Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CANBERRA439
2008-04-30 08:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIA RESPONDS TO GERMAN OBSTINACY ON CLUSTER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBY #0439 1210804 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 300804Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9475 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0998 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1813 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 2165 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1434 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3042 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1926 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0795
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)
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
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