SPAIN AGREES TO MEETING WITH USG ON CHEMICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002451 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL, ALSO FOR EMBASSY E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2015 TAGS: PARM MARR KTIA SP CWC SUBJECT: SPAIN AGREES TO MEETING WITH USG ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IN THE HAGUE REF: STATE 104144 Classified By: RICARDO ZUNIGA, POLITICAL OFFICER, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (C) Poloff met with the Spanish Foreign Ministry's deputy director of International Disarmament Affairs, Marcos Rodriguez Cantero, June 24 to convey Washington's desire to meet with Spanish experts in The Hague during the 41st Executive Council Session June 28 to July 5 to discuss the text of the Chemical Weapons Convention Host Country Agreement (reftel). Rodriguez said Spain's ambassador to The Hague, Alfonso Dastis, and a representative from Spain's National Chemical Weapons Agency (ANPAQ),Niveas Gomez, would meet with the USG to discuss the agreement. ¶2. (C) Rodriguez explained that one of Spain's concerns with the agreement centers on what type of government military equipment falls under the USG's definition of "assets" which could come under inspection by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He added that Spain does not see a "strong need" for this agreement because Spain does not produce chemical weapons and would be unlikely to be targeted for inspection by the OPCW. However, the GoS expects to follow through on its commitment to conclude the agreement with the USG, Rodriguez said. MANZANARES