CD SESSION: AUSTRIA ON FMCT

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000194

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR CD DELEGATION

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2025
TAGS: PARM MNUC KNNP PREL AU
SUBJECT: CD SESSION: AUSTRIA ON FMCT

REF: STATE 13698

Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(B) AND (D)


1. (C) Austrian MFA Arms Control/Disarmament Director
Alexander Marschik reported Feb. 22 that Austria entirely
shares the U.S. assessment of the difficulty of reaching
agreement on a POW in the CD and the USG frustration with the
impasse. Austria is, accordingly, fully prepared to work, as
proposed in reftel, through UNIDIR and in other more informal
fora on side-events which could move forward the substantive
FMCT-related work of the CD.


2. (C) That said, Marschik cautioned that, in Vienna's
analysis, the Chinese may be reluctant to endorse such work
in UNIDIR, which lacks the staff and experience to carry out
other CD POW elements which China sees as necessary elements
of a package that would include the FMCT (e.g., PAROS).
Looking at the problem tactically, Marschik suggested that
the U.S. consider seeking endorsement for FMCT-related
programs under the aegis of UNIDIR at the NPT Revcon. The
broad volume of work at the NPT and the absence of Pakistan
might, he thought, make the Chinese more amenable to the idea
in that forum than at the CD itself.
EACHO