Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06THEHAGUE1537
2006-07-12 14:24:00
SECRET
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): INFORMING THE

Tags:  PARM PREL CWC 
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VZCZCXYZ0024
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #1537/01 1931424
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 121424Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6296
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0063
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1561
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4124
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
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
--------------------

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