COOK ISLANDS RESPONSE ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000579 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/ANP, AC/CB SIDLER THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM ABUD PREL NZ SUBJECT: COOK ISLANDS RESPONSE ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC) IMPLEMENTATION REF: STATE 127948 ¶1. Post delivered reftel demarche to Sonya Kamana, Deputy High Commissioner, Cook Islands High Commission. Kamana noted that the issue was a priority of the Cook Islands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was working with Parliament to pass the appropriate legislation. However, with elections called for September 7, Parliament has been dissolved, and Kamana put the likely timeframe for approval at 2005 at the earliest. Swindells