FINNS AGREE TO EXTENSION OF MOTAPM COORDINATOR AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 001468 SIPDIS GENEVA FOR BARTON AND LIEBOWITZ; AC/ISN FOR MENOLD E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2014 TAGS: MCAP PARM PREL FI SUBJECT: FINNS AGREE TO EXTENSION OF MOTAPM COORDINATOR AT CCW REF: A. STATE 241542 ¶B. GENEVA 3123 ¶C. HELSINKI 1360 Classified By: Ambassador Earle I. Mack for Reasons 1.4(B) and (D) ¶1. (U) Netherlands Ambassador Engels telephoned U.S. Ambassador Mack on November 10 to report that he had received instructions from The Hague to deliver a demarche on behalf of the EU, requesting that the GoF extend the tenure of Ambassador Markku Reimaa as coordinator for the Group of Government Experts (GGE) on Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines (MOTAPM) in Geneva. Engels said he had just contacted Political Director Markus Lyra to make the case for Reimaa staying on. It is our understanding that a similar demarche was made by the Germans to the Finnish embassy in Berlin, on behalf of the Western Group. ¶2. (U) Upon receipt of Ref A November 12, POL Chief spoke with Pilvi-Sisko Vierros-Villeneuve, who is currently head of MFA's Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation Unit, and who will succeed Lyra as Political Director starting in January. Vierros-Villeneuve said that the MFA had already informed the Finnish delegation in Geneva that Ambassador Reimaa may continue in his coordinator's role until September 1, 2005. "Finland is as interested in the outcome (of the MOTAPM process) as you are," said Vierros-Villeneuve, "and is not willing to do anything to harm this process." If necessary, she said, Reimaa could continue in his position until November 2005 -- but for the period September-November he would have to cover the talks from Helsinki. ¶3. (U) Vierros-Villeneuve clarified the issue of resources (Ref B),which she said is of real concern to the GoF. Finland will hold the EU presidency in the second half of ¶2006. The EU's Constitution Treaty is scheduled to take effect during that period, so Finland may be the last president under the current system. The Finns are already preparing for this, and want to have their presidency team -- including Reimaa's successor -- in place far enough in advance of July 1, 2006 so that they will be fully operational when the presidency begins. POL Chief said that we certainly understand this, but (drawing on Ref B para 3) noted the feeling of the Western Group that a negotiated agreement on MOTAPM could be achievable within the next year if we do not change the chair. Vierros-Villeneuve -- who has been waiting to receive Reimaa's own assessment of where matters stand -- said that "this is extremely useful information," and "very good to hear." If there is a chance of reaching a negotiated agreement in a year, the Finns "really need to put our effort into it." ¶4. (C) Vierros-Villeneuve said that the GoF sees arms control as one of the areas where they hope to make a contribution during their presidency. MOTAPM is one example; another is the BWC: "One of our major tasks" will be to work with the U.S. toward a positive outcome of the BWC Review Conference, she said. "We're very keen on this option -- we want to do more than just be in charge of keeping the Protocol alive." She said she would be happy to discuss this and other arms control priorities with U.S. officials during her upcoming visit to Washington. MACK