CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): STATUS OF OPCW

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002067

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/CB, VCI/CCB, 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: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): STATUS OF OPCW
WORKSHOP IN ROME


This is CWC-86-06.


1. (U) Ambassador Javits recently held extensive discussions
with OPCW Director General Pfirter on the prospects for the
workshop on the universality of the Chemical Weapons
Convention to be held in Rome on October 25-27. Pfirter said
he had been reflecting on the value of the conference and
recounted his personal efforts to make the workshop a
success. The DG had spoken to the Egyptian Foreign Minister
three times in the last year, asking the Egyptian government
for an invitation to visit Cairo. He had also pressed Egypt
to send an official representative to the workshop, rather
than an NGO representative as Egypt had done in the past
workshops in Malta and Cyprus. Pfirter added that he had
been reluctant to bypass the Egyptian Ambassador in The Hague
in making these requests, as the Ambassador is reportedly
close to the chief of cabinet of the Foreign Minister, is
supportive of Egypt ultimately joining the CWC, and has been
very cooperative and forthcoming. The DG recounted this in
order to be clear about how much emphasis he places on
official Egyptian participation in Rome.


2. (U) Pfirter told Javits the result has been that Egypt
has decided to attend the Conference of States Parties in
December as observers for the first time. However, Egypt has
refused to send official representatives to Rome. The
Egyptian Ambassador urged the DG to invite the NGO
representative of the Egyptian Council on Foreign Relations
to attend. (This would probably be the same retired general
who had attended the Malta and Cyprus events.) The DG said
he refused to do so, saying that he could not appear to
legitimize Egypt's failure to send a high level government
representative.


3. (U) As for Syria, the DG said that Syria no longer had
an Ambassador in The Hague, but only representation in
Brussels. However, the DG had met with the Syrian UN PermRep
in New York and had spoken several times to the Syrian charge
d'affairs in Brussels to press for an opportunity to be able
to discuss this matter in Damascus, and have a high level
representative in Rome. The DG was told (apparently by
Italian officials) that Syria is sending officials from the
Foreign and Defense Ministries. Pfirter noted that Italy had
demarched both Syria and Lebanon in capitals and had been
working intensively with their ambassadors in Rome. The DG
added that he had pressed the Syrian Ambassador (when he had
been in The Hague) for Syrian accession to the CWC.


4. (U) The DG said that he had good relations with the
Lebanese Ambassador in The Hague and had been working with
him to get an invitation for the DG to go to Beirut. Pfirter
commented that the Lebanese Ambassador had told him before
the summer fighting in Lebanon that Beirut was ready to
accede to the CWC. Since then he has heard nothing more on
the topic. The DG said Lebanon had agreed that one of its
diplomats at its Embassy in Rome would attend the workshop,
but Italy and the DG are working intensively to get them to
raise the level of participation. Pfirter commented that he
preferred to get acceptance to attend and then try to raise
the level of participation, rather than trying to garner
agreement on the level of attendance from the outset.
Finally, the DG said that Israel was most anxious for the
workshop to proceed as they had informed the DG that they
would send a strong delegation.


5. (U) Pfirter said he expected the Ambassadors of Israel,
Syria and Lebanon to Italy would probably attend the opening
ceremony of the Rome workshop and perhaps one or more might
possibly stay for sidebar meetings beyond the opening event.
Pfirter then commented on the suggestion that had been raised
that he should intensify efforts by sending his senior staff
(Deputy DG John Freeman or chief of cabinet Rafael Grossi) to
capitals to press for the highest possible participation in
Rome. The DG said he could not "emasculate" the Ambassadors
in The Hague by not going through them to seek an invitation
for a meeting in capitals. Nor could he just "parachute" his
people in, as this would merely antagonize the ambassadors.
The DG commented that on his trip to New York in about two

weeks, he will attempt to get meetings with the high level
representatives of Syria, Egypt and Lebanon at the UN.


6. (U) The DG said that he had an opportunity recently to
speak to Dr. Giulio Picheca, General Director of the Foreign
Ministry and also head of the Italian National Authority, who
is handling the workshop. Picheca said the Italian
government is intent on proceeding with the workshop.
Pfirter had informed the official that he had no definitive
information from the U.S. on proceeding with the conference
or seeking a postponement. He added that the U.S. was
considering sending someone from Embassy Rome, rather than
Amb. Javits. The DG said that a final decision on whether to
proceed or postpone would be taken toward the end of
September, after consultations with the EU, Italians,
invitees, OPCW staff and others.


7. (U) The DG told Javits he envisioned the workshop as an
opportunity to provide information about the OPCW and CWC,
but, more importantly, exhort non-members to join. He said
it would be unfortunate if the U.S. would send only a
representative from Embassy Rome, as it would be a missed
opportunity and might be taken as a weakening of support for
the OPCW. The DG said that if this is the U.S. decision, he
would not give anyone his impression of why the U.S. would
not send its PermRep to the OPCW, but would refer people to
Amb. Javits, especially as Javits had attended the Malta and
Cyprus events.


8. (U) Malik Azhar Ellahi, head of the Government Relations
and Political Affairs branch, which is making arrangements
for the workshop, stated that the core program for Rome would
be largely a repeat of that utilized in Malta and Cyprus. In
line with the DG's statement, there will be some reduction in
presentations to allow more time for side-bar discussions,
although there must be enough of a program so that people who
are not in these unofficial talks "do not disappear." Ellahi
said there would be some other modifications. They are
working to get more participants from the chemical industry.
There may be a representative from the Greek government to
discuss the role the OPCW had played in assisting in security
preparations for the Athens Olympics.


9. (U) Ellahi noted that, in all candor, he was not certain
as of last week whether the workshop would even happen.
However, the logistical arrangements are in order. Ellahi
concluded by noting that there would be a Sept. 28
consultation at which the Technical Secretariat would go over
plans for the Rome workshop. At this time, it appears the
plan is for a strong pitch that all participants and other
SPs work to make Rome a success.


10. (U) Javits sends.
ARNALL