(C) CLUSTER MUNITIONS: LATVIA CONSIDERS CCW BEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000064 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2017 TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO LG SUBJECT: (C) CLUSTER MUNITIONS: LATVIA CONSIDERS CCW BEST VENUE TO DISCUSS CM REF: STATE 06667 Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey for Reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points January 23 to Andris Pelss, Head of Nonproliferation and Arms Control Division at the MFA, and Sanita Krumina, who works in the same division. Pelss responded that the GOL shares the USG's humanitarian concerns and also agrees that cluster munitions (CM) have military value. He stated that the question is how to appropriately address the humanitarian side of the equation without significantly hampering military goals and means. ¶2. (C) According to Pelss, there was some confusion within the GOL as to whether the Latvians had originally been invited to the Oslo conference on CM. However, Janis Karklins, Latvia's Ambassador to the UN Mission in Geneva plans to attend. Pelss added that it was unclear whether Karklins would attend as a representative of the GOL or rather in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Governmental Experts to the CCW. Pelss noted that it is important for Amb. Karklins to be present at this event since, as Chairman of the Group of Governmental Experts to the CCW, he needs to remain informed of all developments related to this topic. ¶3. (C) Pelss was initially non-committal about the Norwegian effort to develop a new international instrument of international humanitarian law to address CM. However, when pressed, he stated that the GOL "considers the CCW framework the most appropriate venue for discussing these matters." Pelss twice noted that he "hopes the process will return to the CCW." He pointed out that there is some value in discussing the issue of CW and that the balance between humanitarian concerns and military needs should be addressed. He added that, while the USG may be highly responsible in its use of CM, other countries may not be. ¶4. (C) Per reftel, PolEconOff asked about GOL interests in and position on CM in relation to the April 18-20 experts meeting hosted by the ICRC in Montreux. Pelss stated the GOL has made no decisions on this, but that Amb. Karklins could be involved in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Governmental Experts to the CCW. Also per reftel instructions, PolEconOff suggested that the USG and GOL pursue military-to-military discussions on CM. Pelss responded that the GOL welcomes such discussion and that the military aspect of this topic is "half if not more than half of the whole discussion." BAILEY