Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERN600
2008-11-24 18:18:00
SECRET
Embassy Bern
Cable title:
IAEA REPORTS ON IRANIAN AND SYRIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMS
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S E C R E T BERN 000600
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/RA (R.NEPHEW; J.DANIEL),IO/T (H.VONBEHREN),
NEA, EUR/PRA, AND EUR/CE (Y.SAINT-ANDRE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PARM IAEA KNNP MNUC IR SY
SUBJECT: IAEA REPORTS ON IRANIAN AND SYRIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMS
REF: STATE 123074
Classified By: POL/E Counselor Richard Rorvig;
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
S E C R E T BERN 000600
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/RA (R.NEPHEW; J.DANIEL),IO/T (H.VONBEHREN),
NEA, EUR/PRA, AND EUR/CE (Y.SAINT-ANDRE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PARM IAEA KNNP MNUC IR SY
SUBJECT: IAEA REPORTS ON IRANIAN AND SYRIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMS
REF: STATE 123074
Classified By: POL/E Counselor Richard Rorvig;
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (U) Poloff delivered the message in reftel on November 24
to Jean-Daniel Praz, Deputy Head of the Arms Control and
Disarmament Section and POC for IAEA issues at the Federal
Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA).
--------------
IRAN
--------------
2. (C) Praz said that the GOS was not surprised by the latest
IAEA report on Iran. He acknowledged that the Iranians have
provided no cooperation to the IAEA since the last report.
Praz said that Switzerland again would make a statement at
the November 27-28 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting, along
the lines of the previous Swiss statement, calling on Iran to
cooperate with the IAEA and to meet its international
obligations. He remarked that the GOS does not expect much
with regard to Iran from the upcoming BOG, "as neither the
EU3 nor the USG apparently plan to propose a resolution,
which the Russians would be against anyway."
3. (S) Praz assessed that the Iranians, having increased
their technical capacity to enrich uranium, would be less
inclined than before to halt their program, and presumably
would demand more from the P5-plus-1 in any negotiation. He
suggested that the Iranians may be waiting to see what the
next U.S. Administration will do. Praz noted that some
Western observers may be waiting to see whether the 2009
presidential elections in Iran will result in significant
changes in Iran's nuclear policy -- something that Praz said
he doubts, arguing that the Iranians likely will stick to
their current positions, regardless of whether Ahmedinejad,
Khatami, or Larijani, for example, is elected. Praz
mentioned in passing that he had heard from contacts in
Vienna that EU HiRep Solana will meet in Brussels on December
9 with Iranian National Security Council Secretary Jalili, on
the margins of some kind of workshop on nuclear energy.
--------------
SYRIA
--------------
4. (C) Praz commented that the IAEA Secretariat's report on
Syria was "embarrassing" for Damascus. He said that
Switzerland will make a national statement at the upcoming
BOG, and will call for Syria to respond positively to all
IAEA requests for cooperation. Regarding the idea of a
possible BOG resolution on Syria, Praz said that it seemed
"premature", adding that pursuing such a course at this point
could be problematic. While acknowledging that Syria had
denied the IAEA access to several sites, Praz said that
because Syria does not have an Additional Protocol, it still
is technically "okay" in terms of its agreements with the
IAEA. While acknowledging that the IAEA findings are cause
for concern, Praz still argued for waiting to see how Syria
will react to the scrutiny and calls by the IAEA for more
cooperation.
5. (C) Regarding the Technical Cooperation (TC) project
requested by Syria in the IAEA's Technical Assistance and
Cooperation Committee (TACC),Praz argued that it "could be
dangerous to politicize this issue," given the number of
countries in the Middle East that have plans for nuclear
programs but lack technical expertise, particularly in the
area of nuclear safety. He expressed the hope that the issue
would not become contentious, assessing that a number of
countries might resist vehemently an effort to block a TC
project recommended by the IAEA Secretariat. While not
putting Switzerland in the "vehement" camp, he conceded that
Switzerland would favor such technical cooperation.
CONEWAY
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/RA (R.NEPHEW; J.DANIEL),IO/T (H.VONBEHREN),
NEA, EUR/PRA, AND EUR/CE (Y.SAINT-ANDRE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PARM IAEA KNNP MNUC IR SY
SUBJECT: IAEA REPORTS ON IRANIAN AND SYRIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMS
REF: STATE 123074
Classified By: POL/E Counselor Richard Rorvig;
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (U) Poloff delivered the message in reftel on November 24
to Jean-Daniel Praz, Deputy Head of the Arms Control and
Disarmament Section and POC for IAEA issues at the Federal
Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA).
--------------
IRAN
--------------
2. (C) Praz said that the GOS was not surprised by the latest
IAEA report on Iran. He acknowledged that the Iranians have
provided no cooperation to the IAEA since the last report.
Praz said that Switzerland again would make a statement at
the November 27-28 Board of Governors (BOG) meeting, along
the lines of the previous Swiss statement, calling on Iran to
cooperate with the IAEA and to meet its international
obligations. He remarked that the GOS does not expect much
with regard to Iran from the upcoming BOG, "as neither the
EU3 nor the USG apparently plan to propose a resolution,
which the Russians would be against anyway."
3. (S) Praz assessed that the Iranians, having increased
their technical capacity to enrich uranium, would be less
inclined than before to halt their program, and presumably
would demand more from the P5-plus-1 in any negotiation. He
suggested that the Iranians may be waiting to see what the
next U.S. Administration will do. Praz noted that some
Western observers may be waiting to see whether the 2009
presidential elections in Iran will result in significant
changes in Iran's nuclear policy -- something that Praz said
he doubts, arguing that the Iranians likely will stick to
their current positions, regardless of whether Ahmedinejad,
Khatami, or Larijani, for example, is elected. Praz
mentioned in passing that he had heard from contacts in
Vienna that EU HiRep Solana will meet in Brussels on December
9 with Iranian National Security Council Secretary Jalili, on
the margins of some kind of workshop on nuclear energy.
--------------
SYRIA
--------------
4. (C) Praz commented that the IAEA Secretariat's report on
Syria was "embarrassing" for Damascus. He said that
Switzerland will make a national statement at the upcoming
BOG, and will call for Syria to respond positively to all
IAEA requests for cooperation. Regarding the idea of a
possible BOG resolution on Syria, Praz said that it seemed
"premature", adding that pursuing such a course at this point
could be problematic. While acknowledging that Syria had
denied the IAEA access to several sites, Praz said that
because Syria does not have an Additional Protocol, it still
is technically "okay" in terms of its agreements with the
IAEA. While acknowledging that the IAEA findings are cause
for concern, Praz still argued for waiting to see how Syria
will react to the scrutiny and calls by the IAEA for more
cooperation.
5. (C) Regarding the Technical Cooperation (TC) project
requested by Syria in the IAEA's Technical Assistance and
Cooperation Committee (TACC),Praz argued that it "could be
dangerous to politicize this issue," given the number of
countries in the Middle East that have plans for nuclear
programs but lack technical expertise, particularly in the
area of nuclear safety. He expressed the hope that the issue
would not become contentious, assessing that a number of
countries might resist vehemently an effort to block a TC
project recommended by the IAEA Secretariat. While not
putting Switzerland in the "vehement" camp, he conceded that
Switzerland would favor such technical cooperation.
CONEWAY