Canadian Views on Syria and Iran at IAEA BOG Meeting

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000091 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR ISN/RA (JDANIEL/RNEPHEW/MBEDKE) AND WHA/CAN AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO APP WINNIPEG E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/26 TAGS: PARM PREL SY IAEA MNUC TRGY CA IR SUBJECT: Canadian Views on Syria and Iran at IAEA BOG Meeting REF: 10 STATE 16530; 10 STATE 9124; 10 OTTAWA 162 CLASSIFIED BY: Scott Bellard, Minister Counselor, Department of State, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: Canada supports the U.S. call for strong statements on both Iranian and Syrian nuclear activities at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting March 1-5. Nonproliferation is a major theme of Canada's G-8 Presidency, and the Prime Minister has repeatedly voiced his strong views on Iranian activity (ref c). End summary. ¶2. (C/NF) In a meeting on February 24, polmiloff discussed ref a points on Syria and the March IAEA Board of Governors meeting with Ryan Hewer, Senior Policy Advisor for Nuclear Cooperation and Compliance in the Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). Hewer expressed appreciation for the points related to the IAEA investigation of Syria's clandestine nuclear activities. He said that he was aware of DG Amano's report, and agreed on the importance of a strong message to Syria on the need for cooperation with the IAEA investigation. He said he would ensure that senior officials "upstairs" are briefed on the U.S. points. ¶3. (C/NF) Hewer said that Prime Minister Harper has made it clear that nonproliferation was a "major concern" for him and has made it one of the main themes for Canada's G-8 Presidency. Hewer lamented that most of DFAITs attention is focused on Iran, although the PM's concern was not Iran-specific. Hewer acknowledged that there was not yet an agreed Canadian position or language for a statement on Syria at the BOG. He said he expected to prevail in internal DFAIT consultations, in which he anticipated that the Middle East Division might resist strong statement language. ¶4. (C/NF) Hewer emphasized the need for solidarity at the BOG in order to send as strong a message to Damascus as possible. He mused that a joint statement issued by the like-minded IAEA members would be a strong sign of solidarity, although he acknowledged the practical difficulties in arriving at agreement on a text before the March 1 meeting. ¶5. (C/NF) With respect to Iran, Hewer said he was aware of the "blunt and direct" IAEA report on Tehran's nuclear program (ref b). Canada is fully supportive of U.S. efforts to secure a meaningful sanctions regime at the UN Security Council. In the event that results at the UN are unsatisfactory, Hewer promised that Canada would continue to consult closely with the U.S. on possible next steps. JACOBSON