CANADA: RESPONSE TO AUSTRALIA GROUP NON-PAPERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 000716 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/CB (ASOUZA) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC CA SUBJECT: CANADA: RESPONSE TO AUSTRALIA GROUP NON-PAPERS REF: A. STATE 087595 ¶B. STATE 087596 ¶C. STATE 087597 ¶D. STATE 088010 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: CANADA sees no immediate problem with the proposals contained in the non-papers drawn from reftel, but is concerned about the system for classification of AG documents, given that there are now 41 members. CANADA sees no advantage in inviting Russia to join the AG, but foresees no political problems with inviting Brazil, Mexico, Kazakhstan, and Serbia to join. Ottawa insists that candidates must prove they have effective export control regimes in place before becoming members. The Canadians recognize Synthetic Biology as an area of concern. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) In a September 8 meeting with polmiloff, Deputy Director Louis-Philippe Sylvestre of the Office of Nonproliferation and Disarmament at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) expressed appreciation for non-papers from reftels, and confirmed that nothing them seemed problematic. He nonetheless requested additional time to seek specific comments from Canadian technical experts. -------------- Classification of AG Papers -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Sylvestre raised the issue of classification of Australia Group documents. He noted that the U.S. papers had been tabled and were being circulated on unclassified networks with the caveat "Australia Group in Confidence." He expressed concern that these documents carried the same classification as sensitive information related to denials of exports or to problematic Iranian activities. With forty-one AG member countries, the risk of dissemination of documents is increased, and, since each member has access to the Australia Group Information System (AGIS),more restrictive classification of AG documents should not limit legitimate information sharing among members. -------------- Membership -------------- ¶4. (C) With regard to Russia's desire to be invited to join the AG, Sylvestre observed that "nothing has changed, since nothing has happened." CANADA sees no advantage in bringing Russia into the AG, he confirmed. Sylvestre predicted problems in intelligence sharing in the event Russia joined the AG, and commented that Moscow had not demonstrated good faith and should not be invited to join until Russia has "clean hands." ¶5. (C) However, Sylvestre said there should be no political problem in admitting Brazil or Mexico. He suggested that it would be good to have more non-EU members in the AG, but insisted that the AG must do its homework beforehand. From the technical point of view, the AG must examine the export control provisions in place for any prospective member, and be satisfied as to their effectiveness. Mexico, in particular, must prove that it has the mechanisms in place to exercise meaningful export controls, he commented. ¶6. (C) With regard to Kazakhstan and Serbia, Sylvestre again said there should be no particular political impediment, so long as they are held to the same standard of proof as other candidates. He described the Global Partnership Program with Kazakhstan as "a positive engagement." He acknowledged the QKazakhstan as "a positive engagement." He acknowledged the potential for political downsides with respect to Russia, especially in light of past FSU activities in the country. For Canada, this aspect is less important than verifying that real export controls are in place. -------------- Synthetic Biology -------------- ¶7. (C) Sylvestre deferred to the experts on his delegation OTTAWA 00000716 002 OF 002 for detailed analysis of the proliferation risks posed by advances in synthetic biology. He observed that the U.S. and EU approaches represent two ends of the scale. Sylvestre recognized synthetic biology as an area of concern, but noted that it is a field which requires considerable sophistication. Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BREESE