NEW ZEALAND WILL NOT ATTEND IRANIAN-SPONSORED

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000365 STATE FOR ISN/RA AND EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018 TAGS: PREL MNUC TRGY NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND WILL NOT ATTEND IRANIAN-SPONSORED NUCLEAR ENERGY CONFERENCE REF: STATE 112229 Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Margaret B. McKean; Reason 1.4 (b) an d (d) ¶1. (C) In response to reftel, PE Counselor contacted Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Iran Desk Officer Marina Anderson on October 22 to inquire as to New Zealand's possible attendance at the November 30 conference. Anderson explained that New Zealand had not received an invitation and the GNZ was unaware of the conference; P/E Counselor outlined the information in reftel and Anderson offered to let the Embassy know the GNZ position once and invitation was in hand. ¶2. (C) On October 29, PE Counselor asked Anderson for a status report on the issue; Anderson responded that New Zealand has still not been contacted by the Iranian government concerning the conference and anticipates that Tehran is well aware of New Zealand's opposition to nuclear energy, lack of domestic expertise on the issue, and unlikely attendance; thus, Anderson believes that New Zealand likely does not factor into the GOI's invitation list. She opined that even if Tehran did extend an invitation, the GNZ would not attend for historical policy reasons opposing nuclear energy. Anderson said she would inform the Embassy if an invitation arrives, but again, does not anticipate that there will be one. McCORMICK