Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03THEHAGUE2979
2003-11-28 12:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): ARTICLE IV/V -

Tags:  PARM PREL CWC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 THE HAGUE 002979 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AC/CB, NP/CBM, VC/CCB, L/ACV, IO/S
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISP
JOINT STAFF FOR DD PMA-A FOR WTC
COMMERCE FOR BIS (GOLDMAN)
NSC FOR CHUPA
WINPAC FOR LIEPMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): ARTICLE IV/V -
WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR ABAF PROPOSAL

REF: THE HAGUE 2944

This is CWC-129-03.

--------------------------
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------------------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 THE HAGUE 002979

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AC/CB, NP/CBM, VC/CCB, L/ACV, IO/S
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISP
JOINT STAFF FOR DD PMA-A FOR WTC
COMMERCE FOR BIS (GOLDMAN)
NSC FOR CHUPA
WINPAC FOR LIEPMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): ARTICLE IV/V -
WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR ABAF PROPOSAL

REF: THE HAGUE 2944

This is CWC-129-03.

--------------
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------


1. (U) There is widespread support for the proposal submitted
by the Advisory Body on Administrative and Financial Matters
to address the issue of Article IV and V payments. No
delegation has spoken out against the ABAF recommendation.
Guidance request at para 11 on whether the proposal is
acceptable to the U.S. End Summary and Action Request.

--------------
FOCUS ON ABAF PROPOSALS
--------------


2. (U) At informal consultations November 25 on finding a
structural solution for Article IV and V payments,
delegations voiced broad support for the proposal put forward
by the Advisory Body on Administrative and Financial Matters
(ABAF) the week before (Reftel). The proposal combines the
first two of seven options presented for consideration by the
facilitator (Johan Verboom of the Netherlands) on November 17
(faxed to AC/CB; see main points in para 4 below). The
entire discussion focused on the ABAF proposal; no delegation
addressed any other option in the discussion paper except in
passing, or objected in principle to the ABAF proposal. Del
noted that the USG had not endorsed the proposal, and several
other delegations said that they would have to seek guidance
from their capitals. Most others expressed confidence that
they could join consensus around the ABAF concept. Verboom
and OPCW Director for Administration Herb Schulz fielded many
questions.


3. (U) Verboom opened by briefly describing the seven options
outlined in his discussion paper. He then added that ABAF
had come forward with its own proposal, based on options one
and two of his paper, which he endorsed as a "very sensible"
solution. Schulz also strongly supported the ABAF
formulation, saying it would go "80-90% toward solution" of
the recurring budgetary problems caused by late repayment of
Article IV and V inspection costs. (Schulz acknowledged that
no solution was perfect, as uncertainties about future
destruction activities was unavoidable. Thus the phenomenon
of "fictitious income" would remain, but was already being

addressed by discounting projected repayments.)


4. (U) The ABAF proposal consists of five elements:

- allowing repayment of the Working Capital Fund "as soon as
feasible" rather than by the end of the next financial year;

- increasing the cap on the WCF to perhaps 14% of the budget,
or roughly 10 million Euros;

- funding this initially out of the remaining cash
"surpluses" from 2001-2003;

- using future late payments by possessor states to replenish
the WCF; and

- allocating any additional funds from Article IV/V payments
to the cash surplus to be returned to States Parties.

--------------
WIDESPREAD SUPPORT AMONG DELEGATIONS
--------------


5. (U) Most of the twenty-four delegations participating in
the consultation spoke in support of the ABAF-proposed
solution. Germany described it as "very appealing," noting
that it largely solved the late payment problem without
adding extra costs for States Parties. France called it "a
good combination" of measures to make better use of the
existing WCF. The UK representative said his government had
not examined the proposal in detail, but said he too "liked
the idea of using the Working Capital Fund." The ROK
endorsed it as "attractive and practical." Canada said it
"joined the chorus," but that it also needed to run the idea
by its capital. China observed "there is no simple solution"
to Article IV/V payments, but ABAF's formulation "solves many
difficulties." Australia agreed that this proposal was "in
principle quite attractive" although there were other
possible solutions as well. Switzerland said it would join
consensus on the issue.

6. (U) Japan also indicated support, while commenting that it
should in no way reduce the obligation of possessor states to
pay for the verification of destruction activities, and
saying it still required Tokyo's endorsement. Italy said it
was "a good solution," while expanding on Japan's point that
there must be incentives for possessor states to pay their
obligations quickly. The Russian representative commented
that Moscow had expected that the Special Account established
by the Eighth Conference of the States Parties would be used
to address the same problem. But he voiced no objection to
the ABAF proposal, saying "judging from the ABAF
recommendation and the sense of this group," Moscow would
look at it very seriously.


7. (U) India's delegate said he was "open to mixing options
one and two" (i.e., the ABAF proposal) but needed to check
with his capital. Mexico had no objection to using the WCF
as a stabilization fund, but added that using late payment of
Article IV and V costs to refund the WCF should be
conditional on these payments being removed from the
"miscellaneous income" category of the budget and there being
no increase in Mexico's assessments. Argentina seconded this
point. There followed some debate over whether using cash
surpluses to initially fund the WCF up to 14% in effect
increased member states' contributions, since those surpluses
would otherwise be returned to the States Parties.


8. (U) Several delegates specified that their support would
be contingent on the WCF capitalization not increasing their
contributions to the budget. Several others followed the
lead of Japan, Italy, and Canada, in calling for the need to
retain incentives for timely payment of Article IV and V
invoices. Some advocated allowing only a one-year window for
repaying the WCF as a means of keeping up the pressure on
possessors to repay the cost of inspections. Others,
however, countered that threatening the financial stability
of the organization was not an ideal incentive for any State
Party. Canada proposed that late payment of these
obligations should be treated legally the same as other
arrears (i.e., result in loss of voting privileges).


9. (U) Questions were raised about how the proposed WCF cap
of 14% of the budget was derived. Schulz said the figure
reflected "operational requirements ... to cover salaries,
expenses, and the Article IV and V shortfall" totaling just
over 10 million Euros. After the meeting, Schulz noted to
USDel that the amount requested for the proposed cap exceeded
the standard for such funds (normally 1/12 of the budget),
but emphasized that the extra amount sought was the
approximate annual total of Article IV/V receipts. He
explained that those unique up-front costs to the OPCW were
what necessitated a slightly larger WCF than the one-month
operating expenses of other international organizations.
There were other questions about what financial regulations
would have to be amended to achieve the proposed changes.
(Article 6.6 is the principal regulation involved, but not
the only one affected).


10. (U) There was general agreement that the scheduled second
day of consultations on Article IV/V was not necessary.
USDel repeated a cautionary note that the United States had
not yet examined the proposal in detail or given its assent.
Delegates were requested to seek their capitals' views on the
ABAF proposal in the coming weeks. Verboom told Del after
the meeting he had been surprised by the chorus of support
for the ABAF proposal, having expected a systematic
discussion of all options on the table. However, he was
pleased with the outcome.

--------------
ACTION REQUEST
--------------


11. (U) Del would appreciate guidance on whether the ABAF
proposal is acceptable to the USG. Given ABAF's endorsement
and the overwhelming support of other delegations, U.S.
objections might result in blocking consensus on this issue.


12. (U) Javits sends.
SOBEL