Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04THEHAGUE1523
2004-06-18 12:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): AUSTRALIAN

Tags:  PARM PREL CW 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001523 

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR AC, AC/CB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL CW
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): AUSTRALIAN
CONCURRENCE ON WWII-ERA CHEMICAL MUNITIONS IN SOLOMON
ISLANDS

REF: STATE 132711

Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Javits, Permanent Representative to t
he OPCW. Reasons: 1.4 (B and D)

This is CWC-75-04.

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001523

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR AC, AC/CB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL CW
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): AUSTRALIAN
CONCURRENCE ON WWII-ERA CHEMICAL MUNITIONS IN SOLOMON
ISLANDS

REF: STATE 132711

Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Javits, Permanent Representative to t
he OPCW. Reasons: 1.4 (B and D)

This is CWC-75-04.


1. (C) Gordon Eckersley of the Australian delegation to the
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
expressed full agreement with the U.S. goal of finding the
most expeditious way to dispose of the chemical munitions
discovered on Mbanika Island. He recommended that the
appropriate U.S. officials simply contact the representatives
of the Australian military on the Solomon Islands to discuss
what course of action would be most efficient.


2. (C) Eckersley stated that he was familiar with the
background of the issue and confirmed that the Australian
military had considered possibly destroying the munitions.
However, they did not proceed for two reasons. First and
foremost, there has never been a formal request from the
Government of the Solomon Islands to Australia to eliminate
the munitions. The informal request had come from some local
residents, which Canberra judged was an insufficient basis on
which to act. Second, while Australia has experience in
dealing with old and abandoned CW, there were questions which
arose in Canberra about the destruction methodology which the
Australian military was contemplating. Eckersley said he did
not have any further details on the methodology or the
concerns.


3. (C) With regard to the involvement of the Technical
Secretariat (TS) of the OPCW, Eckersley stated that Australia

SIPDIS
merely wants to ensure that the TS is appropriately notified
of the ultimate disposal of these abandoned munitions. His
understanding is that there is no/no desire in Canberra to
have the TS take any action in connection with actual
destruction of the munitions. He concurred that the U.S.,
Australia and Solomon Islands are the parties that should be
involved in eliminating these munitions.


4. (C) Eckersley concluded by noting that Keith Wilson of
the Political Affairs Branch of the TS had recently been in
the Solomon Islands and had received indications that the
authorities are discussing whether to accede to the CW
Convention. He thought that an efficient resolution of these
WWII chemical munitions might play a role in convincing the
Solomon Islands to join the CWC.


5. (U) Javits sends.
SOBEL