SWISS REACTION TO PREVENTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 000636 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/RA (J.DANIEL AND B.HEIDLBERG) AND EUR/CE (Y.SAINT-ANDRE) E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2018 TAGS: PARM KNNP MNUC IAEA TRGY SY IR SZ SUBJECT: SWISS REACTION TO PREVENTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SYRIA'S TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROJECT REF: A. SECSTATE 127578 ¶B. BERN 603 Classified By: POL/E Counselor Richard Rorvig; reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) POLOFF delivered the reftel A nonpaper to Jean-Daniel Praz, Deputy Head of the Arms Control and Disarmament Section of the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA),on December ¶8. Referring to Israel and Syria as "the aggressor and the aggressed," Praz noted that the Swiss had called on both countries to provide all the information they have on the Al-Kabir facility to the IAEA. He added that Israel should provide to the IAEA any information it has that might help the IAEA to assess the uranium particles that the IAEA inspectors found at the site. Praz also added that if the next report on the Al-Kabir facility comes out with the same questions unanswered, it would be more difficult for the IAEA to rationalize its technical assistance to Syria. ¶2. (C) Referencing the nonpaper's call for Switzerland not to provide Syria with technical assistance in its quest to develop a nuclear power plant, Praz said it was very unlikely the GOS would be asked, as the government itself is not in a position to provide such aid. Praz added, however, that Switzerland-based, Sweden-owned firm Colenco conceivably could be approached by Syria in this regard. Should this occur, Praz said it would be difficult for Switzerland to step in to prevent such assistance. In this context, he noted that the GOS is still awaiting a determination from the IAEA on whether Colenco's dealings with Iran conform to UNSC sanctions. Praz said that since there are no Security Council resolutions prohibiting civil nuclear cooperation with Syria, the GOS would have a problem prohibiting Colenco's work with Syria, should such assistance be sought. CARTER