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