UNSCR 1803/IRAN DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO BELARUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000165 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/RA (NEPHEW),IO/T (VON BEHREN),NEA, AND EUR/UMB SIPDIS E.O. 12958: 3/06/2018 TAGS: PREL PINR PARM MNUC KNNP IR BO SUBJECT: UNSCR 1803/IRAN DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO BELARUS Ref: State 21770 Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reasons 1.4 (B and D). ¶1. (C) DCM delivered a copy of UNSCR 1803 (with annexes) along with reftel points March 7 to Andrey Rzheusskiy and Ilona Yurevich, Counselors of the MFA's North America Department. ¶2. (C) While Rzheusskiy offered no substantive comment on the resolution, he did raise a February 29 interview given by outgoing U/S Burns in which he mentioned Belarus together with countries like CUBA and Syria that are suspected of assisting Iran's uranium enrichment efforts. He offered that Belarus' commitment to non-proliferation was clear and that its own renunciation of nuclear weapons was evidence of this. Belarus took its responsibilities under Iran sanctions resolutions 1737 and 1747 seriously, Rzheusskiy said. The GOB was shocked and saddened by the implications in U/S Burns's statements, and would like the USG to document any cooperation in uranium enrichment or violation of UN sanctions by Belarus if it could. ¶3. (C) In response, DCM stated that he was aware of U/S Burns' remarks. DCM noted that until his retirement U/S Burns was perhaps the highest-ranking USG official dealing actively with Iran's enrichment program and consequently was extremely well versed in it. DCM pledged to refer Rzheusskiy's comments to the Department. Stewart