U/S TAUSCHER,S MEETING WITH GERMAN AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 073192 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2019 TAGS: PARM KACT START US RS SUBJECT: U/S TAUSCHER,S MEETING WITH GERMAN AMBASSADOR KLAUS SCHARIOTH, JULY 9, 2009 Classified By: Jerry A. Taylor, Director, Office of Strategic Issues. Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Ellen Tauscher, met with German Ambassador to the United States, Klaus Scharioth, on July 9, 2009. ¶2. (U) Meeting Date: July 9, 2009 Time: 3:30 - 4:00 P.M. Place: U/S Tauscher,s Office U.S. U/S E. Tauscher VCI DAS M. Ries T Staff S. Limage T Staff E. Desautels VCI Staff N Couch (Note taker) Germany Amb Klaus Scharioth Dr Hans-Peter Hinrichsen, Counselor, German Embassy -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶3. (C) In a fast-paced meeting, the Under Secretary and German Ambassador discussed a number of issues related to arms control and nonproliferation. The first item was the candidacy of Ambassador Peter Gottwald for Director General (DG) of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The Under Secretary stated that the United States had not made a decision on who to support for the DG position. Tauscher explained that the goals of the Global Zero Commission do fit into U.S. policy objectives and that those goals would be part of the narrative discussion in the on-going Nuclear Posture Review. Tauscher briefed Scharioth on U.S. plans for ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT),on plans to resolve issues on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, and closed with a short discussion on plans for a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. -------------- OPCW, Global Zero, and Nuclear Weapons Policy -------------- ¶4. (C) Scharioth opened the meeting by asking for United States support for the candidacy of Ambassador Peter Gottwald for Director General (DG) of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Scharioth trumpeted Gottwald,s qualifications, especially his years of work on the Chemical Weapons Convention, and provided a letter from Gottwald and a copy of his curriculum vitae. Tauscher acknowledged Gottwald,s candidacy, noting that there were seven candidates for DG of the OPCW and that the United States had not made a decision on which candidate it will support for the position. ¶5. (C) Scharioth asked if the United States supported the goals of the Global Zero Commission. Tauscher responded that the goals of Global Zero do fit into U.S. policy objectives and that Assistant Secretary Rose Gottemoeller,s work on the START Follow-on agreement contributes to the goal of a nuclear-free world. This will be a quick negotiation to meet the December deadline and will require extensive consultation with the Senate to ensure a successful ratification process. Tauscher added that she had met with Senator Lugar the day before to discuss the ratification process and that he was supportive of the Administration. Tauscher also added that President Obama has a "big agenda" as stated in his April 5 speech in Prague that was both eloquent and robust, but that we still live in a dangerous world and the United States will not unilaterally disarm. Scharioth praised the President,s Prague speech, commenting that it was very well received in Europe and that Germany planned to host a meeting on nuclear security with the United States in December, followed by a spring meeting that would add Russia. Tauscher responded that the President hopes to host a Global Nuclear Summit before the 2010 NPT Review Conference. ¶6. (C) Scharioth asked Tauscher if Global Zero would affect the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR). She responded that we cannot have an NPR that excludes the Global Zero concept and that this is part of the NPR narrative. While Global Zero may inform the NPR, it will ultimately be based on military requirements, and, while the United States will not eliminate all nuclear weapons in the short term, and probably not in our lifetime, that is the President,s vision. Tauscher added that the President chose Prague as a venue to send a strong message to our European partners and that it took a lot of political will to publically discuss the size of the nuclear stockpile, just as it took political will to discuss climate change. Scharioth observed that three years ago, some did not recognize climate change as an issue, but now they do and that it will be a real challenge for the next twenty years. ¶7. (C) Returning to nuclear weapons policy, Tauscher noted that many of our adversaries do not understand traditional deterrence theory and the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction. Scharioth agreed and asked if there is anything Germany or NATO can do to help the United States with this message. Tauscher said that once the United States refined its plan for consultations, we would be happy for Germany,s assistance, especially in refuting the argument that as the U.S. reduced its nuclear arsenal, some allies would be tempted to develop their own nuclear deterrent. Scharioth stated that Germany would gladly help the United States with that message and that Germany has no plans to acquire nuclear weapons. -------------- CTBT -------------- ¶8. (C) Scharioth asked about U.S. plans for ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Tauscher replied that the CTBT was in the queue, but that the START Follow-on treaty was the first priority. It is important to capitalize on a successful START Follow-on effort before taking the CTBT to the Senate. We can,t ask the Senate leadership to take on one tough fight after another; we need to fill their pipe with positive things. Tauscher said that the Administration will not take the CTBT to the Senate for a vote if it cannot win. --- CFE --- ¶9. (C) On the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, Scharioth stated that "we cannot leave the Russian suspension unchallenged," adding that former EUR Assistant Secretary Dan Fried had worked hard to resolve CFE issues and that Germany appreciated his efforts. Tauscher agreed with Scharioth,s assessment, noting that she planned to bring someone in to negotiate CFE with the Russians. She also informed Scharioth that she had recently discussed CFE with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov, but, while the conversation was not positive, Russia does understand it has obligations. -------------- FMCT -------------- ¶10. (C) The final item discussed was the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT). Tauscher explained that she planned to move forward with FMCT, but that it was in the queue behind START Follow-on and parallel efforts on CTBT ratification. She added that FMCT was definitely on the President,s agenda and that FMCT puts us on "the high road." Scharioth replied that he understood there are still key questions to resolve regarding FMCT and that Germany wants to work closely with the United States. Tauscher thanked Scharioth for his offer. Deputy Assistant Secretary Ries added that Germany could help make progress on FMCT by ensuring that it carried over onto next year,s work plan in the Conference on Disarmament. ¶11. (U) U/S Tauscher cleared this cable. CLINTON