CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): LIBYAN REQUEST

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000020 SIPDIS STATE FOR T, AC, 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 KNNP LY CWC SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): LIBYAN REQUEST TO OPCW FOR ASSISTANCE REF: A. 2003 THE HAGUE 3155 ¶B. DTG 221201 DEC 03 This is CWC-2-04. ¶1. (U) On January 6, Brian Hawtin, the acting Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, provided a copy of a letter from the Libyan Ambassador to the Netherlands to OPCW DG Rogelio Pfirter. The letter transmitted a note verbale from the Libyan government requesting technical assistance in connection with accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Hawtin added that the DG Pfirter is preparing a short response acknowledging the Libyan request. ¶2. (U) The following is the text of the January 5 letter from the Libyan Ambassador to DG Pfirter: Begin Text. The Hague 5 January 2004 The People's Bureau of The Great Socialist People's Libyan Jamahiriya, presents its compliments to the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, and has the honour to enclose herewith the note which has been sent from Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, avail itself of this opportunity to renew to the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons the assurances of its highest consideration. Zakia Abdussalalm M. Sahil Ambassador ¶3. (U) The following is the text of the December 25, 2003 note verbale from the Libyan government to DG Pfirter referenced in para 2. Begin Text. Note Verbale The Secretariat of the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation presents its best regards to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. We should like to inform you that the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya requests, and hopes to receive, the necessary technical assistance that it might need for the process of its accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Secretariat of the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation avails itself of this opportunity to express to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons its highest consideration and appreciation. Tripoli, 25 December 2003 ¶4. (U) Copies of the letter and note verbale were sent by FAX to AC/CB. ¶5. (U) Ito sends. RUSSEL