SINGAPORE RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON U.S. POSTURE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 001123

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MTS M. COPPOLA
VIENNA FOR IAEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2019
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL IAEA AORC SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON U.S. POSTURE ON
IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND NEXT STEPS

REF: STATE 120288

Classified By: E/P Counselor Joel Ehrendreich for reasons 1.4 (b)/(d)


1. (C) Singapore's bilateral relations with Iran remain
positive, but Singapore has made it known to Iran that while
all nations have the inalienable right to peaceful nuclear
energy, that right comes with obligations and Iran must work
with the international community to restore confidence in its
nuclear energy ambitions, CHIN Siew Fei, MFA Deputy Director
for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Branch,
told Econ/Pol Counselor on November 24. Chin concurred with
U.S. concerns outlined in reftel and noted that the
revelations about the enrichment facility in Qom caused
Singapore to speak out against the NAM Vienna Chapter's
statement on the implementation of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) safeguards agreement and
provisions of UN Security Council Resolutions pertaining to
Iran.


2. (C) Chin (protect) emphasized that there is no consensus
within the NAM on this issue but there are not enough NAM
members willing to speak out publicly against Iran's actions.
Chin said in confidence that in working-level meetings,
other NAM members, such as the Philippines, do speak out, but
those same members choose to remain quiet at the NAM plenary
meetings, leaving Singapore in a difficult position as the
lone voice of dissent. E/P Counselor noted that there are
broad implications to Iran's nuclear development and Chin
agreed, assessing that the issue with Iran is not just a NAM
issue. It would be very helpful if the United States could
help frame the issue within the context of the NPT rather
than the NAM to help move the discussion forward and perhaps
encourage more NAM members to publicly speak out against
Iran's actions, she suggested.


3. (C) Chin mentioned that Singapore is not sending any
representatives to the upcoming IAEA Board of Governors (BOG)
meeting, but Singapore is very interested to learn what
transpires now that Malaysia is the new BOG chair. Singapore
looks forward to continued discussions on how to deal with
concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program.

SHIELDS

Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm