BOTSWANA RESPONSE: SLOW IMPLEMENTATION OF CWC

UNCLAS GABORONE 000227 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/S DIFFILY, AC/CB SIDLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM ABUD BC AROC CWC CBW OPCW SUBJECT: BOTSWANA RESPONSE: SLOW IMPLEMENTATION OF CWC OBLIGATIONS REF: STATE 25249 Mission conveyed reftel demarche urging timely implementation of Botswana's obligations under Article VII of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) to Permanent Secretary Ernest Mpofu in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on February 11. The Deputy Director for Multilateral Affairs Pulaente Kinosi informed PolOff on February 14 that the Ministry is preparing a recommendation for the Office of the President suggesting which agencies should take the lead in establishing the necessary institutions and legislation. Deputy Director Kinosi promised to notify Mission of the agencies tasked with implementation for further follow up once they have been appointed but could not say when that would occur. Mission recognized the strain placed upon small countries such as Botswana by the various reporting and implementation requirements of international agreements but emphasized the need to respond to global security threats by living up to its CWC commitments. HUGGINS NNNN