UAE WILL CONSIDER CWC CHALLENGE INSPECTION HOST

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001928 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR T U/S RJOSEPH, ISN A/S SRADEMAKER, CRUSSEL, PMCNERNEY ENERGY FOR CLERSTEN NSC FOR DSTEPHENS DOD FOR NP DIRECTOR DCOOPER; E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV AE SUBJECT: UAE WILL CONSIDER CWC CHALLENGE INSPECTION HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1. 4 b and d. ¶1. (C) On April 30, Director for Nonproliferation Policy in the office of the Secretary of Defense, Dr. David Cooper (OSD/ISP/CbtWMD&NP/NPP),met with MFA Director of International Organizations, Yacoub al-Hosani, to discuss the outstanding bilateral Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) challenge inspection host country agreement draft that has been with the UAEG without comment since early 2005. Al-Hosani stated that he had previously raised the inspection agreement at the National Committee level, and that there had been discussion regarding the need for such an agreement -- specifically questioning why there was a requirement placed on both parties to notify the other in case of a challenge inspection. Dr. Cooper explained the scope and purpose of the agreement, noting that the notification requirement was to ensure timely compliance to an inspection challenge. Al-Hosani asked if the agreement in any way violated or undermined the CWC. Dr. Cooper explained that, to the contrary, the agreement reinforced the intent of the CWC by seeking to ensure timely compliance with its provisions. ¶2. (C) Al-Hosani promised to raise the CWC inspection agreement with the National Committee once again, and explain to the committee the need to have an agreement in place before a request for a challenge inspection is lodged. Al-Hosani stated that he will contact the Embassy and report the committee's reactions and any questions once they have met. ¶3. (U) This cable has been cleared by the Director for Nonproliferation Policy in the office of the Secretary of Defense, Dr. David Cooper. SISON