CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): DEMARCHE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001512 SIPDIS STATE FOR AC/CB - SIDLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2014 TAGS: PARM ABUD AROC CWC CBW OPCW YM SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): DEMARCHE TO YEMEN ON IMPLEMENTING THE CWC REF: SECSTATE 127948 Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Mary Brett Rogers for reasons 1.5 (b and d) ¶1. (c) Pol/Econ Chief met with Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe, the Americas and International Organizations Mustapha Noman on 6/19 and per reftel guidance briefly reviewed ROYG obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Noman was familiar with issue, noting that 2-3 months ago he signed off on a memo advocating the creation of a national committee. He said that the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs disagree over which should lead the national committee, but that the issue is now being reviewed at the Cabinet level and promised to "push" implementation from his side as much as possible. ¶2. (c) DFM Noman also reiterated comments from previous meetings about the formation of an interagency committee, to include the Ministries of Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs, to address all weapons-related issues (e.g., conventional, biological, chemical) and remarked that the CWC would be included in the committee's purview. P/E Chief passed a non-paper copy of the talking points and requested additional information on the status of CWC implementation as it becomes available. HULL