CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC) - DG PFIRTER'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000343

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: DECL: 02/10/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL LY CWC
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC) - DG PFIRTER'S
READ-OUT ON HIS DISCUSSIONS IN LIBYA

REF: THE HAGUE 282

Classified By: ERIC M. JAVITS, AMBASSADOR TO THE OPCW. REASONS: 1.5 (B
, D)

This is CWC-16-04.


1. (C) SUMMARY: OPCW Director General Pfirter was very
pleased with the outcome of his February 5 discussions in
Libya, which included a meeting with the Foreign Minister.
Pfirter utilized the visit to emphasize the OPCW's desire to
work with Tripoli to meet the requirements of the CW
Convention, and to introduce his team to Libyan
interlocutors. The DG found the Libyans cooperative, and
very well-briefed by the U.S. and U.K. on CWC requirements.
The next OPCW team will be arriving in Tripoli on February 16
and the DG anticipates holding an inspection in Libya on or
around March 10. The DG also noted that an Italian team of
experts will be visiting Libya beginning February 15. END
SUMMARY.


2. (C) On February 9, DG Pfirter briefed Ambassador Javits
and U.K. Ambassador Budd on the results of his February 5
discussions in Tripoli. Pfirter said he was extremely
pleased with the talks, having emphasized that the OPCW wants
to work cooperatively with the Libyans on their CWC
obligations, and finding the Libyans ready to reciprocate.
Pfirter said he made clear that the OPCW would work to
complement the U.S./UK efforts under way, and thought an
atmosphere of trust had been established with the Libyans.
The Libyans, commented the DG, had been well-briefed on what
to expect from the OPCW delegation. The goal was therefore
to allow the Libyans to become familiar with the OPCW staff
with whom they would be working. However, he also made clear
to the Libyans that on the specific issue of destruction of
Libyan CW stocks, Tripoli needed to discuss this matter with
the U.S. and U.K.


3. (C) The DG said that the next step would be a visit by a
team of experts led by Verification Director Reeps. The team
would arrive late on February 16 and then meet with the
U.S./U.K. team in-country to receive a de-brief. Reeps and
his team would begin consultations with the Libyans on
February 18. The focus of the visit would be on achieving
the most comprehensive Libyan declaration possible when that
document is submitted by March 6.


4. (C) Pfirter said that his visit had been "hijacked" from
the Libyan MFA by General Mahmood, who heads the relevant
national research institute. Mahmood arranged for the OPCW
team to meet with an interagency group of some 20
individuals. Pfirter then met with the Libyan Foreign
Minister. In both cases, he conveyed the message of
cooperation noted above. With the FM, he turned to the issue
of inspections, commenting that while past practice could
have allowed the OPCW to wait three months before sending an
inspection team, that would not be a good sign of the
seriousness with which the OPCW views Libyan accession.


5. (C) Instead, the DG thought that it would be best to
send an inspection team at the earliest possible time.
Pfirter stressed to the FM that there would be substantial
interest in the status of activity with Libya at the OPCW's
Executive Council session on March 23-26. The DG therefore
encouraged the Foreign Minister to send a team of both
political officials and technical experts to the EC
gathering. The FM, reported Pfirter, did not respond on that
particular point, but in general was very supportive and
interested in the work of the OPCW. The DG said his message
was one of trying to assist Libya in meeting the requirements
of the CWC, and, in the view of the DG, the message went down
very well.


6. (C) Following on the point regarding the "hijacking" of
his visit, the DG commented that there had been some
logistical difficulties with the trip, and the Libyan MFA had
told the DG that they would control the next visit. They
also emphasized that they will have more of a coordinating
role in the future, and in that respect, the Libyans made
statements about seeking to enlarge their mission in the
Hague.


7. (C) The Italians, added the DG, are also sending a team
to Libya in the near future. The focus of the discussions
would be on the Italian work on Rabta, although it would also
touch on issues such as destruction of Libyan CW stocks.
(Note: The Italian delegation to the OPCW subsequently
confirmed that their team would be arriving in Tripoli on
Sunday, February 15, with their experts staying in-country
for about a week. End Note.) Reeps said that the Libyans
are still thinking about the options for methods of
destruction of their CW stocks. One possibility is by
incineration, however the use of hydrolysis is still under
consideration. The problem with hydrolysis, noted Reeps, is
that it could lead to the production of Schedule 1 chemicals
that would generate additional requirements.


8. (C) Reeps provided more detail on the technical
discussions, stating that he provided his interlocutors with
material on the requirements for the Libyan declaration,
including information on facility agreements. With regard to
industrial issues, the Libyans have an "interesting
interpretation" of the requirements of Article 6 of the CWC
(activities not prohibited under the Convention). Reeps said
that the best guess now is that there will not be much
industry-related work in Libya, with only 3-4 facilities
possibly coming under the CWC. The team also discussed the
requirements for establishing a national authority, where the
Libyans again seem to be well informed. Reeps then provided
information on the February 16 visit to Libya, including a
detailed information sheet that has been FAXed to AC/CB.


9. (C) With regard to the inspection, Reeps said that the
Libyan declaration is due on March 6. After having a few
days to assess the document, he thought that the inspection
team would depart for Tripoli on March 10. The composition
of the team would still be determined, but with the focus on
three particular storage facilities, the team hoped to be
able to complete its work by around March 20 so that the DG
could provide a report to the Executive Council. Should that
not be the case, they will provide an interim report that the
DG could utilize with the Council.


10. (C) The DG added that the Libyan interlocutors were
well aware of the importance of the decision that had been
taken and stated that it is irreversible. They also
commented that they recognized the importance of having other
countries follow their example, and specifically cited Egypt
as a country that might be brought around to a
reconsideration of its views of the CWC in light of the
Libyan decision.


11. (U) Javits sends.
SOBEL