AUSTRALIA RESPONDS TO GERMAN OBSTINACY ON CLUSTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000439 SIPDIS SENSITIVE NOFORN SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA K. BAKER, EAP FOR ANP E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL MOPS PGOV AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA RESPONDS TO GERMAN OBSTINACY ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS NEGOTIATIONS REF: SECSTATE 45302 Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Reftel demarche was delivered on April 30 to Dr. Ada Cheung, Executive Director, Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation Branch of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). She advised that the GOA shares the U.S. frustration and concern with Germany's obstinacy over its proposed language changes made at both the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and the Oslo Process meetings. Dr. Cheung indicated that the like-minded Group wants to take to Dublin's Oslo meeting only two proposals for language on interoperability. If Germany continues to insist that its language remain one of those options, it severely reduces the flexibility of the Like-minded Group to offer something better. Further, it poses a significant risk to the Like-minded countries if it is agreed to by the Core Group, as it does not acceptably resolve the interoperability issue. ¶2. (C/NF) As an aside, Dr. Cheung reported that a shouting match erupted over Germany's Wellington proposal between the Germans and the new U.K. representative during a lunch held on the margins of CCW. The Germans were confused as to why its proposed language seemed to have been accepted in Wellington but was subsequently rejected. The Dutch Ambassador intervened, explaining to the Germans that while the proposals made at Wellington provided needed placeholders at the meeting, the Like-minded Group needed to move on to final language that is acceptable to all. ¶3. (C/NF) According to Dr. Cheung, the U.S. Embassy approached the Australian Embassy in Berlin on April 25 (ANZAC Day, a holiday) seeking its assistance in demarching the German government on this issue. However, the GOA preferred to wait for the specific demarche points before responding to the U.S. request for help. Dr. Cheung was not aware of the NATO discussions on interoperability (reftel). She acknowledged, however, that the support and cooperation of the Germans is still critical in both cluster munitions negotiating forums. MCCALLUM