Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HELSINKI112
2007-02-16 13:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Helsinki
Cable title:  

FINNISH RESPONSE - CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

Tags:  PARM AORC EIND OPCW CWC CBW IR FI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0021
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHHE #0112 0471314
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161314Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2987
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0184
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 1114
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5498
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0556
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0380
RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN 0066
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0188
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0075
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0108
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0174
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0367
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1379
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0353
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 1855
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

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