Cablegate: Syrian Iaea Board Candidacy: U.K. Agrees With
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLO #1901 2031547
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 211547Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9243
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA PRIORITY 0078
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0653
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0283
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0794
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0316
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1160
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 3256
RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 0215
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0540
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1155
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1055
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0335
S E C R E T LONDON 001901
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, ISN/RA ARIEL STUKALIN, IO/T HEATHER VON
BEHREN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2018
TAGS: IAEA PREL KZ SY UK AROC KNNP
SUBJECT: SYRIAN IAEA BOARD CANDIDACY: U.K. AGREES WITH
U.S.COURSE OF ACTION REF: STATE 76033
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard M. Mills Jr. for reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (S) HMG concurs with the U.S. assessment of Syria's candidacy to the IAEA Board of Directors and will do what it can to support Kazakhstan's candidacy, FCO Counter Proliferation Officer George Sherriff told poloff on July 21. Sherriff said that his counterparts in Vienna "agree on (the USG) course of action and will do what (they) can." He indicated that HMG has "already started (internal) talks" on the issue, and that they were "happy to do" what they could to further Kazakhstan's candidacy. Sherriff indicated that he will keep us informed of HMG's subsequent actions on this matter.
Comment -------
2. (S) Sherriff, who was filling in for Nuclear Issues Team Leader Nick Low, did not offer any specific information on HMG's plans to support Kazakhstan and/or pressure MESA countries to back away from a Syrian candidacy, and appears to have closely consulted with UK IAEA Mission in Vienna on the response to the U.S. message. US Mission UNVIE may want to follow up with U.K. delegation counterparts on what specific steps HMG will take with MESA members and in Astana to push for Kazakhstan's candidacy. Embassy London will pass on any further information on HMG's actions when it becomes available through FCO channels. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX TUTTLE