FINNISH RESPONSE - CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000112 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM AORC EIND OPCW CWC CBW IR FI SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC) - SEEKING SUPPORT TO BLOCK IRAN BECOMING EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAIR REF: SECSTATE 17200 ¶1. (U) PolChief delivered subject demarche Feb. 15 to Jani Raappana, Counselor for Chemical and Biological Disarmament in the MFA's Unit for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non- Proliferation. ¶2. (SBU) Although Finland has received no "official" word that Iran intends to put forward a candidate for the CWC chairmanship, Raappana said the GOF opposes Iran's occupying that position and shares our concerns. For now, he said, Finland hopes the CWC's Asia Group can sort out the matter internally without the involvement of the WEOG, and he welcomed US behind-the-scenes efforts to urge the Asians put forward a consensus candidate as an alternative to the Iranian. ¶3. (SBU) Finland has no official position yet as to what actions it would take if the Asia group cannot find consensus. However, Raappana said that the EU countries on the CWC would likely seek a unified position. He added that the Europe Group has split in the past on chemical weapons issues and suggested that if it cannot reach a unified position, Finland would be likely to join the group that would vote against Iran's bid. WARE