PHILIPPINES CAUTIOUS ON NAM MEETING AND IRAN/IAEA

UNCLAS MANILA 001721 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, ISN/RA (MONGIELLO, NEPHEW) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP PARM RP TRGY MNUC PREL IR UR SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES CAUTIOUS ON NAM MEETING AND IRAN/IAEA ISSUES REF: SECSTATE 74879 ¶1. (SBU) Post on July 14 conveyed to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs' Legal, Political and Security Affairs Director for United Nations and Other International Organizations (UNIO) Leah Ruiz our concerns with Iran's anticipated maneuvering at the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial meeting to be held July 27-30 in Tehran (reftel). Ruiz stated that the Philippines, as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors (IAEA/BOG),was conscious of the fact that Iran has not provided the cooperation or transparency necessary to address the IAEA's concerns with Iran's nuclear program. Ruiz further added that she was "quite aware of what Iran is trying to do" with respect to creating the appearance of consensus about what it calls its "peaceful nuclear program". Ruiz stated that the Philippine government, "probably more than others, shares your concern" that the NAM Foreign Minister's statement should reflect the reality of international concerns with Iran's nuclear program, but acknowledged that the Philippine government adopts the approach that it must balance its commitments to the international fora where it plays an important role, including the NAM and IAEA/BOG, which are often at loggerheads. In an unrelated July 8 conversation, UNIO Special Assistant Querobine Deapera told poloff that she was reviewing the proposed Iranian statement for the NAM Ministerial meeting and that her job, at the working level, was to highlight the numerous references to the Iran's "peaceful" nuclear program that concerned the DFA. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov. KENNEY