SWEDISH REPLY TO AUSTRALIA GROUP

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000591 SIPDIS ISN/CB FOR ASOUZA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM ETTC SW SUBJECT: SWEDISH REPLY TO AUSTRALIA GROUP REF: A. STOCKHOLM 549 ¶B. STATE 57595 ¶C. STATE 87596 ¶D. STATE 87597 ¶E. STATE 88010 ¶1. (U) On September 10, Econoff received a more detailed technical response to the Australia Group Plenary meeting reftels (A, B, C, D, E) from Ulf Lindell, Deputy Director, Department for Disarmament and Nonproliferation at the Swedish MFA. Lindell also noted that the Swedes will send their experts to the plenary in Paris, where they will be available for direct discussions with members of the delegations. Post has organized Swedish reponses thematically in the paragraphs below. ¶2. (U) Chemical Micro-reactor Systems Experts Group: Sweden welcomes the proposal of a Micro-reactor Experts Group, especially in light of the somewhat opposing views of the usefulness of micro-reactors in producing CW that seem to exist. Sweden could hopefully contribute to the group. ¶3. (U) Minimum Surface Thickness for Controlled Chemical Equipment: Sweden finds the discussion in this proposal very useful but could use some further clarification on the part of the proposal that deals with non-controlled abrasion resistant materials on top of controlled material. ¶4. (U) Clarifying 'Nominal Size' and 'Rotor' Entry Definitions: The proposal helps to clarify the valve and pump entries in the control list and is, our view, very useful. ¶5. (U) Clarifying Listed Materials for Dual-Use Chemical Equipment: The part of the proposal that recommends a new order and phrasing of the listed materials clearly increases the usability of the control list. We also find the parts that are aimed at the content of fluorine in fluoropolymers, silicon in ferrosilicon and graphite in carbon-graphite useful in the classification of dual-use goods and would welcome a continued discussion concerning this part of the proposal. BARZUN