FRANCE PRAISES U.S. TRANSPERENCY IN DRAFT DECISION

UNCLAS PARIS 004215 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL CWC CBW OPCW FR SUBJECT: FRANCE PRAISES U.S. TRANSPERENCY IN DRAFT DECISION TO EXTEND DESTRUCTION DEADLINE, SEES NO PROBLEM WITH VISITS REF: STATE 95633 ¶1. (U) Poloff delivered talking points June 16 to Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) action officer, Etienne Sur. In a follow-up conversation June 19, Sur said that the GoF was pleased with the language in the U.S. Request for establishment of a revised date for the final deadline for destruction of its Category 1 chemical weapons. France, he explained, had been concerned that any legal leeway given to the U.S. would be exploited by other countries that have been less responsible in safeguarding and destroying their chemical arsenals. Sur said that the GoF was particularly pleased with subparagraph (a) of the recommendations, which clearly states that the decision to establish a revised date should in no way affect the U.S. obligation to destroy all its Category 1 chemical weapons no later than 15 years after the entry into force of the Convention. ¶2. (U) As regards visits, Sur said that GoF representatives had discussed the matter with Germany and the UK. Both, he said were pushing for visits to have a political as well as a technical aspect to them. France, he said, cared only that the Executive Council be kept informed as to the political dimensions of the issue, and was not adamant that each visit include a distinct political element. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON