Cablegate: Australia Group: Germany Welcomes U.S. Support For

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRL #0577 0801741
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211741Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7595
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0644
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 0146

UNCLAS BERLIN 000577

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/CB AND EUR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CBW ETTC HR GM
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA GROUP: GERMANY WELCOMES U.S. SUPPORT FOR
CROATIAN MEMBERSHIP IN AUSTRALIA GROUP

REF: SECSTATE 32412

1. (SBU) Global Affairs officer delivered ref demarche to
German MFA Export Control Division Deputy Office Director
Markus Klinger March 19. Klinger said the U.S. support for
Croatia's application for Australia Group (AG) membership is
"good news." He noted that the EU, as well as Germany, has
supported Croatia's bid for AG membership for several years.
Now that the U.S. is satisfied with Croatia's improvements in
its export control system, Klinger said he is optimistic the
AG will reach consensus on Croatia's application, with
Croatia's candidacy for EU membership bolstering its case.
Klinger also observed that the U.S. opposition to Croatia's
AG membership in 2006 and subsequent outreach and assistance
proved beneficial, since this spurred Croatia to improve its
export control system to meet AG standards.
KOENIG

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