AUSTRIA ON NPT REVCON, OTHER NUCLEAR ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000060 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/MNSA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2025 TAGS: PARM MNUC KNNP PREL ENRG IAEA NPT KTBT AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIA ON NPT REVCON, OTHER NUCLEAR ISSUES REF: (A) 09 STATE 126209 (B) 09 STATE 129517 Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d). !. (U) Summary. Austria is in broad agreement with U.S. objectives and tactics for the NPT Revcon and CD handling of nuclear issues. MFA officials specifically lauded the USG focus on the G-77/NAM and on non-power aspects of the peaceful use of nuclear technology. That said, Austria's national phobia about nuclear power will affect how the GoA reacts to the specific language proposed in Revcon and CD texts. See request for information in para 8. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Econ/Pol Counselor met Jan. 14 with MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Director Alexander Marschik and Nuclear Affairs Unit Chief Ronald Sturm to review messages in reftels. Marschik prefaced his specific comments with praise for the U.S. record of strong support for the IAEA and by noting that on some points, for example universal adoption of the Additional Safeguards Protocol, Austria would favor a more activist approach than that advanced in the U.S. points. Marschik also noted that the U.S. focus on the non-energy benefits of nuclear power would be helpful with the nuclear-phobic Austrian public and with the G-77/NAM. A diplomatic focus on the latter would also benefit the U.S. at the Revcon, Marschik believed. Middle East at the RevCon -------------- ¶3. (C) Marschik urged the U.S. to accept the practical political impossibility of reaching agreement for action on the many substantive NPT agenda items (CTBT, FMCT, Iran) without reaching some compromise on a middle east "process" with Egypt and others. The GoA sees no possibility of resolutions that address Iran without also mentioning other Middle East issues and he indicated that the Russian idea of a conference on the Middle East might merit more attention. Disarmament -------------- ¶4. (C) The Austrians regretted that the U.S. points made no mention of the President's vision of a nuclear weapons free world, a vision they believe should be part of the RevCon conclusions. The Austrians will work to use the relevant language from UNSCR 1885, but urge the U.S. to repeat/repeat/repeat the message to increase the pressure on others, not least some of their EU partners (France). CTBT -------------- ¶5. (C) The GoA welcomes Administration efforts to win Senate ratification and bring other states needed for entry-into-force on board. From their experience as co-chair of the Art. XIV Committee, the Austrians believe that with U.S. action the Chinese and Indonesians will quickly ratify. India would then be uncomfortable with Pakistan, the DPRK, and Iran as a hold out and could also b brought to ratify. Marschik was less optimistic about the last three, but thought Pakistan could be led to ratify in 2-3 years. FMCT -------------- ¶6. (C) Austria is very disappointed with the lack of progress in the CD, and Marschik admitted the failure of Austrian efforts in their final months as chairman to bring about any progress. The Austrians believe that Pakistan is holding out on the FMC in part because of a perceived strategic need vis-a-vis Austria, but also to use the FMCT as a bargaining chip in efforts to win an NSG exemption should they negotiate a nuclear supply deal with China. Peaceful Uses -------------- ¶7. (C) Marschik emphasized that the GoA recognizes that affirmative language about peaceful use will be a necessary part of the Revcon outcomes and he stressed that Austria will play a constructive role and not block consensus. However, he also underscored that, given domestic sensitivities about nuclear energy the Austrian delegation will seek to promote "balanced" language on peaceful use. Specifically, he said that 1) references to expanded use of nuclear energy should be qualified by language such as "for states that have chosen that option" and that 2) other references to nuclear energy should refer to "safe and secure nuclear energy." Should nuclear power be raised in an environmental context, Austria will argue that unresolved environmental questions -- primarily waste disposal -- must also be considered. The GoA will not sponsor any anti-nuclear activities on the margins of the Revcon (it has done so at IAEA event) and will abjure populist rhetoric, Marschik promised, Nuclear Fuel Cycle -------------- ¶8. (C) At the close of the meeting Marschik asked whether the U.S. was still considering plans to increase secure access to nuclear fuel and to secure the nuclear fuel cycle. Austria has proposed multilateralization of the fuel cycle and would be interested in working with the U.S. on fuel security projects, Marschik said. Please advise. EACHO