SWEDES FAVOR U.S. PROPOSAL REGARDING IAEA SEARCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000524 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/RA (JDANIEL AND RNEPHEW) E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2019 TAGS: KNNP AORC PREL PARM IAEA EG IS SW SUBJECT: SWEDES FAVOR U.S. PROPOSAL REGARDING IAEA SEARCH FOR CONSENSUS ON MIDDLE EAST ISSUES REF: STATE 85128 Classified By: Economic Counselor Laura Kirkconnell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On August 20, Deputy Economic Counselor discussed reftel points with Asa Gustafsson, Deputy Director, Department for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Gustafsson immediately characterized this as a very "complicated issue." She stated that Sweden and all other EU members have received the Arab-League resolution and a letter that accompanied it," adding that the EU is preparing a general reply that it hopes to have ready the week beginning August 24. The joint EU reply will point out that all member countries must follow the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but will be more concrete regarding the Arab-League resolution. ¶2. (C) Gustafsson noted that the EU will not support the resolution in its current form, adding that it will not lead to a consensus because Israel will vote against it. She stated that the best way to achieve a consensus resolution would be to combine the two resolutions along the lines that the U.S. is proposing, and that the EU is exploring this option now. Gustafsson commented that Canada has also stated that it doe not believe a "no-action vote" will pass at the upcoming meeting. BARZUN