Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA286
2008-02-29 09:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIA EXPECTS NO MATERIAL EU RESPONSE TO IAEA
how-toVZCZCXRO0928 RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHVI #0286 0600953 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 290953Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9554 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000286
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2023
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IR IAEA AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA EXPECTS NO MATERIAL EU RESPONSE TO IAEA
REPORT
REF: (A) STATE 19694 (B) STATE 18857
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000286
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2023
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IR IAEA AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA EXPECTS NO MATERIAL EU RESPONSE TO IAEA
REPORT
REF: (A) STATE 19694 (B) STATE 18857
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (U) Econ/Pol Counselor met 2/28 with MFA Acting
Disarmament Director Benedict and IAEA Office Director Launer
to discuss the follow-up to the Feb. 22 and 25 briefings on
Iran-IAEA developments. Launer agreed with the U.S.
assessment that Iran's stance is not credible and that
further action is required in the UN.
2. (C) Emboff asked what next steps Austria expected in the
EU, noting that the French proposal for autonomous sanctions
remains on the table. Launer argued that the French proposal
had been made based on the premise that the UNSC would be
unable to agree on another sanctions resolution. This was no
longer the case; therefore, Austria saw no need for further
EU action. E/P Counselor pointed out that the French
proposal had also been made in the expectation that, even if
a UNSCR were adopted, it would be relatively weak; and that
Austria had always maintained that non-proliferation was a
pillar of its foreign policy. Given these factors, the U.S.
would hope for a more positive Austrian position on EU
sanctions.
3. (C) Launer then said that the decision on sanctions was
not made by the Disarmament office, but by the Middle East
office and Economic Section. It was their view, he said,
that EU sanctions would simply create a vacuum into which
non-European firms would move. This was a view shared by
several EU member states and he saw, therefore, no prospect
for EU action on autonomous sanctions.
Kilner
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2023
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM IR IAEA AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA EXPECTS NO MATERIAL EU RESPONSE TO IAEA
REPORT
REF: (A) STATE 19694 (B) STATE 18857
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (U) Econ/Pol Counselor met 2/28 with MFA Acting
Disarmament Director Benedict and IAEA Office Director Launer
to discuss the follow-up to the Feb. 22 and 25 briefings on
Iran-IAEA developments. Launer agreed with the U.S.
assessment that Iran's stance is not credible and that
further action is required in the UN.
2. (C) Emboff asked what next steps Austria expected in the
EU, noting that the French proposal for autonomous sanctions
remains on the table. Launer argued that the French proposal
had been made based on the premise that the UNSC would be
unable to agree on another sanctions resolution. This was no
longer the case; therefore, Austria saw no need for further
EU action. E/P Counselor pointed out that the French
proposal had also been made in the expectation that, even if
a UNSCR were adopted, it would be relatively weak; and that
Austria had always maintained that non-proliferation was a
pillar of its foreign policy. Given these factors, the U.S.
would hope for a more positive Austrian position on EU
sanctions.
3. (C) Launer then said that the decision on sanctions was
not made by the Disarmament office, but by the Middle East
office and Economic Section. It was their view, he said,
that EU sanctions would simply create a vacuum into which
non-European firms would move. This was a view shared by
several EU member states and he saw, therefore, no prospect
for EU action on autonomous sanctions.
Kilner