GRP HOSTS FIRST U.S. BILATERAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS

UNCLAS MANILA 002162 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PARM ETRD ASEC PHUM MY RP SUBJECT: GRP HOSTS FIRST U.S. BILATERAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE VISIT ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive, but Unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) Summary. The Philippines, a Chemical Weapon Convention member-state, needs to make more progress in meeting its national implementation obligations under the convention. During an April 3-4 workshop with U.S. technical experts, GRP officials expressed their commitment to fully implement the convention and pledged to work closely with the U.S. in achieving this objective. End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) On April 3-4, a delegation of U.S. experts held a workshop with GRP officials on technical issues related to implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Among the attendees were representatives from the GRP Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Customs, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosives Division, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments, Department of Justice, National Security Council, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health, Office of Civil Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Office of the Special Envoy for Transnational Crime, and the University of the Philippines-Institute of Chemistry. ¶4. (SBU) The U.S. delegation recommended a close partnership between the GRP's CWC National Authority and industry to determine which of an estimated 1,000 sites must be evaluated for declarable activities to the Office for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. GRP officials stressed the importance of minimizing the CWC's impact on legitimate chemical trading and investment by harmonizing the GRP's implementation of the convention with other Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies. According to GRP Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials, an export control regime will be established and CWC-specific obligations consolidated into an industry outreach program. ¶5. (SBU) During discussions regarding legislation and regulations (e.g., prohibitions and penalties involving the control of scheduled chemicals),GRP officials said that the National Authority planned to adopt Executive Orders that would allow each government department to implement the convention until legislation could be enacted. ¶6. (SBU) The U.S. delegation emphasized the importance of the GRP -- scheduled to become a member of the Executive Council (EC) in May 2006 -- fully meeting its national implementing obligations since EC members are expected to set the standard for other CWC member states. ¶7. (SBU) Executive Director of the Philippines' Interim CWC National Authority -- DFA Assistant Secretary MacArthur Corsino -- said GRP officials benefited greatly from the workshop. Corsino also noted that there would be further discussions within the Interim National Authority Committee about some of the issues that were raised. The head of the U.S. delegation, Edna Sidler, encouraged the GRP to make progress in implementing its obligations under the convention and offered to provide additional assistance. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: Although the DFA is head of the Interim CWC National Authority, it has not taken the lead in the implementation process. The lack of a clear leader has delayed GRP progress in meeting its obligations under the convention. We will continue to work with the government as it focuses on meeting its national implementation obligations. Kenney