U.S.-INDIA CIVIL NUCLEAR COOPERATION: DRAFT POLICY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000069 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN RICHARD STRATFORD AND ROBIN DELABARRE STATE ALSO FOR SA AND EAP DOE FOR NNSA A.SCHEINMAN, R.GOOREVICH AND M.KRUPA USMISSION VIENNA FOR L.HILLIARD E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018 TAGS: ENRG PARM TRGY KNNP AS SUBJECT: U.S.-INDIA CIVIL NUCLEAR COOPERATION: DRAFT POLICY EXCEPTION FOR NSG REF: STATE 7192 Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 4 below. ¶2. (C) We furnished demarche points (reftel) to Tim Bryson, Acting Director for Arms Control, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on January 25. In recounting to Bryson that the U.S. had circulated a draft of the edited policy statement to some key supporters of the initiative, including Australia, last year, Bryson commented that, while Australia could be counted as a supporter prior to last November's Australian election, it was no longer accurate to do so, pending the GOA review of its policy towards the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative. ¶3. (C) ACTION REQUESTED: Bryson took on board the reason for the U.S. decision to delay circulating the draft policy statement but asked for clarification about when we planned to circulate it, i.e., whether we planned to circulate the draft when curent discussons ended, or only after the IAEA Board had given its final approval. Embassy requests advice on this question. MCCALLUM