AUSTRALIAN SUPPORTS NSG EXEMPTION FOR INDIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000826 NOFORN FOR ISN/RA KOCA, ISN/NESS DELABARRE, SCA/RA MCCLELLAN, SCA/PPD SULLIVAN, DOE/NNSA SCHEINMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2018 TAGS: AORC AS ETTC PARM PREL SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN SUPPORTS NSG EXEMPTION FOR INDIA REF: STATE 85948 Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT MCCALLUM: REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: Australian Foreign Minister Smith emphasized to the Ambassador on August 18 that the GOA would support a positive outcome regarding an exception for India in the August 21-22 Nuclear Suppliers Group Plenary. The GOA does not need further information and will not require any conditions. However, the Foreign Minister noted India and the USG may need to agree to some "modest conditions" proposed by other governments to get an agreement on August 21-22. End summary. ¶2. (C/NF) The Ambassador related points in reftel to Australian Foreign Minister Smith in a meeting on the margins of a book launch in Sydney on August 18. Smith said the GOA will support a positive outcome and Australian participation in the discussions will be constructive. The Foreign Minister, noting that he had spoken with the Secretary during her "fantastic" visit to Perth last month and that the Ambassador had spoken with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Secretary Michael L,Estrange last week, added that the GOA,s "demeanor," as it was at the IAEA, will be positive. ¶3. (C/NF) Foreign Minister Smith said Australia will not require any conditions for itself, but whether India and the United States need to agree to some conditions remains to be seen, if that is what is required to get an agreement on August 21-22. "We need to see if Ambassador Rood and the Indians need to agree to some modest conditions to get the agreement through," Smith observed, seeming to stress "modest conditions." He concluded by emphasizing that Australia understands the strategic importance of the initiative for the United States and India and by repeating that Australia would be supportive. ¶4. (C/NF) In addition to the Ambassador's call on L,Estrange, the DCM spoke with Prime Minister Rudd,s Senior Advisor Gary Quinlan who assured him that Australia "will not stand in the way;" and EconCouns, along with counterparts from the British High Commission and the French Embassy, demarched First Assistant Secretary of DFAT International Security Division Jennifer Rawson. MCCALLUM