GERMANY SUPPORTS MODIFED CONSENSUS LANGUAGE IN ATT

UNCLAS BERLIN 001357 SIPDIS PASS TO ISN/CATR WILLIAM MALZAHN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL UNGA MCAP GM SUBJECT: GERMANY SUPPORTS MODIFED CONSENSUS LANGUAGE IN ATT DRAFT REF: STATE 110403 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. In response to reftel points, MFA Arms Control Chief Peter Gottwald told POL M/C that Germany would support the modified language on consensus proposed by the German Ambassador in Washington. Gottwald had initially given little thought to further coordination with the UK -- sponsor of the Arms Transfer Treaty (ATT) draft -- but, upon urging, agreed to engage. However, he remained uncertain whether Mexico would drop its opposition. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On October 27, Gottwald assured emboffs that Germany had never intended to impede progress toward the ATT. However, he said the demands for consensus language had genuinely troubled German officials who worried it could set a precedent at the UN. Pol M/C assured him that the U.S. did not view this call for consensus language as a broader precedent for the UN. Gottwald also downplayed U.S. concerns that those who favored lax controls could team up and impose a weak ATT. On the contrary, he insisted that the logic behind high standards for the export of conventional weapons would eventually win out -- even without the requirement for consensus. Moreover, Gottwald underscored the fact that we still have two years to prepare the ground before the proposed ATT conference in 2012. Enough time, he believed, to either iron out problems or assess whether the ATT will meet our needs. ¶3. (SBU) Gottwald also feared that the demand for consensus language set such a high bar for negotiations that it might undermine the credibility of our committment to the ATT. Nevertheless, he said Germany could live with the language suggested by German Ambassador Scharioth during his October 28 meeting with ISN officials. Gottwald stressed the need to now move past procedural issues and start working on substance. He assured us that, for its part, Germany would do all it could to gain support for the ATT. ¶4. (SBU) Gottwald admitted that Germany had not yet engaged with the UK in support of the compromise language on consensus and said he assumed British officials would become looped in by other channels (read: the U.S.). Upon urging, Gottwald agreed that Germany should reach out the UK -- and other ATT sponsors. Though he said Germany would be happy to chime in via New York, he remained unsure about the prospects for bringing Mexico on board. Murphy