CWC: ITALIAN POSITION ON RABTA CONVERSION, CW

UNCLAS ROME 001853 SIPDIS SENSITIVE THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL IT CWC SUBJECT: CWC: ITALIAN POSITION ON RABTA CONVERSION, CW DESTRUCTION ASSISTANCE TO ALBANIA REF: A. SECSTATE 96555 ¶B. ROME 1459 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Italy now agrees with the U.S. that partitioning the Rabta CW production facility to facilitate conversion is not feasible. It also is in sync on using a technical change to the CWC to ensure that Libya--and other states in the future--can convert CWPFs to legitimate uses. Italy, however, is concerned that the language proposed in ref A may be overly complicated and could prolong approval of Libya'S conversion request by the Conference of States Parties (CSP). The head of Italy's CWC National Authority believes that an effort should be made to craft a simpler solution. He looks forward to engaging in LONDON with the U.S. and U.K. on May 13. End Summary. Looking for a Simple Solution on Rabta -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Polmiloff on May 7 delivered ref A points to MFA Counselor Giovanni Iannuzzi, who heads Italy's National CWC Authority. General Tracci, an MoD CW expert assigned to Iannuzzi's office, participated in the meeting. Iannuzzi led off by acknowledging that, after further analysis, Italy agrees with the U.S. that partitioning the Rabta CWPF into "clean", "dirty", and "grey" sections is not feasible. Iannuzzi now understood that the grey area which would need to be converted was extensive. He wanted the U.S. to understand that the idea to partition Rabta was not Italy's, but one that had come to the MFA's attention via discussions with the OPCW Technical Secretariat. ¶3. (SBU) Iannuzzi said he also agreed that seeking a technical change to Verification Annex, Part V, para 72 is the right way to proceed, but Italy is still concerned that the approval process could be lengthy (ref B). Supported by Tracci, he argued in favor of a "light touch" to minimize complications in trying to convince the CSP to accept a change. Iannuzzi said it seemed that the language the U.S. was proposing to adjust para 72 could be seen as contradicting elements of para 66 (specifically, according to Iannuzzi, the clause allowing a State Party four years to submit a conversion request from the date the Convention enters into force for the particular state). Any technical change will have to square this circle, he suggested. ¶4. (SBU) Italy is concerned that the more complicated conversion becomes, the more likely Pharmachem (the Milan-based company interested in producing pharmaceuticals at Rabta) will look to construction in Libya of an entirely new plant--free from CWC-imposed conditionality--as an alternative. Iannuzzi, as he had in ref B discussion, again suggested that adding the language "for it" to the end of para 72 would be an elegant fix (Note: as ref A explains, this would have the effect of giving a country six years to submit a conversion request from the time it becomes a State Party to the CWC. End Note). Polmiloff emphasized ref A point that this approach would potentially, and unnecessarily, delay completion of conversion at Rabta and at other similar facilities outside of Libya in the future. Iannuzzi, bending a little, allowed that that a "shorter limit" could indeed make sense. ¶5. (SBU) Tracci raised the issue of Russian "violations" of para 72 as a possible sticking point. He claimed there were nine separate cases where Russia had not completed conversion within the six-year period set forth in the paragraph, i.e. by April 29, 2003. Offering Libya a way out of the strictures of para 72 might provoke Russia into seeking a technical adjustment to put its situation on a more solid legal footing, Tracci speculated. This possibility required careful consideration in thinking about how to craft a technical change. ¶6. (SBU) Polmiloff stressed to Iannuzzi that the U.S. believed the sequencing outlined in ref A was realistic. We would, however, need Italy's support to keep to the timetable. Iannuzzi said he was open to exploring all options, but wants to make sure that those states interested in helping Libya with its conversion request don't get tripped up by adopting an approach that is overly complicated. He looked forward to the May 13 U.S.-U.K.-Italy meeting in LONDON as an opportunity to move forward. Libyan Visit to Italy -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Iannuzzi informed polmiloff that a delegation led by the new head of Libya's National Authority visited Italy from May 3-5. In addition to discussions in Rome on the CWC and Rabta, the delegation visited Italy's CW destruction facility in Civitavecchia (on the coast about 40 kilometers north of Rome). The Libyans also received briefings from Italian companies involved in the CW destruction business whose main destruction method is the use of peroxide. Iannuzzi said the Libyans had told him they would have a CW destruction plan ready for consideration by the OPCW in the month of May. CW Destruction Assistance to Albania -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Polmiloff used the meeting on Rabta to seek clarification on possible Italian CW assistance to Albania. Iannuzzi said the MFA had received approval from the MoD to offer Albanian officials technical training courses. However, Albania has informed Italy that only when a CW destruction needs assessment is completed will it be able to engage on assistance. Iannuzzi stressed that no discussion of financial aid to Albania has taken place to date. 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