S44-02 IRAQI EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE CBW PROTECTIVE

S E C R E T ROME 000343 SIPDIS FOR NP/CBM AND INR/SPM E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6 (X1,X6) TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC IZ IT CBW UNSC SUBJECT: S44-02 IRAQI EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE CBW PROTECTIVE MATERIAL (S) REF: A. SECSTATE 20694 ¶B. 02 ROME 5518 SECRET PAGE 02 ROME 00343 291516Z ¶C. 02 SECSTATE 210763 CLASSIFIED BY: ECONOMIC COUNSELOR KAREN MILLIKEN REASON:1.5 (B) AND (D) (S) ECONOFF RAISED REF A POINTS REGARDING IRAQI EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE CBW PROTECTIVE MATERIAL WITH MFA'S NONPROLIFERATION COORDINATOR UGO DE MOHR ON JANUARY 28. DEMOHR SAID IT MADE SENSE TO WAIT FOR THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL TO ESTABLISH LEVELS FOR HUMANITARIAN USE FOR THESE ITEMS BEFORE SUBMITTING (OR RESUBMITTING) OFF CONTRACTS FOR UN APPROVAL. HOWEVER, HE REITERATED HIS EARLIER MESSAGE TO US (REF B) THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY ITALIAN ENTITIES BEING INVOLVED IN THE EXPORT OF SUCH MATERIAL (AND HE NOTED THAT HE HAD MADE INQUIRIES SINCE OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION ON THE ISSUE IN NOVEMBER 2002). HE ASSURED US THE GOI WOULD CONTINUE TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ANY SUCH EXPORTS. SKODON SECRET > 2003ROME00343 - Classification: SECRET