joerg Polster. ¶2. (C) Polster said that Germany, as current chair of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG),is approaching the IAEA TC with Syria very carefully and supports the basic spirit of the reftel nonpaper. Polster affirmed Germany,s general support of IAEA TC discussions with Syria and sees continued dialog as an important step to "building trust" with Syria even though questions remain regarding Syria's activities at the suspected Al-Kibar nuclear facility. However, Polster emphasized that Germany realizes that there is a fine line between general discussions and exchange of potential dual-use technical data and stated that Syria would need to address outstanding IAEA questions before Germany would support IAEA TC progressing to the next level. Koenig