Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA1480
2008-11-21 21:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

CANADA CONCERNED BY IRANIAN AND SYRIAN NUCLEAR

Tags:  PREL MNUC KNNP PARM IAEA TRGY IR SY CA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6986
PP RUEHFL RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHMT RUEHNP RUEHQU RUEHROV
RUEHSR RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #1480 3262120
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 212120Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8760
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0239
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0056
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001480 

NOFORN
SIPDIS

ISN/RA FOR RNEPHEW AND JDANIEL AND IO/T FOR HVONBEHREN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2018
TAGS: PREL MNUC KNNP PARM IAEA TRGY IR SY CA
SUBJECT: CANADA CONCERNED BY IRANIAN AND SYRIAN NUCLEAR
NON-COMPLIANCE

REF: STATE 123074

Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001480

NOFORN
SIPDIS

ISN/RA FOR RNEPHEW AND JDANIEL AND IO/T FOR HVONBEHREN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2018
TAGS: PREL MNUC KNNP PARM IAEA TRGY IR SY CA
SUBJECT: CANADA CONCERNED BY IRANIAN AND SYRIAN NUCLEAR
NON-COMPLIANCE

REF: STATE 123074

Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) Canada found the November 19 IAEA report on the
status of Iranian nuclear program to be "very bleak,"
according to Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade (DFAIT) non-proliferation senior policy advisor Ryan
Hewer. Hewer commented that the report clearly suggests a
"considerably shortened" timeline for Iran to acquire a
nuclear weapon. He added that the report's "sobering"
conclusions provide plenty of scope for like-minded
countries, including Canada and the United States, at the
Board of Governors' meeting to discuss additional measures to
preclude that outcome. Hewer promised that Canada would
deliver a "strong statement" on Iran, but was unwilling to
share any specifics yet. He noted that DFAIT's long-serving
non-proliferation division deputy director will draft the
statement upon his return from the Nuclear Supplier Group's
meeting. He predicted that Canada would likely be "well
within the mainstream" of G-8 countries in the strength of
its statement in condemning Iranian non-compliance.


2. (C/NF) Regarding Syria, Hewer termed the report
"inconclusive" and said that Canada's view was that it still
left room for "reasonable doubt" as to Syria's intentions.
Overall, he said it is still "early days" to put Syria into
the same category as Iran at the IAEA. However, Hewer
stressed that the inconclusive nature of the report makes it
all the more imperative that Syria cooperate with the IAEA to
provide the information it needs to make a definitive
determination. Nonetheless, Canada opposes Syria's request
for the technical cooperation project, according to Hewer,
but is still undecided whether to vote "no" or to abstain.
In principle, Canada does not oppose a resolution on Syria,
as outlined in reftel, but doubts the utility of it given the
dynamics of the Non-Aligned Movement countries in the IAEA
and the structure of the Board of Governors. Canada does not
wish to hand Iran or Syria an "easy victory" by sponsoring a
resolution that would surely fail to achieve consensus, which
left Canada little inclined to step forward to sponsor such a
resolution.

Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada

WILKINS