AUSTRIA ON SYRIA AT MARCH IAEA BOG

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000207 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/RA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2025 TAGS: PARM KNNP PREL IAEA SY AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIA ON SYRIA AT MARCH IAEA BOG REF: STATE 16530 Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In a previously scheduled meeting Feb. 22, Embassy and UNVIE officers conveyed to Austrian MFA Arms Control/Disarmament Director Alexander Marschik continued USG interest in pressing Syria for full transparency and cooperation with the IAEA on the Al Kibar reactor site. Marschik welcomed the USG stance, as there had been some speculation within the GoA (and, we presume, wider EU circles) about USG intentions in light of improved U.S.-Syrian political ties. Embassy E/P Counselor subsequently conveyed reftel materials to Marschik. ¶2. (C) E/P Counselor also conveyed reftel point to MFA Middle East Director Friedrich Stift on Feb. 24. Stift also welcomed the information and reported that Austrian FonMin Spindelegger had raised Al Kibar during his visit to Damascus in mid-February. According to Stift, the Syrians maintained a hard line on the issue -- insisting that the IAEA could inspect Syrian sights only annually and that they had no idea as to how chemically processed uranium could have been found at Al Kibar. EACHO