ARGENTINA EXPECTS TO JOIN CONSENSUS ON NUCLEAR

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001136 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL AORC AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA EXPECTS TO JOIN CONSENSUS ON NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP EXCEPTION FOR INDIA REF: SECSTATE 85948 ¶1. (SBU) Pol-Mil Officer, EST Counselor, and EST Officer presented reftel issues to the Argentine MFA's Directorate for International Security, Nuclear, and Space Issues (DIGAN) on August 12. Deputy Director Ricardo Bocalandro was knowledgeable and forthcoming about Argentina,s views on this issue and spoke with authority on the perspectives of his Director, Ambassador Elsa Kelly. Kelly, he said, would be traveling to the Vienna Plenary. ¶2. (SBU) Bocalandro agreed with the U.S. assessment of India as a critically important country that had treated its nuclear technology and materials with care; he said that Argentina was pleased to see India increasing its collaboration with the IAEA and considered this an important achievement. At the same time, Argentina felt very strongly that the side effect of the exception to NSG full-scope safeguards for India would be a significant blow to the NPT. Granting an exception for India both diminished the case for maintaining restrictions on trade with Pakistan and Israel, he said, but also threatened to undermine the deterrent effect for would-be proliferators. Despite these profound concerns, Argentina's position was to go along with a consensus to approve the NSG exception. Bocalandro also noted that Argentine scientists were anxious to collaborate with civilian counterparts in India and were strongly in favor of reaching an agreement. ¶3. (SBU) Bocalandro was highly appreciative of the shared draft text. He said that Argentina's position would likely be reviewed by senior government officials before the Vienna Plenary, but that at present it was well established to accept consensus on the exception. ¶4. (U) Post lead contact on this issue is Pol-Mil Officer Ted Craig, telephone, (54) -11- 5777-4858; email craigtj@state.gov. Please include also EST Counselor James Perez (PerezJM@state.gov),Public Affairs Counselor Rob Howes (HowesRC@state.gov),and Press Officer Mara Tekach (TekachballMR@state.gov). WAYNE