Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BERN243
2009-06-05 16:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bern
Cable title:
SWITZERLAND NOT SUPPORTIVE OF IAEA BUDGET INCREASE
VZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSW #0243 1561651 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051651Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BERN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5891 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0581 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0759 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0071 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0866 RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN 0089 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI 1174 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0508 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3293 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0198 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0619 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0130 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2091 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0753 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0121 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0685 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0086
UNCLAS BERN 000243
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/T (J.DETEMPLE),IO/MPR (L.SPRATT),AND EUR/CE
(Y.SAINT-ANDRE); USUNVIE FOR M.SCHELAND
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ENRG IAEA KNNP PREL UN SZ
SUBJECT: SWITZERLAND NOT SUPPORTIVE OF IAEA BUDGET INCREASE
REF: STATE 57105
UNCLAS BERN 000243
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/T (J.DETEMPLE),IO/MPR (L.SPRATT),AND EUR/CE
(Y.SAINT-ANDRE); USUNVIE FOR M.SCHELAND
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ENRG IAEA KNNP PREL UN SZ
SUBJECT: SWITZERLAND NOT SUPPORTIVE OF IAEA BUDGET INCREASE
REF: STATE 57105
1. (SBU) Poloff delivered the reftel message on June 4 to
Jean-Daniel Praz, Deputy Director of the Arms Control and
Disarmament Section of the Federal Department of Foreign
Affairs (FDFA),and the FDFA's point-of-contact for IAEA
issues. Praz said that the GoS has a general policy of
advocating "zero growth" in the budgets of international
organizations. He indicated that exceptions to this general
policy could possibly be made in compelling circumstances.
However, at the same time, he argued that the GoS believes
that there are areas in which the IAEA should be able to
incur savings, particularly against the backdrop of the
global financial crisis and the difficult fiscal challenges
that governments now face. In this context, Praz commented
that it is difficult to understand why countries such as
Switzerland are subject to frequent and costly IAEA
safeguards activities, given Switzerland's established strong
track record of compliance.
2. (SBU) Praz acknowledged that Switzerland appreciates the
importance of supporting the technical capacities of
organizations like the IAEA, including for the benefit of
nuclear nonproliferation. However, he said that the GoS is
more open to contributing to special, off-budget investment
funds to support such capabilities (e.g., the IAEA's
Safeguards Analytical Laboratory). Praz further observed
that nuclear energy is politically unpopular in Switzerland.
This factor makes it more difficult to obtain additional
Swiss funding for the IAEA. In conclusion, Praz provided
poloff a copy of a June 4 letter from the UK's IAEA Governor
to IAEA Board Vice Chairman Feruta on behalf of Canada,
France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland,
and the UK. The letter calls for the IAEA to provide a
revised budget proposal taking the 2009 operational budget as
the baseline, and "working within a zero growth scenario."
CARTER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/T (J.DETEMPLE),IO/MPR (L.SPRATT),AND EUR/CE
(Y.SAINT-ANDRE); USUNVIE FOR M.SCHELAND
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ENRG IAEA KNNP PREL UN SZ
SUBJECT: SWITZERLAND NOT SUPPORTIVE OF IAEA BUDGET INCREASE
REF: STATE 57105
1. (SBU) Poloff delivered the reftel message on June 4 to
Jean-Daniel Praz, Deputy Director of the Arms Control and
Disarmament Section of the Federal Department of Foreign
Affairs (FDFA),and the FDFA's point-of-contact for IAEA
issues. Praz said that the GoS has a general policy of
advocating "zero growth" in the budgets of international
organizations. He indicated that exceptions to this general
policy could possibly be made in compelling circumstances.
However, at the same time, he argued that the GoS believes
that there are areas in which the IAEA should be able to
incur savings, particularly against the backdrop of the
global financial crisis and the difficult fiscal challenges
that governments now face. In this context, Praz commented
that it is difficult to understand why countries such as
Switzerland are subject to frequent and costly IAEA
safeguards activities, given Switzerland's established strong
track record of compliance.
2. (SBU) Praz acknowledged that Switzerland appreciates the
importance of supporting the technical capacities of
organizations like the IAEA, including for the benefit of
nuclear nonproliferation. However, he said that the GoS is
more open to contributing to special, off-budget investment
funds to support such capabilities (e.g., the IAEA's
Safeguards Analytical Laboratory). Praz further observed
that nuclear energy is politically unpopular in Switzerland.
This factor makes it more difficult to obtain additional
Swiss funding for the IAEA. In conclusion, Praz provided
poloff a copy of a June 4 letter from the UK's IAEA Governor
to IAEA Board Vice Chairman Feruta on behalf of Canada,
France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland,
and the UK. The letter calls for the IAEA to provide a
revised budget proposal taking the 2009 operational budget as
the baseline, and "working within a zero growth scenario."
CARTER