WikiLeaks cable: NZ supports strong statements on Iran, Syria at BOG meeting

Photo / Mark Mitchell

November 25, 2008
New Zealand supports strong statements on Iran, Syria at BOG meeting

date:2008-11-25T23:42:00
source:Embassy Wellington
origin:08WELLINGTON397
destination:O 252342Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO SECSTATE
WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5556 INFO AMEMBASSY ACCRA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BERN
PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY AMEMBASSY
CANBERRA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY DUBLIN
PRIORITY AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY AMEMBASSY
MADRID PRIORITY AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO PRIORITY AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY AMEMBASSY NEW
DELHI PRIORITY AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
PRIORITY AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY TOKYO
PRIORITY AMEMBASSY VILNIUS PRIORITY USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY
USINT HAVANA PRIORITY
classification:CONFIDENTIAL
reference:08STATE123074
?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000397

STATE FOR EAP/ANP, ISN/RA AND IO/T
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2023
TAGS: MNUC, PREL, KNNP, IAE...
?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000397
STATE FOR EAP/ANP, ISN/RA AND IO/T
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2023
TAGS: MNUC, PREL, KNNP, IAEA, PARM, NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND SUPPORTS STRONG STATEMENTS ON IRAN, SYRIA AT BOG MEETING
REF: STATE 123074

Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Margaret B. McKean; Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) On November 25, Pol/Econ Counselor met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade International Security and Disarmament Division Chief Joan Mosley and Deputy Director Jillian Dempster to discuss the recent IAEA reports on Iran and Syria, ongoing TACC discussions and next steps in Vienna. Mosley assured the USG that the GNZ finds both reports disturbing, and said that New Zealand agrees with and shares USG concerns. New Zealand plans to deliver strong statements on both countries at the upcoming Board of Governors meeting.

2. (C) Regarding Syria and the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee (TACC), New Zealand does not contribute to the TACC and therefore does not anticipate playing a high profile role in those discussions. New Zealand desires a "satisfactory" outome on Syria (i.e., an outcome that is acceptable to the majority of Board members). Mosley indicated that feedback from Vienna through MFAT channels indicates that the TACC discussions are largely at an impasse and little consensus is foreseen. MFAT believes that the issue will go to the Board of Governors. Mosley noted that New Zealand, having just elected a new government, does not yet have clear policy guidance from new Foreign Minister Murray McCully, Minister for Disarmament Georgina Te Heuheu and other relevant ministries. She acknowledged that New Zealand will be constrained in its actions until the new government has read in and had a chance to discuss the policy papers forwarded to the new ministers. Mosley said that the New Zealand mission in Vienna and MFAT had developed language for use in the upcoming statements at the BOG without appropriate clearance from the new government given that
there is still a transition taking place.

McCORMICK