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