CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): INFORMING THE

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 001537 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/CB, VCI/CCA, L/ACV, IO/S SECDEF FOR OSD/ISP JOINT STAFF FOR DD PMA-A FOR WTC COMMERCE FOR BIS (GOLDMAN) NSC FOR DICASAGRANDE WINPAC FOR WALTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL CWC SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): INFORMING THE OPCW TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS RECOVERED IN IRAQ REF: STATE 109373 (NOTAL) Classified By: Pete Ito, Deputy Permanent Representative to the OPCW. Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). This is CWC-63-06. -------------- Submission of Letter -------------- ¶1. (C) On July 3, per reftel, del rep passed the letter informing the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of the recovery by Coalition Forces of approximately 500 chemical munitions to Horst Reeps, Director of Verification for the Technical Secretariat. Reeps' only comment was to confirm that the U.S. was not requesting that the TS send inspectors to Iraq to verify destruction. Del rep assured him that this was not our intention. Delegation received only one question during the 46th Executive Council session (July 4-7) regarding this matter. This was from a member of the TS legal staff who has no oversight of these issues, asking whether the U.S. would be declaring the munitions that had been recovered. -------------- Meeting with UK -------------- ¶2. (S) On July 5, del reps met with members of the UK delegation to coordinate next steps regarding reporting recovery of Iraqi CW. Delegations agreed to coordinate closely on the planned submission of additional information to the OPCW in the coming months and discussed a possible joint U.S.-UK submission after Washington and London further discussed the level of detail to be provided to the OPCW. UK reps noted that their lawyers believe that UK recovery and destruction activities conducted inside of Iraq are carried out on behalf of the Iraqi people and are thus in support of UNSC resolutions. DOD rep later passed a copy of the draft U.S. spreadsheet (without data) to be used for submission to the TS to the UK MOD rep so the UK could compile similar data. ¶3. (S) UK reps also expressed concern that there would likely be significant discussion amongst CWC States Parties if Iraq joined the CWC as a non-possessor given the recent reports of recovered munitions as well as issues remaining from the 1990s, including the status of Muthanna. They specifically mentioned Germany as a State Party that may highlight this issue. U.S. reps offered that handling of this issue could depend on the whether Iraq possessed recovered munitions at the time of accession, and that for political reasons Iraq would likely want to join as a non-possessor. This might be welcomed by much of the international community. U.S. reps offered further that, were Iraq to join as a "non-possessor," it should probably include a statement in its initial declaration that indicated the likelihood that CW munitions will be recovered in the future, as well as the uncertain status of CW munitions in a sealed bunker at Muthanna. All agreed that this would require further discussion, perhaps at the next meeting of the Close Allies to ensure that France and Germany had no concerns. -------------- Meeting with Iraqi Ambassador -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Also on July 5, two del reps met with the Iraqi Ambassador, Siamand Banaa, at his invitation. Banaa was accompanied by Embassy Minister Ahmed Jewad. The Ambassador emphasized the strong Iraqi concern that UNMOVIC had not yet been disbanded and made the point that it was difficult for the Iraqis to understand why it was taking so long to do so. They pointed out that UNMOVIC was costly and questioned why funds which could otherwise be used to support Iraq's development were instead being used to pay the salaries of bureaucrats in New York. Banaa made a specific plea for del reps to raise this issue back in Washington and noted that the continued existence of UNMOVIC had the potential to damage an otherwise very close relationship between the U.S. and Iraq. ¶5. (SBU) Del reps passed a copy of the U.S. letter to the OPCW regarding the recovery of chemical munitions in Iraq and pledged to coordinate future submissions with the Iraqi government. The Ambassador had no substantive response to the letter, but was pleased that the U.S. was keeping Iraq informed. ¶6. (SBU) Del reps discussed Iraq's plans to eventually accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention and inquired regarding the most recent status. Banaa informed del reps that the paperwork was at the cabinet level, but that it was not clear how soon it would move forward given the large number of high priority issues facing the new government. He indicated his personal interest in Iraq acceding as soon as possible and noted that he wanted to become an active participant in the OPCW. ¶7. (U) The Ambassador also noted that Iraq had expected that there would be more U.S. support for a support network for Iraqi victims of chemical weapons. Interestingly, a similar proposal for a support network for Iranian victims of CW was raised during Iran's opening statement at EC-46. Banaa noted that little had been done to support those in Halabja and suggested that perhaps the U.S. could allocate public health funding or build a research center in this area. The U.S. State rep offered that the most effective approach to this issue would likely be for the Iraqi government to clearly indicate to the U.S. and others in Baghdad that this is a high priority concern. ¶8. (U) Ito sends. ARNALL