CANADIAN NPT PRIORITIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000147 SIPDIS STATE (ISN/MNSA),UNVIE (IAEA),USUN (POL),USNATO (POL), USEU (POL) E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2019 TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC ENRG UNGA IAEA CA SUBJECT: CANADIAN NPT PRIORITIES REF: STATE 6970 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Canada wants the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) 2009 PrepCom and 2010 RevCon to advance NPT legitimacy by making concrete progress towards a consensus document that confirms the treaty's three pillars -- disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful uses -- and acknowledges the challenges presented by events in Iran, North Korea, and Syria. Canada have not yet determined its final position on NPT withdrawal, but is clear in its support of treaty universality, as well as the need to strike the right balance between rights and responsibilities related to the spread of nuclear technology. End summary. ¶2. (C) On February 24, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Deputy Director for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament Karen Garner briefed pol/miloff on the Canadian reaction to reftel demarche regarding the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. Before delivering her points, Garner emphasized that Canada would like to know still more about U.S. goals and plans for the NPT Third PrepCom, especially as the new Administration makes its views known to relevant agencies in Washington. Her comments in following paras are keyed to reftel's para 8 points A-D: ¶3. (C) Re item "A," Canada's "wish list" for the 2009 PrepCom and 2010 RevCon is to advance NPT legitimacy via a final consensus document that confirms the treaty's three pillars, according to Garner. For the disarmament pillar, the onus is on the nuclear weapons states to accomplish this via movement on the 13 Steps in the Final Document of the 2000 RevCon, she said. On the non-proliferation pillar, Canada will press for the reaffirmation of the Comprehensive Safeguard Agreements and the Additional Protocol, as well as acknowledgment of the serious challenges posed by events in Iran, North Korea, and Syria. With respect to the peaceful uses pillar, Garner noted that Canada would like to see the Additional Protocol become a condition of supply. She added that Canada will press for institutional reforms such as the creation of an NPT "standing bureau" and agreement to begin annual decision-making meetings. ¶4. (C) Re item "B," Canada hopes that the U.S. will set a positive tone by joining with other nuclear weapons states (NWS) to make progress on the 13 steps, Garner said. Ottawa sees "hopeful signs" emanating from the new U.S. administration, she added, including its apparent desire to renew and to expand the U.S.-Russia Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in 2009. ¶5. (C) Re item "C," Canada believes that, to be successful, the outcome document must be substantive and reflect the points above, Garner observed. Another "hollow" document like the one from the 2005 RevCon would constitute a major disappointment, and further undermine NPT legitimacy, she commented. ¶6. (C) Re item "D," Canada wants NPT Parties to take action to bolster compliance, according to Garner. Iran, North Korea, and Syria comprise "critical test" cases for the QKorea, and Syria comprise "critical test" cases for the treaty, and for member states to set standards. She noted that Canada was nonetheless also comfortable with actions taken by like-minded groups working outside the NPT to achieve the treaty's objectives, such as the Six Party Talks and the EU-3. Canada would welcome a stronger G-8 role in dealing with issues related to NPT non-compliance, she emphasized. ¶7. (C) Garner admitted that Canadian thinking on NPT withdrawal was "not fully fleshed out" yet. Canada remains a keen supporter of NPT universality, wants to bring outliers into conformity with the treaty and align "inalienable" rights to nuclear technology with obligations to accept controls, and thinks that it is too early to launch new negotiations relating to disarmament. Canada remains keen to advance disarmament via existing international arrangements and agreements, and to support measures that increase OTTAWA 00000147 002 OF 002 transparency on the part of NWS. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada BREESE