Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CANBERRA683
2008-07-07 07:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIA ACTIVE SUPPORTER OF CCW CLUSTER
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000683
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL PHUM MOPS AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA ACTIVE SUPPORTER OF CCW CLUSTER
MUNITIONS NEGOTIATIONS
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 000683
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL PHUM MOPS AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA ACTIVE SUPPORTER OF CCW CLUSTER
MUNITIONS NEGOTIATIONS
Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d)
1. (C/NF) Australia's commitment to the CCW negotiations on
cluster munitions was reaffirmed in a July 7 meeting with Dr.
Ada Cheung, Director, Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation
Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Dr. Cheung
indicated that GOA officials met recently with
representatives from the EU and reiterated to them the
political importance of supporting the CCW efforts and
seeking serious and solid results from those negotiations,
despite the GOA's support for the Oslo Process agreed text on
cluster munitions.
2. (C/NF) Dr. Cheung expressed concern that Russia will
oppose the negotiated text and will conceal its opposition
until the November CCW meeting. She pointed out that Russia
has no domestic political or NGO pressures for action on
cluster munitions and will approach the negotiations on a
"what's in it for me?" basis. She opined that without
anything at stake, Russia may simply flex their negotiating
muscle and seek to delay final text negotiations until the
November 2009 CCW Plenary. She also stated that invoking
Article 8 of the CCW to implement this initiative would be
polarizing and that it is important to avoid Russian blocking
of the cluster munitions negotQtions. Dr. Cheung suggested
that while China, Pakistan and India will not independently
act, they may follow a Russian lead in opposing action.
However, she also speculated that China, while under the
international spotlight of the Olympics, may feel more
pressure to be cooperative.
3. (SBU) Dr. Cheung also provided several interoperability
scenarios under legal review with respect to Article 21 of
the Oslo Process Convention on Cluster Munitions. The GOA
continues to work with other like-minded countries such as
Japan, Canada, and the UK on this review, and plan a full
briefing to their Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers by
August 31, 2008.
4. (C/NF) On a separate issue, Dr. Cheung indicated that the
GOA has modestly backed a proposal to increase staffing to a
QGOA has modestly backed a proposal to increase staffing to a
maximum of six people at the UN Office for Disarmament
Affairs (UNODA). She said this staffing level is required to
handle the heavy UNODA administrative burden required under
Protocol V.
CLUNE
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA AND EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL PHUM MOPS AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA ACTIVE SUPPORTER OF CCW CLUSTER
MUNITIONS NEGOTIATIONS
Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d)
1. (C/NF) Australia's commitment to the CCW negotiations on
cluster munitions was reaffirmed in a July 7 meeting with Dr.
Ada Cheung, Director, Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation
Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Dr. Cheung
indicated that GOA officials met recently with
representatives from the EU and reiterated to them the
political importance of supporting the CCW efforts and
seeking serious and solid results from those negotiations,
despite the GOA's support for the Oslo Process agreed text on
cluster munitions.
2. (C/NF) Dr. Cheung expressed concern that Russia will
oppose the negotiated text and will conceal its opposition
until the November CCW meeting. She pointed out that Russia
has no domestic political or NGO pressures for action on
cluster munitions and will approach the negotiations on a
"what's in it for me?" basis. She opined that without
anything at stake, Russia may simply flex their negotiating
muscle and seek to delay final text negotiations until the
November 2009 CCW Plenary. She also stated that invoking
Article 8 of the CCW to implement this initiative would be
polarizing and that it is important to avoid Russian blocking
of the cluster munitions negotQtions. Dr. Cheung suggested
that while China, Pakistan and India will not independently
act, they may follow a Russian lead in opposing action.
However, she also speculated that China, while under the
international spotlight of the Olympics, may feel more
pressure to be cooperative.
3. (SBU) Dr. Cheung also provided several interoperability
scenarios under legal review with respect to Article 21 of
the Oslo Process Convention on Cluster Munitions. The GOA
continues to work with other like-minded countries such as
Japan, Canada, and the UK on this review, and plan a full
briefing to their Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers by
August 31, 2008.
4. (C/NF) On a separate issue, Dr. Cheung indicated that the
GOA has modestly backed a proposal to increase staffing to a
QGOA has modestly backed a proposal to increase staffing to a
maximum of six people at the UN Office for Disarmament
Affairs (UNODA). She said this staffing level is required to
handle the heavy UNODA administrative burden required under
Protocol V.
CLUNE