Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04THEHAGUE2682
2004-10-18 07:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): ENSURING

Tags:  PARM PREL CWC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002682 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR AC A/S RADEMAKER FROM AMBASSADOR JAVITS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): ENSURING
PAYMENT TO THE OPCW

This is CWC-122-04.

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002682

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR AC A/S RADEMAKER FROM AMBASSADOR JAVITS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): ENSURING
PAYMENT TO THE OPCW

This is CWC-122-04.


1. (SBU) When PDAS Frank Record visited recently, it was
particularly important that he brought the news that
Washington had finally cleared payment of 9.4 million Euros
to the OPCW. The organization was beginning to feel the
pinch of the late U.S. payment, and Director-General Pfirter
was most relieved to receive word of this partial payment of
both our assessed contribution and other obligations.


2. (SBU) No one, especially the Director-General, doubts
that the U.S. will eventually pay its 15.1 million Euro
assessed contribution for this year as well as other
obligations. However, you need to be aware of the negative
impact of such very late payments to our efforts to enhance
the OPCW contribution to U.S. security policy. It was
notable and encouraging that in the vast majority of the
record number of opening statements at this week's Executive
Council meeting, delegations emphasized the important
contribution the OPCW is making in the effort to combat the
spread of WMD and the role such work plays in the global
campaign against terrorism. In my own statement, I added the
point that the OPCW's work significantly promotes the goals
of UNSCR 1540.


3. (SBU) However, it is increasingly untenable to have the
U.S. provide strong statements of support for the work of the
OPCW, and then not provide promised obligatory funding. If
we believe the OPCW does make a contribution to our global
anti-terrorism and nonproliferation efforts, and we want to
continue to push the organization to do more in these areas,
then we need to make certain that future funding is assured
on a timely basis so that U.S. credibility is not put in
question. Other delegations obviously are fully aware of the
U.S. payment record. The opening statements made by Japan
and the European Union (through the Dutch delegation) made
explicit reference to the need for full and timely payment of
assessed contributions, a point raised by numerous other
delegations. It was painfully obvious to all that the U.S.
was in the cross-hairs.


4. (SBU) I know one of Under Secretary Grossman's favorite
sayings is "don't bring me problems, bring me solutions."
The reason I am raising this issue with you is to ask for
your assistance in working to find a solution so that we can
avoid a repetition of this year's painfully late payment that
is having an impact on the operations at the OPCW. In
particular, I would ask for your consideration in determining
how to set up a mechanism that would give priority to
national security organizations. That could entail a
separate account for "security organizations" being set up
within the Commerce Justice State appropriation. However, I
am certainly not wedded to that particular fix, and am open
to any suggestions from you or your staff. Ultimately, what
I hope we together can arrange is an appropriate mechanism
that could ensure more prompt and full payment of our
obligations to the OPCW.


5. (SBU) I will be seeing you in Washington on October
20-21, and would like to discuss this urgent matter with you
and members of your staff. Once again, I appreciate all the
work you and PDAS Record did to ensure the first amount of
U.S. funding reached the OPCW, and I would ask for your
support to guarantee that such damage to U.S. interests does
not occur again.


6. (U) Javits sends.
SOBEL