ECUADOR ON CWC: NATIONAL AUTHORITY IN PLACE,

UNCLAS QUITO 000391 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM ABUD ES EC AROC CWC CBW OPCW SUBJECT: ECUADOR ON CWC: NATIONAL AUTHORITY IN PLACE, LEGISLATION DELAYED REF: SECSTATE 26859 ¶1. In response to Reftel, the Embassy February 15 delivered non-paper to Ruben Herrera, the Technical Agencies representative in the MFA's Multilateral Affairs directorship general. In a follow-up telcon February 17, Herrera refuted a Reftel assertion, claiming Ecuador had in fact established its National Authority (NA) for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). He claimed the CWC NA was composed of representatives from the MFA, Presidency, Army Polytechnic University (ESPE),and Chamber of Industry, among others. It met on an ad hoc basis; its next gathering, the first of 2005, would take place the week of February 21. ¶2. Reftel's second assertion -- that Ecuador had failed to pass CWC implementing legislation -- was correct, Herrera admitted. Additionally, he knew of no CWC bill currently coursing through Congress. As deputies were unlikely to draft such technical legislation, responsibility would fall to the MFA or another NA-represented entity. The Authority would discuss the matter at the February meeting, Herrera claimed. Chacon