MEETING NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OBLIGATIONS OF THE

UNCLAS MANILA 004910 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/CB/SIDLER AND EAP/MTS THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO AND J5 SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (TOOLAN/BAILEY) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW CBW BWC JA AS RP SUBJECT: MEETING NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION REF: STATE 193643 ¶1. (SBU) According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Director for International Political, Legal & Security Affairs Jesus "Gary" Domingo, draft legislation to implement Philippine obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention is currently under review by Foreign Secretary Romulo. Domingo predicted that the draft would be submitted to the Philippine legislature for consideration once this review is complete. ¶2. (SBU) Domingo noted that the chair of the Inter-Agency Technical Advisory Council (IATAC),which serves as the Philippines' interim National Authority until the passage of the implementing legislation, had shifted from the DFA to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in November ¶2006. However, he stressed that the DFA would remain closely involved. "It's a co-chair in reality," he said. Domingo stated that in 2007 the IATAC intended to address the industrial compliance gap with programs targeting importers and exporters and chemical-related industries. He said the Philippines would welcome any U.S. technical assistance to improve its industrial outreach efforts. ¶3. (SBU) Domingo added that, as part of the Philippines' compliance efforts, the DFA intended to host an inter-agency seminar/workshop in the first quarter of 2007 to brief policymakers and enforcers on the Proliferation Security Initiative. According to Domingo, the seminar would include both policy discussions and practical enforcement scenarios. He stated that he had informally approached Japanese and Australian counterparts regarding funding assistance and participation, and expressed a hope that the United States might support the initiative. Poloff noted Domingo's proposal, but made no commitments about U.S. involvement. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY